First Track Day, but where? and what helmet
Discussion
Im not a total beginner at trackdays but did my first trackday at CC last month as throughly enjoyed it. It does command respect (as do all other tracks) but if you take it easy you will be fine. If its likely to be damp or wet Id stay away as my first ever outting.
Bedford is far more compliant if you are to make mistakes and in my view probably one of the most compliant tracks out there, although silverstone and snetterton arent far off.
As far as helmets go - I orignally had open face but recently got myself a full face as you never know when you may be going out in an open top and from a vision perspective it didnt make much difference. I also got a carbon helemt and have to say it is very light and very comfortable.
Bedford is far more compliant if you are to make mistakes and in my view probably one of the most compliant tracks out there, although silverstone and snetterton arent far off.
As far as helmets go - I orignally had open face but recently got myself a full face as you never know when you may be going out in an open top and from a vision perspective it didnt make much difference. I also got a carbon helemt and have to say it is very light and very comfortable.
MOTK said:
Indeed that was me 
I was trying some setup changes on the intrax before going to spa the next week, with poor tyres on the rear I was well and truly caught out. Managed to find the one gravel trap there as you know and dig in. I remember arriving at Bedford that day and saying to my mate this is the one place you can't crash! The irony.
Oh God. Why did you go and say that? Pride, as they say, comes before a fall!I was trying some setup changes on the intrax before going to spa the next week, with poor tyres on the rear I was well and truly caught out. Managed to find the one gravel trap there as you know and dig in. I remember arriving at Bedford that day and saying to my mate this is the one place you can't crash! The irony.
I can only presume this was the gravel trap immediately in front of the pitlane (I don't remember another)? If so, that must have been one hell of a sight for the assembled audience!
As a novice who cause a (fairly innocuous) red flag on my first outing at Bedford, I was definitely grateful for the large amount of run-off and lack of gravel traps.
MOTK said:
Indeed that was me
I was trying some setup changes on the intrax before going to spa the next week, with poor tyres on the rear I was well and truly caught out. Managed to find the one gravel trap there as you know and dig in. I remember arriving at Bedford that day and saying to my mate this is the one place you can't crash! The irony.
This one ?I was trying some setup changes on the intrax before going to spa the next week, with poor tyres on the rear I was well and truly caught out. Managed to find the one gravel trap there as you know and dig in. I remember arriving at Bedford that day and saying to my mate this is the one place you can't crash! The irony.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unEONw5-x9s
t" did raise a smile thoughI've been to Bedford recently with Javelin & can add to the recommendations for the ease of circuit & also how well Javelin run their days.
You could also try the BMW Car Club who do a "Better Driving Day" at least once a year, normally at Cadwell Park - Whilst people won't recommend Cadwell as a beginners circuit the Club give you training in groups through the morning with you speed building up & improving track position etc as you go on & then you have group free sessions in the afternoon with similar ability drivers rather than having to mix it with all abilities/speeds of car. As an example, in my intermediate group the cars ranged from a standard Mini Cooper up to an I8.
I'm also a user of a motorbike helmet for track days although have a full face one being an ex-biker.
You could also try the BMW Car Club who do a "Better Driving Day" at least once a year, normally at Cadwell Park - Whilst people won't recommend Cadwell as a beginners circuit the Club give you training in groups through the morning with you speed building up & improving track position etc as you go on & then you have group free sessions in the afternoon with similar ability drivers rather than having to mix it with all abilities/speeds of car. As an example, in my intermediate group the cars ranged from a standard Mini Cooper up to an I8.
I'm also a user of a motorbike helmet for track days although have a full face one being an ex-biker.
charltjr said:
Jesus, rolling a VX220 is *really* going some given how low the CoG is in one of those. Guess it also dug in and flipped?
It was a high powered turbo, went a bit wide exiting the corner onto the straight behind the pits, put a rear wheel on the grass , then skewed across the track, hit then tyres at just the wrong angle and flipped. Very unusual accident.
Half the decent circuits in the UK are owned by MSV. Cadwell, Brands, Bedford, Snetterton, Oulton.
They insist on a full face helmet in any car that is capable of being a convertible, even if the roof is on.
Others are bound to follow suit.
You are bound to want to have passenger rides in an MX5, MR2, TVR, Atom, Radical, etc etc etc if offered.
It would be rude not to.
My solution is simple - I have both a full face and an open face helmet, and wear whichever I can get away with.
Yes, the full face would be safer, but I can see more, and get less hot, in an open face.
The reason I heard for the ruling by MSV was that someone in a Caterham (or similar windscreen-less car) got a face full of hot oil when the car in-front had a mechanical implosion. My convertible has a proper windscreen. And a roof. But rules are rules.
As for tracks, I did my first TD at Cadwell Park, which is one of the best tracks in the country but a tad short of run off.
But to anyone who asks I would recommend Bedford, and avoid trying to powerslide the entire length of the pits straight.
That was a serioulsy good attempt to keep the foot in, and very unlucky to find the one gravel trap. And roll too.
I found the gravel trap by the pits entrance at Mallory Park, and sideways on, but merely triggered the fuel cut off
They insist on a full face helmet in any car that is capable of being a convertible, even if the roof is on.
Others are bound to follow suit.
You are bound to want to have passenger rides in an MX5, MR2, TVR, Atom, Radical, etc etc etc if offered.
It would be rude not to.
My solution is simple - I have both a full face and an open face helmet, and wear whichever I can get away with.
Yes, the full face would be safer, but I can see more, and get less hot, in an open face.
The reason I heard for the ruling by MSV was that someone in a Caterham (or similar windscreen-less car) got a face full of hot oil when the car in-front had a mechanical implosion. My convertible has a proper windscreen. And a roof. But rules are rules.
