Best track days for beginners in February?

[tankplanker]

I'm hopefully, finally, picking up a track car this weekend. Now I need a track day suitable for beginners, hopefully one with instruction I can book, running in February, preferably close to the Midlands. Any recommendations?

[200Plus Club]

Blyton in Lincolnshire or Bedford auto drome etc would be perfect

[petrolbloke]

Rockingham is also worth a look. I did my first trackday there and had a really helpful instructor too.

[HorneyMX5]

+1 for bedford.

I'd also look at Abingdon Airfield days as they do a great fun layout with oodles of run off and the surface is actually very good for an airfield.

What car you getting?

[tankplanker]

I like the look of Rockingham as its only an hour away and they have a beginners only session next month. I've done a few driver experience and on track driver training sessions over the years but as everybody has an instructor sitting next to them everybody is well behaved so I want to learn the rules so I'm not a pain when being overtaken.

I'm getting a MK Indy with a Fireblade engine.

[88racing]

Rockingham? In the wet? With all that concrete? Noooooo!

Bedford, Silverstone or Donington. Or even Snetterton.

[HorneyMX5]

tankplanker said:

I'm getting a MK Indy with a Fireblade engine.

That'll be an absolute hoot and probably mildly terrifying in the wet!

[gashead1105]

HorneyMX5 said:

That'll be an absolute hoot and probably mildly terrifying in the wet!

I wouldn't do my first trackday in one at Rockingham though, at least without having a lot of instruction booked. It's unbelievably slippery, with concrete nearby and not a lot of run off. I took my exige round there last October on a corporate afternoon and was thankful for the traction control!

Bedford, Blyton or Silverstone or even Donnington would all be better suggestions that will presumably be nearby. Still book a couple of sessions of instruction though.

[200Plus Club]

If they still have the skid pan and kick plates then Rockingham would be ideal if you avoid the actual track. Not an ideal first venue otherwise!

[tankplanker]

Ok, I'll go with Bedford. There is a choice of Javelin, MSV and Trackdays.co.uk for Feb @ Bedford, none have a beginners session but the MSV has an hours instruction so I'm leaning towards booking that. Much difference between the different companies?

[gashead1105]

tankplanker said:

Ok, I'll go with Bedford. There is a choice of Javelin, MSV and Trackdays.co.uk for Feb @ Bedford, none have a beginners session but the MSV has an hours instruction so I'm leaning towards booking that. Much difference between the different companies?

Trackdays.co.uk is just a third party who will be booking you a space on the Javelin or MSV day. I generally go on both MSV and Javelin days and am happy with both - I'm actually on the day that Javelin are running on 29 Feb.

[drakart]

You might struggle with noise at Bedford if you have a bike engined car.

[Altrezia]

Donington - barriers are far away for the most part, and it's a fabulous track too! That'd get my vote for a midlands track to try. Silverstone is good too but tends to be expensive.

[UTH]

I think Brands Hatch is doing a novice day on either 14th or 18th Feb, check out the MSV website

[tankplanker]

I'm told the car will do 96db on a static test. Not sure why you get a higher limit for the static test? I have a db meter so any guides for idiots such as myself to do a mock test?

I want to do Brands Hatch but it's an overnighter due to distance. One for later in the year I think.

Oulton Park any good? They have a proper novice day on 20th Feb with MSV. Might do Oulton then Bedford the week after...

[drakart]

Not many cars fail the static test. It's the "drive by" that you will struggle with.

[mozzerS]

tankplanker said:

Oulton Park any good? They have a proper novice day on 20th Feb with MSV. Might do Oulton then Bedford the week after...

Oulton is a great circuit. Not much run-off in places for your first day but very rewarding. It will be on the Island layout on 20th Feb while they finish off some work on the Shell Oils section.

[red997]

Donington. 21st Feb. Bookatrack

[Craikeybaby]

red997 said:

Donington. 21st Feb. Bookatrack

That is what I would have suggested too.

[Chr1sch]

Bedford without a shadow of a doubt...

a) It is long and flat with excellent visibility

b) lots of run off

c) pretty lenient if you spin a couple of times they dont kick you out as you have the luxury of space, but dont bank on it...

d) cheap/cost effective.

I'd say visibility is key for you, being aware of other cars, particularly those much faster than you is a must, plus you have time and opportunity to 'read' the road as it were and set the car up for the corner well in advance.