Track Day Advice

[YoungFireOldFlame]

Hi,

A bit of history last summer went to the Porsche Experience Centre did half a day on their tracks in my car 2009 Boxster (987) 2.9l base PDK, Sports Chrono PASM & DSC v1 controller. That was my first track day. This year I have booked the novice day at Brands Hatch through MSV. I'm thinking of upgrading to the Track Academy package i.e. 1 to 1 tuition for the day. I'm wondering how good their instructors are?

Thanks
Hayden

Edited by YoungFireOldFlame on Thursday 20th May 08:36

[Trackdayer]

Personally I'd say you'd benefit from getting a few trackdays under your belt first. Get used to how the car drives at speed, get to know a couple of nice tracks. You'll enjoy it.

Tuition is then useful if you want to go faster, or feel you're not happy for any reason.

[1781cc]

I’d say any tuition is worth it’s weight, maybe more so now when they don’t have to correct preconceived bad habits.

At the very worst they will help you understand your cars behaviour more and how to exploit it, even if you never do another track day

[osdecar]

Trackday tuition is by far the best value for money you can spend in performance driving.

I'd say that having someone giving you instructions can be a bit overwhelming at the beginning of the day, when you're just trying to get to know the track and the conditions of that day. But if you're booking the whole day, I'm sure they will give you more time and will be more relaxed at the beginning.

Bear in mind also that when on a trackday you're going to spend more time off the track than on the track. So might be more economical to buy a couple of separated sessions than order a whole day. But that's up to you.

[Steve H]

Tuition is always good but you would get much better value out of a couple of half or full hour sessions on a trackday with time to digest/practice in between.

All organisers will be able to provide this kind of option. Once you’ve done some time with different instructors you’ll get a feel for who/what suits you if you want to do something more intensive.

[Cambs_Stuart]

The instructors I've had have all been great. Some have been excellent. I couldn't recommend them more to anyone thinking of driving on track.

[PGNSagaris]

Trackdayer said:

Personally I'd say you'd benefit from getting a few trackdays under your belt first. Get used to how the car drives at speed, get to know a couple of nice tracks. You'll enjoy it.

Tuition is then useful if you want to go faster, or feel you're not happy for any reason.

I’d say completely the opposite. Get tuition as early as possible when starting driving in track.

You don’t learn to swim by jumping in the deep end and hoping for the best

[BobToc]

Everyone’s different, but I felt a lot more comfortable on track after I had a couple of sessions with an instructor. I’d go straight to that. Agree with the suggestion of doing a session with an instructor, doing a couple on your own and then another with an instructor.

[1781cc]

PGNSagaris said:

Trackdayer said:

Personally I'd say you'd benefit from getting a few trackdays under your belt first. Get used to how the car drives at speed, get to know a couple of nice tracks. You'll enjoy it.

Tuition is then useful if you want to go faster, or feel you're not happy for any reason.

I’d say completely the opposite. Get tuition as early as possible when starting driving in track.

You don’t learn to swim by jumping in the deep end and hoping for the best

This ^^^

[Trackdayer]

PGNSagaris said:

I’d say completely the opposite. Get tuition as early as possible when starting driving in track.

You don’t learn to swim by jumping in the deep end and hoping for the best

And you don't find the lines and techniques that suit you by being told what somebody else's are.

[Steve H]

Trackdayer said:

And you don't find the lines and techniques that suit you by being told what somebody else's are.

You say that as if there’s wide range of equally effective options.

90+% of track driving runs to the same method/line/technique, doesn’t matter what the car is and where the technique is concerned it doesn’t even matter which circuit you are on, the same basics apply.

Most drivers will get to that point much faster with instruction.

[Trackdayer]

Steve H said:

You say that as if there’s wide range of equally effective options.

90+% of track driving runs to the same method/line/technique, doesn’t matter what the car is and where the technique is concerned it doesn’t even matter which circuit you are on, the same basics apply.

Most drivers will get to that point much faster with instruction.

I disagree. Look at fast-in, slow-out versus slow-in, fast-out. Two options over a dozen corners is a lot of possibilities. Depends on the car, the car setup and driver preference. A third party isn't necessarily better informed on those factors.

I have a friend who had endless tuition and was never quick. On the other hand I'm rarely overtaken on track and binned off tuition when the instructor couldn't even fathom that I liked my seat in a different position to him. He was so arrogant but quickly wound his neck in when I schooled him on the basics.

Back to the OP - if you can enjoy trackdays without tuition then I'd say go for it.

[Oilchange]

Whatever. Just build your speed gradually or you’ll have an off.

[Boggo]

Trackdayer said:

Steve H said:

You say that as if there’s wide range of equally effective options.

90+% of track driving runs to the same method/line/technique, doesn’t matter what the car is and where the technique is concerned it doesn’t even matter which circuit you are on, the same basics apply.

Most drivers will get to that point much faster with instruction.

I disagree. Look at fast-in, slow-out versus slow-in, fast-out. Two options over a dozen corners is a lot of possibilities. Depends on the car, the car setup and driver preference. A third party isn't necessarily better informed on those factors.

I have a friend who had endless tuition and was never quick. On the other hand I'm rarely overtaken on track and binned off tuition when the instructor couldn't even fathom that I liked my seat in a different position to him. He was so arrogant but quickly wound his neck in when I schooled him on the basics.

Back to the OP - if you can enjoy trackdays without tuition then I'd say go for it.

LOL - I can see exactly why you don't get on with instructors.

I'll bet you win every track day you do.


To the OP - Get tuition, good instructors will work with you to figure out what works for you and your car. Importantly, be open to the tuition and willing to make changes that someone with a professional career in driving is giving you (and you're paying for). Thinking your the bee's knees is a bad attitude!

[YoungFireOldFlame]

Hi,

I have one session booked in with an instructor, I did this on the booking page. I didn't realise you could do more. I called up MSVT and the lady said they are sold out on the website. She said on the day ask at the track. I'm wondering is this just a fob off or do they have extra availability on the day or should I find an ARD instructors to take down to the Hatch?

Thanks
Haider

[motorhole]

YoungFireOldFlame said:

Hi,

I have one session booked in with an instructor, I did this on the booking page. I didn't realise you could do more. I called up MSVT and the lady said they are sold out on the website. She said on the day ask at the track. I'm wondering is this just a fob off or do they have extra availability on the day or should I find an ARD instructors to take down to the Hatch?

Thanks
Haider

There will often be free slots become available in the day as the result of cancellations or mechanical failures. If they are fully booked they are likely just passing the message on to ask around and hope a slot becomes available.

[Steve H]

Trackdayer said:

I disagree. Look at fast-in, slow-out versus slow-in, fast-out. Two options over a dozen corners is a lot of possibilities. Depends on the car, the car setup and driver preference. A third party isn't necessarily better informed on those factors.

I have a friend who had endless tuition and was never quick. On the other hand I'm rarely overtaken on track and binned off tuition when the instructor couldn't even fathom that I liked my seat in a different position to him. He was so arrogant but quickly wound his neck in when I schooled him on the basics.

Back to the OP - if you can enjoy trackdays without tuition then I'd say go for it.

OP, please ignore this ^^^^^.

Anyone that "schools instructors on the basics" has either had one bad experience with one instructor and then gave up or has more than enough arrogance of his own that he is not a good example of how best to learn track driving.

It will be worth asking the MSV staff on the day if there are any more sessions available but even just one run out with an instructor should be a big help.

[Cambs_Stuart]

Steve H said:

OP, please ignore this ^^^^^.

Anyone that "schools instructors on the basics" has either had one bad experience with one instructor and then gave up or has more than enough arrogance of his own that he is not a good example of how best to learn track driving.

It will be worth asking the MSV staff on the day if there are any more sessions available but even just one run out with an instructor should be a big help.

I agree. Most instructors I've had are professional racers with experience across a wide range of vehicles. They've all been interesting and all pushed me to go faster and smoother.
When i started out they got me to focus on lines and braking points. As i got better more advanced driving techniques got a mention. If nothing else they often have very good knowledge of the track so know whre the grip can be found (or is absent).
But they are people, and some people you get on with better than others, so if you're going to have an extended session, make sure it's someone you can work with.