Do you ever feel slow on track?
Discussion
Hi all
Since buying my Renault Clio RS200 cup I've become a bit obsessed with track days. I bought this car as a keeper (always wanted one when they were new) and now I find myself modifying it for track days, which has been a fun process thus far.
One thing I've noticed while on track is how slow the car is in a straight line. Unfortunately, there isn't much which can be done to get more BHP 'cheaply' from the engine, so I've spent time and money making it brake and handle better. This has made a huge difference, I can brake a lot later, harder and being able to carry so much more speed through the twisties. But the car just gets destroyed in a straight line by nearly everything else on track.
I recently did a TD at Llandow, my thinking was a smaller track would suit the Clio. But there were countless 400+bhp cars, which would constantly be overtaking me in the very few straights. It felt somewhat disheartening to be honest.
If you guys were me, would you upgrade to something faster?
Thanks all
NG
Since buying my Renault Clio RS200 cup I've become a bit obsessed with track days. I bought this car as a keeper (always wanted one when they were new) and now I find myself modifying it for track days, which has been a fun process thus far.
One thing I've noticed while on track is how slow the car is in a straight line. Unfortunately, there isn't much which can be done to get more BHP 'cheaply' from the engine, so I've spent time and money making it brake and handle better. This has made a huge difference, I can brake a lot later, harder and being able to carry so much more speed through the twisties. But the car just gets destroyed in a straight line by nearly everything else on track.
I recently did a TD at Llandow, my thinking was a smaller track would suit the Clio. But there were countless 400+bhp cars, which would constantly be overtaking me in the very few straights. It felt somewhat disheartening to be honest.
If you guys were me, would you upgrade to something faster?
Thanks all
NG
Networkgeek said:
I recently did a TD at Llandow, my thinking was a smaller track would suit the Clio. But there were countless 400+bhp cars, which would constantly be overtaking me in the very few straights. It felt somewhat disheartening to be honest.
Was this a random mid-week session? Was under the impression Llandow was dead during most weeks so had planned on going there for some testing, not ideal on a slow old wreck if there are countless fast weapons hooning around 
Chunkychucky said:
Was this a random mid-week session? Was under the impression Llandow was dead during most weeks so had planned on going there for some testing, not ideal on a slow old wreck if there are countless fast weapons hooning around
Slow old wreck? 
Thanks mate. It was a weekend session, you can book through their website and cost £110, so pretty cheap compared to other circuits.
Crossposting from another similar thread but;
HustleRussell said:
I think that small hot hatches and MX-5s are the archetypal trackday cars. I view the trackday arms race as a regrettable phenomenon which probably deters a lot of the type of people which trackdays were for in the first place.
Too many people treat it as if it is racing, or half way to racing.
If you have a warm hatch or a standard MX-5, or indeed anything milder, you should not be deterred from doing a trackday. Despite what some are saying, trackdays are for you and your car is suitable.
Too many people treat it as if it is racing, or half way to racing.
If you have a warm hatch or a standard MX-5, or indeed anything milder, you should not be deterred from doing a trackday. Despite what some are saying, trackdays are for you and your car is suitable.
Your car is not a power house, so expect the big engine monsters to whip past you on any straight. You cant compare your acceleration to others in a whole different class.... you either live with it or start look at supercharger/nitrous/potential engine swaps.
Compare your car with others of similar power and head out the same time as them to have some fun, let the bhp boys go on their merry way.
Otherwise change the car for something turboed that is cheaper to tune, although you get use to that soon enough and then want even more power!
When I had my supercharged VXR8 I would destroy anything on the straights (600bhp) but hold them up in the corners.
Compare your car with others of similar power and head out the same time as them to have some fun, let the bhp boys go on their merry way.
Otherwise change the car for something turboed that is cheaper to tune, although you get use to that soon enough and then want even more power!
When I had my supercharged VXR8 I would destroy anything on the straights (600bhp) but hold them up in the corners.