As for tracks, I did my first TD at Cadwell Park, which is one of the best tracks in the country but a tad short of run off.
But to anyone who asks I would recommend Bedford, and avoid trying to powerslide the entire length of the pits straight.
That was a serioulsy good attempt to keep the foot in, and very unlucky to find the one gravel trap. And roll too.
I found the gravel trap by the pits entrance at Mallory Park, and sideways on, but merely triggered the fuel cut off
Bedford is a bit bland, hard to learn (it's long and all looks the same, especially to a novice) and easy to drive the wrong line in a lot of places without realising it.
I think it's OK for some situations and I realise I'm in a minority of one but I don't really see the appeal with Rockingham and Silverstone less than 30 minutes away and Oulton, Cadwell, Anglesey, Croft, Donington all out there waiting to be driven.
If you think you are going to crash, don't aim for the track which gives a (sometimes false) sense of security that will make it even harder to get it right elsewhere, instead go to a proper race track, treat it with respect and get some tuition to learn how to drive round while keeping it out of the scenery.
I think it's OK for some situations and I realise I'm in a minority of one but I don't really see the appeal with Rockingham and Silverstone less than 30 minutes away and Oulton, Cadwell, Anglesey, Croft, Donington all out there waiting to be driven.
If you think you are going to crash, don't aim for the track which gives a (sometimes false) sense of security that will make it even harder to get it right elsewhere, instead go to a proper race track, treat it with respect and get some tuition to learn how to drive round while keeping it out of the scenery.
Steve H said:
Bedford is a bit bland, hard to learn (it's long and all looks the same, especially to a novice) and easy to drive the wrong line in a lot of places without realising it.
I think it's OK for some situations and I realise I'm in a minority of one but I don't really see the appeal with Rockingham and Silverstone less than 30 minutes away and Oulton, Cadwell, Anglesey, Croft, Donington all out there waiting to be driven.
If you think you are going to crash, don't aim for the track which gives a (sometimes false) sense of security that will make it even harder to get it right elsewhere, instead go to a proper race track, treat it with respect and get some tuition to learn how to drive round while keeping it out of the scenery.
Minority of 2 I think it's OK for some situations and I realise I'm in a minority of one but I don't really see the appeal with Rockingham and Silverstone less than 30 minutes away and Oulton, Cadwell, Anglesey, Croft, Donington all out there waiting to be driven.
If you think you are going to crash, don't aim for the track which gives a (sometimes false) sense of security that will make it even harder to get it right elsewhere, instead go to a proper race track, treat it with respect and get some tuition to learn how to drive round while keeping it out of the scenery.
Make it 3
For me Snetterton is a good place to learn, good mix of corners with a couple of fast straights to help you learn braking skills as well but the main reason is it is relatively safe and it feels like a circuit and not an airfield, it flows.
Edited by gruffalo on Monday 5th September 07:31
My OH did her 1st track session @ CC...not only had she never driven on track before she had never previously driven the car except around the car park when I kidded her I wanted to listen to the "exhaust".
She had been pax so knew a little about the track and VTEC, the 1st she knew about her driving was when I got out pretending to go a wee, the instructor told her to move into the driving seat.
She wasn't the fastest ever to go round but the grin on her face lasted longer than any I had ever given her previously.................. and that OP is what matters most - the size of the grin at the end of the day
She had been pax so knew a little about the track and VTEC, the 1st she knew about her driving was when I got out pretending to go a wee, the instructor told her to move into the driving seat.
She wasn't the fastest ever to go round but the grin on her face lasted longer than any I had ever given her previously.................. and that OP is what matters most - the size of the grin at the end of the day
Hi, Gosh, the original post was so far back that I barely remember the question!
However, I think you said you come from fairly close to Castle Combe? That's not far from me. I've just posted a request to see if anyone's looking for a contributor to their car/group, as I'm also a track day novice (see post @ 18.04 today).
If you want someone to look even more green than you and it makes sense to share the burden, let me know?
However, I think you said you come from fairly close to Castle Combe? That's not far from me. I've just posted a request to see if anyone's looking for a contributor to their car/group, as I'm also a track day novice (see post @ 18.04 today).
If you want someone to look even more green than you and it makes sense to share the burden, let me know?
so an update!
i did my first proper track day in the M3 last Friday at Castle Combe and it was BLOODY BRILLIANT!
Reason i chose CC was 1) it was 10 mins drive, 2) FREE ARDS tuition all day (i had 4 sessions), 3) Sunny all day
Yes it was a little daunting first session, but afterwards once i had learnt the track it was fantastic, a great circuit that you just have to treat with respect..
roll on the next day
GP
i did my first proper track day in the M3 last Friday at Castle Combe and it was BLOODY BRILLIANT!
Reason i chose CC was 1) it was 10 mins drive, 2) FREE ARDS tuition all day (i had 4 sessions), 3) Sunny all day
Yes it was a little daunting first session, but afterwards once i had learnt the track it was fantastic, a great circuit that you just have to treat with respect..
roll on the next day
GP
Glad you had a good day and fab that you got free tuition all day, almost unheard of I think. It makes all the difference and you can build on what you have learnt.
For the next track day get tuition again. Worth noting that, having done one track day, it's easy to get over confident without realising.
Also, if it rains, racing tracks can become far more greasy than the road. Take extra care but have fun!
For the next track day get tuition again. Worth noting that, having done one track day, it's easy to get over confident without realising.
Also, if it rains, racing tracks can become far more greasy than the road. Take extra care but have fun!
Gassing Station | Track Days | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff