Cadwell 25/11/2021
Discussion
Just booked myself on for Cadwell on the 25th November through javelin. Anyone else looking to go? It will be my first time at Cadwell and my first track day in my fiesta st, so very exciting!
Any tips welcome - I've been on a few track days (spa being the highlight so far) so experienced in that respect.
Any tips welcome - I've been on a few track days (spa being the highlight so far) so experienced in that respect.
Fury556 said:
Just booked myself on for Cadwell
Any tips welcome
Listen to the briefing, they will tell you where the potential issues are.Any tips welcome
There are lots of elevation & coverage (trees) areas, so be very cautious particularly in the wet/early in each session. Most out of season TDs I have done there start with a red flag in the first few laps because a TD warrior with all the gear & no idea stuffs it at the entrance to the mountain or goes straight on at the start or end of the back straight.
If you can, get tuition.
It's a great circuit, some Cadwell specific bits of advice:
- There are no garages and no real tarmac paddock to speak of. You come off the track, up the narrow lane and straight into what is basically an overflow car park. If the weather looks grim, it's worth bringing shelter (either a gazebo or large umbrella).
- You can carry more speed into Coppice than you think due to how steep it is, but don't go to fast too soon. Work up to it.
- If the organisers put out cones, study them and use them. Often there will be a cone on the turn in point and the ideal apex. Because a few of the corners are blind, this can help.
- Depending on how powerful your car is, be careful over the mountain. It's really steep and some cars can get a little bit of air over the crest. If you do get air and keep on the gas, the shock load on landing can damage drivetrain components.
It's busy and you won't get much rest during a lap but it's a great track. Enjoy.
- There are no garages and no real tarmac paddock to speak of. You come off the track, up the narrow lane and straight into what is basically an overflow car park. If the weather looks grim, it's worth bringing shelter (either a gazebo or large umbrella).
- You can carry more speed into Coppice than you think due to how steep it is, but don't go to fast too soon. Work up to it.
- If the organisers put out cones, study them and use them. Often there will be a cone on the turn in point and the ideal apex. Because a few of the corners are blind, this can help.
- Depending on how powerful your car is, be careful over the mountain. It's really steep and some cars can get a little bit of air over the crest. If you do get air and keep on the gas, the shock load on landing can damage drivetrain components.
It's busy and you won't get much rest during a lap but it's a great track. Enjoy.
First visit was last year for me. I was amazed how narrow the pit lane looked from the registration building. And then I realised it was the track itself. 
Unless you're totally clueless the topography and lack of space will instinctively make you more careful than on a more open circuit, so stick to the usual advice of only gradually increasing pace and get a £20 tuition session with the Javelin instructor booked.
It's a brilliant circuit that I will carry on doing every year despite the 4 hour drive there.
Unless you're totally clueless the topography and lack of space will instinctively make you more careful than on a more open circuit, so stick to the usual advice of only gradually increasing pace and get a £20 tuition session with the Javelin instructor booked.
It's a brilliant circuit that I will carry on doing every year despite the 4 hour drive there.
It's a brilliant track. Coppice is possibly my favourite corner of all time.
The marshalls also get very annoyed with people hitting their cones, so don't try to clip them.
The Hall bends to the hairpin section, just after where you join the track, claimed a few cars last time i was there. It's overshadowed by big trees so can stay damp even when the rest if the track is dry. It's also narrow, without much run off.
The marshalls also get very annoyed with people hitting their cones, so don't try to clip them.
The Hall bends to the hairpin section, just after where you join the track, claimed a few cars last time i was there. It's overshadowed by big trees so can stay damp even when the rest if the track is dry. It's also narrow, without much run off.
Agreed, my favourite track too. It really flows and is a superb track in the dry.
All the above comments are good.
I did a track day there last month and we had no accidents and just the one red flag to recover a breakdown.
But it was a dry day.
Many of the grass areas next to the track seem to slope down to the armco.
