Information regarding track days

[Robatr0n]

Hi folks.

Before you ask I have searched the forum but I havent found anything yet, but I do stand to be corrected.

Just a few questions, firstly how on earth do you get into track day driving? I have often wondered this for years but I just assumed I would never be able to because I dont know the right people.

Do I need any qualifications to start? Obviously the car is important and cant be underpowered but obviously I dont want to jump in the deep end and drive something that is far too powerful for my own good.

I Know these may seem pretty obvious questions and there are some areas I have completely over-looked such as insurance, but its something I would love to do so any information would be greatly appreciated.

[exboxster]

Simple to start- just have a look on the numerous web-sites that offer days, and sign up. Pistonheads has some links to a series of half days coming up. I'd thoroughly recomend a novice day- Brands Htach do them and they're exteremly well organised- sympathetic without being condescending

With regards to the car, you can run almost anything. On the novice day I did there was a couple of guys out there in an R32 and an XKR taking it very gently, and another chap thrashing the daylights out of a Berlingo Van !!

As said many times before on here they are a great place to find your limits and those of the car you drive in relative safety. Be careful though- they are hugely addictive.

[mrsmadmark]

Robatr0n said:

firstly how on earth do you get into track day driving?

just pick a track you like go to their website and book a day you want, if you haven't done it before I would suggest a novice day, my first one was at brands and was great

trackdays at Brands Hatch

Robatr0n said:

Do I need any qualifications to start? Obviously the car is important and cant be underpowered but obviously I dont want to jump in the deep end and drive something that is far too powerful for my own good.

you need to have a driving licence, no other qualifications.

you don't need a special car at all, just your daily drive will do.

Robatr0n said:

I have completely over-looked such as insurance, but its something I would love to do so any information would be greatly appreciated.

you can get a one off insurance for the day which can vary, but about £150 I would guess, but you would normally have about a £2000 excess to pay, so you need to decide if you are going to do that much damage

they are great fun, I've done 2 now and hopefully doing another one soon

I hope some of that helps and if any of it is wrong I hope someone will correct me, I'm just going by my own experiences.

[mrsmadmark]

exboxster said:

Be careful though- they are hugely addictive.

[mechsympathy]

mrsmadmark said:

exboxster said:

Be careful though- they are hugely addictive.

And if you're concerned about stacking you P&J into a tyre wall then an airfield day is a good place to start as there's usually nothing to hit around the track. The flipside of that is that the tracks won't be as challenging as a proper circuit. www.easytrack.co.uk/homepage.asp days are very well run.

ETA I actually meant to mention www.motorsport-events.com/ as running very good airfield days.

Edited by mechsympathy on Thursday 31st August 18:00