Shared trackday cars - Logistics?

[C70R]

Output Flange said:

One point I didn't notice mentioned previously (apologies if it was and I missed it) is sighting laps - the TDO really wants every driver to do sighting laps at the start of the day, or at least before they first go out. Given you're not allowed rear seat passengers, make sure that your third driver grabs a seat in someone else's car for them.

I don't think you'll have a problem with three drivers overall, but I do remember an MX5 turning up to Brands Hatch a few years back with 8 registered drivers! Three should slip under the radar, but be prepared in case it gets questioned.

Thanks for the input. Something I hadn't considered at all!

I've been playing around on a few TDO websites, and most do actually allow you to book with a number of additional drivers. Cost is usual around £50 per extra head, or so.

[C70R]

Thanks all - I think I have everything I need. A quick synopsis of feedback suggests:

• People who have done it before: "Yes, do it now, it's fantastic."
• People who have never done it: "No, you're going to lose friends, end up in court etc."

I'll probably start a Readers' Cars thread when we find the right 'base'.

[C70R]

Trabi601 said:

My final post on the subject.

I rather hope that's true, because you're not really adding much by way of experience.

The bloke in your thread hasn't ever shared a trackday car, and is doing nothing more than you - discussing potential negative outcomes.

However, if we're quoting selectively, from the same thread...

0llie said:

it is probably the best money I have spent on a car. Spending time with 2 good friends, learning how to maintain the car properly, deciding on upgrades and seeing the progress you are making with the car, the road trips to the circuit, and learning how to drive quickly along with your friends is about as good as motoring experiences come IMHO.

Edited by C70R on Friday 1st July 16:08

[C70R]

HustleRussell said:

You're being quite prickly towards Trabi601 OP, but Trabi hasn't been unpleasant towards you and raises some good points. I suppose it's just not what you want to hear.

One or two posts would have been considered helpful. Persistent, repetitive and unfounded doom-mongering (even after I'd said it was no issue) is downright annoying and entirely unwarranted.

[C70R]

HustleRussell said:

I'm sharing the race driving of my Dad's 1964 Lotus Elan S2 (26R spec) at the moment. That's another level of risk, pressure and potential hurt. I'm not looking forward of making the mistake which robs him of a race etc. There is maybe one friend I could consider sharing with but risking the car and other people's fun is never far from your mind.

With all due respect, and while it sounds fun, that's absolutely nothing like chucking a few hundred quid into a pot with your mates.

[C70R]

NickNJ said:

There are risks if the car gets binned early days but then I've countered this by only losing a third of costs - £500 against losing £1500.

We'll just get out and drive it and what will be, will be.

My sentiments exactly, and a conclusion I'd arrived at long before this thread was created!

[C70R]

Baryonyx said:

C70R said:

This is, almost verbatim, our plan. Thank you for the reassurance.

I really feel sorry for the naysayers, thinking that such small amounts of money and trivial problems would be enough to destroy friendships.

It's not the small amount of money you stand to lose that will grate, it's that there is always someone less willing than the other(s) to put the time and effort in after the purchase. Of course, you're not interested in hearing negative replies so enjoy any confirmation bias you find elsewhere in the thread.

Thank you for the bhy reply.
I'm very sorry your friends don't make the effort to maintain your relationships.

[C70R]

sjg said:

So come on then, as this is so easy and straightforward - what have you bought and when is your first trackday booked for?

Thanks for asking. Two of us are going to view a 206 GTi this evening. The third is busy, but said he's happy for us to buy without him seeing it.

I just don't get how people can be so precious about something so trivial.

[C70R]

nurseholliday said:

If you're going to cry about £500, then trackdays aren't the right hobby for you.

Sohlman said:

Just do it.

My thoughts encapsulated, thank you.

I'll update the thread post-viewing this evening. If the car is in decent nick, a shopping trip for 'bits' is on the cards. My favourite!

[C70R]

Well, it looks like we're a goer. Found a car that has had the majority of the work done already, but needs a few bits to finish off. It's located about 90 miles away from where we're storing the car, most of which is on the M25 - time to get chasing up some transport companies via Shiply for moving quotes.
Had one already for ~£100, which seems very reasonable.

Will update once it's been dropped off at the garage for a once-over, and we will see what work needs doing before we can get our first airfield day booked in.

[C70R]

Toltec said:

Hopefully it will not be like a 90% completed kit car where the last '10%' takes 90% of the time and money

I had a car moved about 40 miles and the best Shiply bid came out at £35 so you should get some better prices than £100.

Enjoy

Thanks kindly! At the price we paid, there's plenty of cash in the kitty to make it reliable. It was either a case of buying a pre-modded car and making it good, or buying a good car and making it trackable.

[C70R]

Boring_Chris said:

Not wanting to sound like a ninny but my 'cheap' track toy (which I've chucked thousands into, but will only be worth pennies still) is taking so long to build, and is such bloody hard work, I'm invested more from an emotional stand point than I am either my nice comfy BM daily or two seater weekender!

