best track day prices
Discussion
about to start taking the Caterham to the track: where's the best place to get the best prices on tracks? Does the Lotus 7 club have discounted pricing/club days to make the membership fee worthwhile, for e.g.?
is there a 'buy 3 get one free' option on any companies? Any last minute websites? but to book ages in advance or close to the day?
is there a 'buy 3 get one free' option on any companies? Any last minute websites? but to book ages in advance or close to the day?
You've got a range of options. The lotus 7 club do run a few track days during the year. Not sure there's a great deal of discount to be had but you do have the advantage of some of the track days being the full variant of the track e.g brands hatch full circuit as opposed to the Indy circuit which have many more days run on it (still great fun though I did my first day there).
However, once you've done a few general track days you'll come to realise that the Caterhams lap most tracks very quickly but in a slightly distinct way in that they are generally very fast through the corners and less so on long straights (with the exception of the higher powered Caterham variants). This can make some days on some circuits a little frustrating as you get held up in the corners and then overtaken again on the straights only to catch up again at the next corner etc etc. So one of the advantages of the club days is that the majority, if not all cars on the circuit will also be Caterhams making it all a bit more interesting. Also I'm not here to bang the drum for the club but as a member I would say the membership is worth it purely for the advice that can be obtained from the forums as and when (inevitably) you need some help with something so it's worth considering if you've never signed up.
Other options for you to consider include booking direct with one of the circuits itself. For instance MSVT are very good and run quite a few of the well known circuits such as brands hatch, Oulton Park etc. I did one of their days at Bedford a few weeks ago and it was excellent.
Another option is to become a member of Lotus on Track. As a member you can then book days through them. You can access some circuits not easily available elsewhere such as those on the continent e.g SPA, Folembray etc. They primarily cater for Lotus cars but are quite happy to have Caterhams running around at their track days. I believe their rates are pretty good as well. You can google them and take a look at their calendar to see what they have coming up, where it is and the prices.
Hopefully that gets you started anyway.
Tom
However, once you've done a few general track days you'll come to realise that the Caterhams lap most tracks very quickly but in a slightly distinct way in that they are generally very fast through the corners and less so on long straights (with the exception of the higher powered Caterham variants). This can make some days on some circuits a little frustrating as you get held up in the corners and then overtaken again on the straights only to catch up again at the next corner etc etc. So one of the advantages of the club days is that the majority, if not all cars on the circuit will also be Caterhams making it all a bit more interesting. Also I'm not here to bang the drum for the club but as a member I would say the membership is worth it purely for the advice that can be obtained from the forums as and when (inevitably) you need some help with something so it's worth considering if you've never signed up.
Other options for you to consider include booking direct with one of the circuits itself. For instance MSVT are very good and run quite a few of the well known circuits such as brands hatch, Oulton Park etc. I did one of their days at Bedford a few weeks ago and it was excellent.
Another option is to become a member of Lotus on Track. As a member you can then book days through them. You can access some circuits not easily available elsewhere such as those on the continent e.g SPA, Folembray etc. They primarily cater for Lotus cars but are quite happy to have Caterhams running around at their track days. I believe their rates are pretty good as well. You can google them and take a look at their calendar to see what they have coming up, where it is and the prices.
Hopefully that gets you started anyway.
Tom
I've just been looking at the Lotus on Track website,they say they welcome Caterhams and similar (which must be to MOT standards). In their FAQ however, they state: "If a Caterham type vehicle then it must have a full FIA approved roll-cage."
Anyone know if this is true, as relatively few road legal tracks have an FIA cage, as opposed to an FIA roll bar?
Chris
P.S. Sorry for the thread hijack....
Anyone know if this is true, as relatively few road legal tracks have an FIA cage, as opposed to an FIA roll bar?
Chris
P.S. Sorry for the thread hijack....
griffchris said:
I've just been looking at the Lotus on Track website,they say they welcome Caterhams and similar (which must be to MOT standards). In their FAQ however, they state: "If a Caterham type vehicle then it must have a full FIA approved roll-cage."
