Brands - to be feared by a novice?
Discussion
Hi
I’m thinking of trying a trackday for the first time, and am reasonably local to Brands Hatch.
However, I’ve heard it’s challenging due camber changes etc. Anyone have any thoughts?
Is there a certain trackday to aim for? I guess I need to sort insurance? It looks like it could get expensive if I get the bug?
I have a MK8 Golf GTI Clubsport, so it’ll no doubt feel out of place completely standard!
I guess I should expect some cosmetic damage in the form of stone chips etc? Not really keen as the car is immaculate, but hoping I can get over this - life’s too short and all that!
Cheers.
I’m thinking of trying a trackday for the first time, and am reasonably local to Brands Hatch.
However, I’ve heard it’s challenging due camber changes etc. Anyone have any thoughts?
Is there a certain trackday to aim for? I guess I need to sort insurance? It looks like it could get expensive if I get the bug?
I have a MK8 Golf GTI Clubsport, so it’ll no doubt feel out of place completely standard!
I guess I should expect some cosmetic damage in the form of stone chips etc? Not really keen as the car is immaculate, but hoping I can get over this - life’s too short and all that!
Cheers.
The challenge mostly comes from it not being flat. The first corner is a blind right hander which can be a little daunting until you work out how to take it. The double apex last corner can also take a bit of work to get right.
Have a look at some hot laps on YouTube. That should give you a fair idea. The first time I drove there predated the internet. To begin with it felt like groping around in a dark room for a black cat that isn’t there…!
Have a look at some hot laps on YouTube. That should give you a fair idea. The first time I drove there predated the internet. To begin with it felt like groping around in a dark room for a black cat that isn’t there…!
While Brands looks more daunting than it technically is (first turn into Paddock Hill Bend is always memorable) I think there are better tracks to build your confidence and experience.
Tracks that host a lot of race weekends (Brands, Donington etc) have a lot of race cars at track days. While in my experience race drivers don’t cause issues at track days they aren’t great when you’re building confidence.
Likewise, as Brands national is short, with only five corners (and 4 technical parts) it doesn’t give you much time and space to think.
I’d have thought Bedford, Silverstone & Thruxton would all be better for a first day out.
Brands is great.
Tracks that host a lot of race weekends (Brands, Donington etc) have a lot of race cars at track days. While in my experience race drivers don’t cause issues at track days they aren’t great when you’re building confidence.
Likewise, as Brands national is short, with only five corners (and 4 technical parts) it doesn’t give you much time and space to think.
I’d have thought Bedford, Silverstone & Thruxton would all be better for a first day out.
Brands is great.
Agree with that - Brands Indy is a short circuit so traffic can be daunting from a novice perspective and could be a distraction for you. On the other hand it's easy to learn which way it goes!
Bedford is always recommended and fairly so - long, wide, plenty of run-off. Also, flat and featureless so will take a morning to learn which corner comes next
.
End of the day, don't sweat it too much. I'd go to Bedford to get used to driving round a circuit and learning how your car handles, basically get comfortable on a circuit with other cars, then crack on with the rest of them!
Edit: It's what I did. I'd been off track for 13 years (did a little bit of racing back then), and this year got back into track driving and the first day I did was Bedford. And I've driven a lot of UK circuits and raced at a chunk so I'm not really a novice but after such a long lay off it felt like it!
Bedford is always recommended and fairly so - long, wide, plenty of run-off. Also, flat and featureless so will take a morning to learn which corner comes next
.End of the day, don't sweat it too much. I'd go to Bedford to get used to driving round a circuit and learning how your car handles, basically get comfortable on a circuit with other cars, then crack on with the rest of them!
Edit: It's what I did. I'd been off track for 13 years (did a little bit of racing back then), and this year got back into track driving and the first day I did was Bedford. And I've driven a lot of UK circuits and raced at a chunk so I'm not really a novice but after such a long lay off it felt like it!
Edited by number2 on Saturday 17th August 11:00
This has reminded me of lapping Brands on a motorbike back in the 80s.
No run off, just catch fencing and hay bales.
Hay bales are pretty solid when you hit them, like I did on the 25th lap coming out of Druids
I need to have the bottle to try my car on a track day but it's the fear of damaging or totaling a car costing more than I earn in a year.
No run off, just catch fencing and hay bales.
Hay bales are pretty solid when you hit them, like I did on the 25th lap coming out of Druids
I need to have the bottle to try my car on a track day but it's the fear of damaging or totaling a car costing more than I earn in a year.
Not Bedford.
It gives a false sense of safety that will catch you out big if it catches you and if it doesn’t it’s still the worst place for novices to prepare to tackle a proper race track.
Ref cosmetic damage, it should be absolutely minimal but watch out for cars exiting gravel traps, generally avoid following closely etc.
It gives a false sense of safety that will catch you out big if it catches you and if it doesn’t it’s still the worst place for novices to prepare to tackle a proper race track.
Ref cosmetic damage, it should be absolutely minimal but watch out for cars exiting gravel traps, generally avoid following closely etc.
I personally think Snetterton is a good track for novices.
The barriers aren't mega close on a lot of the faster corners, but it's still risky enough that you don't get a false sense of security like Bedford.
It doesn't have lots of awkward cambers and elevation changes.
It has plenty of places to safely let faster cars through.
It's long enough that you can normally find yourself a bit of space.
