Track Day help

[First Sea Lord]

OK, so I've had a a couple of 997s and have a Boxster 4.0. Beyond Porsche PEC stuff, which doesn't count, I have almost zero track day experience.

A 992 GT3 is coming in September. Despite the point of it being for fast road use (the wife who's prone to car sickness will give me hell for this whenever we go for weekends away) I'd really like to try it on a track.

Can anyone recommend an instructor or guide who I can pay to help me decide which track day to go on, help make sure I bring whatever's needed, and most importantly guide me through the day. If they can give me some driving tuition then great, but my main focus is having a friend who can help me as a newbie get the best out of the day.

I live in London so days within striking range of there will be what I'm looking for. Thank you!

[lukeyboyuk]

Did my first track day this year, have done two at Snetterton now. Big run offs. Went with RMA who I would say are for slightly more experienced drivers although the instructor was extremely helpful and got me up to speed pretty quick. Goldtrack I went with the second time and was great as well. Both have low numbers so less traffic making life quite nice on track.

[Twinfan]

I did my first day last year and have done another couple since. I chose a circuit I knew the layout of already, and was short and fairly simple (Donington National).

If you're a member of PCGB, there's a thread I wrote in the Cayman section of the forum with a beginner's guide to track days that you might find useful.

I don't think you need to pay someone, I think you can do your own research and then just take a mate on the day who can passenger in the car with you

[Dixy]

Bedford is good as when you have more speed than talent you just owe Palmer some grass seed.
If you have never driven on track before get lots of good instruction.
If you have a cheap head get a cheap helmet.
DO NOT take your wife.
They are addictive, one year after my 20th track day SWMBO got the hump, and I did not get to.....
Enjoy.

[ChrisW.]

I think it would be a mistake to rely on a mate ...

Bad habits are hard to get out of, and good habits are the foundation of a learning process ... and a lot of fun.

I would heartily recommend the Porsche days which have a variety of instructors ... but most of them are sold out for this year. However, why not ask them about instructors in the south ?

The learning is in the journey so there are no short cuts unless you are the next Senna ... but the progressive learning is where the fun is to be had ?

[Twinfan]

Depends how seriously you're gong to take it I think, Chris. I'm happy with the odd day here and there just stretching the legs of myself and my car, so lots of tuition and a lack of just going out and enjoying yourself didn't and doesn't work for me.

Each to their own though of course!

[ChrisW.]

The Porsche tuition (coaching) is not expensive .... I remember my father telling me that he discovered after the event that the driving instructor he was paying was using his earnings to pay for his own lessons ... that was a while ago !

[whj]

I got my GT3 a few years ago, and with similar experience to yourself, I found the Porsche Club days far quieter and less competitive, which allows time to learn the line and the car. Whilst they are all sold out they do have a reservation list and there are often people drop out in the days leading up to the event.
I also found tuition really worthwhile, get to the circuit as early as possible, get to the front of the queue and book an instructor for early morning and get to learn the line and the braking points etc, then a few hours out on your own, and perhaps another half hour tuition after lunch when you are ready for more information.
If you can't get on a Porsche Club day, in my experience Gold Track days are well organised and quite quiet, and by default less intimidating when you are trying to learn your car and the circuit.
Finally I would say that a wet day is another complication you probably could do without, not always in your control, but if you get a call about a last minute reserve space then check the weather forecast first.
Have fun and enjoy you're new car.

[First Sea Lord]

Thanks everyone. This is really helpful. Would definitely rather pay someone who knows it all, at least the first time, and probably for several sessions.

Will be great if my driving improves but the my main objective is to have fun, and not break myself or the car.

[mm450exc]

Book a day directly with Silverstone. Instructors available.

[Throttlebody]

Dixy said:

Bedford is good as when you have more speed than talent you just owe Palmer some grass seed.
If you have never driven on track before get lots of good instruction.
If you have a cheap head get a cheap helmet.
DO NOT take your wife.
They are addictive, one year after my 20th track day SWMBO got the hump, and I did not get to.....
Enjoy.

The GT3 struggles at Bedford for noise limits.

[px1980]

Throttlebody said:

The GT3 struggles at Bedford for noise limits.

991 GT3 does, that I agree with but are you sure that’s the case with 992 as well?

[First Sea Lord]

mm450exc said:

Book a day directly with Silverstone. Instructors available.

Thanks. This sounds like a simple first step, assuming the track days themselves aren't all full of the big kids who'll pick on me etc..

Does anyone know if Brands do the same? I can obviously check myself when I have more time.

[SRT Hellcat]

First Sea Lord said:

mm450exc said:

Book a day directly with Silverstone. Instructors available.

Thanks. This sounds like a simple first step, assuming the track days themselves aren't all full of the big kids who'll pick on me etc..

Does anyone know if Brands do the same? I can obviously check myself when I have more time.

There is not a lot of room to fall off at Brands. Silverstone would be a good start

[anonymous-user]

px1980 said:

Throttlebody said:

The GT3 struggles at Bedford for noise limits.

991 GT3 does, that I agree with but are you sure that’s the case with 992 as well?

89db. You can fart louder

[Xyphox]

Mr Spoon said:

px1980 said:

Throttlebody said:

The GT3 struggles at Bedford for noise limits.

991 GT3 does, that I agree with but are you sure that’s the case with 992 as well?

89db. You can fart louder

As a 992 GT3 owner that's done 2 track days thus far, both times have read at 94db static at 4000 revs (soft limiter).

[px1980]

Xyphox said:

As a 992 GT3 owner that's done 2 track days thus far, both times have read at 94db static at 4000 revs (soft limiter).

As someone who goes to Bedford very often & considers a 992 GT3 in the future, I’m very curious now.
My 718 Cayman GTS reads 89-90dB on static and I don’t have problems on drive-by. Same with GT4s from what I know.

I speak to other Porsche owners at the track but never met anyone with 992 GT3, only 991s.

Did you have to lift or otherwise be careful around the 2 drive by microphones at Bedford?

[Mad Scientist]

px1980 said:

As someone who goes to Bedford very often & considers a 992 GT3 in the future, I’m very curious now.
My 718 Cayman GTS reads 89-90dB on static and I don’t have problems on drive-by. Same with GT4s from what I know.

I speak to other Porsche owners at the track but never met anyone with 992 GT3, only 991s.

Did you have to lift or otherwise be careful around the 2 drive by microphones at Bedford?

I got pinged and thrown off Bedford in my 718 GT4.

My 992 GT3 is much much louder on full chat. No chance at Bedford unless you short shift everywhere.

[First Sea Lord]

SRT Hellcat said:

First Sea Lord said:

mm450exc said:

Book a day directly with Silverstone. Instructors available.

Thanks. This sounds like a simple first step, assuming the track days themselves aren't all full of the big kids who'll pick on me etc..

Does anyone know if Brands do the same? I can obviously check myself when I have more time.

There is not a lot of room to fall off at Brands. Silverstone would be a good start

Thanks. This is the kind of advice I need!

[First Sea Lord]

Am also just about to finalise my spec. All generally good, and I know the path I'm taking on just about everything.

Had settled on steels, as I didn't think I needed PCCBs, but if I'm going to do a couple of track days a year maybe I should go PCCB? That said I keep reading on here about the most committed track users having steels.

Without restarting an ancient discussion, am I generally best going for PCCBs, as they won't fade on my infrequent track days, and I won't wear them out as I'll be doing so few track sessions relative to road? Does that sound vaguely sensible?

Thanks again for all the help.