EvoActive Introductory Trackdays
Discussion
My loverly missus is booking me a go at the Brands Hatch event 
Thing is I'm not quite sure what to expect, I'm looking forward to trying to keep up with everybody else in my old Seat, but I'm not quite sure what to expect.
Will people laugh at my car? - and is anyone here been or has been to one of these days?
Thing is I'm not quite sure what to expect, I'm looking forward to trying to keep up with everybody else in my old Seat, but I'm not quite sure what to expect.
Will people laugh at my car? - and is anyone here been or has been to one of these days?
My wife did one that was organised exclusively for Lotus/Caterham 7 club. It was a good day marred only by the cloudburst that turned Silverstone into a skating rink. The day was well organised and you got a briefing/education session, a trip round the circuit in a minibus with an instructor pointing out braking and turn in points and "things to watch out for". Then you get 2 sessions following a pace car for the first couple of laps and then free lapping. If you've never done a track day then this is a good introduction.
Shaun
Shaun
My worry is that they may turn around and say no go to the car (even though it recently taxed mot'd etc etc) or something because it would be too slow.
Not for want of trying, I'd be making sure it is as quick as some bigger cars.
I really don't know what to expect - hence asking here...
Not for want of trying, I'd be making sure it is as quick as some bigger cars.
I really don't know what to expect - hence asking here...
The car doesn't matter - there will be lots of slow people out there. Believe me even on the Caterham day there were slow people - wives, girlfriends, etc. The important thing is to take it easy to start with and respect the limits of your car. Most likely your brakes will suffer fairly quickly and you'll need to do a slow lap to let them cool down but apart from that if your car is in good condition you'll enjoy it. Check tyre pressures, oil levels, etc. Have a look here:www.easytrack.co.uk/beginner/begin6.asp to see what you should do to your car to prepare it.
If you're still worried then perhaps it would be better to do one of the "experience" days where the cars are provided - that's how I got into track days and ended up buying the Caterham - my wife bought me a Silverstone experience day driving a Peugeot 306 GTi6 and that got me hooked.
If you're still worried then perhaps it would be better to do one of the "experience" days where the cars are provided - that's how I got into track days and ended up buying the Caterham - my wife bought me a Silverstone experience day driving a Peugeot 306 GTi6 and that got me hooked.
You'll be very surprised how a fast driver in a slower car will annialate seemingly fast cars.
Went to Hethel recently and the instructors were doing laps in Diesel Astra's I kid you not! there were some very embarrassed drivers out there.
learn the lines & smooth driving before ever getting a fast car.
I have also done Bruntingthorpe, this chap in a new MX-5 was so much faster than everyone else through the corners, catching Nobles & Porches up by the end of each twisty bit. I spent a few laps as a passenger & it was a lesson in fast driving, a past master by all accounts.
Went to Hethel recently and the instructors were doing laps in Diesel Astra's I kid you not! there were some very embarrassed drivers out there.
learn the lines & smooth driving before ever getting a fast car.
I have also done Bruntingthorpe, this chap in a new MX-5 was so much faster than everyone else through the corners, catching Nobles & Porches up by the end of each twisty bit. I spent a few laps as a passenger & it was a lesson in fast driving, a past master by all accounts.
Neil,
I did last years Snetterton one in a MR1 MR2 I bought soley for that purpose. Absolute hoot and not a bit of car snobbery going on.
Have done Brands in my TVR recently, I can confirm that snetterton is a far better circuit (in my opinion) and if I were you I would swap, I think they are doing one there in Feb.
One word of warning, on a trackday you can't put your handbrake on straight after the session, due to the heat generated from the pads and risk of sticking. You will be advised to put it in gear instead, which is fine till you start it (in gear) and it leaps forward! Sounds obvious but most people aren't use to this and subsequently a Mini driver lunged forward into my car last year. Apart from the damage it could of been dangerous as I was standing inbetween just a few moments before. My advice, be careful where you park the car in the pits.
Best of luck
Simon
I did last years Snetterton one in a MR1 MR2 I bought soley for that purpose. Absolute hoot and not a bit of car snobbery going on.
Have done Brands in my TVR recently, I can confirm that snetterton is a far better circuit (in my opinion) and if I were you I would swap, I think they are doing one there in Feb.
One word of warning, on a trackday you can't put your handbrake on straight after the session, due to the heat generated from the pads and risk of sticking. You will be advised to put it in gear instead, which is fine till you start it (in gear) and it leaps forward! Sounds obvious but most people aren't use to this and subsequently a Mini driver lunged forward into my car last year. Apart from the damage it could of been dangerous as I was standing inbetween just a few moments before. My advice, be careful where you park the car in the pits.
