Beginner tracks near London
Discussion
Hey all
So I have my second track day booked but obviously that is postponed now. It's at Abingdon which I did as my first track day. It was great for a beginner as nothing to hit and lots of run off etc...I didnt really feel intimidated by any of it.
I've been looking at other tracks (and driving on them on Project2 on the Xbox) and realised how easy abingdon is. Really open and wide, no up and down and no real evil curbs. Was playing on Cadwell which looks amazing but so skinny.
Got me thinking I need to work out some other beginner tracks that arent a million miles away from South London.
Any recommendations?
Cheers
So I have my second track day booked but obviously that is postponed now. It's at Abingdon which I did as my first track day. It was great for a beginner as nothing to hit and lots of run off etc...I didnt really feel intimidated by any of it.
I've been looking at other tracks (and driving on them on Project2 on the Xbox) and realised how easy abingdon is. Really open and wide, no up and down and no real evil curbs. Was playing on Cadwell which looks amazing but so skinny.
Got me thinking I need to work out some other beginner tracks that arent a million miles away from South London.
Any recommendations?
Cheers
Mr MXT said:
Get on a “proper” circuit. Bedford and Silverstone both close and “safe”.
Agreed, easy to get to from south London. I'd spend time at these before trying Brands. The first few times down Paddock Hill is pretty intimidating! The Indy track is short but a few of the corners are hard to learn unless you get some decent tuition. Of course you can still have fun there without hitting the ultimate lines and pace - track days are about fun after all.
Mr MXT said:
Get on a “proper” circuit. Bedford and Silverstone both close and “safe”.
Bedford is not a proper circuit and despite it’s safe reputation is also the worst place (possibly alongside any other airfield) for novices. Silverstone is good, GP possibly a bit much for a novice as it tends to attract some fairly quick cars and inconsiderate drivers but Nat or Int are well worth a go.
Also interested to hear why bedford isnt good for novices... whenever i took someone new out in my car, i try and go to bedford... one chap got it very wrong through the fast back chicane, and got a long way off the track, backwards... luckily as it was bedford we didnt hit anything!
I know I’m in the minority here but since you asked, here goes.............
There’s a few issues with Bedford .
First is a general one that might be personal choice but here’s mine, I just don’t think it’s that entertaining. Yes it’s got some fast straights and it does have a couple of interesting sequences (the double-left about 2/3 through the lap is quite fun for instance) but in a very long lap there’s quite a bit of average/boring in there when compared to other tracks, including the much missed Rockingham that’s just up the road.
Regarding novices I think there’s three issues.
1. It isn’t as safe as it’s reputation. I’ve seen as many cars on their roof there as anywhere else and more car to car contacts than at any other track. Bearing in mind I work at other tracks a lot more often I have to say this doesn’t make Bedford sound like a safe track to me.
2. It’s hard to learn. It is! Over 4 miles long and very few distinguishing marks. If you think it’s easy then you are either-
a. Unusually good at learning tracks.
b. Not as novice as most novices.
c. Not familiar with the fun sensation of sitting next to overwhelmed novices while they are trying to turn left into right handers
.
3. Here’s the most important one. It’s easy to get wrong and not notice. It builds dangerous habits and complacency. Bedford is wide and on many corners you can go wrong while still feeling like a total f
king hero. There is a right line for sure but being off it isn’t obvious like at most tracks and while I don’t want to see anyone in the barriers it’s actually a good thing to get a feeling that you aren’t quite getting it right yet - it makes you look for improvement.
Getting away with it and having fun is what Palmersport was designed for (and it’s the very best at what it does) but that’s for guys doing 20 minute sessions; practicing all day how to drive (badly) can have some serious consequences for the hapless novice when he decides he’s ready to lose his training wings and display his skills at a proper circuit.
Each to their own but when we are spoilt for choice in this country with a variety of amazing, exciting, beautiful race tracks to play on, I am not sold on the bland, soulless alternative.
Steve H
There’s a few issues with Bedford .
First is a general one that might be personal choice but here’s mine, I just don’t think it’s that entertaining. Yes it’s got some fast straights and it does have a couple of interesting sequences (the double-left about 2/3 through the lap is quite fun for instance) but in a very long lap there’s quite a bit of average/boring in there when compared to other tracks, including the much missed Rockingham that’s just up the road.
Regarding novices I think there’s three issues.
1. It isn’t as safe as it’s reputation. I’ve seen as many cars on their roof there as anywhere else and more car to car contacts than at any other track. Bearing in mind I work at other tracks a lot more often I have to say this doesn’t make Bedford sound like a safe track to me.
2. It’s hard to learn. It is! Over 4 miles long and very few distinguishing marks. If you think it’s easy then you are either-
a. Unusually good at learning tracks.
b. Not as novice as most novices.
c. Not familiar with the fun sensation of sitting next to overwhelmed novices while they are trying to turn left into right handers
.3. Here’s the most important one. It’s easy to get wrong and not notice. It builds dangerous habits and complacency. Bedford is wide and on many corners you can go wrong while still feeling like a total f
king hero. There is a right line for sure but being off it isn’t obvious like at most tracks and while I don’t want to see anyone in the barriers it’s actually a good thing to get a feeling that you aren’t quite getting it right yet - it makes you look for improvement. Getting away with it and having fun is what Palmersport was designed for (and it’s the very best at what it does) but that’s for guys doing 20 minute sessions; practicing all day how to drive (badly) can have some serious consequences for the hapless novice when he decides he’s ready to lose his training wings and display his skills at a proper circuit.
Each to their own but when we are spoilt for choice in this country with a variety of amazing, exciting, beautiful race tracks to play on, I am not sold on the bland, soulless alternative.
Steve H
Some very good points Steve, some of them I hadn't considered.
I guess the negatives that you mention may indeed make a dent into the benefits of the wide run off areas.
I guess the question won't be very releant if/when they grant planning for all those houses... Do you know how likely that is?
I guess the negatives that you mention may indeed make a dent into the benefits of the wide run off areas.
I guess the question won't be very releant if/when they grant planning for all those houses... Do you know how likely that is?
I understood it was pretty certain, just a question of when.
The plans I’ve seen are like a small town, huge development!
Impossible to turn down that opportunity I’d say but to be fair Dr Palmer has kept putting money into keeping the proper tracks alive so I don’t begrudge him having the chance to do even more.
The plans I’ve seen are like a small town, huge development!
Impossible to turn down that opportunity I’d say but to be fair Dr Palmer has kept putting money into keeping the proper tracks alive so I don’t begrudge him having the chance to do even more.
i wouldn't be concerned about going to any track day, most people are pretty courteos to slower drivers as long as the slower drivers are courteos to them.
as long as you keep your eyes open and on your mirrors then you shouldn't have a problem, if another driver isn't showing you courtesy then a quiet word in the organisors ear is all it takes.
i much prefer actual race tracks to airfield days, i find that on airfield days the reduced risk of damage to cars with massive run offs encourages people to push past the limits and as has been said above i find it difficult to judge speed and direction with very few physical references. also they're always so bloody flat that it doesn't make it very interesting!
get some tuition, a few laps with an expert will be better than a whole track day not quite getting it.
i did a track day at brands hatch with MSV just before the lock down came in, it was the best track day i've done, partly due to the light system they use to let you know you have a driver approaching you.
all of the above is just my opinion as a semi newbie so feel free to pick it apart!
alex
as long as you keep your eyes open and on your mirrors then you shouldn't have a problem, if another driver isn't showing you courtesy then a quiet word in the organisors ear is all it takes.
i much prefer actual race tracks to airfield days, i find that on airfield days the reduced risk of damage to cars with massive run offs encourages people to push past the limits and as has been said above i find it difficult to judge speed and direction with very few physical references. also they're always so bloody flat that it doesn't make it very interesting!
get some tuition, a few laps with an expert will be better than a whole track day not quite getting it.
i did a track day at brands hatch with MSV just before the lock down came in, it was the best track day i've done, partly due to the light system they use to let you know you have a driver approaching you.
all of the above is just my opinion as a semi newbie so feel free to pick it apart!
alex
I’ve done a couple of session at Bruntingthorpe with an instructor and have found it very helpful...circuit is only 1.5 miles or so but it’s high speed with plenty of run off. So no difficulty learning it but there’s enough to test a novice and learn the limits of your car....which in my case far exceed mine. It’s also very,very quiet....busiest I have seen it is with three cars on it and I had an hour on the second morning when I was the only person on it. There are also some small kerbs so it’s not just a typical airfield !