If I write off either of those... Meh. Insurance premium goes up. If I write off that 'tatty' track car... I would actually cry my eyes out!

Am I alone here?!

Possibly, yes. It's a case of scope-creep, I suppose.
We're all clear that this is a project that we should be able to get a few days out of for £500 each (plus cost of attending etc.). That's an amount that we're all happy to write off, and that wouldn't cause any huge consternation or loss of friendship.

It's not really something that will occupy me unduly, to be honest.

[C70R]

CABC said:

i bought my cheap, ratty track-prepped car ... i personalised it with light wheels, adjustable suspension, bracing, best fluids

Classic scope-creep. We're quite clear that this is a 'fix and make-do' kind of car, and we'd rather upgrade the base than spend any more money (beyond fixing broken bits and servicing).

[C70R]

Haha! You've just demonstrated perfectly what I mean.

Our car will be getting standard discs and uprated pads, and some decent road tyres on the front. The limiting factor in our case will be the bit between the steering wheel and the seat, not the car's spec.

[C70R]

Just a quick update to say that I picked up the car (a prepped 206 GTi) and drove it 70 miles to drop it with our tame mechanic for an inspection. Shopping list is building already, depending on what the inspection uncovers, and we're hoping to get out in the next few weeks.
I'll get some photos up when I have a bit more time - perhaps even to keep the thread updated with our experience.

PS - the naysayers will be pleased to hear that I've submitted a pro forma invoice for train and petrol costs

[C70R]

Well, the prognosis from the mechanic is very good. A set of rear pads and a new CV boot, and she's ready to go!

Here is the little lady in question (photos from the Ebay ad), who now looks like an absolute bargain.




Plans from here are:
- Oil service
- Brake fluid, Yellowstuff pads and braided lines
- OMP steering wheel (nice and dished to bring it closer to the driver)
- Sticky trackday rubber for the front (replacing the Linglongs)
- Helmets
- Short-shifter (or new gear linkage, or both)

[C70R]

mattdaniels said:

Bare in mind if you go down the sticky rubber route, you are putting extra strain on parts of the car which weren't designed to cope with the loads. I've seen toe links and suspension give up on cars before now which were fitted with sticky rubber, and when they go it's usually in a fast corner which never ends well.

Also if you go all the way and fit slicks you will need a full cage before several TDOs will allow you on track.

In summary - I wouldn't rush to fit sticky rubber or slicks before updgrading the rest of the car to cope, and I wouldn't upgrade the rest of the car to cope until you have actually done a few trackdays and had some tution - you will get far more value spending your cash on tuition than any upgrade you fit to the car.

Looks like you are going to have fun either way!

Thanks for the input.

We've picked up some R1Rs for the front end, as they are infinitely better than the worn Chinese tat on there at the moment. We'll bear your advice in mind, but I'd feel particularly unlucky to crash as the result of trackday-tyre-caused component failure!

[C70R]

Looks like we're booking onto Bedford GT on Monday 1st August, if anyone else is planning on attending.

[C70R]

To keep this updated, here's my post from another thread after attending a Javelin session on the GT Circuit at Bedford yesterday:

Well, what a bloody brilliant day! The weather was great, the track was fantastic, the day was well organised (and attended) and the car went brilliantly.
Although the 4am start and day's exertions left us shattered, it was comfortably the most fun I've had in a car in almost 20 years of driving.

As two novices on a first outing with a new car, the day was an unqualified success. Fellow trackgoers were largely courteous (despite us running out of steam on the longer straights), and we found our feet fairly quickly and completed around 40 laps gaining in speed/smoothness/confidence during the course of the day.

Apologies for being the cause of the only (albeit brief - 5min) red flag of the day. After around 30 laps our (road-spec) rear tyres had taken a hammering, and we (I) locked the back end under braking/downshifting for the last right-hander. A 'graceful' pirouette and a low-speed nudge into the tyres brought about a pleasant (but embarrassing) chat with the marshal and medical staff, while the tyres were moved back into position. No real damage to the car, meaning we were able to carry on to the end of the day.

Spent some fantastic cool-down time in the pits chatting to the owners of a new Mustang, a grey Ibiza, a 911 Turbo, an A45 and an i8 - all of whom seemed fairly (or politely) impressed with our steed.

The to-do list for our next outing:

• A pair of track-spec tyres for the rear to match the fronts
• Uprated front pads and a brake fluid change
• Pulling a small dent out of the front wing (optional)
• Purchase helmets

[C70R]

james_gt3rs said:

With 3 people, either the car will take a beating due to no breaks for it, or you'll all get less track time if you let the brakes etc cool.

Incidentally, we managed about 40 laps between us yesterday (15min on, 15min rest), which felt like a reasonable return from a couple of hundred quid for the day.