Discussion
Hi all
Has anyone here taken their AM on a track day, and if so, what was the resulting wear and tear on your car?
I ask because I was at Silverstone on Sunday, and spent some time watching what was obviously a track day of some sort taking place on the National Circuit and thought it looked like a great and (relatively) safe way to stretch my driving ability.
Andrew
Has anyone here taken their AM on a track day, and if so, what was the resulting wear and tear on your car?
I ask because I was at Silverstone on Sunday, and spent some time watching what was obviously a track day of some sort taking place on the National Circuit and thought it looked like a great and (relatively) safe way to stretch my driving ability.
Andrew
heheh! I can imagine..!
The instructor I was talking to at Silverstone said it was quite possible to go through a set of tyres if you drove hard... and having just spent the best part of a grand putting 4 new boots on the DB9, I don't relish the thought of shredding them in a matter of hours!
The instructor I was talking to at Silverstone said it was quite possible to go through a set of tyres if you drove hard... and having just spent the best part of a grand putting 4 new boots on the DB9, I don't relish the thought of shredding them in a matter of hours!
If it's your first trackday there's no way you'll go through a set of tyres.
More than likely you'll be taking it easy and learning the track and the car. It takes a while to get up to speed, however once you do the weight of the car will take it's toll on the tyres but only if it's bone dry. If they are already worn you might finish a set off but you should get a few track days out of a set of relatively new ones unless you're really pushing it. If it's wet or damp you'll barely wear the tyres at all.
Your brakes will cry enough after too many laps and so might your stomach! Heavy road cars do need breaks from track work and more than likely so will you. 15-20 minutes at a time is normally plenty such is your level of concentration.
You'll love the balance of the Aston but if offered the chance to try something like a Caterham or Lotus 211 (or even Exige) turn it down! You will want one very badly. They are so much better suited to track work it's not even funny. That's no bad reflection on the Aston which makes no claim to be a track car. The same would be just as true of a Ferrari 430 or Lamborghini Gallardo. All great road cars, not great on the track. Even the 911 GT3 RS (which does claim track car ability) is painfully slow next to a decent 7.
I shall be taking my V12 Vantage to the Nurburgring and Spa in May and will enjoy taking it for a few laps of both circuits. But I'll have to accept that my humble seven will have it for breakfast against the stopwatch and do it all day long without breaking a sweat, or a set of tyres.
More than likely you'll be taking it easy and learning the track and the car. It takes a while to get up to speed, however once you do the weight of the car will take it's toll on the tyres but only if it's bone dry. If they are already worn you might finish a set off but you should get a few track days out of a set of relatively new ones unless you're really pushing it. If it's wet or damp you'll barely wear the tyres at all.
Your brakes will cry enough after too many laps and so might your stomach! Heavy road cars do need breaks from track work and more than likely so will you. 15-20 minutes at a time is normally plenty such is your level of concentration.
You'll love the balance of the Aston but if offered the chance to try something like a Caterham or Lotus 211 (or even Exige) turn it down! You will want one very badly. They are so much better suited to track work it's not even funny. That's no bad reflection on the Aston which makes no claim to be a track car. The same would be just as true of a Ferrari 430 or Lamborghini Gallardo. All great road cars, not great on the track. Even the 911 GT3 RS (which does claim track car ability) is painfully slow next to a decent 7.
I shall be taking my V12 Vantage to the Nurburgring and Spa in May and will enjoy taking it for a few laps of both circuits. But I'll have to accept that my humble seven will have it for breakfast against the stopwatch and do it all day long without breaking a sweat, or a set of tyres.
Edited by The Pits on Monday 14th March 17:46
the modern Astons are suprisingly robust on track in my experience (ok, so only a few days LOL )
I did 2 trackdays within the 1st 6 months, and still managed a few more K miles out of tyres...defo got 15K miles out of 1st set of rears, so not too bad
same for brakes, they hold up very well ...certainly last a 20 min session of Snetterton no probs (unlike some other "performance" cars)
of course they wear out sooner than driving up and down the motorway, but isnt that what you buy these cars for ...to drive them and enjoy their performance
I wouldnt worry, just take it easy, get some instruction, go on well organised days with similar cars (rather than £1K Fiestas etc) and you should be fine
I did 2 trackdays within the 1st 6 months, and still managed a few more K miles out of tyres...defo got 15K miles out of 1st set of rears, so not too bad
same for brakes, they hold up very well ...certainly last a 20 min session of Snetterton no probs (unlike some other "performance" cars)
of course they wear out sooner than driving up and down the motorway, but isnt that what you buy these cars for ...to drive them and enjoy their performance
I wouldnt worry, just take it easy, get some instruction, go on well organised days with similar cars (rather than £1K Fiestas etc) and you should be fine
Andrew,
Did you see a black V8VR by any chance...
