Where & how to learn track driving ...?
Discussion
Folks,
In the few months before the 3R shows up in April, I wonder if anyone could advise me on where's the best place to go and get some good track driving experience?
While I work hard at being observant and safe at speed on the road and I've owned a few fast saloon cars, I've never been on a track. So I've no experience of real handling dynamics and controling a car safely near and at the limit. On top of this, the 3R will be the first genine sports car I've owned.
Without this experience, I'm sure I'll only ever get a fraction of what the 3R has to offer out of it. But more than anything, I'd like the extra safety margin and confidence on the road that comes from really knowing how to handle a car like the 3R.
I know there are lots of track day organisers out there, but I'd appreciate some advice on which are the best and where I can get some decent tuition without spending a fortune. Also, I have no track-worthy car at the moment, so I'd need to pay to drive an organiser's car or whatever. I there something Noble do which I could take part in?
Thanks for any advice!
Dave
In the few months before the 3R shows up in April, I wonder if anyone could advise me on where's the best place to go and get some good track driving experience?
While I work hard at being observant and safe at speed on the road and I've owned a few fast saloon cars, I've never been on a track. So I've no experience of real handling dynamics and controling a car safely near and at the limit. On top of this, the 3R will be the first genine sports car I've owned.
Without this experience, I'm sure I'll only ever get a fraction of what the 3R has to offer out of it. But more than anything, I'd like the extra safety margin and confidence on the road that comes from really knowing how to handle a car like the 3R.
I know there are lots of track day organisers out there, but I'd appreciate some advice on which are the best and where I can get some decent tuition without spending a fortune. Also, I have no track-worthy car at the moment, so I'd need to pay to drive an organiser's car or whatever. I there something Noble do which I could take part in?
Thanks for any advice!
Dave
That's a very good question and as daveyc's comments spookily mirror my own situation (3R due in March, owned reasonable cars but done no track work etc), I'd be very interested in the responses generated.
Someone told me that you can't beat the intensive 5 day course offered by Silverstone - but that's really for a Racing Licence, and I don't want one of those just some useful tips/tuition on how to drive faster and smoother - therefore having a greater chance of staying within my limits.
Someone told me that you can't beat the intensive 5 day course offered by Silverstone - but that's really for a Racing Licence, and I don't want one of those just some useful tips/tuition on how to drive faster and smoother - therefore having a greater chance of staying within my limits.
On top of taking some advanced driving/track courses it might be a good idea to go karting.(while waiting for your Noble?)
Best is to start indoor and practice following faster drivers untill ideal line(racing line),break points,slow in - fast out,... become second nature.
A vast amount of people on track days don't have a very good understanding of the ideal line so getting this (reasonably)right will allow you to make decent progress without even having to come near the limits of your Noble.
After a few weeks of indoor practise honing your skills it's time to move outside and have a few runs in a twin engine 4-stroke.You should be able to hire these at an outdoor circuit.(I'm from Belgium,things might be slightly different in the UK.)
After this comes the interesting stuff...powerfull 2-stroke karts.(If you have access to one)
Do not step into these straight away(unless it's a junior kart)cause some of these are FAST,believe me.
2-stroke karts can be a very good introduction to a number of things like power oversteer,lift-off oversteer,opposite lock,...Being able to drive these things on the limit all the time(including a vast number of spins at first
)will basically learn you to have the right kind of reactions and not to panic in HOT(sideways) situations.
It might be difficult to be able to have a go in one of these.
Allthough there are certain similarities a kart is obviously not a car so the driving courses mentioned above are still a must.
cheers,
BTW,please ignore the spelling...
Best is to start indoor and practice following faster drivers untill ideal line(racing line),break points,slow in - fast out,... become second nature.
A vast amount of people on track days don't have a very good understanding of the ideal line so getting this (reasonably)right will allow you to make decent progress without even having to come near the limits of your Noble.
After a few weeks of indoor practise honing your skills it's time to move outside and have a few runs in a twin engine 4-stroke.You should be able to hire these at an outdoor circuit.(I'm from Belgium,things might be slightly different in the UK.)
After this comes the interesting stuff...powerfull 2-stroke karts.(If you have access to one)
Do not step into these straight away(unless it's a junior kart)cause some of these are FAST,believe me.
2-stroke karts can be a very good introduction to a number of things like power oversteer,lift-off oversteer,opposite lock,...Being able to drive these things on the limit all the time(including a vast number of spins at first
)will basically learn you to have the right kind of reactions and not to panic in HOT(sideways) situations. It might be difficult to be able to have a go in one of these.
Allthough there are certain similarities a kart is obviously not a car so the driving courses mentioned above are still a must.
cheers,
BTW,please ignore the spelling...
simonrockman said:
You could put..
www.pistonheads.com/shop/asp/product.asp?product=124
on your Christmas list
has anyone purchased this - any comments?
