Purpose built motorsport car at a track day?

[oi_oi_savaloy]

Hi everyone

I've got a Rallycross stockhatch car that (no lights, stripped interior, roll cage etc etc, has to be trailered everywhere) I want to practise in between races.

Does anyone know of a firm that will allow me to run her on a track day? (track day virgin as you can tell - have no idea whether racing cars appear on track days all the time or not).

Following this: if I am allowed to use the car are extra drivers allowed? I want to reward my sponsors with the opportunity to drive the car themselves and was wondering if multiple drivers are allowed?

Thanks for any feedback.

Oi_Oi

[greenv8s]

Some track days seem to allow non-road-legal cars, but I think test days are what you're really after. Pick a circuit you want to test at, get in touch with the owners and they should be able to provide you with a calendar.

[Graham]

I've run the race car on trck days, and seen plenty of non road legal hatches being trailered about.

Bookatrack are good.

you best bet is to look for some dates then check with the organisers.

the think you will need to watch is noise, though. motorsport has a higher limit than track days.

Extra drivers are not usually a problem. some places charge and some dont.

everyone will need to take a driving licence with them and sign on, and you'll all need a helmet.

If you've got a lot of drivers, some times it can be difficult to arrange sighting laps for everyone.


G

[Graham]

greenv8s said:

Some track days seem to allow non-road-legal cars, but I think test days are what you're really after. Pick a circuit you want to test at, get in touch with the owners and they should be able to provide you with a calendar.

A test day wouldnt let you run drivers in the car without a full MSA race licence.

Remember track days and test days are different. Track days have rules about overtaking ect which you must stick to.... Test days are a bit wilder as you are all supposed to know what you are doing, and be prepared for somthing with X times your hp and grip going up your inside at the apex... do that at a track day and you'd be back on the traielr going home before you could say oops.

[oi_oi_savaloy]

Thanks guys - good advice.

Test days - definitely worth thinking about for me to test/practise at. Track days - with only 2 extra (absolute max) drivers the strict overtaking rules would be ideal for them. They just want a go in it to get a feel for what it's like to drive a stripped out racer. It's only a 1.4 but god, does it shift!

[iguana]

Test days are really only for experienced racers, the differenced between the performance of the cars out in the same session on a Test day can be so different that its bordering on the insane, i.e half a million quids worth of 800bhp GT1 cars lapping with a a grands worth of 50bhp 2CV race car!! both of whome are trying hard & trying to simulate race conditions for testing their cars.

[greenv8s]

Sorry I didn't realise you wanted to send newbie drivers out too - test days are probably the wrong answer. You might think about taking them out as passengers if possible rather than drivers? Alternatively I know some people rent places like Curborough out for the day and entertain their sponsors there.

[Martin A]

Make sure you go somewhere tight and twisty. I took a 1.3 rally car to Goodwood some years ago and it hit max revs in top on the pit straight before the braking point on my out lap!! It was only geared for 90mph but the day ended up being a bit boring apart from the chicane.

[oi_oi_savaloy]

Thanks for all the advice everyone - much appreciated. Still thinking things over. I've decided to that Anglesey will be the venue (as that's where the car lives and it's not a long circuit (so shouldn't run out of revs right?) and a bit challenging.

Now to speak to bookatrack and see if they'll let me join everyone else......

[sjg]

Race hatches should be fine - the headaches recently have been with open-wheeled cars (formula ford, F3s and the like) and organisers' insurance. Provided it's in raceworthy condition you should have no problem at all.

Anglesey would be ideal - bookatrack have quite a few dates there and I don't think they charge for extra drivers either.

[LRdriver II]

just remember to behave and follow the rules set out during the breifing.. I have seen alot of "race-drivers" act like idiots and drive arrogantly, because they happened to be running slicks etc.. Not saying this applies to all "testers" on trackdays, but consider that many trackdays have newbies with their road cars (that they want to take home again in one piece) so drive with due care.

[Mark Benson]

Llandow near Cardiff is a good place to test if you're worried about other traffic, myself and another Locost racer went there last year for the day pre-season to do initial setup, £100 each and we were the only ones there all day. Granted it's a sprint circuit but for a rallycross car should be ideal.

[M@H]

Mark Benson said:

Llandow near Cardiff is a good place to test if you're worried about other traffic, myself and another Locost racer went there last year for the day pre-season to do initial setup, £100 each and we were the only ones there all day. Granted it's a sprint circuit but for a rallycross car should be ideal.

Indeed.. lots of visibility too.. albeit if the "bus stop" is being used as a part of the track, its a b!tch to get a heavy TVR round..

[oi_oi_savaloy]

Considered Llandow but it's a bitch to get to from Anglesey - no motorways and having to pull the trailer with the car on it makes it a v long journey.

Thanks for all the excellent advice about tracks, firms, behaviour etc etc - all valid and I'm now even more eager to get on track before I plugh into the barriers at my next meeting. Croft 28th Feb, The Yellow Rover Metro in the Stockhatches. That's me so please, try to avoid the area.......! (Only second race ever)

[WelshDragon]

I use my Eurocar and Pug Rally car on Trackdays.

www.monsterevo.co.uk/Eurocar/Eurocar.JPG

We also have a few Vectra challenge cars.
The only things not allowed are single seaters.

We have a trackday on at Oulton Park this Tuesday.
Contact the team at Track Action if you want to go

www.track-action.co.uk/homefrmr.htm

Dale

[oi_oi_savaloy]

Dale

Thanks for the option - Oulton Park is close to the car but I'm in london and working this week so can' make it.

BUT food for thought for the future.

[Graham]

Just a though. remember trackdays tend to have lower noise limits than races, so check the db level on your car or take some bolt on silencers

G

[steve lewis]

Just go and enjoy developing your driving skills in a relatively safe environment on track days, with like minded bods.
Remember the nut holding the wheel has the greatest room for development before you start playing with the car. (OK I would say that as an Instructor!)

If you want to use the car on test days I am running an ARDS Race Licence day at Sillystone on 12th March.
Graham knows this day well...
even he passed! Sorry Gray

Enjoy your time on track.

best regs
Steve L
[e-mail]

[phil hill]

If you're still looking for something check out Javelin Motorsport. They regularly use two airfields, Binbrook (Lincs) and Elvington (nr York), occasionally Cadwell Park and have been to Hethel (sp??). The event's I've attended have had competition cars on track, from a fully prep'd and sponsored BMW M3 racer and an Opel Monza rally car to Stock Hatches doing shake-downs. They are a friendly bunch and the events are pretty well organised. Just a thought !!

[oi_oi_savaloy]

Thanks Steve and Phill for that. I'm afraid I can't do 12th March, it;s my mum and sisters birthdays that weekend (same day, different years!!).

I'm racing at Croft on 28th Feb so I'll compete there and see how I get on. March is a tad busy, weddings etc but April/May is looking much better.

I really want to get on trakc in a non competitive environment to just get to know the car and learn. Training is something that I need too. Heel and toeing is a disaster and practicing in your wife's company car with her in it just doesn't work!