Novice Track day or Regular track day?
Discussion
Well I need to start by saying this post is about track days and I’m looking for comments and advice from people about track days so please don’t move my post moderators! Every time I mention car brand my posts get moved to that forum which isn’t helpful
Anyway, I’m looking at booking some track days in but given nature/cost of my car I will be super cautious and won’t be pushing things too hard. It’s a British 2 seater with 720bhp. I’m looking at Snetterton as I figure it’s a relatively safe bet that by end of the both straights I should be pretty clear of most traffic, the ones I close on I’ll stay behind and watch their lines and be cautious. What I want to avoid is people trying to dart down the inside or out braking me so they can pass a M******n which I’m sure all the veterans will be able do easily anyway. I will be paying for track day tuition also.
So my question is, am I safer on a Novice day or a regular day? With a regular day I’m happy to slap 20 novice stickers all over the car as needed! I’m not proud! So I figure I’ll get a better class of driver here and hopefully learn a bit more and hopefully drivers safer and more respectful of a novice. I am however conscious that me being slower in corners could cause some frustration to experienced drivers and maybe even ruin their day out. With a novice day there are more rules and clearly states no passing in corners, and only passing on straights when car in front allows. So in theory a safer experience – BUT this also leaves the issue of novice drivers out braking themselves or coming off in corners which could cause a collision, I’d imagine less chance of this on a regular day
SO where am I most likely top be able drive home without any damage – Novice day or regular day?
Anyway, I’m looking at booking some track days in but given nature/cost of my car I will be super cautious and won’t be pushing things too hard. It’s a British 2 seater with 720bhp. I’m looking at Snetterton as I figure it’s a relatively safe bet that by end of the both straights I should be pretty clear of most traffic, the ones I close on I’ll stay behind and watch their lines and be cautious. What I want to avoid is people trying to dart down the inside or out braking me so they can pass a M******n which I’m sure all the veterans will be able do easily anyway. I will be paying for track day tuition also.
So my question is, am I safer on a Novice day or a regular day? With a regular day I’m happy to slap 20 novice stickers all over the car as needed! I’m not proud! So I figure I’ll get a better class of driver here and hopefully learn a bit more and hopefully drivers safer and more respectful of a novice. I am however conscious that me being slower in corners could cause some frustration to experienced drivers and maybe even ruin their day out. With a novice day there are more rules and clearly states no passing in corners, and only passing on straights when car in front allows. So in theory a safer experience – BUT this also leaves the issue of novice drivers out braking themselves or coming off in corners which could cause a collision, I’d imagine less chance of this on a regular day
SO where am I most likely top be able drive home without any damage – Novice day or regular day?
Some great feedback, thanks all. I've no intention of holding anyone up and no issue with anyone passing me or being quicker in corners than me. Actually I can probably learn more from being behind these people.
My real question is, from peoples experience, is a novice day safer than a regular day?
My real question is, from peoples experience, is a novice day safer than a regular day?
QBee said:
From my experience, a regular day is safer, novices don't always instinctively remember the rules when under pressure, and you can get very large speed differences. Speed itself is less dangerous than speed differentials.
Also as said above, an expensive day at a track where they only let a small number on track at a time is safer than a cheap summer evening event where everyone is trying to pack in the maximum track time to the 2.5 to 3 hours available. Or a cheap day with a lot of participants.
Personally I would enjoy the cafe during rain storms - you may be on the best rain tyres and be a driving god, but there will be others who aren't either.
Thanks, hell yeah if it rains I'll stay at home Also as said above, an expensive day at a track where they only let a small number on track at a time is safer than a cheap summer evening event where everyone is trying to pack in the maximum track time to the 2.5 to 3 hours available. Or a cheap day with a lot of participants.
Personally I would enjoy the cafe during rain storms - you may be on the best rain tyres and be a driving god, but there will be others who aren't either.
QBee said:
Have you checked your noise level on your MCL?
If you are over the track limit you will not be allowed on track, and you won't get a refund either because you have stopped them selling the space to someone else.
You can either get a noise meter (there are some phone apps for this) or call the nearest track to you and ask them to check your car prior to booking.
They are usually happy to do so at a mutually convenient time (like on a track day when they are there anyway), as they are all enthusiasts and want to see you on track. Especially in a British supercar.
Every track has a noise limit, it's not exactly low, usually around 99-103 dB(a) static, but still a number of cars will fail.
Thruxton is particularly low at 90 dBa.
Some tracks like Donington use drive by limits instead, Bedford uses both because the downwind residents are heartily sick of the noise.
I used to find with my TVR that I was very close to the static limit of 101, but never failed the drive by at 87.5.
The static test is taken at 45 degrees, one metre up and out from the exhaust tail pipe, and at 3/4 max revs, which I imagine will be quite an interesting noise on your car.
Oh bugger! 112Db.... how strict are they? Funny I always thought they sound crap compared a nice V12!If you are over the track limit you will not be allowed on track, and you won't get a refund either because you have stopped them selling the space to someone else.
You can either get a noise meter (there are some phone apps for this) or call the nearest track to you and ask them to check your car prior to booking.
They are usually happy to do so at a mutually convenient time (like on a track day when they are there anyway), as they are all enthusiasts and want to see you on track. Especially in a British supercar.
Every track has a noise limit, it's not exactly low, usually around 99-103 dB(a) static, but still a number of cars will fail.
Thruxton is particularly low at 90 dBa.
Some tracks like Donington use drive by limits instead, Bedford uses both because the downwind residents are heartily sick of the noise.
I used to find with my TVR that I was very close to the static limit of 101, but never failed the drive by at 87.5.
The static test is taken at 45 degrees, one metre up and out from the exhaust tail pipe, and at 3/4 max revs, which I imagine will be quite an interesting noise on your car.
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