I am yet another person in a similar position but unlike you guys I only looked into ordering a 3/3R. In the end (being a relative track novice) I decided to start the steep track-day learning curve in something a bit cheaper than a Noble,...bring on the Exige.
I have an airfield day booked with Andrew Walsh from 1st Lotus at North Weald (in Essex). It is a two car day and the other space is free if anyone fancies joining me (Tue Dec 2nd). Damge=£235 (plus 4xYokoA048's unless it rains ...
). I think Andrew may be able to provide an Elise if any takers are without suitable wheels,...and no my Exige is not open for use by the other driver..
. Would be good to see an Exige/M12 out to play!
I have an airfield day booked with Andrew Walsh from 1st Lotus at North Weald (in Essex). It is a two car day and the other space is free if anyone fancies joining me (Tue Dec 2nd). Damge=£235 (plus 4xYokoA048's unless it rains ...
). I think Andrew may be able to provide an Elise if any takers are without suitable wheels,...and no my Exige is not open for use by the other driver... Would be good to see an Exige/M12 out to play!Another vote for 1st lotus. His teaching style is great, and as mentioned you can do 4 days for the price of one Palmer (1st lotus being 120 quid a pop vs 500 or so for Don?). Also I've never heard people come away from 1st lotus not liking the guy...
I've done 4 days now and its really helped my driving no end. The last day I did was spent learning to drift through trail breaking. I still need to practise though as keeping a mid engined car drifting is hard (especially if you are trying to do lairy & posey 'show drifts').
In terms of credentials, Andy Walsh of 1st lotus is a Rospa/IAM top level instructor (used to instruct police as part of his work). In terms of racing, he was an F1 test driver and also did some touring cars.
Not totally convinced karting helps all that much as you need to be much lighter with the controls in a car, and catching a kart is many times easier than catching a mid engined car. Not to mention the lack of a clutch etc.
Anyway good luck with whatever you choose. The main thing to remember though is that you need to practise this stuff a lot to get any good. One day with any instructor probably isn't enough to do more than make you aware of how much you don't know. As mentioned I've done 4 now and would like to double that at least.
I normally pay Don 350 quid for a proper full day session at Bruntingthorpe (this includes the rental of the circuit) - so I'm not sure where you get the 500 from?
If you want to go to different circuits he normally changes around 350 for himeself in total - i.e. if there are three of you, you split it three ways.
>> Edited by guysh on Friday 21st November 16:47
If you want to go to different circuits he normally changes around 350 for himeself in total - i.e. if there are three of you, you split it three ways.
>> Edited by guysh on Friday 21st November 16:47
DanH said:
Not totally convinced karting helps all that much as you need to be much lighter with the controls in a car, and catching a kart is many times easier than catching a mid engined car. Not to mention the lack of a clutch etc.
Like I said track/advanced driving courses are still a must and I only suggested karting as an extra.
Indoor you can concentrate on refining your comprehension of racing lines and turn in without having to worry about controls or spin off's.
Personally,I think that's a good place to start before moving up.
With a few friends along,it might at least some good fun.
Are you talking about indoor karts or 2-stroke,BTW?
If it's the latter I do think your comment is a bit of an overstatement.
I recently did a solo day with Don, it was 395 quid and the day which started at 10 am was done by 2:30pm including (an excellent) lunch.
I would recommend doing a similar day with at least one other person a) to prolong the day, b) to allow time to digest Don's pearls of wisdom, c) to give the tyres time to cool and d) to enjoy watching others spinning away.
Had I known my day would be so brief I would have booked the Rockingham Noble track day (which coincided)
I would recommend doing a similar day with at least one other person a) to prolong the day, b) to allow time to digest Don's pearls of wisdom, c) to give the tyres time to cool and d) to enjoy watching others spinning away.
Had I known my day would be so brief I would have booked the Rockingham Noble track day (which coincided)
Just a quick one to say thanks for all the great feedback on where to learn to drive. I'll go with either Don Palmer or 1st Lotus - looking at doing a JV with Edmundo and that will be the deciding factor.
Not spoken to 1st Lotus yet, but did talk to Don Palmer & his enthusiasm for driving was positively infectious. And he seriously knows about Nobles (works with Lee on stuff).
Will let you know which way I end up going, but it looks like I'll have fun & learn a lot either way.
Dave
Not spoken to 1st Lotus yet, but did talk to Don Palmer & his enthusiasm for driving was positively infectious. And he seriously knows about Nobles (works with Lee on stuff).
Will let you know which way I end up going, but it looks like I'll have fun & learn a lot either way.
Dave
Gassing Station | Noble | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff