Thruxton 22/03/2024
Discussion
Hey all.
I’ve Booked for my first car track day (I’ve done a few bike days but none since 2019).
Anyone here doing this one as well? Done this track before?
It’s Open pitlane format and I’m expecting to do 15mins on track then break (check the car over etc) and repeat but no idea how taxing it will be on me or the car tbh.
I’m Super excited and nervous in equal measures
I’ve Booked for my first car track day (I’ve done a few bike days but none since 2019).
Anyone here doing this one as well? Done this track before?
It’s Open pitlane format and I’m expecting to do 15mins on track then break (check the car over etc) and repeat but no idea how taxing it will be on me or the car tbh.
I’m Super excited and nervous in equal measures
Plenty of trackday for beginners guides around, including a very recent thread on here.
Never done Thruxton myself... its on my list though. From what I understand, its a very fast circuit, not many big braking zones. So I'd check your wheel alignment and make sure everything is aligned - you don't want to find you have uneven rear toe angles when you're barrelling through a corner at 90mph.
Never done Thruxton myself... its on my list though. From what I understand, its a very fast circuit, not many big braking zones. So I'd check your wheel alignment and make sure everything is aligned - you don't want to find you have uneven rear toe angles when you're barrelling through a corner at 90mph.
Thruxton is a great for a first day out, and, due to the low noise limit you’re unlikely to be bothered by race teams. If your exhaust is non-standard you may want to check your noise levels beforehand.
Overall the track has good sight lines and allows you to build confidence gradually.
With only a couple of braking zones (depending on the car) it can seem simple (potentially boring) at first, however, I find Cobb round to Church more technical than it appears.
I’d check tyre pressures regularly and torque my nuts a couple of times.
Enjoy it
Overall the track has good sight lines and allows you to build confidence gradually.
With only a couple of braking zones (depending on the car) it can seem simple (potentially boring) at first, however, I find Cobb round to Church more technical than it appears.
I’d check tyre pressures regularly and torque my nuts a couple of times.
Enjoy it
WombleCate said:
Thruxton is a great for a first day out, and, due to the low noise limit you’re unlikely to be bothered by race teams. If your exhaust is non-standard you may want to check your noise levels beforehand.
Overall the track has good sight lines and allows you to build confidence gradually.
With only a couple of braking zones (depending on the car) it can seem simple (potentially boring) at first, however, I find Cobb round to Church more technical than it appears.
I’d check tyre pressures regularly and torque my nuts a couple of times.
Enjoy it
Overall the track has good sight lines and allows you to build confidence gradually.
With only a couple of braking zones (depending on the car) it can seem simple (potentially boring) at first, however, I find Cobb round to Church more technical than it appears.
I’d check tyre pressures regularly and torque my nuts a couple of times.
Enjoy it
Thanks for replying, my car has factory exhaust so I'm not expecting any sound lvl issues myself. But that's a good point.
I'll take good pressure gauge and 12v pump with me, any ideas roughly what sort of hot pressure should I be aiming at? My car is 31psi cold as per the book. I guess mid 30s when hot?????
Thank you again I really appreciate it,
A huge topic with almost as many variables as opinions. In my experience road tyres are far less sensitive to pressure than sticky tyres.
I’d stick with the OEM recommended pressures, test them after every 15minute session and release pressure to bring them back to recommended.
Over a long hot day you can release a lot of air, so, need to pump them back up before you drive home.
Most important is to take it easy, take lots of breaks and enjoy the day.
I’d stick with the OEM recommended pressures, test them after every 15minute session and release pressure to bring them back to recommended.
Over a long hot day you can release a lot of air, so, need to pump them back up before you drive home.
Most important is to take it easy, take lots of breaks and enjoy the day.
I did my second ever track day at Thruxton. Have to admit I found it a little bit daunting when I first went out as it is a fast track but as soon as I got used to the lines I loved it & have been back since.
Only thing I'd do differently is check out some youtube videos first as I gives you an idea of the best lines.....I think on my first lap I was following the satnav!!
Only thing I'd do differently is check out some youtube videos first as I gives you an idea of the best lines.....I think on my first lap I was following the satnav!!
I am going to Thruxton for the first time week on Monday, using my Hyundai i20N.
re tyre pressures - assuming road tyres, i'd normally be pumping them up to 38-40 cold as this gives the tyre wall a bit more strength, stops it from rolling over as much and can reduce wear, with the detriment of making the tyre wall go 'blue'.
However it is a hard circuit on tyres so I am likely to start at 32 and then add pressure as required during the day.
re tyre pressures - assuming road tyres, i'd normally be pumping them up to 38-40 cold as this gives the tyre wall a bit more strength, stops it from rolling over as much and can reduce wear, with the detriment of making the tyre wall go 'blue'.
However it is a hard circuit on tyres so I am likely to start at 32 and then add pressure as required during the day.
if free instruction take it, gets you where you need to be quicker.
Here is a good guide tho
Circuit is easy to learn but gets harder the more you push, There's patches of newer tarmac, this doesn't carry anywhere near the grip levels of the older stuff, but is fine in the dry, sometimes (in the case of goodwood corner) it can help you learn/decide when to come into the apex.
Everyone there is super nice, the sound check area is in the fenced paddock next to the garages. If you're in a slow car there's a perfect line that goes from Campbell to Club that has a brilliant flow. People go on about Church but I find the bit into noble and then transitioning to goodwood to be the hardest bit although sometimes the kerbs on the exit of church and how fast they approach you can be a bit of a rush
Good luck, enjoy and tell us all how your day went!
Here is a good guide tho
Circuit is easy to learn but gets harder the more you push, There's patches of newer tarmac, this doesn't carry anywhere near the grip levels of the older stuff, but is fine in the dry, sometimes (in the case of goodwood corner) it can help you learn/decide when to come into the apex.
Everyone there is super nice, the sound check area is in the fenced paddock next to the garages. If you're in a slow car there's a perfect line that goes from Campbell to Club that has a brilliant flow. People go on about Church but I find the bit into noble and then transitioning to goodwood to be the hardest bit although sometimes the kerbs on the exit of church and how fast they approach you can be a bit of a rush
Good luck, enjoy and tell us all how your day went!
I tend to find that my tyres gain pressure, not lose it, as they get hot.
I start at 22 front/24 rear and am at about 30 psi all round after the first session.
Let a bit out and repeat.
The car's a TVR, so only 1100 kg.
And I use track tyres on track days.
If you do get up to warp speeds, and Thruxton can easily be over 130 mph in a faster car at the back of the circuit, do check your tread depths through the day. In a heavier car it is perfectly possible to run out of tread before the end of the day, especially on road tyres.
I start at 22 front/24 rear and am at about 30 psi all round after the first session.
Let a bit out and repeat.
The car's a TVR, so only 1100 kg.
And I use track tyres on track days.
If you do get up to warp speeds, and Thruxton can easily be over 130 mph in a faster car at the back of the circuit, do check your tread depths through the day. In a heavier car it is perfectly possible to run out of tread before the end of the day, especially on road tyres.
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