Trackday newbie: preparation

[HaylingJag]

sgreenham said:

eltax91 said:

Ah cool. What'll you be driving? Look out for the pair of idiots. Mine is a scruffy silver mx5 and my mate is in his SC mk2 Elise.

I'll be in a white C63, probably the slowest C63 to ever be seen on track. I'll be driving well within my limits that's for sure. It'll be great fun though.

Track tuition is about £25 for half hour or so, really worth doing as it will give you a hell of a lot more confidence.

C63, awesome motor, just remember to let the MX5's through before the corners Serious tho' we had a guy in a Monaro last week and he was like a cruise ship in a storm through the twisties then as soon as he hit a straight line he opened it up, very frustrating as i was all over him in the next section. Cadders is all about handling and not outright power, SC Elise or MX5 s/c will have this circuit nailed, makes me want to bunk off work again,

[QBee]

MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL - PUT YOUR PHOTOCARD DRIVING LICENCE IN THE CAR THE NIGHT BEFORE. They won't want the paper bit, but no photocard licence, no drive. You can always hire a helmet at the track for a tenner - so don't waste time going home if you get 100 miles of the way there and realise you have left it on the kitchen table.

Don't waste your time going off circuit for fuel. Total waste of time. Just pay the £1.60 a litre for the on-track stuff, and close to the start of the day find the petrol man and ask him when he will be open. Don't run your car down to the dregs in the tank - you may get fuel starvation on track when cornering hard, and there's a long right-hander just for that purpose. Make sure your oil is to the top mark, or even slightly over. Check your water is full, and arrive at the circuit with as full a tank as possible. If coming from the south, the last fuel is either on the Lincoln ring road, the A158 before Wragby, or in Horncastle. You will need more during the day, so bring money or a card. And cash for lunch

Don't assume that a Reliant Kitten will be slower than you.....I just did a sprint day with one, in my 5 litre TVR, and he beat me by 5 seconds in 90. Admittedly he did have a 400 bhp supercharged lump in the back..... By which i mean don't assume that cars that should be slower than you are on the road will be on the track - you have no idea what they have under the bonnet or what tyres they are running. Anyone on track tyres will corner a lot faster and a lot more comfortably than you.

Do listen to the briefing. Its important. Do watch your mirrors and let faster cars past as soon as you can on a straight. Don't try to let them past on corners, it's dangerous. Move to the right of the track and put your right indicator on when you want them to pass - it makes it clear you have seen them and expect them to come past. Only overtake on the straights, Rubens, no diving in front of another car into a corner under braking, Lewis. You don't have the talent of a racing driver, will almost certainly lose the back end, and may well end up in a very expensive accident.

Do your track driving in 15 minute sessions, and come in to give yourself and your car a break. If you are on standard brakes, they will need this or they will fade completely. Drink plenty of water to keep yourself refreshed - so take plenty with you. Go to the cafe for lunch - its decent enough food. And if you stop a few minutes early for lunch you will have a shorter queue and a full choice of menu.

Don't take too much surplus stuff to the track - if it rains, your possessions will get wet. And there's nowhere secure to store them. And don't leave loads of stuff in the car - it could do you a serious injury in an accident. If you must take tools, keep them in a holdall in the boot.

IMHO, don't go on track in the wet. Sorry, but Cadwell Park is a glorious track in the dry, but utterly unforgiving in the wet - apart from at Coppice (uphill left hand bend) all the run-offs you will end up on are grass and slope down from the track, straight into either tyre walls or armco. You will be utterly amazed just how fast an MX5 will slide across wet grass and how magnetic and hard tyre walls are.

Drive within your capabilities and enjoy the day - Cadwell is a great track in the dry. Take it steady to start with and build your confidence. It has taken me 5 track days there and several changes of tyres to find my optimum lines and speeds.

[sgreenham]

HaylingJag said:

Track tuition is about £25 for half hour or so, really worth doing as it will give you a hell of a lot more confidence.

C63, awesome motor, just remember to let the MX5's through before the corners Serious tho' we had a guy in a Monaro last week and he was like a cruise ship in a storm through the twisties then as soon as he hit a straight line he opened it up, very frustrating as i was all over him in the next section. Cadders is all about handling and not outright power, SC Elise or MX5 s/c will have this circuit nailed, makes me want to bunk off work again,

£25 is very reasonable and I'll be doing that. Believe me I'll be letting them through, Cadwell isn't ideal for a C63 but it was the most convenient Novice day for me.

[Osinjak]

eltax91 said:

Hi all

Looks like, if we can both get the time off, my mate and I will be partaking in a track day at Cadwell park on Thursday.

This particular session is advertised as a 'novice' session.

Anyway, I've got the car (mx5 sc), and just took delivery of a helmet today, I've also had a day at the car limits airfield. So, any hints or tips for a newbie? Car preparation, or indeed anything I can do to get the most out of the day?

