Track day etiquette
Discussion
Apologise if this has been done to death, but why do straight line hero's get away with their shenanigans?
I was at Donnington Park this Monday for a novice day (second track day), in my MP215 Fiesta ST, and had this audi r8 who just wouldn't let me past. They'd eclipse me on the straights, and then parked it on the next corners apex. Speaking to a few of the people there, I wasn't the only one to be frustrated with their driving, and there weren't a lot of sorry faces when they ran out of talent into a braking zone and ended up on the back of a recovery truck.
To those more experienced, is it up to the drivers to approach the organisers or do the organisers actually speak to people who don't allow faster drivers through?
On a happier note, Donnington Park is a hell of a track and met some great people. In particular, shout out to the black alfa gt driver. He gave me a lot of help loaning out his tools and offered a intercooler pipe clip when mine blew off. If you see this, I wanted to buy you a pint, so if I spot you again on track I'll be sure to follow up on that.
I was at Donnington Park this Monday for a novice day (second track day), in my MP215 Fiesta ST, and had this audi r8 who just wouldn't let me past. They'd eclipse me on the straights, and then parked it on the next corners apex. Speaking to a few of the people there, I wasn't the only one to be frustrated with their driving, and there weren't a lot of sorry faces when they ran out of talent into a braking zone and ended up on the back of a recovery truck.
To those more experienced, is it up to the drivers to approach the organisers or do the organisers actually speak to people who don't allow faster drivers through?
On a happier note, Donnington Park is a hell of a track and met some great people. In particular, shout out to the black alfa gt driver. He gave me a lot of help loaning out his tools and offered a intercooler pipe clip when mine blew off. If you see this, I wanted to buy you a pint, so if I spot you again on track I'll be sure to follow up on that.
Had the same at Bedford last week, two guys in an SL63 who I quickly caught but no chance of getting past them. Clearly novices they didn’t have a clue how to drive on a track (I am no expert but have had good lessons) so holding everyone up through the corners, then blasting down the straights only to hold everyone up again at the next corner. I quickly gave up and came in early, just made sure I did t go out when they did.
I did think about speaking to the organisers but I did the British thing and didn’t want to make a fuss.
Very annoying behaviour !
I did think about speaking to the organisers but I did the British thing and didn’t want to make a fuss.
Very annoying behaviour !
Most TDOs are pretty good at managing this in fairness. But it isn't always obvious to their on course marshals so best to let them know about it. The guys doing this sort of holding up are often pretty inexperienced and are often not aware they're holding people up, despite all the emphasis in briefings. Main thing is to avoid letting it make you angry! I tend to just wait till I do get past, but it they're showing no clue at all then just run through the pit lane to come out somewhere else in the train. But do speak to the TDO, they'll speak to the driver.
I was black flagged at Donny last time out for having the audacity to be impatient with a car that held a full on queue of traffic for 2 laps. They got more of a rollocking from me than I did them! The TDO was a olympic sounding one and they are consistently doing 2 things wrong as I see it. Firstly was the sheer number of cars on track which I'm sure was about 80 or so...way too many. The second thing is that they MUST bing back morning briefings. Nobody watches the on-line briefing properly and this just results in a load of novices causing all these issues and the sheer volume of traffic makes it hard to do the blue flag. At Donny they were showing the blue flag only at the pit exit and as there were regularly 10 cars passing at the same time it was hard for novices to spot and they probably wouldn't know what the flag was anyway.
Also they were allowing cars onto the track directly in front of people braking for the first corner which I just found astonishing and highly dangerous.
I think the Olympic/Open/Vision type days have descended into overbooked chaos now with scant control and just double the amount of cars there should be so anyone looking for a safe fun experience you are really limited now to the more premium operators but they only do a small selection of circuits.
I know the companies have to make up lost ground from Covid but my thoughts on the last couple of general trackways I have been on is that they are taking the mick and spoiling the experience.
Also they were allowing cars onto the track directly in front of people braking for the first corner which I just found astonishing and highly dangerous.
