Thruxton Circuit - OK or not for relative novice?
Discussion
I'm looking at Thruxton as the next trackday but on the Javelin website there is a warning that it's fast circuit not recommended for novices or slow cars - I'm a relative newbie having done 4 trackdays in the last year (Bedford and Brands Hatch).
It's not a slow car but I don't want to bin it or feel like I'm out of place. Should I heed this warning and look for an "easier" track?
It's not a slow car but I don't want to bin it or feel like I'm out of place. Should I heed this warning and look for an "easier" track?
The track layout is largely irrelevant imo, what is important is that I would build my speed gradually to learn the layout, braking points and where I can start to make improvements. I would also look at a few laps where there aren't any other cars likely to interfere with my inexperience/me get in their way when they're pressing on.
Ultimately the best thing you can do is hire one of their instructors for half an hour or so.
Ultimately the best thing you can do is hire one of their instructors for half an hour or so.
tigamilla said:
I'm looking at Thruxton as the next trackday but on the Javelin website there is a warning that it's fast circuit not recommended for novices or slow cars - I'm a relative newbie having done 4 trackdays in the last year (Bedford and Brands Hatch).
It's not a slow car but I don't want to bin it or feel like I'm out of place. Should I heed this warning and look for an "easier" track?
Ive seen this too, the track is much closer to me than Bedford. It's not a slow car but I don't want to bin it or feel like I'm out of place. Should I heed this warning and look for an "easier" track?
I have spoken to a couple of people about this and I think I should be OK but wont attempt it until I have upgraded my brakes.
You will be fine. Only really use the brakes twice per lap, one short hard stop early in the lap and one long one near the end.
Its my local track and also my favourite in the UK, wonderful flowing sequences of corners that require the driver to think about how to hook the sequence up. Also big time to be made up from improving on those corners, perhaps more than any other UK track as it's all about building and maintaining speed round the far side of the track. For this reason you also don't really need big power to absolutely fly round Thruxton.
Its my local track and also my favourite in the UK, wonderful flowing sequences of corners that require the driver to think about how to hook the sequence up. Also big time to be made up from improving on those corners, perhaps more than any other UK track as it's all about building and maintaining speed round the far side of the track. For this reason you also don't really need big power to absolutely fly round Thruxton.
iguana said:
It's an easy track to learn, it's really all about church corner it is mega fast & quite unique, local to me done it a couple of times, but I'm not a great fan, would rather trek 5 hrs up to Cadwell.
I’ve found Goodwood into Village quite tricky to find the turn in point, ditto Club chicane.Great track.
I took my son (18) to Thruxton a couple of weeks ago to drive around in my MX5.
He has been driving since Feb last year, in a POLO 1.2 done about 8000 miles, so as green as they come.
|The first time he drove the MX5 was once we got in the gates
With Motorsports events they split you into groups, (we were in the second) they get you in a line and do 2/3 laps following a mad man in a ford transit to show you the racing line, this is slow about 50-70 (it's a fast track) then he peals off and it was an "open" pit lane fro the rest of the day.
Overtaking was supposed to be by "consent", on the left, not on bends/braking. This sadly did not always happen, but the rule breakers are warned and if bad enough not allowed to drive any further.
My boy did OK, yes we were the slowest on the track, and were overtaken loads of times, we only managed to get my MX5 upto 120 mph, but that was down to having a "stock" car with no mods, nobody was fazed by having a slower car on the track, and I may suggest liked the fact there was someone to overtake as there was some seriously fast metal out there
My son really enjoyed himself and wants to do another asap ( why not it's not his car!)
If you have previous experience, Thruxton is fine, my son had none, and learned loads and had fun
If anyone else was there (11 April) then I would like to know what their top speeds were
The cafe is great, do a brilliant lunch!
He has been driving since Feb last year, in a POLO 1.2 done about 8000 miles, so as green as they come.
|The first time he drove the MX5 was once we got in the gates
With Motorsports events they split you into groups, (we were in the second) they get you in a line and do 2/3 laps following a mad man in a ford transit to show you the racing line, this is slow about 50-70 (it's a fast track) then he peals off and it was an "open" pit lane fro the rest of the day.
Overtaking was supposed to be by "consent", on the left, not on bends/braking. This sadly did not always happen, but the rule breakers are warned and if bad enough not allowed to drive any further.
My boy did OK, yes we were the slowest on the track, and were overtaken loads of times, we only managed to get my MX5 upto 120 mph, but that was down to having a "stock" car with no mods, nobody was fazed by having a slower car on the track, and I may suggest liked the fact there was someone to overtake as there was some seriously fast metal out there
My son really enjoyed himself and wants to do another asap ( why not it's not his car!)
If you have previous experience, Thruxton is fine, my son had none, and learned loads and had fun
If anyone else was there (11 April) then I would like to know what their top speeds were
The cafe is great, do a brilliant lunch!
For reference I have seen 120 on the exit of Church. That was a close to stock Megane R26 on lowering springs and remap and Michelin PS2 tyres. Interestingly I couldn't get through that corner any quicker on AD08R tyres due to the understeer and horrible spongy steering those tyres gave me (can't understand why so many like them to be honest, awful tyre).
Thruxtons my local and its a blast. Noise limit is a killer which keeps numbers down. Of the 3 days ive done there ive had track to myslef for multiple laps towards the end of the day.
Its a tyre killer tho. Church is a great bend, really helps if you have either A) balls, or B) a car your happy is a throw away. (Or C both)
I lost it twice there at 100+ and was buzzing for hours afterwards.
https://youtu.be/4iFT_ORFgjU
Its a tyre killer tho. Church is a great bend, really helps if you have either A) balls, or B) a car your happy is a throw away. (Or C both)
I lost it twice there at 100+ and was buzzing for hours afterwards.
https://youtu.be/4iFT_ORFgjU
I took my son in April who has just passed his driving test in his Mummi's MX5 1.6 - it was fine - hehas never driven on a TD before & I booked a session with an instructor and it was very noticable he had absorbed everything the bloke told him afterwards.
Same day as you Watchnut were you in one of the MX5s at the end of the paddock ? One was in bits for a time ?
Same day as you Watchnut were you in one of the MX5s at the end of the paddock ? One was in bits for a time ?
Edited by Ziplobb on Thursday 23 May 21:30
Church has had me literally whimpering as an instructor is telling me to go faster, with me going "nonononononono... " and him going "yesyesyesyesyesyes..." 
I've never got the hang of the final right hander into the final chicane though - braking in a straight line is so ingrained in me.
Great little circuit. Over the years I've driven it in a Corrado VR6, a Suzuki Swift Sport, and a Golf R. Never been able to take the Sagaris out on it as it's too noisy.
Anyway, I digress. It's a great circuit, and on a track day you can go as fast or as slow as you are comfortable with (so long as you are mindful about letting faster cars pass you).
Having said that, know your limits and build up to it. I saw a very very heavy shunt of a beautifully track-prepared Golf on one track day there, where an (ex?) friend of the owner had turned up partway through the day, hopped in for a drive, and stuffed it into a barrier absolutely totalling the car.
I've never got the hang of the final right hander into the final chicane though - braking in a straight line is so ingrained in me.
Great little circuit. Over the years I've driven it in a Corrado VR6, a Suzuki Swift Sport, and a Golf R. Never been able to take the Sagaris out on it as it's too noisy.
Anyway, I digress. It's a great circuit, and on a track day you can go as fast or as slow as you are comfortable with (so long as you are mindful about letting faster cars pass you).
Having said that, know your limits and build up to it. I saw a very very heavy shunt of a beautifully track-prepared Golf on one track day there, where an (ex?) friend of the owner had turned up partway through the day, hopped in for a drive, and stuffed it into a barrier absolutely totalling the car.
loggyboy said:
Thruxtons my local and its a blast. Noise limit is a killer which keeps numbers down. Of the 3 days ive done there ive had track to myslef for multiple laps towards the end of the day.
Its a tyre killer tho. Church is a great bend, really helps if you have either A) balls, or B) a car your happy is a throw away. (Or C both)
I lost it twice there at 100+ and was buzzing for hours afterwards.
https://youtu.be/4iFT_ORFgjU
Loving the commentary at 1.10! Not sure how your first reaction after realising you’re not having a 110mph off can be laughing!Its a tyre killer tho. Church is a great bend, really helps if you have either A) balls, or B) a car your happy is a throw away. (Or C both)
I lost it twice there at 100+ and was buzzing for hours afterwards.
https://youtu.be/4iFT_ORFgjU
NJH said:
For reference I have seen 120 on the exit of Church. That was a close to stock Megane R26 on lowering springs and remap and Michelin PS2 tyres. Interestingly I couldn't get through that corner any quicker on AD08R tyres due to the understeer and horrible spongy steering those tyres gave me (can't understand why so many like them to be honest, awful tyre).
Church exit at 120mph is as fast as BTCC on slicks. Shod with just Michelin PS2 tyres, you must be a driving god 
Can you lap Thruxton under 1m 15s in your close to stock Megane R26 ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWQa0XSAgdc
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