Handling Trackdays not Speed Anyone?

Handling Trackdays not Speed Anyone?

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cptsideways

Original Poster:

13,648 posts

259 months

Wednesday 5th November 2003
quotequote all
Just thought I'd ask,

Am I the only that wants a Handling slalom type trackday, speed is not the factor but fun. Lots of cones, lots of tight chicanes, 2nd & 3rd gear stuff so you can really get to know your car & get the back out everywhere in relative safety.

I don't really want to be doing 100mph plus without rollcages etc & I'm sure others think the same.

Something along the lines of the US style Autocross type events. Run like a sprint maybe where we can all watch too. There's gotta be more venues available with an event like this.

Any takers?????? any suggestions, you ATDO peeps out there got any ideas

Declan

anonymous-user

61 months

Wednesday 5th November 2003
quotequote all
some UK motor clubs run an event called a "solo"
its basically a sprint and an autotest combined. However the course is designed so there is rarely a straight long enough to have you contemplating third gear. its all first and second gear stuff through cones. they are hugely popular in america. normally you would have three groups of driver, those competing (one at a time on the course), those preparing to compete, and thos who have just competed, marshalling the course. they take place in car parks so its easy to marshal, you just check to see if the car follows the route. the route is marked by different colour cones. for example, you go left of red cones and right of blue ones. the major difference between a solo and an autotest is you dont use reverse gear in a solo.


www.bristolmc.org.uk/EventResults/solores.htm


have a check to see if your local motor club organise one or do a google search for pics and details of an american one. incidentally, BMC were the first club in the country to organise one and it was a great success. everyone liked the idea of marshalling, then getting ready to go, then competing.

If you cant find one, try looking for a competitive autotest in your area though its probably a bit late in the season now. autotest classes usually go on the length of a car. probably much cheaper than a slalom day too, average cost would be £10 to join a motor club and £10 for entry.

>> Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 5th November 16:26

DustyC

12,820 posts

261 months

Wednesday 5th November 2003
quotequote all
Thats fantastic information and something which I am currently looking into doing.

When I have gathered plenty of good info I will be posting it on PH.

bennyboysvuk

3,491 posts

255 months

Wednesday 5th November 2003
quotequote all
Something like this would be superb. My old bimmer 325 estate isn't up to a full on trackday. The heat produced from both engine and brakes would be overkill in a very short space of time. But a slower slalom, tail out kind of thing? Now that would be superb. How about an aerodrome kind of layout like Top Gear have?

I'm loving the idea.

jleroux

1,511 posts

267 months

Wednesday 5th November 2003
quotequote all
Back in the pre-BaT days I used to organise this sort of event and it was where I learned my car control skills. Sadly these activites are deemed even less socially acceptable that track days nowadays. Lots of tyre noise, tyre smoke, black lines on the ground etc etc.

Great fun and invaluable IMO (saved my life a few times) but I just can't see it happening as a regular ongoing concern in this country - unless you go out into the sticks of wales or scotland or something.

J5
BaT/BLiNK

DustyC

12,820 posts

261 months

Wednesday 5th November 2003
quotequote all
Im actively looking to do one of the events we are discussng here and will get back on to PH with all the info so a few of us can have a bash.

Have some details already and will start following them up.

flying trotter

275 posts

261 months

Wednesday 5th November 2003
quotequote all
It must be possible to do it at Brunters - the son of the owner is a massive fan of tailout action (I'm sure I was told he won the sideways challenge the previous year - though he blobbing out badly this year) and as for tyre noise/rubber the runway is covered already due to the driver training courses that operate there 2/3 days a week - they use precisely the same principle of on the limit action around a course laid out by cones

Melv

4,708 posts

272 months

Thursday 6th November 2003
quotequote all
Try one of Andy's www.1st-lotus.com (may have wrong URL -do a Google)days at North Weald.

Sounds like what you want.

Melv

jleroux

1,511 posts

267 months

Thursday 6th November 2003
quotequote all
i second Melv's comments re: 1st Lotus. Andy Walsh seems to have the market sown up at North Weald and you only ever hear great things about his days.

I'd probably be there every week if I lived closer.

J5

tigerk

4,386 posts

263 months

Thursday 6th November 2003
quotequote all
South West Tiger owners club spent a day on the sprint track at Haynes Museum at Sparkford last summer doing just this. The track can be hired on a daily or half daily rate for very reasonable prices. A day cost £35 each for 8 cars. One on the track at a time. I'd rcommend it to anyone. Track is VERY tight though so lightweight cars (sevens etc) are best.

There's some pictures of the track etc at www.swtoc.co.uk, under past events

cptsideways

Original Poster:

13,648 posts

259 months

Friday 7th November 2003
quotequote all
Fantastic thats about twenty mins up the road from me, I'll pop along and have a look.

Anyone else in the area up for having a go, I'll see what I can organise?

North Dorset/Wilts/Somerset?

GarryM

1,113 posts

290 months

Friday 7th November 2003
quotequote all
I can't get the swtoc link to work so can't see the venue but if suitable for a Griff, I'd be interested. Ideally I'd like someone there to instruct or just someone who knows what he/she's doing and is happy to pass on tips.

cptsideways

Original Poster:

13,648 posts

259 months

Friday 7th November 2003
quotequote all
www.cate1.co.uk/swtoc/past.html there we go it's on there, looks like fun.

I'll pop along tomorrow & have a look.........

cptsideways

Original Poster:

13,648 posts

259 months

Tuesday 11th November 2003
quotequote all
Just been to have look.....Haynes that is (A303 Near Yeovil)

Its very small, but if you have a rwd car good fun I should think. Lots of wiggly bits & sharp bends, wide enough, armco too. Looks like an overgrown go cart circuit.

You can hire the track all day for £200 up to 10 cars, but it's only 1 at a time. £50 per car 1/2 day. Decent noise limit too.

CCC test there I've heard?

Who's up for it then???

anonymous-user

61 months

Tuesday 11th November 2003
quotequote all
me!