So keep it on the black stuff. I have seen a few lighter cars exploring the armco at the top of the Mountain - there is a nasty yump to the right where the rear of the car goes light.
Have fun - I might even join you if the weather looks remotely dry.
It's not a track I will be doing in the wet.
All the above comments are good.
I did a track day there last month and we had no accidents and just the one red flag to recover a breakdown.
But it was a dry day.
Many of the grass areas next to the track seem to slope down to the armco.
So keep it on the black stuff. I have seen a few lighter cars exploring the armco at the top of the Mountain - there is a nasty yump to the right where the rear of the car goes light.
Have fun - I might even join you if the weather looks remotely dry.
It's not a track I will be doing in the wet.
It’s a superb little circuit, I agree with all the earlier comments.
Did my 1st TD there back in April with my Alpina. It was the most fun I’ve ever had with my clothes on!
I’d describe it as a circuit of two halves, the Barn to the Bridge very fast “relatively easy” reasonably wide for overtakes with places to go off if you mess up.
Then comes the skilled part, Mountain to the Barn. Tree cover, potential wet with added slime, narrow, traffic, evil bend, interesting cambers, Armco.
Hard as it may be not to, do not get carried away too early in the day with this section!
Think how you’re approaching the bends, think what you’re doing, then think again, feel how the cars behaving.
Charging here can easily end in tears. When you get it right, they’ll still be tears, but of laughter.
It really can flow very quickly through here once you learn to place the car correctly.
Initially I found myself carrying too much speed on the approaches to the mountain (tight left after bridge followed by a sharp right), lost stacks of time and generally messed up. Downhill way too fast so heavy braking required at the bridge which then upset the cars balance.
Again, take it steady here to begin. Try some different lines. Be methodical about it.
You’ll eventually find the line, speed and gear that works best for your car, then you can really fly.
Crack the approach and you can rocket up the mountain. As Mac pointed out, watch for the yomp at the top!
If you over cook it going into Hall Bends - (like I did several of times) - because you’ve sussed the Mountain, try to exit stage left if you really must use the grass.
The Hairpin, what can I say? Challenging perhaps?
Finally, the decent to the right hander at the barn. Watch your speed, keep left, look for the cone at the apex. Barrel out of the turn and a wonderful wide fast straight is yours to enjoy.
Have Fun!
Did my 1st TD there back in April with my Alpina. It was the most fun I’ve ever had with my clothes on!
I’d describe it as a circuit of two halves, the Barn to the Bridge very fast “relatively easy” reasonably wide for overtakes with places to go off if you mess up.
Then comes the skilled part, Mountain to the Barn. Tree cover, potential wet with added slime, narrow, traffic, evil bend, interesting cambers, Armco.
Hard as it may be not to, do not get carried away too early in the day with this section!
Think how you’re approaching the bends, think what you’re doing, then think again, feel how the cars behaving.
Charging here can easily end in tears. When you get it right, they’ll still be tears, but of laughter.
It really can flow very quickly through here once you learn to place the car correctly.
Initially I found myself carrying too much speed on the approaches to the mountain (tight left after bridge followed by a sharp right), lost stacks of time and generally messed up. Downhill way too fast so heavy braking required at the bridge which then upset the cars balance.
Again, take it steady here to begin. Try some different lines. Be methodical about it.
You’ll eventually find the line, speed and gear that works best for your car, then you can really fly.
Crack the approach and you can rocket up the mountain. As Mac pointed out, watch for the yomp at the top!
If you over cook it going into Hall Bends - (like I did several of times) - because you’ve sussed the Mountain, try to exit stage left if you really must use the grass.
The Hairpin, what can I say? Challenging perhaps?
Finally, the decent to the right hander at the barn. Watch your speed, keep left, look for the cone at the apex. Barrel out of the turn and a wonderful wide fast straight is yours to enjoy.
Have Fun!
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