Castle Combe trackday?
Discussion
Hi Andy
I've done several days at Combe. Somne were with owners clubs and these tend to be very well organised. I've done a few of Combe's own days (just phone them for dates and details), and while I've been fine, I have heard that lately they've had some, ahem, interesting attenders running what is basically scrap, towed up on a trailer for the day. Problem being that they probably really don't care if they hit anyone. But this is only hearsay, and I'd say give it a go. I've always been impressed by the track's organisation and their approach to track days.
Whoever you go with, get a few laps of instruction - Combe is an excellent, fast track, but you need to not get it wrong especially at Tower and Quarry, because there's nowhere to go!
I've done several days at Combe. Somne were with owners clubs and these tend to be very well organised. I've done a few of Combe's own days (just phone them for dates and details), and while I've been fine, I have heard that lately they've had some, ahem, interesting attenders running what is basically scrap, towed up on a trailer for the day. Problem being that they probably really don't care if they hit anyone. But this is only hearsay, and I'd say give it a go. I've always been impressed by the track's organisation and their approach to track days.
Whoever you go with, get a few laps of instruction - Combe is an excellent, fast track, but you need to not get it wrong especially at Tower and Quarry, because there's nowhere to go!
Cavey said:
Hi Andy
I've done a few of Combe's own days (just phone them for dates and details), and while I've been fine, I have heard that lately they've had some, ahem, interesting attenders running what is basically scrap, towed up on a trailer for the day. Problem being that they probably really don't care if they hit anyone. But this is only hearsay, and I'd say give it a go. I've always been impressed by the track's organisation and their approach to track days.
I went on one of their own earlier this month. its true, they have scrap cars stripped and roll caged with slick tyres. I was sure Combes rules said they had to be road going vehicles as it was not a test day. These cars werent taxed of MOT'd. I pointed this out to the lady marshall in the pit lane she said they were monitoring their driving standards. to be fair, they didnt hit anyone or spin off but they were in the same session which made it a bit of a race for them.I've done a few of Combe's own days (just phone them for dates and details), and while I've been fine, I have heard that lately they've had some, ahem, interesting attenders running what is basically scrap, towed up on a trailer for the day. Problem being that they probably really don't care if they hit anyone. But this is only hearsay, and I'd say give it a go. I've always been impressed by the track's organisation and their approach to track days.
I went with book a track and this was more about enthusiasts(SP?)enjoying their cars on track. go with them if you can.
I am booked for the 1st of Dec with them.
The rules as far as i know it are that all cars must have a valid MOT.Combe trackdays are well run and if your driving is shall we say not within the conduct of the day the person or persons involved will be removed from the track simple!!
as for the comment about scrap cars being used is total twaddle
as for the comment about scrap cars being used is total twaddle
micron750 said:
as for the comment about scrap cars being used is total twaddle
I only say this as i heard the chaps laughing about using the tax disc off their tow vehicle on their rollcaged shed on slicks.You are right that they do get watched and called in if they drive aggresively etc.
I think people are talking about the Action Days and possibly events like Japfest where people pre-book track session at £20-25 each.
I agree, the standard of driving from some drivers on these days is abysmal and i have definately seen some cars that look a bit "Mad Max" and seem to be driven accordingly!
BUT
The proper track days are not like these days at all. In my experience they are very well run and the standard of driving is always good to high.
Please do not get a bad idea about the genuine track days at the circuit because of a few numpties in clapped-out Sierras "driftin'" on the Action Days.
Cheers
Martin
I agree, the standard of driving from some drivers on these days is abysmal and i have definately seen some cars that look a bit "Mad Max" and seem to be driven accordingly!
BUT
The proper track days are not like these days at all. In my experience they are very well run and the standard of driving is always good to high.
Please do not get a bad idea about the genuine track days at the circuit because of a few numpties in clapped-out Sierras "driftin'" on the Action Days.
Cheers
Martin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZ0-zkEyHIE
a typical track day at CC......
enjoy yourself and be safe!
a typical track day at CC......
enjoy yourself and be safe!
Jeeeesus Christ !! Hope that wasn't all on the same day !! There were some 'odd' incidents there 
don't know the track at all but how were people going off to the left before the right handed corner 
??
That bloke with the green Lotus/Westfield (?) was a very, very lucky man !! Shame about his motor though, must have been totally totalled ??
don't know the track at all but how were people going off to the left before the right handed corner ??That bloke with the green Lotus/Westfield (?) was a very, very lucky man !! Shame about his motor though, must have been totally totalled ??
I have done on average about 8 to 10 trackdays a year for 7 years at Castle Combe.
Action days are not to be confused with track days.
Castle Coombs own track days are some of the best run and safest that I have done with only 12 cars allowed on track at a time.
On the other hand Action days have 25 cars on track with mixed abilities and cars.