Edited by The Hofff on Tuesday 12th April 13:38
Networkgeek said:
Chunkychucky said:
Was this a random mid-week session? Was under the impression Llandow was dead during most weeks so had planned on going there for some testing, not ideal on a slow old wreck if there are countless fast weapons hooning around
Slow old wreck? Thanks mate. It was a weekend session, you can book through their website and cost £110, so pretty cheap compared to other circuits.
Networkgeek said:
Slow old wreck? Thanks mate.
It was a weekend session, you can book through their website and cost £110, so pretty cheap compared to other circuits.
Sorry fella I was referring to my own car haha! Thanks mate. It was a weekend session, you can book through their website and cost £110, so pretty cheap compared to other circuits.
Yeah the cost and likelihood of getting a quiet day were the main draws for going testing there.
I think everyone who's done a trackday in a "slow" car vs the mega-horsepower brigade has felt the frustration of being quick through the corners and slow down the straights.
Not everyone enjoys trackdays in the same way, I've heard people in the pits complaining that there are too many fast cars there and they've not been able to overtake people. I mean, sure, if that's what floats your boat then as long as you're being courteous and following the TD rules then that's fine.
For me I couldn't care less if I'm overtaking or am overtaken, I just want to push the car to the limit and have a big grin on my face.
No approach is more wrong or right than the other, so just be honest with yourself about what you actually enjoy and go from there.
Not everyone enjoys trackdays in the same way, I've heard people in the pits complaining that there are too many fast cars there and they've not been able to overtake people. I mean, sure, if that's what floats your boat then as long as you're being courteous and following the TD rules then that's fine.
For me I couldn't care less if I'm overtaking or am overtaken, I just want to push the car to the limit and have a big grin on my face.
No approach is more wrong or right than the other, so just be honest with yourself about what you actually enjoy and go from there.
Always a factor on most track days tbh quite a range between the fastest and slowest cars, shouldn't be a problem for anyone when there's good track etiquette being displayed by all parties. I'd also like to think its fun for the slower cars too when I go past at 150 mph down the back straight at Bedford! On the other hand I do feel slow at the Ring sometimes when a well driven GT2RS or similar appears out of nowhere in my mirrors...the pace of the really fast cars there is quite something.
Unless you go and blast all your cash on the fastest car and also become the worlds greatest driver you will always be overtaken by something on a track day. As others have said just enjoy your own pace and try to forgot about others.
Although if you do find yourself with some spare cash go for it, there is a different kind of fun/fear to be had the faster you go!
Although if you do find yourself with some spare cash go for it, there is a different kind of fun/fear to be had the faster you go!
I've got a clio 172, so have frequently felt like the slowest car on track.
The best solution I've found is to use owner's clubs to try to get out with similar cars.
I had a fantastic day at bedford last November when eight clios turned up and about a dozen MX5s. Lots of cars about the same pace, friendly groups and good weather.
By contrast, here's the clio sharing a garge with a race prepped aston:
The best solution I've found is to use owner's clubs to try to get out with similar cars.
I had a fantastic day at bedford last November when eight clios turned up and about a dozen MX5s. Lots of cars about the same pace, friendly groups and good weather.
By contrast, here's the clio sharing a garge with a race prepped aston:
Cambs_Stuart said:
I've got a clio 172, so have frequently felt like the slowest car on track.
The best solution I've found is to use owner's clubs to try to get out with similar cars.
I had a fantastic day at bedford last November when eight clios turned up and about a dozen MX5s. Lots of cars about the same pace, friendly groups and good weather.
l]
Done this with the Westfield, pros and cons to owner's clubs. But it was nice not to spend every bend stuck behind the GT3 that had just overtook me on the straight. The best solution I've found is to use owner's clubs to try to get out with similar cars.
I had a fantastic day at bedford last November when eight clios turned up and about a dozen MX5s. Lots of cars about the same pace, friendly groups and good weather.
l]
Ring was an experience... ...watch out for the bi..... Zooommm....