Best of luck
Simon
Nobody will/has any right to laugh at your car. I went to Brunters in a 157k celica acquired for 150 quid. Some rich crap drivers were easily passed as I could 'risk' the car! Not to say I drove dangerously but you know..... At the same day a guy in an MX5 was having everyone through the bends, kits/elises/noble etc. Some fella also bent his porsche. So who's being laughed at? You with a car you can handle or a plonker with a rocketship they haven't a clue with? Thats not to say some nice guys don't have smart cars but you should be aok. I'd be afraid to laugh just in case you whipped me on track! We've all got to start somewhere...etc Just do it!!
It really doesn't matter what car you bring, these courses are aimed at novices and drivers who haven't visited these circuits. The Introduction day at Brands is now full, but there are places at Oulton, Cadwell and Snett (although these are filling quickly).
You will find full details on the evo website. Let me know if you have any further questions.
Roger Green
evoactive manager
You will find full details on the evo website. Let me know if you have any further questions.
Roger Green
evoactive manager
Doesn't look too hopeful for Brands Hatch tomorrow (Fri 31st), unless we have a heatwave this afternoon anyway.
I can't get the Escort out of the village let alone attempt the trip in the Chimaera! It's not the depth of snow, it's the fact that it's turned to sheet ice. Come to Kent for your free skid pan training.
Tim
I can't get the Escort out of the village let alone attempt the trip in the Chimaera! It's not the depth of snow, it's the fact that it's turned to sheet ice. Come to Kent for your free skid pan training.
Tim
TT Tim said:
Doesn't look too hopeful for Brands Hatch tomorrow (Fri 31st), unless we have a heatwave this afternoon anyway.
Just been told it's postponed until the following week. I don't know what it's like near London but down in sunny Bournemouth, there's hardly any snow left, all melted.
Bl
dy country 
, can't cope with a little light snow 
, bet the don't cancel track days in Sweden due to snow 
, etc. 
IPAddis said:
Doesn't look too hopeful for Brands Hatch tomorrow (Fri 31st), unless we have a heatwave this afternoon anyway.
Just been told it's postponed until the following week. I don't know what it's like near London but down in sunny Bournemouth, there's hardly any snow left, all melted.
Bl
I agree with that comment on most things, but do bear in mind that it is an introductory track day, it's meant to be for circuit novices, no fun if the first time you go on track it's like an ice rink! I for one wouldn't like to let the wife loose at brands in the Chimaera if it was icy, too much danger to 2 of the most important things in my life.
It's thawing quite quickly here, 25miles from Brands, but I couldn't get to the station this morning because the roads were sheet ice.
Finger's crossed for a fine day on the 6th.
Tim
Hi guys,
Sorry about the postponement, we agonised over what would be the best course of action for sometime. In conclusion early yesterday afternoon we felt it was best for the circuit management team to make the call as they were better placed then us. They used detailed weather forcasts combined with their own experience.
There were two points of concern, the first being that the melted snow would re-freeze over night and take a while to defrost this morning. It's the graveltraps rather than the track itself that takes the time incidentally, and obviously we never compromise on safety.
Secondly, we would rather you didn't have to drive your pride and joy on slushy, salty roads to get there in the first place. I know the bare-ali Caterham boys understandably don't like this at all...
Our aim is to give you the very best introduction to trackdays and track driving and so we decided that to acheive that we should postpone it for one week. I hope you understand and we will make sure that next Friday is a top class day.
Incidentally we do still have a few places at Cadwell, Oulton and Snett on these courses, so if you've not driven on these cicuits before, now's your chance. See www.evo.co.uk for more
Roger Green
evoactive manager
Sorry about the postponement, we agonised over what would be the best course of action for sometime. In conclusion early yesterday afternoon we felt it was best for the circuit management team to make the call as they were better placed then us. They used detailed weather forcasts combined with their own experience.
There were two points of concern, the first being that the melted snow would re-freeze over night and take a while to defrost this morning. It's the graveltraps rather than the track itself that takes the time incidentally, and obviously we never compromise on safety.
Secondly, we would rather you didn't have to drive your pride and joy on slushy, salty roads to get there in the first place. I know the bare-ali Caterham boys understandably don't like this at all...
Our aim is to give you the very best introduction to trackdays and track driving and so we decided that to acheive that we should postpone it for one week. I hope you understand and we will make sure that next Friday is a top class day.
Incidentally we do still have a few places at Cadwell, Oulton and Snett on these courses, so if you've not driven on these cicuits before, now's your chance. See www.evo.co.uk for more
Roger Green
evoactive manager
evoactive said:
Secondly, we would rather you didn't have to drive your pride and joy on slushy, salty roads to get there in the first place. I know the bare-ali Caterham boys understandably don't like this at all...
Woosies! Still fair call, just a bit miffed as I'd been looking forward to it all week.
Still looks a bit wet for Friday - can you morning people please sort out a nice dry line by 1pm please?
Ian A.
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