It doesn't tend to attract idiots in the way that some tracks do.
The barriers aren't mega close on a lot of the faster corners, but it's still risky enough that you don't get a false sense of security like Bedford.
It doesn't have lots of awkward cambers and elevation changes.
It has plenty of places to safely let faster cars through.
It's long enough that you can normally find yourself a bit of space.
It doesn't tend to attract idiots in the way that some tracks do.
I did a novice day at Brands Indy as my first trackday (E36 M3, about 2005) and it was great - if you build up speed gradually and get some tuition early in the day, you should be fine. Being a short circuit can result in a bit of traffic (you can always back off and run through the pitlane) but has the advantage of being faster to learn. Just do it!
As to cosmetic damage I'm no detailer but not noticed anything across quite a few years of trackdays in a variety of cars.
As to cosmetic damage I'm no detailer but not noticed anything across quite a few years of trackdays in a variety of cars.
Agree on low chance of cosmetic damage as long as you take care if anyone has been in the gravel (take car for a while).
I’ve tracked three road cars/ garage queens and only had to remove rubber marks.
My Caterham has masses of racing marks and gravel rash which, mostly my own fault.
Would still recommend Silverstone for a first day out. It is expensive and attracts a lot of fast cars, however, lots of space and magical.
I’ve tracked three road cars/ garage queens and only had to remove rubber marks.
My Caterham has masses of racing marks and gravel rash which, mostly my own fault.
Would still recommend Silverstone for a first day out. It is expensive and attracts a lot of fast cars, however, lots of space and magical.
Paul_M3 said:
I personally think Snetterton is a good track for novices.
The barriers aren't mega close on a lot of the faster corners, but it's still risky enough that you don't get a false sense of security like Bedford.
It doesn't have lots of awkward cambers and elevation changes.
It has plenty of places to safely let faster cars through.
It's long enough that you can normally find yourself a bit of space.
It doesn't tend to attract idiots in the way that some tracks do.
I agree with this too - Snetterton is good for novices, but if you're local to Brands you're not local to Snetterton! The barriers aren't mega close on a lot of the faster corners, but it's still risky enough that you don't get a false sense of security like Bedford.
It doesn't have lots of awkward cambers and elevation changes.
It has plenty of places to safely let faster cars through.
It's long enough that you can normally find yourself a bit of space.
It doesn't tend to attract idiots in the way that some tracks do.
To add as well it may be worth popping down to Brands on a trackday to see how it works (spectating is free) as it should give you some confidence to take your car round. May even be able to sign on as a passenger and jump in with someone on the day, in my experience the atmosphere in the garages is friendly.
GE90 said:
Hi
I’m thinking of trying a trackday for the first time, and am reasonably local to Brands Hatch.
Don't think. Go do it. Look for a lap guide on YouTube (even one in iRacing is fine),I’m thinking of trying a trackday for the first time, and am reasonably local to Brands Hatch.
GE90 said:
Hi
It looks like it could get expensive if I get the bug?
It's not expensive to take your car once or twice a year to the track for half a day assuming you are not overheating the tires.It looks like it could get expensive if I get the bug?
GE90 said:
Hi
I have a MK8 Golf GTI Clubsport, so it’ll no doubt feel out of place completely standard!
There will be other people there in standard road cars.I have a MK8 Golf GTI Clubsport, so it’ll no doubt feel out of place completely standard!
Brands has some fantastic corners (paddock is just brilliant) but it does get very busy, and it's a short circuit so depending on how fast you are you might spend a chuck of time watching your mirrors, but be patient, get some tuition and have fun. On the plus side, it tends to be well marshalled.
Track days can get expensive, especially when you start adding in costs of brakes, tyres, fuel, and snacks, and that's before you look at upgrades. MSV do specifically novice only track days, which are a good way to start. Track time is a lot more wearing on the car than road miles, so consumable parts also need more frequent replacing. I've not noticed any cosmetic damage, driving to and from the track is probably higher risk for stone chips, unless you take a trip through the gravel.
As for insurance, my car isn't worth a lot, and track day insurance excesses tend to be big, so I don't bother. In 20 track days over 5 years I don't recall seeing a car on car accident, but I've seen a lot of people go off and hit things. So I would contact one of the trackday insurance providers and ask about costs.
This was the last time I was there with opentrack:
Track days can get expensive, especially when you start adding in costs of brakes, tyres, fuel, and snacks, and that's before you look at upgrades. MSV do specifically novice only track days, which are a good way to start. Track time is a lot more wearing on the car than road miles, so consumable parts also need more frequent replacing. I've not noticed any cosmetic damage, driving to and from the track is probably higher risk for stone chips, unless you take a trip through the gravel.
As for insurance, my car isn't worth a lot, and track day insurance excesses tend to be big, so I don't bother. In 20 track days over 5 years I don't recall seeing a car on car accident, but I've seen a lot of people go off and hit things. So I would contact one of the trackday insurance providers and ask about costs.
This was the last time I was there with opentrack:
Edited by Cambs_Stuart on Monday 19th August 15:38
If you are close to brands why not go do a trackday at Lydden Hill. Nota big track but has elevation changes and a mix of corners. Not overly busy but we’ll run by Lydden track themselves. Cheap and still fun but a good first time on track to go and drive.
They do t have the number of trackdays other tracks do but check on their website for dates and details.
They do t have the number of trackdays other tracks do but check on their website for dates and details.
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