I had great fun in the Aston on Sunday but have to say, being a complete trackday novice, I was way more scared about crashing etc to be pushing it!! I was just trying to avoid anything remotely quicker.
If it is your first track day then I would not be worried about going through a set of tyres unless you are absolutely pushing your pride and joy to the limit for a long period of time. I just did a few laps at a time then slowed down and then stopped to cool the breaks. The instructor I had for half an hour was actually an employee of AM who did all the AM experience days etc. so it was very reassuring to have him talk about the tyres and the brakes and how to minimise wear etc. whilst still having a lot of fun.
I have to say though, I have caught the bug and now looking to buy a little Elise so I don't need to worry about expensive tyres and brakes and just general wear and tear.
Pick a circuit that has far away barriers (Bedford is a great track for novices and has a decent straight to get some speed!!) You will have a lot of fun!
Did you see a black V8VR by any chance...
I had great fun in the Aston on Sunday but have to say, being a complete trackday novice, I was way more scared about crashing etc to be pushing it!! I was just trying to avoid anything remotely quicker.
If it is your first track day then I would not be worried about going through a set of tyres unless you are absolutely pushing your pride and joy to the limit for a long period of time. I just did a few laps at a time then slowed down and then stopped to cool the breaks. The instructor I had for half an hour was actually an employee of AM who did all the AM experience days etc. so it was very reassuring to have him talk about the tyres and the brakes and how to minimise wear etc. whilst still having a lot of fun.
I have to say though, I have caught the bug and now looking to buy a little Elise so I don't need to worry about expensive tyres and brakes and just general wear and tear.
Pick a circuit that has far away barriers (Bedford is a great track for novices and has a decent straight to get some speed!!) You will have a lot of fun!
Hello,
I did my first trackday ever at Goodwood last summer on newish tyres and newish brake pads.
The tyres were much worn at the end of it and the tyre surface melted and had become 'bobboly'. This took a few thousand miles to wear away further to a smooth surface again so I reckon the life of the tyre halved.
The brakes after Goodwood were fine but at my second trackday (AM organised at Spa), the fluid boiled and I had a lot of fade. Also the front pads were trashed and grooves worn in the discs. There was a awful grinding noise every time I braked. It turns out the pad material was crumbling away in places and needed they needed replacing.
I should have replaced the discs as well but I have spent the last few thousand miles flattening off the discs with the new pads and now no more grinding.
I paid the extra £250 (I think) to AM at Spa to use their wheels/tyres.
These days are fun to do, but in my experience there is a price to pay.
And it's worth it.
Simon.
I did my first trackday ever at Goodwood last summer on newish tyres and newish brake pads.
The tyres were much worn at the end of it and the tyre surface melted and had become 'bobboly'. This took a few thousand miles to wear away further to a smooth surface again so I reckon the life of the tyre halved.
The brakes after Goodwood were fine but at my second trackday (AM organised at Spa), the fluid boiled and I had a lot of fade. Also the front pads were trashed and grooves worn in the discs. There was a awful grinding noise every time I braked. It turns out the pad material was crumbling away in places and needed they needed replacing.
I should have replaced the discs as well but I have spent the last few thousand miles flattening off the discs with the new pads and now no more grinding.
I paid the extra £250 (I think) to AM at Spa to use their wheels/tyres.
These days are fun to do, but in my experience there is a price to pay.
And it's worth it.
Simon.
Interestingly AML does not offer a track day tyre service for the V12 Vantage- that probably tells you all you need to know about tyre wear.
I have done a fair number of track days in my Porsche and the tyre and brake wear is very manageable - haven't tried my V12V yet. My previous DB9 was not a track day car with brakes fading very quickly so not recommendable. Too nose heavy and a GT rather than a sportscar but it was fun to try.
I have done a fair number of track days in my Porsche and the tyre and brake wear is very manageable - haven't tried my V12V yet. My previous DB9 was not a track day car with brakes fading very quickly so not recommendable. Too nose heavy and a GT rather than a sportscar but it was fun to try.
I used to do a lot of trackdays, and intend to start again this year, though not in the Aston. As at least one other has said, it's a good opportunity to stretch an Aston's legs, but 7s and similar are much better track cars.
