Track Day Advice
Discussion
Chaps,
I've enrolled for a couple of Porsche Club GB Track Days this year. I've been on track several times before at racing schools (Silverstone, Thruxton etc) but never in my own car at a "Track Day" rather than a "School Day". So to prepare I've been reading Art Markus "Track Day Driver's Guide" (very good, I thought) and, of course, read the Autosport circuit guide etc
I know that instruction will be available - I will certainly take that up for, at least, the first session...and I've put myself in amongst the Novices - of course!
All that said: The first one I have booked is the Silverstone GP circuit!
Do you think I should try and get some extra tuition prior to that?
Am I throwing myself in at the deep end here?
What else should I do to prepare...? (Aside from doing the circuit over and over and over again on the PC!)
I've enrolled for a couple of Porsche Club GB Track Days this year. I've been on track several times before at racing schools (Silverstone, Thruxton etc) but never in my own car at a "Track Day" rather than a "School Day". So to prepare I've been reading Art Markus "Track Day Driver's Guide" (very good, I thought) and, of course, read the Autosport circuit guide etc
I know that instruction will be available - I will certainly take that up for, at least, the first session...and I've put myself in amongst the Novices - of course!
All that said: The first one I have booked is the Silverstone GP circuit!
Do you think I should try and get some extra tuition prior to that?
Am I throwing myself in at the deep end here?
What else should I do to prepare...? (Aside from doing the circuit over and over and over again on the PC!)
quote:
Make sure you get insurance that covers your car for track use - you won't be covered under normal road insurance.
Oh, and get some good touch-up paint for the stone chips in case you end up in a gravel trap
Got the insurance fixed - made sure of that before booking anything.
I'll do my best to avoid the gravel...
Stone chips are part of life I'm not too worried about that...
Okay, if insurance is fixed and you have swotted up with the Autosport Circuit Guide, a few tips:
1) Go out for an early session with a driver of another car you've made 'instant friends' with. This is helpful if they are handy with their car, and helps you learn the circuit a bit before you start trying to concentrate on your braking/turn-in/apex points. The Autosport guides are only so good.
2) Then grab the same guy to go out with you - or an instructor if they have some at the circuit for 'hire'. This is so that they can help 'spot' for you, as traffic is the biggest hazard on trackdays, not the scenery. If you have a Caterham coming up your inside on a hairpin, two eyes are better than one until you are confident with car/circuit.
3) I think the more established circuits are easier and more rewarding to drive often than the airfield ones - Silverstone is a good choice. You have proper tarmac, lots of lovely kerbs to mark your corners etc. Airfields rely on cones a lot of the time to mark the course and this can be a little more confusing.
4) Don't go out for all the sessions - you will knacker the car. Let it cool down between sorties. Check oil and water and tyres before going out. Out of a 'seven hour day' I reckon most trackday people will spend no more than two hours on the blackstuff.
5) When not driving, chat to others and also keep an eye out for the day's nutters. You'll always have a spanner in a Megablade or whatever who is overtaking dangerously and spinning out everywhere. They are quick but they are erratic. Let these people past and keep your distance from them. If they spin out, you don't want to 'collect' them.
6) Take it easy, and only go faster when you feel comfortable with car and circuit. Be very wary of voices in your head. I was 4 wheel drifting an M3 in the rain at Bruntingthorpe with an instructor once, and next lap I thought 'oooh, a nice powerslide would look so cool next time'. Guess what happened? I spun the car into next month (no damage luckily!).
Drive sensibly, to your own terms, with good observation at all times, and you will soon get into the swing of things and enjoy yourself *immensely*.
Have fun!
Domster
>> Edited by domster on Friday 19th April 10:41
>> Edited by domster on Friday 19th April 10:44
1) Go out for an early session with a driver of another car you've made 'instant friends' with. This is helpful if they are handy with their car, and helps you learn the circuit a bit before you start trying to concentrate on your braking/turn-in/apex points. The Autosport guides are only so good.
2) Then grab the same guy to go out with you - or an instructor if they have some at the circuit for 'hire'. This is so that they can help 'spot' for you, as traffic is the biggest hazard on trackdays, not the scenery. If you have a Caterham coming up your inside on a hairpin, two eyes are better than one until you are confident with car/circuit.
3) I think the more established circuits are easier and more rewarding to drive often than the airfield ones - Silverstone is a good choice. You have proper tarmac, lots of lovely kerbs to mark your corners etc. Airfields rely on cones a lot of the time to mark the course and this can be a little more confusing.
4) Don't go out for all the sessions - you will knacker the car. Let it cool down between sorties. Check oil and water and tyres before going out. Out of a 'seven hour day' I reckon most trackday people will spend no more than two hours on the blackstuff.
5) When not driving, chat to others and also keep an eye out for the day's nutters. You'll always have a spanner in a Megablade or whatever who is overtaking dangerously and spinning out everywhere. They are quick but they are erratic. Let these people past and keep your distance from them. If they spin out, you don't want to 'collect' them.
6) Take it easy, and only go faster when you feel comfortable with car and circuit. Be very wary of voices in your head. I was 4 wheel drifting an M3 in the rain at Bruntingthorpe with an instructor once, and next lap I thought 'oooh, a nice powerslide would look so cool next time'. Guess what happened? I spun the car into next month (no damage luckily!).
Drive sensibly, to your own terms, with good observation at all times, and you will soon get into the swing of things and enjoy yourself *immensely*.
Have fun!
Domster
>> Edited by domster on Friday 19th April 10:41
>> Edited by domster on Friday 19th April 10:44
Don,
Any chance of bagging a ride ? Seriously !! I'm about 20 mins from Silverstone, so you could stop for tea and buns if you want.
Totally agree with Domster's although can I add another ?