Steve H said:
3. Here’s the most important one. It’s easy to get wrong and not notice. It builds dangerous habits and complacency. Bedford is wide and on many corners you can go wrong while still feeling like a total fking hero. There is a right line for sure but being off it isn’t obvious like at most tracks and while I don’t want to see anyone in the barriers it’s actually a good thing to get a feeling that you aren’t quite getting it right yet - it makes you look for improvement.
Getting away with it and having fun is what Palmersport was designed for (and it’s the very best at what it does) but that’s for guys doing 20 minute sessions; practicing all day how to drive (badly) can have some serious consequences for the hapless novice when he decides he’s ready to lose his training wings and display his skills at a proper circuit.
This ^^^king hero. There is a right line for sure but being off it isn’t obvious like at most tracks and while I don’t want to see anyone in the barriers it’s actually a good thing to get a feeling that you aren’t quite getting it right yet - it makes you look for improvement. Getting away with it and having fun is what Palmersport was designed for (and it’s the very best at what it does) but that’s for guys doing 20 minute sessions; practicing all day how to drive (badly) can have some serious consequences for the hapless novice when he decides he’s ready to lose his training wings and display his skills at a proper circuit.
As also quoted about the back chicane. Part of the reason people get it so wrong, even the people who think they get it right, is there is very little reason or incentive to slow down. Just point in the general direction and use as much as the tarmac as you need. Take the same approach at chicanes at circuits with grass and Armco and the result will be very different.
Snetterton is a good track for a beginner in my opinion.
I have been off there a few times in my early track days....exit stage right at the last (left hander) corner, when I locked the rear wheels up changing down, exit backwards at Hamilton, exit forwards at the first of the Esses, exit backwards at the second of the Esses......and I have never hit anything.
But it is an interesting track, easy to learn, good fun to drive. And easy to get to. M25, M11, A11, turn right at the sign that says "Snetterton Race Circuit".
Cadwell Park you mentioned - it must be 200 miles from South London because I live 135 miles north of London and it is a further 45 miles from me to the track. It's not a good track to go seriously off, as most corners seem to be fringed with downward sloping grass towards the barriers. And it is narrow.
And my top speed is only 125 mph. Yet is it an involving circuit, 13 corners in two miles, and it flows so well you never really feel like you re going to go off. I have been off just the twice, minor excursions onto and straight back off the grass, no drama, no armco.
It is by far my favourite circuit.
Castle Combe must be another. Just to the west of Junction 17 of the M4. Once you get used the the armco being 5 yards from the edge of the tarmac at the three main bends, it flows and is fun. Overtaking a McLaren 650S there was a high point for me.
I have been off there a few times in my early track days....exit stage right at the last (left hander) corner, when I locked the rear wheels up changing down, exit backwards at Hamilton, exit forwards at the first of the Esses, exit backwards at the second of the Esses......and I have never hit anything.
But it is an interesting track, easy to learn, good fun to drive. And easy to get to. M25, M11, A11, turn right at the sign that says "Snetterton Race Circuit".
Cadwell Park you mentioned - it must be 200 miles from South London because I live 135 miles north of London and it is a further 45 miles from me to the track. It's not a good track to go seriously off, as most corners seem to be fringed with downward sloping grass towards the barriers. And it is narrow.
And my top speed is only 125 mph. Yet is it an involving circuit, 13 corners in two miles, and it flows so well you never really feel like you re going to go off. I have been off just the twice, minor excursions onto and straight back off the grass, no drama, no armco.
It is by far my favourite circuit.
Castle Combe must be another. Just to the west of Junction 17 of the M4. Once you get used the the armco being 5 yards from the edge of the tarmac at the three main bends, it flows and is fun. Overtaking a McLaren 650S there was a high point for me.
I do more laps at Castle Combe than at any other track. Avon Rise into Quarry and Camp are pretty serious corners and I've seen some horrible accidents at both. Most track day insurers won't insure a day at Combe.
It's a great track, but not one for a beginner. Other opinions are available!
It's a great track, but not one for a beginner. Other opinions are available!
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