If you're going to take your AM on track, make sure that you book into a trackday that offers sessions for different driver ability/experience. That way, you won't become intimidated and if, after a few sessions, you feel that you're too fast for the beginner group, the organisers will normally let you (want you to) move up a group. I now look for 'open pit lane' days, where you lap freely, but I wouldn't recommend them for newbies.
I found Bookatrack to provide good, safe organisation and they go to some good circuits. (I have absolutely no affiliation to them, just enjoyed their service).
If you're going to take your AM on track, make sure that you book into a trackday that offers sessions for different driver ability/experience. That way, you won't become intimidated and if, after a few sessions, you feel that you're too fast for the beginner group, the organisers will normally let you (want you to) move up a group. I now look for 'open pit lane' days, where you lap freely, but I wouldn't recommend them for newbies.
I found Bookatrack to provide good, safe organisation and they go to some good circuits. (I have absolutely no affiliation to them, just enjoyed their service).
AndrewTerry said:
Hi all
Has anyone here taken their AM on a track day, and if so, what was the resulting wear and tear on your car?
I ask because I was at Silverstone on Sunday, and spent some time watching what was obviously a track day of some sort taking place on the National Circuit and thought it looked like a great and (relatively) safe way to stretch my driving ability.
Andrew
well the disadvantage is nobody will ever buy your car if you try to sell it in piston headsHas anyone here taken their AM on a track day, and if so, what was the resulting wear and tear on your car?
I ask because I was at Silverstone on Sunday, and spent some time watching what was obviously a track day of some sort taking place on the National Circuit and thought it looked like a great and (relatively) safe way to stretch my driving ability.
Andrew
michael gould said:
well the disadvantage is nobody will ever buy your car if you try to sell it in piston heads
Indeed, and many dealers ask you now if you have tracked the car when you sell it and its something I would always ask when buying a car that might have been tracked. Im quite sure they will offer you less if you have tracked it and I personally wouldnt buy a car that had been tracked regardless of how issue free it was - I would just rather have a car that had lived a more normal and sedate life.So dont forget to factor in an extra slug of depreciation into your costs. :/
Most 'supercar' drivers tend to pootle around at road car speed anyway so I don't see what the issue is. No-one's going to put an AM through heavy track use, simply because it's so expensive and they soon get bored being overtaken by modded jap cars. It doesn't take many track days to want something that was built for that purpose.
The only heavy road car that can and does take regular track abuse is the 911 GT3 and it's still hopeless compared to a proper track car. It does have the advantage of being able to drive it back home again afterwards but so can a Lotus Exige which is just as fast over a lap and half the price to own and run.
The only heavy road car that can and does take regular track abuse is the 911 GT3 and it's still hopeless compared to a proper track car. It does have the advantage of being able to drive it back home again afterwards but so can a Lotus Exige which is just as fast over a lap and half the price to own and run.
Adam2S said:
Indeed, and many dealers ask you now if you have tracked the car when you sell it and its something I would always ask when buying a car that might have been tracked. Im quite sure they will offer you less if you have tracked it and I personally wouldnt buy a car that had been tracked regardless of how issue free it was - I would just rather have a car that had lived a more normal and sedate life.
So dont forget to factor in an extra slug of depreciation into your costs. :/
What a load of rubbish. All high performance sportscars are buildt for the odd track day and my Porsches (i have had 4) all performed better after a day on track than before. I would argue that a car that has been used 3-4 times on a track is much better than a low mileage car that has never operated "in the zone" for which is was buildt. So dont forget to factor in an extra slug of depreciation into your costs. :/
One poster rightly said that you have to choose carefully between the different track day operators. I found the events hosted by Porsche Club UK and also AML to very civilised with a bunch of people that enjoy their cars and respect each other on and off track.
clorenzen said:
What a load of rubbish. All high performance sportscars are buildt for the odd track day and my Porsches (i have had 4) all performed better after a day on track than before. I would argue that a car that has been used 3-4 times on a track is much better than a low mileage car that has never operated "in the zone" for which is was buildt.
One poster rightly said that you have to choose carefully between the different track day operators. I found the events hosted by Porsche Club UK and also AML to very civilised with a bunch of people that enjoy their cars and respect each other on and off track.
I would never buy a car that has been tracked......ever ever ever......the first thing I would do if buying from somebody off piston heads is to look at all their posts to see what problems they have had with the car...any accident damage.....any track useOne poster rightly said that you have to choose carefully between the different track day operators. I found the events hosted by Porsche Club UK and also AML to very civilised with a bunch of people that enjoy their cars and respect each other on and off track.
