Track day training

[Shinything]

Looking for recommendations for track day training in my own car (Elise) please. The aim is to enjoy & complete as many track days as possible in 2022. I can only find old threads when searching the forum.

[phazed]

I had half a day, (which is plenty!) with Ed Moore who runs MSE, (Motorsport Events) many years ago.

They still do this: https://www.motorsport-events.com/pages/stay-sharp...

Depending where you are, I'd recommend Castle Combe.

I went to the half day training in my 4.6 Chimaera with half worn Toyo Triple 8 tyres fitted. At the end of the day, All 4 were worn out! It was full on and hugely enjoyable. It certainly sharpened and improved my driving, (debatable I know ).

[Shinything]

Thanks phazed.

[ecain63]

Best advice I can give is to do the silver and gold days at the Lotus Driving Academy. After that you'll be well prepared for most tracks. I did it last Feb and learned so much about the specifics of driving a Lotus. They're different to other cars on track.

[Shinything]

Thanks. Have you done many track days since the Lotus Academy?

[Steve H]

Pretty much every organiser has tuition available on their events. Book an hour each time you go and if you find an instructor that you work well with ask them about more training, most will do one2one work on a private basis as well.

[BertBert]

As a recommendation you could give Ryan Hooker a go. Very accomplished driver coach, ARDS instructor, does a lot with the caterham guys and a really nice guy.

http://www.one2one.uk.net/circuit-driving/instruct...

[nickfrog]

Steve H said:

Pretty much every organiser has tuition available on their events. Book an hour each time you go and if you find an instructor that you work well with ask them about more training, most will do one2one work on a private basis as well.

That's really good advice from Steve IMO. If the OP has no track experience then any instructor will be fine for the fundamentals. The idea of doing 1 hour only is also excellent, as a full day or even half a day can lead to cognitive overload, there is so much to take in. 1 hour and then 2 hours on your own, repeat in the afternoon.

[ecain63]

Shinything said:

Thanks. Have you done many track days since the Lotus Academy?

Around 25 I think.

[phazed]

ecain63 said:

Shinything said:

Thanks. Have you done many track days since the Lotus Academy?

Around 25 I think.

Was that at Hethel? A lovely track.

Did a TVR track day there. There was only TVR’s and Loti from memory.

[timbo999]

I've been instructed by Mike Wilds a couple of times - 50 years experience including F1 and World Sports Cars, old school and very patient.

Recently instructed by Katie Milner who drives a McLaren in British GT Championship who made me loads faster round Brands GP the other day.

However, what I would say is that being a racer and being an instructor are not necessarily the same thing.

[phazed]

^^^^^^^^^

Absolutely true. Had a 20 minute instruction with an old guy at Castle Combe a few years ago. Very patient and well worth it. If only it had stuck in my memory!

[ecain63]

phazed said:

Was that at Hethel? A lovely track.

Did a TVR track day there. There was only TVR’s and Loti from memory.

Academy was at Hethel. Fantastic instruction and a steep learning curve.

Track days since have been all over the place.

[Shinything]

Thanks all. The one2one training sounds exactly what I was looking for.

[Baldchap]

Another vote for the Lotus Driving Academy. We did the four day one and it was a game changer.

We're still in contact with our instructor and he has met us at track days for further training.

[mpit]

Nice one for seeking out coaching, it's the single biggest performance upgrade you can do.

A couple of things worth noting;

Make sure you choose someone that'll take your car out with you in it. Seeing what the car is capable of will completely recalibrate your brain and where you are as a driver.

Secondly, there are many different styles of coaching so if the first coach you try doesn't work for you, don't give up, just make sure you talk about what you didn't like about it to the next person you engage.

[YoungFireOldFlame]

A bit late to the party but to put my tuppence in I had done one day at Porsche Experience Centre tracks, this year I did a full day at Brands Indy. I did four 20 minute sessions in the morning and then 3 in the afternoon. I'd say do a full day do a 20 minutes session and then take 30 minutes of recovery time and work on one thing at a time. I watched a couple of track guides bought a cheap steering wheel (£50 on eBay) and an I Racing sub. I then proceeded to tackle turn by turn, not the full circuit. This gave me an idea of where I should be looking (thanks Driver61) turn points, apex points, run out points for each turn. Out of the track day I have got my brake points and I will plug this info into I Racing to help me prepare for my next track day. I paid £693 for a full day at Brands...