Mate, who/how are you doing your track days? I've never done one before and I'm not really sure where to start (I have the car though!). I did some googling and found this company: http://www.trackdays.co.uk but I really have no idea what I'm supposed to be looking for! Any help appreciated.

[QBee]

Osinjak said:

Mate, who/how are you doing your track days? I've never done one before and I'm not really sure where to start (I have the car though!). I did some googling and found this company: http://www.trackdays.co.uk but I really have no idea what I'm supposed to be looking for! Any help appreciated.

Trackdays.co.uk are an agency. They make their living by charging the track day organisers a commission. You only pay the ticket price. Some other agents are not so scrupulous.

The main track day organisers are

MSV (Motorsport Vision), who own Brands Hatch, Cadwell Park, Oulton Park, Snetterton and Bedford Autodrome.
I also use Javelin Trackdays, who are based in north Lincs, so tend to specialise in the east and north.
There is Goldtrack, who I seem to remember provide a more upmarket experience
Bookatrack are good, and they do an excellent deal for those who want to hire the complete experience, providing a Caterham R300, fully serviced and fuelled and with instructors and a trackday booking as well. Not cheap, but very good value, you aren't damaging your own car and it's a good deal if you share it with a mate.

There are loads of others - someone else's turn.

Tracks such as Donington, Brands and Silverstone are expensive. Cadwell, Snetterton and some of the airfields less so.

For someone who has never done a track day before, pick a novice day, or a sessioned day with a novice group, so that you are less intimidated by experts up your chuff every 45 seconds. I would recommend Bedford Autodrome for your first one - very open track, good visibility, very little to hit, nice and wide, plenty of run off. Good facilities (its MSV) and pay the extra £25 and hire an instructor for a session at about 11 am, ie after you have had a little time to get used to the track. If you don't have a helmet hire one at the track (£10). And DON'T FORGET YOUR DRIVING LICENCE!!! You won't get on track without it.

[QBee]

Eltax and Osinjak - you have mail

[Bradders901]

I always take a windscreen cleaner/spray and cloth with me too - keep vision tip top.

[Osinjak]

QBee said:

Osinjak said:

Mate, who/how are you doing your track days? I've never done one before and I'm not really sure where to start (I have the car though!). I did some googling and found this company: http://www.trackdays.co.uk but I really have no idea what I'm supposed to be looking for! Any help appreciated.

Trackdays.co.uk are an agency. They make their living by charging the track day organisers a commission. You only pay the ticket price. Some other agents are not so scrupulous.

The main track day organisers are

MSV (Motorsport Vision), who own Brands Hatch, Cadwell Park, Oulton Park, Snetterton and Bedford Autodrome.
I also use Javelin Trackdays, who are based in north Lincs, so tend to specialise in the east and north.
There is Goldtrack, who I seem to remember provide a more upmarket experience
Bookatrack are good, and they do an excellent deal for those who want to hire the complete experience, providing a Caterham R300, fully serviced and fuelled and with instructors and a trackday booking as well. Not cheap, but very good value, you aren't damaging your own car and it's a good deal if you share it with a mate.

There are loads of others - someone else's turn.

Tracks such as Donington, Brands and Silverstone are expensive. Cadwell, Snetterton and some of the airfields less so.

For someone who has never done a track day before, pick a novice day, or a sessioned day with a novice group, so that you are less intimidated by experts up your chuff every 45 seconds. I would recommend Bedford Autodrome for your first one - very open track, good visibility, very little to hit, nice and wide, plenty of run off. Good facilities (its MSV) and pay the extra £25 and hire an instructor for a session at about 11 am, ie after you have had a little time to get used to the track. If you don't have a helmet hire one at the track (£10). And DON'T FORGET YOUR DRIVING LICENCE!!! You won't get on track without it.

Thanks mate, appreciated. Abingdon will be my closest one so when I get there in a couple of months I'll have a look and see when they're having some novice days. Is a motorbike helmet ok?

[QBee]

Yes. They will allow any safe car or bike helmet. If you do them regularly you will invest in something in time that equates to the value of your head!! Same argument about roll cages.
But for a taster, a first session, wear what you have and drive sensibly and enjoy yourself.

I wouldn't book your first one in November unless there are still spaces available the day before and you can see the BBC forecast is good. Bad weather can ruin a track day, and they don't give refunds.

[Osinjak]

QBee said:

Yes. They will allow any safe car or bike helmet. If you do them regularly you will invest in something in time that equates to the value of your head!! Same argument about roll cages.
But for a taster, a first session, wear what you have and drive sensibly and enjoy yourself.

I wouldn't book your first one in November unless there are still spaces available the day before and you can see the BBC forecast is good. Bad weather can ruin a track day, and they don't give refunds.

Ok, cheers. Might wait until spring then, not in massive rush to do one but keen all the same.

[framerateuk]

skeeterm5 said:

- I don't tend to do the last session of the day, lots of accidents as people are tired and want to do one last amazing lap time, it is not worth it

Really? I tend to enjoy the last few sessions because it's quieter as lots of people have gone home, and it gives you a chance to just drive and enjoy.

EDIT: I tend to do open pitlane days though, so it's my choice when I go on.

[eltax91]

Well. We are both booked now, including instructors, weather looks ok if changeable.

Thanks for all the advice chaps.

[QBee]

Hope you have a great time, and it's the first of many. Cadwell Park is an awesome track, once you stop thinking "strewth, it's narrow!!".
I will be along on Monday with three other TVR owners to see how many tyre walls are still standing.....

[Neith]

Hope it all goes well, just done my first track day myself (albeit at Snetterton, not Cadwell) and loved it aside from feeling like I was holding everyone up

Keep an eye on your brakes, mine faded noticeably after a few laps. Already been said but don't put the handbrake on in the garage/paddock after you've been out and make sure you do a cooldown lap before you pit.

I don't think I'm brave enough to try Cadwell yet but you should enjoy it!

[QBee]

The current forecast for Thursday is for a wet morning. Be bloody careful - the grass slopes away in most places and the barriers are hard.

Last time I went to Cadwell it was wet both on arrival and for the first 15 minutes of track time. I have done around 25 track days now - I stayed off the track until it was dry.

Last time I went out on a wet track I touched the brakes at 90 mph at the end of the main straight at Snetterton (I am normally doing 120 there in the dry), lost the back end, and did three and a half revolutions before ending up on the grass. I was lucky not to hit anything, the MGB 10 minutes later wasn't so lucky and smashed both ends of the car, but if it had been Cadwell Park I would have had a big crash too.

FWIW the track surface does dry quickly, but stays a bit damp for longer under the trees at the first bit of the circuit, Hall Bends, the Hairpin and Barn Corner. And the barriers there are very close.

You have all day, and the forecast is better later, so take your time....please!

[eltax91]

QBee said:

The current forecast for Thursday is for a wet morning. Be bloody careful - the grass slopes away in most places and the barriers are hard.

Last time I went to Cadwell it was wet both on arrival and for the first 15 minutes of track time. I have done around 25 track days now - I stayed off the track until it was dry.

Last time I went out on a wet track I touched the brakes at 90 mph at the end of the main straight at Snetterton (I am normally doing 120 there in the dry), lost the back end, and did three and a half revolutions before ending up on the grass. I was lucky not to hit anything, the MGB 10 minutes later wasn't so lucky and smashed both ends of the car, but if it had been Cadwell Park I would have had a big crash too.

FWIW the track surface does dry quickly, but stays a bit damp for longer under the trees at the first bit of the circuit, Hall Bends, the Hairpin and Barn Corner. And the barriers there are very close.

You have all day, and the forecast is better later, so take your time....please!

Will do. I really appreciate the advice of someone who has been there and done it. My mates Elise is £25k's worth of car, and whilst mine is realistically a couple of grands worth, I've put way to much blood, sweat and time into the mechanicals to risk binning it!

We will both be taking it steady, and won't be going out if it's wet I don't think.

[mrmr96]

QBee said:

MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL - PUT YOUR PHOTOCARD DRIVING LICENCE IN THE CAR THE NIGHT BEFORE. They won't want the paper bit, but no photocard licence, no drive. You can always hire a helmet at the track for a tenner - so don't waste time going home if you get 100 miles of the way there and realise you have left it on the kitchen table.

THEY MIGHT WANT THE PAPER BIT. (SILVERSTONE DO)

[QBee]

mrmr96 said:

QBee said:

MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL - PUT YOUR PHOTOCARD DRIVING LICENCE IN THE CAR THE NIGHT BEFORE. They won't want the paper bit, but no photocard licence, no drive. You can always hire a helmet at the track for a tenner - so don't waste time going home if you get 100 miles of the way there and realise you have left it on the kitchen table.

THEY MIGHT WANT THE PAPER BIT. (SILVERSTONE DO)

That's a good point for anyone just reading this for general trackday info. MSV, at Cadwell, Bedford or Snetterton, have never asked me for the paper bit, and this is an MSV event on Thursday. But I will remember to pack mine if I go further afield

[Neith]

QBee said:

That's a good point for anyone just reading this for general trackday info. MSV, at Cadwell, Bedford or Snetterton, have never asked me for the paper bit, and this is an MSV event on Thursday. But I will remember to pack mine if I go further afield

That's odd, when I was at Snetterton on Sunday they asked for both parts. That was through MSV as well, so might be an idea to take both bits wherever you go.

[QBee]

Neith said:

QBee said:

That's a good point for anyone just reading this for general trackday info. MSV, at Cadwell, Bedford or Snetterton, have never asked me for the paper bit, and this is an MSV event on Thursday. But I will remember to pack mine if I go further afield

That's odd, when I was at Snetterton on Sunday they asked for both parts. That was through MSV as well, so might be an idea to take both bits wherever you go.

Right - so the advice changes - always take both parts of the licence, and put them in the car the night before, together with yout helmet and a bottle of water. Thanks chaps - important we give the right advice, as you never know who is just lurking and taking notes.