I'm sorry clorenzen its not rubbish.....its called using your brain.....people who post on here that they have damaged their cars or had gear box problems or had a great day on the track in their V8V are limiting their sales in the future
Most sports cars have been on a track at some point in their life, well those owned by true driving enthusiasts anyway. Such people are likely to be more mechanically sympathetic and maintain the cars better than those used exclusively for showing off in London (which usually involves thrashing the car with a stone cold engine).
An occasional track outing is merely a smart way to explore the capabilities of your car in a much safer environment (for you and other road users).
An occasional track outing is merely a smart way to explore the capabilities of your car in a much safer environment (for you and other road users).
clorenzen said:
What a load of rubbish. All high performance sportscars are buildt for the odd track day and my Porsches (i have had 4) all performed better after a day on track than before. I would argue that a car that has been used 3-4 times on a track is much better than a low mileage car that has never operated "in the zone" for which is was buildt.
One poster rightly said that you have to choose carefully between the different track day operators. I found the events hosted by Porsche Club UK and also AML to very civilised with a bunch of people that enjoy their cars and respect each other on and off track.
Im afarid I am which Michael on this one. I too would never ever buy a car that had done even 1 lap of a track, and I am quite sure there are many many other people like me and Michael out there. One poster rightly said that you have to choose carefully between the different track day operators. I found the events hosted by Porsche Club UK and also AML to very civilised with a bunch of people that enjoy their cars and respect each other on and off track.
Dont get me wrong, I am not saying that I believe the car is significantly damaged after having been on a track - far from it. I totally agree that most cars such as Porsches and Astons are designed to survive a few track days in their life, and that a car does indeed seem to perform better after a spirited run (on or off track), but I am saying that I wouldnt buy one as I would prefer my cars to be pristine. As with any action where you begin to rule out some prospective buyers (such as choosing an unpopular colour) you will find the market price drops and thus you will suffer more depreciation.
You ask any dealer if they will give you exactly the same trade in value for a pristine car and an identical one that has been tracked 3-4 times a year. :?
The Pits said:
Most sports cars have been on a track at some point in their life, well those owned by true driving enthusiasts anyway. Such people are likely to be more mechanically sympathetic and maintain the cars better than those used exclusively for showing off in London (which usually involves thrashing the car with a stone cold engine).
An occasional track outing is merely a smart way to explore the capabilities of your car in a much safer environment (for you and other road users).
totally agree with this. The vmaxxers I encounter all take utter pride in their cars and are almost without exception very careful with regard to mechanical sympathy. (cue someone finding a picture of a clutch being dumped at launch An occasional track outing is merely a smart way to explore the capabilities of your car in a much safer environment (for you and other road users).
)I do understand why people would say they wouldnt buy a car that had ever been "tracked" but I think there is a world of difference between say an exige that had covered 90% of its miles at 9/10th's of its performance on a track and an aston which had been warmed up then driven hard but within capabilities for the odd few laps of a big circuit. These cars are designed to do such things. I'd certainly rather a car that had been well driven on a track than one that was started every day and thrashed from cold on a commute to work yet sold as "never tracked"
I fear we are all in agreement. There are various ways of tracking a car. I was thinking of those events where responsible drivers meet up and stretch the legs of their sport cars well within their performance envelope and not those events where everybody from souped-up go carts to old Golf GTIs thrash the hell out of their bangers just before dusk.
I would also feel a terrible loss of opportunity if one were to buy a sportscar and never use it on track (at least in this country). Then you might as well just leave it in the garage and watch it depreciate nonetheless without ever having had some fun. A bit like going out with a supermodel and never having a go so to speak.
Rather than avoid tracked cars I would always steer well clear of buying a used car from a dealers forecourt that has been used as a demonstrator. No discount to list is large enough to compensate for the wear and tear inflicted by test pilots over short distances in cars they have never driven before.
I would also feel a terrible loss of opportunity if one were to buy a sportscar and never use it on track (at least in this country). Then you might as well just leave it in the garage and watch it depreciate nonetheless without ever having had some fun. A bit like going out with a supermodel and never having a go so to speak.
Rather than avoid tracked cars I would always steer well clear of buying a used car from a dealers forecourt that has been used as a demonstrator. No discount to list is large enough to compensate for the wear and tear inflicted by test pilots over short distances in cars they have never driven before.
Edited by clorenzen on Tuesday 15th March 19:30
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