I think the Olympic/Open/Vision type days have descended into overbooked chaos now with scant control and just double the amount of cars there should be so anyone looking for a safe fun experience you are really limited now to the more premium operators but they only do a small selection of circuits.
I know the companies have to make up lost ground from Covid but my thoughts on the last couple of general trackways I have been on is that they are taking the mick and spoiling the experience.
livinginasia said:
Had the same at Bedford last week, two guys in an SL63 who I quickly caught but no chance of getting past them. Clearly novices they didn’t have a clue how to drive on a track (I am no expert but have had good lessons) so holding everyone up through the corners, then blasting down the straights only to hold everyone up again at the next corner. I quickly gave up and came in early, just made sure I did t go out when they did.
I did think about speaking to the organisers but I did the British thing and didn’t want to make a fuss.
Very annoying behaviour !
I was there as well, if you are talking about the same day (01 August), red Megane. To be fair to those guys I think MSV did talk to them over lunch as they let me past a couple of times in the afternoon, which wasn't happening without them easing off, based on my power deficit! I did think about speaking to the organisers but I did the British thing and didn’t want to make a fuss.
Very annoying behaviour !
Just drive through the pits and ask the track day organiser or Marshall to have a quiet word with the driver that’s not playing by the rules.
I’ve done it a few times, no shame in it whatsoever, the organisers have always been happy to be told, after all it’s in the interest of the organiser that as many people as possible enjoy the track day! If they have to lose one idiot to keep everyone else happy then that’s much better than everyone being annoyed!
I’ve done it a few times, no shame in it whatsoever, the organisers have always been happy to be told, after all it’s in the interest of the organiser that as many people as possible enjoy the track day! If they have to lose one idiot to keep everyone else happy then that’s much better than everyone being annoyed!
Throttlebody said:
SteveStrange said:
Throttlebody said:
All part of track day life. Just pick the right corner and do them under the brakes.
Not sure if serious. SteveStrange said:
Throttlebody said:
SteveStrange said:
Throttlebody said:
All part of track day life. Just pick the right corner and do them under the brakes.
Not sure if serious. rb26 said:
Apologise if this has been done to death, but why do straight line hero's get away with their shenanigans?
in my MP215 Fiesta ST, and had this audi r8 who just wouldn't let me past. They'd eclipse me on the straights, and then parked it on the next corners apex.
if he had let you past then either you would have held him up on the next straight or, he would have passed you on the straight and you would be complaining again at the next bend?in my MP215 Fiesta ST, and had this audi r8 who just wouldn't let me past. They'd eclipse me on the straights, and then parked it on the next corners apex.
are you suggesting that those with better acceleration must slow down to allow those with better cornering past?
E-bmw said:
Tye Green said:
are you suggesting that those with better acceleration must slow down to allow those with better cornering past?
That is what is clearly stated in the briefing, so if that is the way you want to put the question, the answer is yes.Edited by Tye Green on Wednesday 10th August 09:50
Tye Green said:
E-bmw said:
Tye Green said:
are you suggesting that those with better acceleration must slow down to allow those with better cornering past?
That is what is clearly stated in the briefing, so if that is the way you want to put the question, the answer is yes.Edited by Tye Green on Wednesday 10th August 09:50
playing devils advocate, it was on a novice day. it might have been the first time they'd ever been on track, and remembering to look at your mirrors and allow faster traffic through can drop down your priorities. also, its entirely possible they were backing off, but just not enough to allow you through - a 400/500bhp car has to do quite a big lift to let a 200bhp car past.
its a novice day. its not a race. back off for a few corners/half a lap, and give yourself room. then when you next pit, find a marshall and ask them to have a quick word - they may not have even realised it was a problem.
for my first few trackdays i liked to have a wingman, who could look out for other cars approaching from behind and check for flag signals, so i could concentrate on driving. if he didnt have that it might have been quite difficult.
its a novice day. its not a race. back off for a few corners/half a lap, and give yourself room. then when you next pit, find a marshall and ask them to have a quick word - they may not have even realised it was a problem.
for my first few trackdays i liked to have a wingman, who could look out for other cars approaching from behind and check for flag signals, so i could concentrate on driving. if he didnt have that it might have been quite difficult.
I had similar last week at CADWELL PARK, and I didn’t see 1 blue flag all day.
I came off the circuit twice and rejoined immediately, I was released onto an empty circuit and never saw the train of 6+ cars again.
It’s frustrating for everyone. We all started out somewhere slightly slower, the worst culprits are the ones who think it’s a race and won’t let what they perceive to be an inferior car past as it damages their ego!
I came off the circuit twice and rejoined immediately, I was released onto an empty circuit and never saw the train of 6+ cars again.
It’s frustrating for everyone. We all started out somewhere slightly slower, the worst culprits are the ones who think it’s a race and won’t let what they perceive to be an inferior car past as it damages their ego!
Tye Green said:
if he had let you past then either you would have held him up on the next straight or, he would have passed you on the straight and you would be complaining again at the next bend?
are you suggesting that those with better acceleration must slow down to allow those with better cornering past?
The only areas he was faster was on the two main straights (Wheatcroft straight and Starkey's straight), everywhere else I was faster. The issue was I couldn't safely overtake as he wouldn't let me past. On the one occasion I was able to get past (at the end of Starkey's straight), he never caught me again. Donington is more than just two straights, and if you can carry more speed, and brake later, but are being held up by a slower car, it doesn't take a genius to work out it's impossible to get past. Hence the 12 car queue that was forming behind him. are you suggesting that those with better acceleration must slow down to allow those with better cornering past?
Tye Green said:
does the briefing also state that if there is a faster car on the straights then they must be allowed past?
On this track day this question was raised, and the morning briefing team stated that whilst onus of getting past safely is on the overtaking car, if you are caught, they are clearly faster. Adding you needed to move to the right and allow them to continue. With the questions and points you made in this thread, you weren't the Audi R8 driver were you? 
I, and many others, kept to that. Shame the Audi drivers pride prevented him from doing the right thing, but then maybe they couldn't handle a 'slower' car showing them up?
rb26 said:
Apologise if this has been done to death, but why do straight line hero's get away with their shenanigans?
I was at Donnington Park this Monday for a novice day (second track day), in my MP215 Fiesta ST, and had this audi r8 who just wouldn't let me past. They'd eclipse me on the straights, and then parked it on the next corners apex. Speaking to a few of the people there, I wasn't the only one to be frustrated with their driving, and there weren't a lot of sorry faces when they ran out of talent into a braking zone and ended up on the back of a recovery truck.
To those more experienced, is it up to the drivers to approach the organisers or do the organisers actually speak to people who don't allow faster drivers through?
Im in no-way a serious track day enthusiast but this is a regular issue. I mainly do Goodwood and there doesnt seem to be much of an issue here, The track stewards seem to be really ontop of it and will flag cars to let others past, in the event that they dont see, I make sure that they can clearly see me trying to pass a car at the same points on the track, that way the marshal is more likely to see the blocker car to flag him over. I was at Donnington Park this Monday for a novice day (second track day), in my MP215 Fiesta ST, and had this audi r8 who just wouldn't let me past. They'd eclipse me on the straights, and then parked it on the next corners apex. Speaking to a few of the people there, I wasn't the only one to be frustrated with their driving, and there weren't a lot of sorry faces when they ran out of talent into a braking zone and ended up on the back of a recovery truck.
To those more experienced, is it up to the drivers to approach the organisers or do the organisers actually speak to people who don't allow faster drivers through?
They have an indicator rule at Goodwood as well so you can only pass once the person infront allows you to, so the only thing you can really do is be all over the car infront till he lets you through or the marshal flags him to let you past ... but if thats not for you, backing off will allow you to find some clear track to resume enjoying the day.
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