As an ex MX-5 owner who's been to one or two trackdays, best to drive with the roof down. It will give you so much more visibility of what's around you, you won't believe it.
That's about my only criticism of the Boxster so far - rear 3/4 vision with the lid on is hampered by both the roll hoops and the roof/window. Without it you'll see and hear a load more.
Tyres - you'll need a little more air in them - more so if you're on 18's (you are - right ?)
There's a Shell garage about 2 miles from Silverstone, so run her low then gas up on Optimax. By the way, bear this in mind - most of the MX-5ers get about 12-14mpg on trackdays, so we're looking at single figures possibly ?
Greg
>> Edited by GregE240 on Friday 19th April 11:01
Any chance of bagging a ride ? Seriously !! I'm about 20 mins from Silverstone, so you could stop for tea and buns if you want.
Totally agree with Domster's although can I add another ?
As an ex MX-5 owner who's been to one or two trackdays, best to drive with the roof down. It will give you so much more visibility of what's around you, you won't believe it.
That's about my only criticism of the Boxster so far - rear 3/4 vision with the lid on is hampered by both the roll hoops and the roof/window. Without it you'll see and hear a load more.
Tyres - you'll need a little more air in them - more so if you're on 18's (you are - right ?)
There's a Shell garage about 2 miles from Silverstone, so run her low then gas up on Optimax. By the way, bear this in mind - most of the MX-5ers get about 12-14mpg on trackdays, so we're looking at single figures possibly ?
Greg
>> Edited by GregE240 on Friday 19th April 11:01
quote:
Don,
Any chance of bagging a ride ? Seriously !! I'm about 20 mins from Silverstone, so you could stop for tea and buns if you want.
Greg
Hey, if you're willing to trust a newbie (I have NO intention of stuffing the P&J don't worry) then after instructional laps, sure. I'll 'mail you the date etc. Tea and Buns or a "cool-down" pint sounds like an excellent idea...
As far as I understand it PCGB make no charge for spectating - I have no idea if Silverstone do but I wouldn't have thought so...
Echo all of Domster's opinions.
Make sure the car is prepped, including lots of meat on the brake pads (Silverstone is a quick track so you'll need it), meat on the tyres and have a spare set on hand if you think you might bald them before the end of the day.
As for driving, enjoy it. Before my first track day I was worried that I migth not be 'fast enough'. Just take you time to get to know the track and move over of people want to get past, it's *not* a race. Silverstone is well marshalled but as Domster says, always look out for the nutter in a caterfield try to do you on braking into a corner.
For the first few laps , let your car *and tyres* warm up. Last time at Brands a driver ended up in the kitty litter at Paddock 'cos he went flying out of the pits on cold tyres straight into Paddock bend and then straight through Paddock bend into the gravel
Apart from that, enjoy the day! (oh, and prepare to be hooked ;-).
Make sure the car is prepped, including lots of meat on the brake pads (Silverstone is a quick track so you'll need it), meat on the tyres and have a spare set on hand if you think you might bald them before the end of the day.
As for driving, enjoy it. Before my first track day I was worried that I migth not be 'fast enough'. Just take you time to get to know the track and move over of people want to get past, it's *not* a race. Silverstone is well marshalled but as Domster says, always look out for the nutter in a caterfield try to do you on braking into a corner.
For the first few laps , let your car *and tyres* warm up. Last time at Brands a driver ended up in the kitty litter at Paddock 'cos he went flying out of the pits on cold tyres straight into Paddock bend and then straight through Paddock bend into the gravel
Apart from that, enjoy the day! (oh, and prepare to be hooked ;-).
Where did you get details of forthcoming Porsche Club GB Track Days - so far I've searched the web with no luck? I get delivery this week of a 996TT and am dying (although somewhat nervously) to try it on the track. It needs to be official Club GB organised days though as that's a condition of the track day insurance I've obtained.
Also what's peoples experience of the instructors on the track days ? My only experience to date was a shared drive of a (kind) friends 328GTB at Ferrari Owners Club track days and my views were mixed. You tended to end up with different instructors every time and the style of tuition and sometimes the comments themselves varied. I came away feeling I'd not improved as much as I should have and more time just learning the circuits would have been time better spent. In conclusion I think perhaps a mixture of solo driving with the odd session with an instructor is the way to go - thoughts ?
Also what's peoples experience of the instructors on the track days ? My only experience to date was a shared drive of a (kind) friends 328GTB at Ferrari Owners Club track days and my views were mixed. You tended to end up with different instructors every time and the style of tuition and sometimes the comments themselves varied. I came away feeling I'd not improved as much as I should have and more time just learning the circuits would have been time better spent. In conclusion I think perhaps a mixture of solo driving with the odd session with an instructor is the way to go - thoughts ?
Without masses of track day experience to call upon, I would suggest it's probably worth getting instruction every time you go to a new track. Get to know the lines, braking points etc, and then practise yourself.
If you want to seriously advance your advanced driving/track skills then book a dedicated instructor for a day at either a track day or one of the driving schools you see advertised and mentioned on here. Get them to give you generic training in terms of heel 'n' toe, steering, braking, weight distribution etc.
Either way, it's going to be fun
If you want to seriously advance your advanced driving/track skills then book a dedicated instructor for a day at either a track day or one of the driving schools you see advertised and mentioned on here. Get them to give you generic training in terms of heel 'n' toe, steering, braking, weight distribution etc.
Either way, it's going to be fun
jons.
Dates etc of the Club track days can be found in the club magazine. If you haven't already you'll need to join up in order to go on the days.
www.porscheclubgb.co.uk
Enjoy your new beast...
Dates etc of the Club track days can be found in the club magazine. If you haven't already you'll need to join up in order to go on the days.
www.porscheclubgb.co.uk
Enjoy your new beast...
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