Track day virgin
Discussion
Hi all,
Looking for some advice...
Just been out and brought a BMW M4 CS and thought it would be great to see how she goes round a track. I haven’t ever done a track day before so have a lot of questions and potential concerns.
- is there an ideal track to start on I.e. with plenty of run off if it goes wrong and/or simple layout? (I live in the midlands)
- insurance - pretty concerned about this! 100% need insurance, are there any recommendations?
- Definitely want some tuition, is this an option?
- anything else I should know?
Thanks in advance.
Looking for some advice...
Just been out and brought a BMW M4 CS and thought it would be great to see how she goes round a track. I haven’t ever done a track day before so have a lot of questions and potential concerns.
- is there an ideal track to start on I.e. with plenty of run off if it goes wrong and/or simple layout? (I live in the midlands)
- insurance - pretty concerned about this! 100% need insurance, are there any recommendations?
- Definitely want some tuition, is this an option?
- anything else I should know?
Thanks in advance.
Upgrade the brake pads (maybe the fluid to). That's the first thing I did. Pagid, Ferodo and (yeh I hear some of you groaning) EBC all do decent upgrades.
Tuition? I would have thought all tracks could offer that? Knockhill was my first track day venue and getting one of the local instructors was definitely worth it for my first time. If anything, it can help build confidence to push that little harder when all you have done is road driving before hand.
Insurance, yes for the value of your car. I'd shop around. I tend to track when it's mid week mornings (quietest) so i don't have much trouble with busy tracks but it's still worth it. Adrian Flux covers just about all major UK tracks but google!
Don't know the Midlands so can't help there.
It's addictive, albeit pricey in terms of rubber and brakes however...above all else...
Enjoy it ! You don't need to try to be the next Lewis Hamilton to have fun on a track.
Tuition? I would have thought all tracks could offer that? Knockhill was my first track day venue and getting one of the local instructors was definitely worth it for my first time. If anything, it can help build confidence to push that little harder when all you have done is road driving before hand.
Insurance, yes for the value of your car. I'd shop around. I tend to track when it's mid week mornings (quietest) so i don't have much trouble with busy tracks but it's still worth it. Adrian Flux covers just about all major UK tracks but google!
Don't know the Midlands so can't help there.
It's addictive, albeit pricey in terms of rubber and brakes however...above all else...
Enjoy it ! You don't need to try to be the next Lewis Hamilton to have fun on a track.
I’d look at Bedford, very little to hit, a big track so you’ll be spaced out and it’s generally pretty cheap.
An M4 is a heavy car...I’d stick to 10 min/5 lap sessions and keep eyes on your tyre pressures/brake temperatures and you should be ok.
Most of the decent TDO’s do tuition too.
An M4 is a heavy car...I’d stick to 10 min/5 lap sessions and keep eyes on your tyre pressures/brake temperatures and you should be ok.
Most of the decent TDO’s do tuition too.
Try Moris for insurance, likely to be in the region of 10% car value for excess and 1% for a daily premium.
It's much more cost effective to get a road policy that includes X trackdays but they're usually specialised for weekend or classic cars, not sure what the realistic options are for a new BMW.
It's much more cost effective to get a road policy that includes X trackdays but they're usually specialised for weekend or classic cars, not sure what the realistic options are for a new BMW.
Fonzey said:
Try Moris for insurance, likely to be in the region of 10% car value for excess and 1% for a daily premium.
It's much more cost effective to get a road policy that includes X trackdays but they're usually specialised for weekend or classic cars, not sure what the realistic options are for a new BMW.
Most insurers don't like Castle Combe, which is a bit of a problem for me, as it's my local 'proper' circuit.It's much more cost effective to get a road policy that includes X trackdays but they're usually specialised for weekend or classic cars, not sure what the realistic options are for a new BMW.
Motorsport Events run good days and Bedford has huge run-offs, as someone else has said.
Not sure I'd spend anything on upgrades, BMW Experience days use bog standard cars and don't have issues with them.
kiethton said:
I’d look at Bedford, very little to hit, a big track so you’ll be spaced out and it’s generally pretty cheap.
An M4 is a heavy car...I’d stick to 10 min/5 lap sessions and keep eyes on your tyre pressures/brake temperatures and you should be ok.
Most of the decent TDO’s do tuition too.
Bedford is fairly clear and you should be able to get some good speeds on the straight if brave. If it's your first time on track id try for 2 20 min sessions of instruction one at the start and one at the end. An M4 is a heavy car...I’d stick to 10 min/5 lap sessions and keep eyes on your tyre pressures/brake temperatures and you should be ok.
Most of the decent TDO’s do tuition too.
Unless you have the ceramic brake upgrade brakes are going to limit the time you can spend on track with stock pads. Instructor will be able to give guidance on brake management and tyre pressure management if you ask.
A few practical things:
A crash helmet. Get your own. You can get one from a motorbike shop. They will help with fitting. Not ideal if you are racing, but track day you can use a motorbike helmet (this will open a hornets nest of discussion I know. I am ready
)
Long sleeves. They dont like you wearing short sleeves, regardless of temperature. Long sleeve shirt is fine.
Bring fuel. Youll be amazed how much fuel you'll get throughl a gerry can with fuel will save you time and ££££ on the day.
Take it easy. You'll have time, build up. Learn the car. Youll be amazed how much confidence you will have with your car on the road
A crash helmet. Get your own. You can get one from a motorbike shop. They will help with fitting. Not ideal if you are racing, but track day you can use a motorbike helmet (this will open a hornets nest of discussion I know. I am ready
)Long sleeves. They dont like you wearing short sleeves, regardless of temperature. Long sleeve shirt is fine.
Bring fuel. Youll be amazed how much fuel you'll get throughl a gerry can with fuel will save you time and ££££ on the day.
Take it easy. You'll have time, build up. Learn the car. Youll be amazed how much confidence you will have with your car on the road
I am also someone who is thinking of doing a track day for the first time and I have a question regarding insurance, or rather the lack of it. The car I am intending to use is worth under £1k, hence I am not interested in bothering with track day insurance. My question is this, lets assume I get in an accident with another car, what happens?
If I hit a Ferrari, is it literally a case of tough luck mate although I assume the Ferrari driver could claim from his own insurance? If neither person is insured what happens, could one potentially sue the other if it was clearly one persons fault?
If I hit a Ferrari, is it literally a case of tough luck mate although I assume the Ferrari driver could claim from his own insurance? If neither person is insured what happens, could one potentially sue the other if it was clearly one persons fault?
My BMW M135i is insured through A Plan (Thatcham branch)
The car is my daily driver, so it's covered for 10-12k annual miles including class 2 business use.
It includes 5 UK track days per year with a £1k track excess.
Events must be by an ATDO registered organiser and, as I think others have mentioned, Castle Coombe is excluded
The car is my daily driver, so it's covered for 10-12k annual miles including class 2 business use.
It includes 5 UK track days per year with a £1k track excess.
Events must be by an ATDO registered organiser and, as I think others have mentioned, Castle Coombe is excluded
I’d also say that Bedford is a great place to start and learn your car. Do the research and get the info on the many others who track M4’s as to what the minimum is to safely take the car out on track.
I use Footman James as my insurer who provide a sports car policy for the road which includes 7 track days with a reasonable excess (£1000 over the road excess). Track day cover for each event can be very expensive and often has a very high excess.
Enjoy it!
I use Footman James as my insurer who provide a sports car policy for the road which includes 7 track days with a reasonable excess (£1000 over the road excess). Track day cover for each event can be very expensive and often has a very high excess.
Enjoy it!
Joey Deacon said:
I am also someone who is thinking of doing a track day for the first time and I have a question regarding insurance, or rather the lack of it. The car I am intending to use is worth under £1k, hence I am not interested in bothering with track day insurance. My question is this, lets assume I get in an accident with another car, what happens?
If I hit a Ferrari, is it literally a case of tough luck mate although I assume the Ferrari driver could claim from his own insurance? If neither person is insured what happens, could one potentially sue the other if it was clearly one persons fault?
Correct, Track day insurance is all "first party" only. You cannot get cover for third party incidents and you're not obliged to pay Mr Ferrari if you t-bone his car.If I hit a Ferrari, is it literally a case of tough luck mate although I assume the Ferrari driver could claim from his own insurance? If neither person is insured what happens, could one potentially sue the other if it was clearly one persons fault?
You do sign something to say you won't be suing anybody, but apparently that's not worth much - and it has come under threat in the past. Long thread on here about it somewhere. Car got hit by somebody else, owner claimed off his own insurance and then his insurance company went after the third party - can't remember the outcome, but it was one of those "precedent changing incidents" that everybody said would ruin trackdays forever if it went through.
I did Bedford for my first track day. Its a great place to learn and really friendly.
The best thing I did was booking some tuition.
Word of warning.....its a slippery slope. I have attended 5 track days now and I started by putting on sticky tyres, better pads and now I have removed all the original seats, stripped out as much weight as possible and last week I installed adjustable coilovers. However, there are plenty of standard cars at track days and lots of M Sport cars which always seem to be very capable.
Booked a day at Bedford this morning to try the new suspension out.
The best thing I did was booking some tuition.
Word of warning.....its a slippery slope. I have attended 5 track days now and I started by putting on sticky tyres, better pads and now I have removed all the original seats, stripped out as much weight as possible and last week I installed adjustable coilovers. However, there are plenty of standard cars at track days and lots of M Sport cars which always seem to be very capable.
Booked a day at Bedford this morning to try the new suspension out.
An Opentrack event at Bedford is what I'd suggest for you. They offer free tuition, free photos, free doughnuts, and free tea/coffee/water.
Your car will be fine as it is for your first try, you should adjust tyre air pressure and torque your wheel nuts before and after your first session and throughout the day. Depending on the tyre, 33-36psi hot should work.
Your car will be fine as it is for your first try, you should adjust tyre air pressure and torque your wheel nuts before and after your first session and throughout the day. Depending on the tyre, 33-36psi hot should work.
Gassing Station | Track Days | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff