trackday virgin (advice needed)

[identity_crisis]

did a ferrari experience day the other day and really enjoyed the driving on track element so have decided to take my car out.

whats a good circuit for a first timer? im not a million miles away from donnington or rockingham.....

also am i likely too get through a full set of tyres and pads?

my exhaust is quite loud. is there anyway i can find out the limits before i book and check how loud my exhaust is?

sorry for the million (3) questions.

kind regards

alex.

[ginettajoe]

Hi Alex,

Firstly, what car are you proposing to use?? Both Donington & Rockingham are good circuits, Rockingham is a more difficult circuit to master, but is more lenient from a noise level point of view, where Donington has a resident "Noise monitoring man", who is paid to do a job, and as a consequence, is very strict.

I instruct regularly at both circuits, and love them both, but they do have danger areas, especially if it is wet.

The best advice anyone will give you, is to have at least one session of instruction, at whichever circuit you choose, ....... You will save pounds, for just a small outlay initially.

Howard

[VTECMatt]

Go for Bedford by far the safest circuit for a novice, my first trackday was Donnington, this was before Bedford was built, also get some instructionin the am.

As for tyres and brakes never use brand new stuff, make sure pads discs and tyres have been bedded in prior to track driving. I would suggest upgrading the brake fluid. Also adsjust your tyre presures.

I would suggest looking at some of the websites of trackday organisers which will run through car preparation more throughly.

Edited by VTECMatt on Saturday 14th July 10:40

[Raify]

Another vote for Bedford. It's really suited to first timers, loads of run-off not much to hit.

[identity_crisis]

i do like the look of the bedford circuit nd have been told its an excellent first timer track.

have also been told they have strict noise enforcement.

id be using my mr2 turbo.

[twinspark]

I'd probably book a couple of airfield days first.

You get to play around with your car in an environment where you can't prang it - so you find your limits before taking it to a track with gravel traps etc.

[Raify]

identity_crisis said:

i do like the look of the bedford circuit nd have been told its an excellent first timer track.

have also been told they have strict noise enforcement.

id be using my mr2 turbo.

87db if memory serves, and the enforcement wasn't that strict. A few random tests on the way in, and 3 places around the track that are sometimes manned.

[shim]

you get a rough check at the entrance and then it is the drive by tests which are a bit stricter and if you are noisey you get the option of easing off near the meters before getting booted off

[BertBert]

also the bedford boys know the noisy cars by now, so not a random test!
Bert

[mko9]

I would agree that Bedford is a good beginners circuit, as there isn't much to hit if you have an off. I have a Skyline GTR with a decat exhaust and had no noise issues at Bedford. So I imagine your MR2 turbo will be fine unless you have done something dramatic to it.

I also thought Snetteton was a good beginners circuit, as there are really only 6 corners. You can spend less time learning the lines and more time improving your driving skills.