Anyone know if this is true, as relatively few road legal tracks have an FIA cage, as opposed to an FIA roll bar?
Chris
P.S. Sorry for the thread hijack....
Hi Chris,Anyone know if this is true, as relatively few road legal tracks have an FIA cage, as opposed to an FIA roll bar?
Chris
P.S. Sorry for the thread hijack....
Have been tracking our CSR for the last year, mainly with LoT, certainly one of the better run track day companies/clubs and one of the most reasonable. Originally had a standard roll bar and had no issues, read a few posts about track day roll bars being required so have upgraded. Definitely a full cage is not required.
Roger
griffchris said:
I've just been looking at the Lotus on Track website,they say they welcome Caterhams and similar (which must be to MOT standards). In their FAQ however, they state: "If a Caterham type vehicle then it must have a full FIA approved roll-cage."
Anyone know if this is true, as relatively few road legal tracks have an FIA cage, as opposed to an FIA roll bar?
Chris
P.S. Sorry for the thread hijack....
You will be fine. I have done lots of LOT days and caterhams there have not had full cages, just roll bars.Anyone know if this is true, as relatively few road legal tracks have an FIA cage, as opposed to an FIA roll bar?
Chris
P.S. Sorry for the thread hijack....
I am doing a LOT day in October and I just have the FIA trackday roll bar
Best place to look is Driver61, list most of the trackdays on offer
http://driver61.com/track-day-test-dates/
http://driver61.com/track-day-test-dates/
cat7hpc said:
Yes, it's taken me quite some time to realise just how tedious the'new' Blatchat website has become with the more technical posts nowadays being something like 'where can I find the dipstick?'
Behind the wheel in my car.To continue the OP, does anyone know who tends to do the best prices at the big-name tracks like Silverstone or Donington?
I am pretty sure the cheapest track day will also include some compromises- large numbers, timed track periods and numbty drivers... possibly.
If I were taking my pride and joy on track I would likely do it with Book a Track- Not cheap but I felt safe and tolerated even at my first outing, the other drivers and staff seemed to all be "in it together" to generate a good day and the result was very encouraging enviroment. As a plus the other cars present were generally proper track cars rather than Max Power specials so the Caterham wasn't out paced/pacing different vehicle types as badly as I had expected.
If I were taking my pride and joy on track I would likely do it with Book a Track- Not cheap but I felt safe and tolerated even at my first outing, the other drivers and staff seemed to all be "in it together" to generate a good day and the result was very encouraging enviroment. As a plus the other cars present were generally proper track cars rather than Max Power specials so the Caterham wasn't out paced/pacing different vehicle types as badly as I had expected.
scubadude said:
I am pretty sure the cheapest track day will also include some compromises- large numbers, timed track periods and numbty drivers... possibly.
If I were taking my pride and joy on track I would likely do it with Book a Track- Not cheap but I felt safe and tolerated even at my first outing, the other drivers and staff seemed to all be "in it together" to generate a good day and the result was very encouraging environment. As a plus the other cars present were generally proper track cars rather than Max Power specials so the Caterham wasn't out paced/pacing different vehicle types as badly as I had expected.
To be honest, I've not found major compromises and I do aim for budget days to get one more day out of a year for the £££. I've seen people black flagged or sent home on all the tds I've been on, but with 30-50 people all trying to go fast, you're bound to get one or two idiots and each organiser has dealt with the minority quickly to keep the majority happy. No doubt though that the compromise of an airfield day is the lack of facilities and features - I far prefer a proper track, but even Combe, with its restaurant, proper track and onsite facilities can be had for under £200. Llandow is cheap, I think Thruxton can be had pretty cheaply and certainly Pembrey.If I were taking my pride and joy on track I would likely do it with Book a Track- Not cheap but I felt safe and tolerated even at my first outing, the other drivers and staff seemed to all be "in it together" to generate a good day and the result was very encouraging environment. As a plus the other cars present were generally proper track cars rather than Max Power specials so the Caterham wasn't out paced/pacing different vehicle types as badly as I had expected.
I can guarantee every day I've been on has had at least one numpty, but hopefully I don't hold people up too badly...
Smitters said:
To be honest, I've not found major compromises and I do aim for budget days to get one more day out of a year for the £££. I've seen people black flagged or sent home on all the tds I've been on, but with 30-50 people all trying to go fast, you're bound to get one or two idiots and each organiser has dealt with the minority quickly to keep the majority happy. No doubt though that the compromise of an airfield day is the lack of facilities and features - I far prefer a proper track, but even Combe, with its restaurant, proper track and onsite facilities can be had for under £200. Llandow is cheap, I think Thruxton can be had pretty cheaply and certainly Pembrey.
I can guarantee every day I've been on has had at least one numpty, but hopefully I don't hold people up too badly...
Fair point, I went to an airfield day with a friend in his car, it was so sketchy I felt in danger in the pit area! £200 isn't that cheap though, there used to be some proper fly-by-night operations less than half of that but perhaps they are shut down now? :-)I can guarantee every day I've been on has had at least one numpty, but hopefully I don't hold people up too badly...
I would be wary of 'cheap' trackdays - I have been on a few and they are only cheap becuause the cost is spread over more particpants. The bottom line is that even on an open pitlane trackday there can only be a certain numbers of cars on track so even at Brands you have to queue. The other problem is that they are cheap so they attract drivers that want the cheapest option sometimes these are the kinds of people that get the track shut more often because of an 'incident' so you loose time this way. We are going to Goodwood in December (we go every year) and out group will have less than 25 cars - last year in the afternoon we only had 13 on track in total giving loads of space and pretty much unlimited time. Much better value for money even though it was a few quid dearer than normal.
So far in Caterhams I've only had the pleasure of donington, knockhill and blyton park.
Donington was a bookatrack session, filled with utter numptys in huge power bmws just trying to out do each other. Three red flags, in each case it was a BMW off the track. No one seemed to be pulling them off though and the day resulted in a lot of time off the track.
Knockhill is always booked direct with them, it's a decent track and pretty Caterham friendly as its short and twisty, but Scottish weather pretty variable and they can be a bit weak on marshalling, so idiots can slow you down and compromise the experience. They also have the cheek to ask for £70 for a second driver, having charged £179 already for the car and primary driver. I don't understand this kind of logic, I could spend the whole day on the track in my car, on just the primary driver ticket, so what difference does swapping drivers make to them. It's a bit greedy and as such I wouldn't ever do the second driver route, I'd rather just go in a second car.
Blyton park I've been to twice, both times with javelin, and both times were superb. It was only £129 and the second driver is about £20. They marshall superbly, always note the drivers who aren't letting faster cars past, numbers are always sensible and as they keep a good eye out, red flags are almost non existent.
In my last trip to blyton there was one red flag due to oil on track, it was dealt with and we wer straight back out.
Couldn't recommend javelin highly enough
Donington was a bookatrack session, filled with utter numptys in huge power bmws just trying to out do each other. Three red flags, in each case it was a BMW off the track. No one seemed to be pulling them off though and the day resulted in a lot of time off the track.
Knockhill is always booked direct with them, it's a decent track and pretty Caterham friendly as its short and twisty, but Scottish weather pretty variable and they can be a bit weak on marshalling, so idiots can slow you down and compromise the experience. They also have the cheek to ask for £70 for a second driver, having charged £179 already for the car and primary driver. I don't understand this kind of logic, I could spend the whole day on the track in my car, on just the primary driver ticket, so what difference does swapping drivers make to them. It's a bit greedy and as such I wouldn't ever do the second driver route, I'd rather just go in a second car.
Blyton park I've been to twice, both times with javelin, and both times were superb. It was only £129 and the second driver is about £20. They marshall superbly, always note the drivers who aren't letting faster cars past, numbers are always sensible and as they keep a good eye out, red flags are almost non existent.
In my last trip to blyton there was one red flag due to oil on track, it was dealt with and we wer straight back out.
Couldn't recommend javelin highly enough
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