Oulton Park Novice Track Day 24 March 2007

[Eifion]

I'm thinking of booking a half day session on the novice only day at Oulton as this is my local circuit.

I've been a bit dubious about doing a track day before because I haven't got a proper track-day car, only my road car a Mini Cooper (BMW version). I'm assuming on a Novice day there'll be a mix of drivers and many like me, first-timers. I just want to be able to drive my car to my own limits at my favourite circuit without having to worry too much after much faster cars. I'm no slow-coach myself, I'm just assuming that at the other track days (not novice) there'll be some really fast cars/drivers.

Do many people use their own road car for tracking or do most of you buy a second car for the purpose?

Has anyone been on a Novice day? Is there any reasonable insurance deals available from the main insurers that anyone's aware of?

[Jubal]

Everyone was a novice once. And there's always faster cars. The only trick on any track day is to listen carefully to the rules about overtaking during the briefing, watch your mirrors and be sensible about where you back off to let a faster car by. In many ways, as a novice I'd rather be surrounded by more experienced drivers who knew the ropes than a bunch of other novices all learning the limits of their cars for the first time! Many track day organisers run a novices only session at the start of the day and some identify novices by means of a sticker so everyone knows. IME they all take care to make novices feel welcome and explain things properly.

If you have a half decent road car then it's the ideal way of getting into things. But the running costs (brakes, tyres etc) and the inevitable desire for upgrades to make it more suitable for track work might help you justify a dedicated track car in the longer term.

Insurance is a minefield. You can mostly forget the mainstream insurers, they just don't want to know about track days. There's a few threads on here about insurance worth searching out.

Oulton is my local circuit too. Hope to see you there sometime!

[lazyitus]

Eifion said:

Do many people use their own road car for tracking or do most of you buy a second car for the purpose?

Quite a few people will use their own road car. The Mini/BMW is over engineered as are nearly all newish cars and as a result will take some serious punishment. I've often thought of taking my company car but that would be slightly rude.


You'll enjoy it immensely. As Jubal says, if there are some quicker more experienced folk around, you're probably safer anyway.

REMEMBER - it's a track day, not a race. Go at your own pace, be alert and don't worry about who you are overtaking or who is overtaking you. You're there to enjoy it and learn some track craft.

Oulton is fabulous and its my 'home' circuit too. I've done a few days there and each time I come away with a huge grin.

Good luck !

Edited by lazyitus on Wednesday 28th February 11:30

[Eifion]

Thanks both, that's given me some reassurance, think I'll go ahead and book for the 24th half day and see how it goes.

Thanks for the advice, it's good to hear from someone that's been already.

Thanks again.

Eifion

[ginettajoe]

Eifion said:

Thanks both, that's given me some reassurance, think I'll go ahead and book for the 24th half day and see how it goes.

Thanks for the advice, it's good to hear from someone that's been already.

Thanks again.

Eifion

Hi, I will be involved with the running of the day, and can reassure you, that generally on MSV days, the track behaviour is good. I have instructed at Oulton for 13 years, and would strongly recommend that you book at least one session of tuition, and in the long run, it will save you a considerable amount of money. Oulton is a superb circuit, very demanding, very technical, and very, very dangerous, especially if it is wet or damp!

Should you have any issues with other drivers, come and let us know as soon as you can, and we will speak to whoever is involved. Don't wait until you arrive home, and complain later, or post threads on here, because it is too late to do anything about it.

If there are any queries you have, feel free to post them on here, and I'll endeavour to help.

Look forward to seeing you on the day!

[sprevett]

I was also thinking of booking this date to introduce my girlfriend to track driving - and although I could guide her from my own expereince of track driving (often at OP with malcolm hamilton) I was wondering if I ought to book a 'proper' instruction session? any advice on this? also is this likely to be a busy day/well booked up? thanks, steve

[ginettajoe]

sprevett said:

I was also thinking of booking this date to introduce my girlfriend to track driving - and although I could guide her from my own expereince of track driving (often at OP with malcolm hamilton) I was wondering if I ought to book a 'proper' instruction session? any advice on this? also is this likely to be a busy day/well booked up? thanks, steve

It is difficult to say at this stage how busy it will be, but all the days recently have been busy! Most people use cars with pneumatic tyres and internal combustion engines nowadays, unlike the wooden wheels and steam driven engines, from the period that Malcolm Hamilton was at his best!!! Yes, if it is the first time that your girl friend has done a track day, I would definately recommend that she had a session of instruction. Just out of interest, what car are you going to use??? There have been several changes at Oulton over the last couple of years or so, and that combined with various other variables, including weather conditions, really do make some form of "familiarisation" a necessity! Hope this helps you with your decision, Howard

[sprevett]

ha! I shall pass your kind regards to Malc when I catch up with him!! Thanks for info Howard - the car would probably be TVR Griffith - just wondered if noise might be an issue though, although it runs a standard exhaust so not over noisy. I don't think 105db is too onerous for these cars is it?

[simonb9]

I went to a MSV novice track day at Brands Hatch last year. Whilst it was great value for money it was a bit chaotic and lots of waiting around to get on the track. Sometimes you would have to wait in a queue for 20-25 mins only to do 2 laps and then for the flag to come out to close the session, back in the queue again.......

Whilst it was a 'novice' day people were arriving with cars on trailors covered in sponsorship or with slick tyres, clearly not novices !! I think they were tempted by the value, probably cheaper than a proper test day.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not trying to put you off as I would do one again, I just hope its a little better organised than before !!

[Eifion]

Thanks Simon, that's something I'd heard as well, basically racers using this as a cheap test session. You'd hope the organisers on the day would stop that though, especially given that it's a novice day.

I've booked anyway for a half day so I'll see how it goes and then look to book a full day, maybe on one the of open pit sessions, really looking forward to it know it's booked.

My brother used to race Formula Fords and did the Champion of Oulton for a few years so hopefully he can come along and show me the lines etc, except the ones into the barriers!

Cheers.

Eifion

[ginettajoe]

sprevett said:

ha! I shall pass your kind regards to Malc when I catch up with him!! Thanks for info Howard - the car would probably be TVR Griffith - just wondered if noise might be an issue though, although it runs a standard exhaust so not over noisy. I don't think 105db is too onerous for these cars is it?

Hi Steve, I'm sure your Griffith will be well within the noise requirement, 105db is the normal maximum at all circuits now, and most "road" cars are considerably lower. With regard to some of the comments relating to "race" cars using the days as a cheap form of testing, red flags and stoppages, and very little time on track, ...... These are situations that are arising on all trackdays, and are to a degree, difficult to eliminate. The emphasis on MSV "novice" days is exactly what it is intended to be, and if there is a situation where newcomers feel intimidated, then let us know as soon as possible on the day, and we will endeavour to prevent it continuing.

It may be worth noting, that recent days have been far better, from the novice drivers point of view, and hopefully those attending on the 24th will appreciate, that they can play as much a part as we can to make it a valuable and enjoyable experience.

Once some of the "novice" drivers have accustomed themselves on MSV trackdays there are several reputable trackday companys ( www.bookatrack.com for one ), that operate very well organised days, at some very exciting circuits!!

Look forward to seeing you on the 24th, Howard

[lazyitus]

Howard,

Did you have some involvement a couple of months ago when Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles were at Oulton doing a customer ride/drive type event - the same day Nigel Mansell was there?

We had to demonstrate the ABS and Traction control in the vans and there was a Caterham Sprint challenge in the paddock etc...

Edited by lazyitus on Friday 2nd March 11:28

[ginettajoe]

lazyitus said:

Howard,

Did you have some involvement a couple of months ago when Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles were at Oulton doing a customer ride/drive type event - the same day Nigel Mansell was there?

We had to demonstrate the ABS and Traction control in the vans and there was a Caterham Sprint challenge in the paddock etc...

Hi Lazyitus,

No, I don't think I was there, If I was, I would have been on-track or briefing on the day. The last VW day I recall doing was the launch of the new Golf GTi for Inchscape.

But look forward, hopefully to seeing you on some form of day, either there or another circuit, Howard

Edited by lazyitus on Friday 2nd March 11:28

[ginettajoe]

Hi again Lazyitus, I don't know why my reply in the above combined itself with your message, but I was just thinking about that particular day. Was it the day that Nigel Mansell was there with his two sons, testing in Formula 3 cars?? If so, yes I was there, in various capacities, .... Caterhams, 4x4 etc etc..... I remember we watched them going through "Lodge" in damp conditions ....Am I right??? Howard

[lazyitus]

ginettajoe said:

Hi again Lazyitus, I don't know why my reply in the above combined itself with your message, but I was just thinking about that particular day. Was it the day that Nigel Mansell was there with his two sons, testing in Formula 3 cars?? If so, yes I was there, in various capacities, .... Caterhams, 4x4 etc etc..... I remember we watched them going through "Lodge" in damp conditions ....Am I right??? Howard

Yeah - that's right, over by the 4x4 section. We talked about various stuff including trail braking, you having an MX5 and one of the Mansell kids being visably quicker than the other? I won the Caterham Sprint thingy that day too and got a nice glass trophy type thing. It only says Oulton Park on it so I can lie to my mates saying it was a full blown race round the full circuit. Quite a surprise to be honest. Was a good day out.

Edited by lazyitus on Friday 2nd March 12:34

[ginettajoe]

Hi Lazyitus,

Yes, it is all coming back to me now, ...... you have to make allowances for my age!!! The download speed is similar to that of a PC that's full of c**p!! If anyone should ask, I'll vouch for you, ...... best circuit driver of the day!!! Hope you enjoyed it, and look forward to having you back ( I have more days of work, then ), Howard

[lazyitus]

ginettajoe said:

Hi Lazyitus,

Yes, it is all coming back to me now, ...... you have to make allowances for my age!!! The download speed is similar to that of a PC that's full of c**p!! If anyone should ask, I'll vouch for you, ...... best circuit driver of the day!!! Hope you enjoyed it, and look forward to having you back ( I have more days of work, then ), Howard

Cheers - will say hello if I see you at Oulton again !

[simonb9]

Hi Eifion, glad you've booked up for your first track day !! You'll have a great time, i've only done a couple but intend to do some more this year. Oulton Park looks like a great circuit, always very different when you actually drive on it compared with how you see it from a spectators point of view or on the telly.

Just to add that when I did a novice day at Brands Hach some people were asked to leave because of their behaviour so the staff did therefore act when they heard about poor driving standards.

GinettaJoe - do you own a Ginetta ?? Just inquisitive as I own one myself !!

Edited by simonb9 on Friday 2nd March 13:23

[ginettajoe]

lazyitus said:

ginettajoe said:

Hi Lazyitus,

Yes, it is all coming back to me now, ...... you have to make allowances for my age!!! The download speed is similar to that of a PC that's full of c**p!! If anyone should ask, I'll vouch for you, ...... best circuit driver of the day!!! Hope you enjoyed it, and look forward to having you back ( I have more days of work, then ), Howard

Cheers - will say hello if I see you at Oulton again !

Look forward to it, ..... just looked on your "profile", and saw the TVR, ..... Well, what's the delay??? Howard

[ginettajoe]

simonb9 said:

Hi Eifion, glad you've booked up for your first track day !! You'll have a great time, i've only done a couple but intend to do some more this year. Oulton Park looks like a great circuit, always very different when you actually drive on it compared with how you see it from a spectators point of view or on the telly.

Just to add that when I did a novice day at Brands Hach some people were asked to leave because of their behaviour so the staff did therefore act when they heard about poor driving standards.

GinettaJoe - do you own a Ginetta ?? Just inquisitive as I own one myself !!

Edited by simonb9 on Friday 2nd March 13:23

Hi Simon,

No, I don't have a Ginetta, ..... It was a name that sprung to mind on the spur of the moment, when I couldn't register on here with my normal username!! Do let on when you come to do a trackday at Oulton next! Howard