Track day experiences London

[Geesus]

Hi guys,

I've recently relocated to London from New Zealand.

I've had track cars and a circuit car in the past back in NZ but need some excitement up here.

My daily is a volvo estate (very underwhelming) so I'm looking at options to pass onto my wife as a Christmas gift she can give me.

Can anyone reccomend a good track in the London area that has some kind of actual driver training in their car for a day.

I'm in Mortlake SW14 (near Kew Gardens) in West London. I've no idea which tracks are nearish to me.

I'm not all that into 'do some hot laps in a Ferrari' kind of thing. I'd prefer a stripped out rear wheel or four wheel drive race car than an 'exotic' if you know what I mean.

In about a year im aiming to purchase a CSL, 996 GT3 or a Noble M12 to do a few track days per year in so woukd like to get familiar with a good track in my general area and meet some fellow PH'ers.

Any suggestions welcomed,

Thanks guys,

Ollie.

[Steve H]

Brands Hatch will be amongst your closest I think. They do M3/single seater experiences run my MSV who own the circuit http://www.msvdrivinggifts.com/driving-experience/...

For a wider choice of cars The Racing School also run a few dates there - http://www.racing-school.co.uk/index.asp

In each case your time in car will be limited compared to a proper trackday but for a quick intro to the circuit they are worth a look.

[jonnyleroux]

Nearest venues are Brands Hatch, Goodwood, Silverstone, Castle Combe.

Best value for money in terms of £/mile will come from renting a car for a full track day and getting an instructor for the day.

We (BookaTrack.com) can help with all of the above if you want to get in touch.

Other car rental and track day companies exist. You could also try track-group.com or swracecarhire.com

Jonny
BaT

[tertius]

jonnyleroux said:

Nearest venues are Brands Hatch, Goodwood, Silverstone, Castle Combe.

Best value for money in terms of £/mile will come from renting a car for a full track day and getting an instructor for the day.

We (BookaTrack.com) can help with all of the above if you want to get in touch.

Other car rental and track day companies exist. You could also try track-group.com or swracecarhire.com

Jonny
BaT

^this

I live basically round the corner from you (SW13) and those tracks plus Donington and (occasionally) Snetterton are the only ones I will do in a day. Everything else needs an overnight stop.

However, having moved from New Zealand you really need to do Spa and the Nordschleife, as even they are only a short hop away.

[patently]

jonnyleroux said:

Nearest venues are Brands Hatch, Goodwood, Silverstone, Castle Combe.

Best value for money in terms of £/mile will come from renting a car for a full track day and getting an instructor for the day.

We (BookaTrack.com) can help with all of the above if you want to get in touch.

Other car rental and track day companies exist. You could also try track-group.com or swracecarhire.com

Jonny
BaT

Brands Hatch by far the closest to you. Johnny is right, renting a car for the day is the way to do it. His R300s are lovely, another option is the Opentrack Tiger (http://www.opentrack.co.uk/track-car-hire/).

Whatever you do, have fun!

[andyalan10]

Any reason no-one has mentioned Thruxton? Google says it will take about 10 minutes longer to get to than Brands Hatch, and straight down the A316/M3/A303 from South West London.

[BobToc]

Snetterton is possible in a day but I found it a right ball ache getting home, not helped by finding the track day itself quite tiring. Would do it again though!

[jonnyleroux]

andyalan10 said:

Any reason no-one has mentioned Thruxton? Google says it will take about 10 minutes longer to get to than Brands Hatch, and straight down the A316/M3/A303 from South West London.

Track days at Thruxton are incredibly rare (I think Goldtrack do 2 a year). Everything else there is at the red-letter-day end of the market and not what the OP is looking for I don't think.

Jonny
BaT

[framerateuk]

Opentrack (www.opentrack.co.uk) have some days near London and have tuition included in the price (along with donuts too!).

Had a great day in Pembrey with them earlier this year, it was scorching hot and Dave even bought everyone an ice cream!

Big thumbs up

[isaldiri]

tertius said:

However, having moved from New Zealand you really need to do Spa and the Nordschleife, as even they are only a short hop away.

^ this.

OP, Brands is likely the best option in the UK (silverstone/donnington also doable within the day) but you really want to be driving on the full Brands GP circuit to get the full Brands experience.

[nielsen]

framerateuk said:

Opentrack (www.opentrack.co.uk) have some days near London and have tuition included in the price (along with donuts too!).

Had a great day in Pembrey with them earlier this year, it was scorching hot and Dave even bought everyone an ice cream!

Big thumbs up

Dave From Opentrack is your man. Good value trackdays, brilliant run, with great instructors, free cake and drinks + free photos' after the event :-)

[Oibren85]

nielsen said:

Dave From Opentrack is your man. Good value trackdays, brilliant run, with great instructors, free cake and drinks + free photos' after the event :-)

Definately Give Dave a call, he'll sort you out.

[Rookeryfarmer]

Have a look at www.opentrack.co.uk. Dave's track days are well organised with free tuition, free photos and free doughnuts!!! You can also hire his tiger Avon for the day.

[tertius]

patently said:

jonnyleroux said:

Nearest venues are Brands Hatch, Goodwood, Silverstone, Castle Combe.

Best value for money in terms of £/mile will come from renting a car for a full track day and getting an instructor for the day.

We (BookaTrack.com) can help with all of the above if you want to get in touch.

Other car rental and track day companies exist. You could also try track-group.com or swracecarhire.com

Jonny
BaT

Brands Hatch by far the closest to you. Johnny is right, renting a car for the day is the way to do it. His R300s are lovely, another option is the Opentrack Tiger (http://www.opentrack.co.uk/track-car-hire/).

Whatever you do, have fun!

Its the closest in miles, but in time terms from SW London there is very little to choose between Brands, Goodwood and Silverstone, especially on a weekday.

Whilst Brands GP is brilliant, Brands Indy is much less good, especially for an experienced trackday-er.

[Neil - YVM]

I have used Trackdayhire, the car is a fully prepared Tiger race car, and maintained to a very good standard.
The guys that run it are also very knowledgeable and helpful.

http://www.trackdaycarhire.co.uk

Brands is the closest Bedford is also close, then Silverstone , Snetterton, etc.

[Planet Claire]

Another track not too far out of London is Abingdon. Never done it myself but a friend likes it there and goes quite often. http://www.trackdays.co.uk/tracks/abingdon.htm

For something slightly different and virtually on your doorstep is the driving experiences at Mercedes Benz World, although not in your own car.

[Porkie]

www.palmersport.com

Its only like 40mins on train from London and they will pick you up and drop you back to station if you ask nicely or its £10 ish in cab.

Incredible day. Great fun and one on one tuition and LOTS of tracktime. amazing value. You get to push the cars SOOOOOOOOOO hard!

[Geesus]

Thanks for your help so far guys!
Will pass these suggestions on to my wife

[patphnx]

What did you drive in NZ? Which tracks did you use? I lived in Auckland for a couple of years and loved driving around there. I had a 2004 Subaru WRX wagon wich was great, tarmac, dirt roads, snowboards in the back etc.

I'm not far from you in London either, near Wandsworth Town station. I've done a few track days at Bedford, good place to get used to a new car with plenty of run off, and doable in a day trip.

If I remember correctly Millbrook does some good experience days as well, although they might be a little pricey?!

[Geesus]

patphnx said:

What did you drive in NZ? Which tracks did you use? I lived in Auckland for a couple of years and loved driving around there. I had a 2004 Subaru WRX wagon wich was great, tarmac, dirt roads, snowboards in the back etc.

I'm not far from you in London either, near Wandsworth Town station. I've done a few track days at Bedford, good place to get used to a new car with plenty of run off, and doable in a day trip.

If I remember correctly Millbrook does some good experience days as well, although they might be a little pricey?!

Hi mate, I had a few cars nothing mind blowing, the first two (Sierra Cosworth and BMW E30 M3) were both road legal cars that I tracked a few times a year.
Before doing the family thing I had a 1994 R32 GTR Skyline that was purely a circuit car, chromoly cage, seats, slicks, big brakes etc.
I lived in Ponsonby, Central Auckland.
Local track was Hampton Downs but also spent a bit of time at Pukekohe Raceway and Taupo Motorsport park.