If you want to have a good safe day I can recommend Castle Combe you even get free tuition.
Mark
Action days are not to be confused with track days.
Castle Coombs own track days are some of the best run and safest that I have done with only 12 cars allowed on track at a time.
On the other hand Action days have 25 cars on track with mixed abilities and cars.
If you want to have a good safe day I can recommend Castle Combe you even get free tuition.
Mark
shim said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZ0-zkEyHIE
a typical track day at CC......
enjoy yourself and be safe!
Ive been watching this thread for a while, and after seeing this post I had to register.a typical track day at CC......
enjoy yourself and be safe!
Ive been doing trackdays for many many years, and my car happens to be one of these caged sheds with 'slicks' that has been mentioned further up the thread. This video you have posted involves incedents spread accross around 4 years, and does a very good job of making combe look like a death trap! I think that is an insult to the people who make these days go ahead, and run as smoothly as they do.
I agree there are idiots, unfortunately, you cant get away from them, either on track or on the public highway, but generalising that is us in our track cars that are the problem is frankly naive to say the least. Driving on track is our hobby, and without sounding big headed, we're actually quite good at it, as well as courteous to other track users. My car and a lot of my friends run on board cameras that prove this. Our cars are also very well maintained, I doubt most of the cars subjected to a day on track gets a full nut and bolt shakedown afterwards like ours do! We have found that comments like this are normally derived from people in BMW's who have taken an ego bashing from being passed by a 15 year old Vauxhall Nova. Ego's should be left in the paddock on track days.
The video you have posted doesnt involve one 'shed with a cage', most involves quite expensive machinery driven by the aforementioned 'entusiasts' that you are so keen to clear us off the track for. I suggest some facts are straightened out before generalising.
Nice first post Straight for the jugular!!
Ive been going down to Castle Combe for the last 10 years. I have run trackdays there (they were obviously the best ones!) And I have used owners clubs, Book-a-track, Castle Combes, test days, and races.
Jonny from BAT accepts no messing! Any problems you are history simple as that. When running a car worth up wards of 50k it is comforting to know that you aren't going to have some simpleton running around in a Mrk2 Golf worth £250 and not caring who he takes out.
Castle Combes own days are of a similar tight routine. The test days, you have other racing cars, and the races are every man for himself!!
The stupid car days, Ive been tempted to run at Japfest...do have some idiots turning up. Those people that turn up Blinged up, and with their big turbos....fancy a few laps, but are running around with standard brakes and usually zero talent! They are the ones where problems occur.
So go and fill you boots...Im running our car on the 31st Aug on a Combe's own day.
Straight for the jugular!!Ive been going down to Castle Combe for the last 10 years. I have run trackdays there (they were obviously the best ones!) And I have used owners clubs, Book-a-track, Castle Combes, test days, and races.
Jonny from BAT accepts no messing! Any problems you are history simple as that. When running a car worth up wards of 50k it is comforting to know that you aren't going to have some simpleton running around in a Mrk2 Golf worth £250 and not caring who he takes out.
Castle Combes own days are of a similar tight routine. The test days, you have other racing cars, and the races are every man for himself!!
The stupid car days, Ive been tempted to run at Japfest...do have some idiots turning up. Those people that turn up Blinged up, and with their big turbos....fancy a few laps, but are running around with standard brakes and usually zero talent! They are the ones where problems occur.
So go and fill you boots...Im running our car on the 31st Aug on a Combe's own day.
Nice first post Straight for the jugular!!
Ive been going down to Castle Combe for the last 10 years. I have run trackdays there (they were obviously the best ones!) And I have used owners clubs, Book-a-track, Castle Combes, test days, and races.
Jonny from BAT accepts no messing! Any problems you are history simple as that. When running a car worth up wards of 50k it is comforting to know that you aren't going to have some simpleton running around in a Mrk2 Golf worth £250 and not caring who he takes out.
Castle Combes own days are of a similar tight routine. The test days, you have other racing cars, and the races are every man for himself!!
The stupid car days, Ive been tempted to run at Japfest...do have some idiots turning up. Those people that turn up Blinged up, and with their big turbos....fancy a few laps, but are running around with standard brakes and usually zero talent! They are the ones where problems occur.
So go and fill you boots...Im running our car on the 31st Aug on a Combe's own day.
Straight for the jugular!!Ive been going down to Castle Combe for the last 10 years. I have run trackdays there (they were obviously the best ones!) And I have used owners clubs, Book-a-track, Castle Combes, test days, and races.
Jonny from BAT accepts no messing! Any problems you are history simple as that. When running a car worth up wards of 50k it is comforting to know that you aren't going to have some simpleton running around in a Mrk2 Golf worth £250 and not caring who he takes out.
Castle Combes own days are of a similar tight routine. The test days, you have other racing cars, and the races are every man for himself!!
The stupid car days, Ive been tempted to run at Japfest...do have some idiots turning up. Those people that turn up Blinged up, and with their big turbos....fancy a few laps, but are running around with standard brakes and usually zero talent! They are the ones where problems occur.
So go and fill you boots...Im running our car on the 31st Aug on a Combe's own day.
Hi PNG, it was I who mentioned the 'sheds with cages' phrase, i realise now how bad that sounds. its by no means a dig at the cars value. I gave them that loose title as they do look like race cars that have been around for a while. What i was getting at was the lack of MOT or Tax on the cars. the fact that they were trailored there due to the slicks etc. Infact by lunchtime they were all broken and back on their trailors and taken home for the nut and bolt rebuild. Im still not digging at you or your friends but they didnt seem to last very long and there was a VR6 Vento there missfiring like a good'un yet still going out. you were all fast and obviously knew the track and as you say its your hobby, great for you chaps having fun.
The day i went on was definatley not a test/action day. it was a track day designed for road cars.
For the opening poster...... go on a trackday and have a ball, i did. keep an eye on your mirrors and all should be fine. I didnt have any close encounters with anyone else on track and dont expect you will. If you do have any doubts of your ability etc, book time with and instructor and/or at the beginning of the day request a novice session placement.
Have fun, see you on track soon.
The day i went on was definatley not a test/action day. it was a track day designed for road cars.
For the opening poster...... go on a trackday and have a ball, i did. keep an eye on your mirrors and all should be fine. I didnt have any close encounters with anyone else on track and dont expect you will. If you do have any doubts of your ability etc, book time with and instructor and/or at the beginning of the day request a novice session placement.
Have fun, see you on track soon.
I've spectated at Combe's Quarry for the last 37 years raceday's and trackday's if quarry is not treated with respect it will bite you and as Jon will tell you the entry is very quick even in a road car so the circuit know too well the dangers of fooling about or those thinking they have tallent until it ends in the barriers usually at Quarry and Tower.
The video in question as stated has been gathered over a number of years and the bloke who made it is a mate of mine has no intention of ruining combes reputation for runnig trackdays that are on the hole very safe,so far this year all the actionday's have been fully booked so it can't have made that much of an impression...... crashes will happen its just unlucky they got caught on film doing it
The video in question as stated has been gathered over a number of years and the bloke who made it is a mate of mine has no intention of ruining combes reputation for runnig trackdays that are on the hole very safe,so far this year all the actionday's have been fully booked so it can't have made that much of an impression...... crashes will happen its just unlucky they got caught on film doing it
_TC said:
Hi PNG, it was I who mentioned the 'sheds with cages' phrase, i realise now how bad that sounds. its by no means a dig at the cars value. I gave them that loose title as they do look like race cars that have been around for a while. What i was getting at was the lack of MOT or Tax on the cars. the fact that they were trailored there due to the slicks etc. Infact by lunchtime they were all broken and back on their trailors and taken home for the nut and bolt rebuild. Im still not digging at you or your friends but they didnt seem to last very long and there was a VR6 Vento there missfiring like a good'un yet still going out. you were all fast and obviously knew the track and as you say its your hobby, great for you chaps having fun.
I agree there are some appauling cars that turn up to do battle that should really be put on a compost heap. But ours are VERY well looked after, and the lack of Tax and MOT do not reflect an attitude that we cant be assed to maintain the cars, the fact of the matter is, why tax insure and MOT a car that only goes on track, and sits in a lockup for the rest the year? This is why theyre trailored up. Not because of slicks. Slicks arnt allowed on action days, we run Toyo R888's.
What im getting at is, please dont tar all the non road legal cars with the same brush. Just because I dont want to pay out for a tax disc when the cars never going to see a public road doesnt mean i dont give a crap and intend to punt Mr Rich off the track in his immaculately turned out RX8! My car has had a LOT of money spent on it and I would rather it didnt get dented just as much as him! As mentioned before, comments like yours tend to be deriven from bruised egos rather than a real worry about track safety.
Not saying yours are, but weve had a lot of comments headed our way in the past with no evidence to back them up at all, as well as complaints made to event organisers, and when the video camera from my car is produced to prove that the dangerous driving i was supposed to have been doing was actually bad driving on the part of the complainee, the ego's get bruised even more!
Edited by PNG on Saturday 18th August 20:43
Edited by PNG on Saturday 18th August 20:43
whichever circuit you go to your going to get the numpties with loads of cash and no talent!
never ceases to amaze me the amount of talentless drivers who cannot get a car around quarry!
maybe if everyone who was new to a circuit was made to have some kind of tuition then the standards would improve!
never ceases to amaze me the amount of talentless drivers who cannot get a car around quarry!
maybe if everyone who was new to a circuit was made to have some kind of tuition then the standards would improve!
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