I've had a similar experience with a Clio 200 Cup, thought it was a great B road car but lacking in, particularly straight line, speed at trackdays.
And a previous owner had spent £3500 with KTec on cams, exhaust and a remap to get to 207 bhp/165 lb/ft torque but it still hadn't got the grunt to pull a decent top speed on a circuit.
I completely understand that trackdays are more about having fun than how fast you are going but personally having done over 50 trackdays in the last 20 years in a wide variety of cars I do enjoy myself more when I am among the faster cars on a day, gradually catching and going past at least some cars rather than constantly looking in the mirrors and moving over to let faster cars through.
My solution was to sell the Clio and buy a Megane RS250 with a few mods giving 305 bhp/345 lb/ft torque, did my first day at Castle Combe in it last week and OMG, it was still accelerating hard at 120 mph before braking for Avon Rise!
Would also recommend Combe, a lovely circuit with low numbers to keep noise down and seemed to attract very few, if any, idiots unlike many trackdays I've been on!
And a previous owner had spent £3500 with KTec on cams, exhaust and a remap to get to 207 bhp/165 lb/ft torque but it still hadn't got the grunt to pull a decent top speed on a circuit.
I completely understand that trackdays are more about having fun than how fast you are going but personally having done over 50 trackdays in the last 20 years in a wide variety of cars I do enjoy myself more when I am among the faster cars on a day, gradually catching and going past at least some cars rather than constantly looking in the mirrors and moving over to let faster cars through.
My solution was to sell the Clio and buy a Megane RS250 with a few mods giving 305 bhp/345 lb/ft torque, did my first day at Castle Combe in it last week and OMG, it was still accelerating hard at 120 mph before braking for Avon Rise!
Would also recommend Combe, a lovely circuit with low numbers to keep noise down and seemed to attract very few, if any, idiots unlike many trackdays I've been on!
to the OP
I think you're going about trackdays the wrong way.
I have tracked over the last 12 months, a RenaultSport Twingo (133hp) a Peugeot 106 Rallye race car ( 138hp) and a Hyundai I20N (201hp)
On each track day, my chosen car was not the fastest there by any means. However learning how to drive it to its strengths ( cornering ) means that over a lap you can be one of the faster cars. I'd say on a typical trackday I'd be in the top half of overall lap speed. in the wet in the top 5.
Even with the performance improvement with the Hyundai it was only about 1s per lap quicker than my race car.
I'd suggest you spend time on developing your driving, it's all about momentum in hot hatches. You'll get a lot more satisfaction lapping consistently quickly in a hot hatch than a turbo nutter barge.
I also find that big commitment into braking and corners generally scares off the 'fast in a straight line brigade'. They tend to wonder in to the pits to open the bonnet to look for that missing horsepower when hassled by a 'slower' car.
In summary a good driver could make 10s per lap difference in the same car as opposed to someone whose a bit of a jockey.
I think you're going about trackdays the wrong way.
I have tracked over the last 12 months, a RenaultSport Twingo (133hp) a Peugeot 106 Rallye race car ( 138hp) and a Hyundai I20N (201hp)
On each track day, my chosen car was not the fastest there by any means. However learning how to drive it to its strengths ( cornering ) means that over a lap you can be one of the faster cars. I'd say on a typical trackday I'd be in the top half of overall lap speed. in the wet in the top 5.
Even with the performance improvement with the Hyundai it was only about 1s per lap quicker than my race car.
I'd suggest you spend time on developing your driving, it's all about momentum in hot hatches. You'll get a lot more satisfaction lapping consistently quickly in a hot hatch than a turbo nutter barge.
I also find that big commitment into braking and corners generally scares off the 'fast in a straight line brigade'. They tend to wonder in to the pits to open the bonnet to look for that missing horsepower when hassled by a 'slower' car.
In summary a good driver could make 10s per lap difference in the same car as opposed to someone whose a bit of a jockey.
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