Discussion
I'm treating a business colleague to a track day and hiring a Caterham with Bookatrack, the only date we can both make is for Castle Combe.
I'm a bit concerned that the circuit is too dangerous for him, as he is a novice (although we will be with an instructor).
I remember seeing some pretty bad crashes there on one race day a few years ago, what's the general consensus?
I'm a bit concerned that the circuit is too dangerous for him, as he is a novice (although we will be with an instructor).
I remember seeing some pretty bad crashes there on one race day a few years ago, what's the general consensus?
Like any circuit its fine unless you crash! Runoff is minimal and once you get on the grass, the barriers are never far away. If you are with an instructor you'll be fine, just take note of braking zones, especially into Quarry and beware the tankslappers at Camp.
eta - you may well remember the old circuit pre-Bobbies and Esses in which case the accidents used to happen at much higher speeds adding to the severity...
eta - you may well remember the old circuit pre-Bobbies and Esses in which case the accidents used to happen at much higher speeds adding to the severity...
Edited by dougc on Friday 13th April 17:04
Depends if your mate is going to go la-la at the opportunity or if he's going to build up to speed carefully and incrementally lap by lap.
Combe doesn't have big run-off areas. Coming off ain't such a great idea.
Best track for a novice is the Bedford Autodrome but if Combe is all you can make do it anyway...its unlikely yer pal is a mentalist, eh?
Combe doesn't have big run-off areas. Coming off ain't such a great idea.
Best track for a novice is the Bedford Autodrome but if Combe is all you can make do it anyway...its unlikely yer pal is a mentalist, eh?
I think it's fine for a (sensible?) novice ..... I did my first ever Track Day there;
but it's when you get a little more experienced, faster and maybe a little over confident that Combe can bite (in places).
I'm not sure about the 'If you are with an instructor you will be OK';
My son spun at Quarry whilst having instruction,
and a very enthusiastic friend of mine had a big accident at Quarry
just after his instructor had showed him a quicker way
of doing things there.
but it's when you get a little more experienced, faster and maybe a little over confident that Combe can bite (in places).
I'm not sure about the 'If you are with an instructor you will be OK';
My son spun at Quarry whilst having instruction,
and a very enthusiastic friend of mine had a big accident at Quarry
just after his instructor had showed him a quicker way
of doing things there.
He'll be fine. The corner where you are most likely to crash and do most damage is old paddock. On the exit there is only 10 feet of grass then barrier, and you come out of there at a fair pace. Many people turn too late, see the exit looming and lift off.....Back-front-back-front...Steam.
Quarry is obviously tricky so newbies treat it with respect and therefore most spins there are harmless.
Quarry is obviously tricky so newbies treat it with respect and therefore most spins there are harmless.
Did my 1st track day at Coombe, no probs except it was one of those max power days which i didn't know anything about. OMG, i will never go near those days again, f**king idots everywhere.
I remember thinking i could drive ok and then being constantly passed by a little citroen ax gt
Had a lot to learn 
Have fun, the instructor will sort your customer out.
I remember thinking i could drive ok and then being constantly passed by a little citroen ax gt
Had a lot to learn Have fun, the instructor will sort your customer out.
I've driven Combe 3 times over the years and Thruxton twice, with my first ever track day (back in 1997) on Combe. As has already been said, if you're with an instructor then you can't get into too great a difficulty as the instructor won't let you.
It's a good circuit - I must go back there one day.
Edit: Managed to spin at 80mph in torrential rain near Hammerdown once, though. No damage to the car but my pants and trousers were a total write-off and it was a good job the car seats were leather.
It's a good circuit - I must go back there one day.
Edit: Managed to spin at 80mph in torrential rain near Hammerdown once, though. No damage to the car but my pants and trousers were a total write-off and it was a good job the car seats were leather.
Edited by JonRB on Sunday 15th April 22:20
JonRB said:
I've driven Combe 3 times over the years and Thruxton twice, with my first ever track day (back in 1997) on Combe. As has already been said, if you're with an instructor then you can't get into too great a difficulty as the instructor won't let you.
It's a good circuit - I must go back there one day.
Edit: Managed to spin at 80mph in torrential rain near Hammerdown once, though. No damage to the car but my pants and trousers were a total write-off and it was a good job the car seats were leather.
It's a good circuit - I must go back there one day.
Edit: Managed to spin at 80mph in torrential rain near Hammerdown once, though. No damage to the car but my pants and trousers were a total write-off and it was a good job the car seats were leather.
Edited by JonRB on Sunday 15th April 22:20
Were you there (about 10-11 years ago) when that Golf VR6 aquaplaned, spun off and bashed every panel at Hammerdown whilst tring to keep up with my (Tony Carter-Inman) Corrado VR6. I think there was a guy in a supercharged VR6 (Golf/Corrado) who was a pilot (Mike I think).
mmm-five said:
Were you there (about 10-11 years ago) when that Golf VR6 aquaplaned, spun off and bashed every panel at Hammerdown whilst tring to keep up with my (Tony Carter-Inman) Corrado VR6. I think there was a guy in a supercharged VR6 (Golf/Corrado) who was a pilot (Mike I think).
No, Tony, wasn't me. I've never shared a track with another Corrado - always been unique on the day. The 3 times I did Combe I was on each occasion a guest of David Hendry, the Subaru and TVR dealer, in proxy for my father (who has owned both marques, all bought from David) so it's not really surprising that my Corrado was a little out of place.
BTW, have you checked out my car blog lately? My Corrado is edging ever closer to the spec that yours was before you sold it.
JonRB said:
mmm-five said:
Were you there (about 10-11 years ago) when that Golf VR6 aquaplaned, spun off and bashed every panel at Hammerdown whilst tring to keep up with my (Tony Carter-Inman) Corrado VR6. I think there was a guy in a supercharged VR6 (Golf/Corrado) who was a pilot (Mike I think).
No, Tony, wasn't me. I've never shared a track with another Corrado - always been unique on the day. The 3 times I did Combe I was on each occasion a guest of David Hendry, the Subaru and TVR dealer, in proxy for my father (who has owned both marques, all bought from David) so it's not really surprising that my Corrado was a little out of place.
BTW, have you checked out my car blog lately? My Corrado is edging ever closer to the spec that yours was before you sold it.
Just need the 330mm
and some 16" Compomotive MO wheels 
Then you can complete what I didn't and get the Gemini 6-speed box and Quaife LSD.
mmm-five said:
Just need the 330mm and some 16" Compomotive MO wheels
Then you can complete what I didn't and get the Gemini 6-speed box and Quaife LSD.
Then you can complete what I didn't and get the Gemini 6-speed box and Quaife LSD.
You can't get the Gemini any more. Vince has about 1 left but dissuaded me from buying it as you can't get parts and spares any more. So instead I fitted a lower final drive to lower the gearing throughout. Trouble is I'm left with a car that feels like it needs a 6th on the motorway.
I seem to recall you also had the big-valve head, which I haven't had.
I still occasionally kick myself for not buying your car, moving all the nice stuff over to mine, and then selling yours on as stock.
Given what you got for yours you might have been better off doing the same and selling the mods separately.
Edited by JonRB on Tuesday 17th April 13:02
JonRB said:
mmm-five said:
Just need the 330mm and some 16" Compomotive MO wheels
Then you can complete what I didn't and get the Gemini 6-speed box and Quaife LSD.
Then you can complete what I didn't and get the Gemini 6-speed box and Quaife LSD.
You can't get the Gemini any more. Vince has about 1 left but dissuaded me from buying it as you can't get parts and spares any more. So instead I fitted a lower final drive to lower the gearing throughout. Trouble is I'm left with a car that feels like it needs a 6th on the motorway.
I seem to recall you also had the big-valve head, which I haven't had.
I still occasionally kick myself for not buying your car, moving all the nice stuff over to mine, and then selling yours on as stock.
Given what you got for yours you might have been better off doing the same and selling the mods separately.
Edited by JonRB on Tuesday 17th April 13:02
Would have, but I didn't/don't have the skills to do it, so would have had to pay someone. I really miss that car, especially when I saw the one at Oulton in the VW Cup championship. I'm about to get my 2nd M5 though as the one I got in 2000 had a bent/dropped/stuck valve and knackered rear suspension which was going to cost lots to sort (about £5k).
mmm-five said:
Would have, but I didn't/don't have the skills to do it, so would have had to pay someone.
True. But given how long it took to sell yours and how much you dropped the price in order to sell it, with hindsight you'd still have been ahead if you'd paid someone to do it. But you didn't know that at the time, of course.
But anyway, we've digressed a little.
Isn't Castle Combe a great track?
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