Track day novice what I've learnt so far...
Discussion
AdamIndy said:
I am doing my first TD for some time at silverstone SS this weekend. Some good reminders here for me so thanks!
Just to add, apologies to anyone I hold up on Sunday, my car isn't that fast!
Have fun Adam, you'll enjoy it. Don't worry about holding anyone up. Listen carefully during the drivers briefing and enjoy yourself. Take your time and enjoy it! Just to add, apologies to anyone I hold up on Sunday, my car isn't that fast!
CABC said:
Hired out to corporates. Some drivers will be on their first track day. A Radical is a low, brutal machine that needs 'grabbing hold of'. Intimidating to any nervous or a noob.
Interesting cars as they definitely have aero. Get to 80mph or so and you feel it, which means that fast corners can be taken a lot faster - obviously, but do you have the balls?. I only had a day in one and i know there was a lot left in the car. First corner at Snett is quite fast 80 or so in my own car, in the Radical the aero is just kicking in and you know it has another 30mph in it. It was going to take a while to learn that and build confidence.
Ive got one of snett 300 but turn 1 had oil down so couldn't send it in properlyInteresting cars as they definitely have aero. Get to 80mph or so and you feel it, which means that fast corners can be taken a lot faster - obviously, but do you have the balls?. I only had a day in one and i know there was a lot left in the car. First corner at Snett is quite fast 80 or so in my own car, in the Radical the aero is just kicking in and you know it has another 30mph in it. It was going to take a while to learn that and build confidence.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pe2NOVFhyE4
JoeMarano said:
That's ridiculously fast! 40mph quicker than me down the main straight!
The speedo in that vid was actually reading about 7 or 8mph too high in that video!It uses the wheel speed to work out the speed but it was calibrated for a slightly larger diameter wheel. Although fairly quick in the straights, the braking and cornering speeds is where the performance is.AdamIndy said:
I am doing my first TD for some time at silverstone SS this weekend. Some good reminders here for me so thanks!
Just to add, apologies to anyone I hold up on Sunday, my car isn't that fast!
Learn to carry speed and you will be fast, Just to add, apologies to anyone I hold up on Sunday, my car isn't that fast!
I have a friend who races a TVR. On a recent track day at Donington he was in his 160bhp 1980s TVR S 2.9. He was just as quick as I was in my 315 bhp 5 litre TVR Chimaera, and he shot past a well driven 240 bhp 4 litre Chimaera in the Craner Curves.
So there's hope for you yet.
Cheers for the advice guys, much appreciated!
Just to clarify, I have done probably 20 track days before, mostly on bikes and 4 or 5 in cars. I have done the old silverstone GP circuit, the new GP circuit and the international circuit on bikes. You are right, silverstone is WIDE! I found it hard to judge speed there. North of 160mph on an R1 didn't feel that fast. Until Stowe was coming at me at an alarming rate that is!
That said, my last car trackday was probably 7 years ago now(Nissan 100NX FTW! ). I will be rusty for sure but no doubt it will all come flooding back to me.
Just in case it doesn't, i'll be in a blue focus ST170, just so you know who to avoid!
It should be a cracking morning, I'm really looking forward to it.
Just to clarify, I have done probably 20 track days before, mostly on bikes and 4 or 5 in cars. I have done the old silverstone GP circuit, the new GP circuit and the international circuit on bikes. You are right, silverstone is WIDE! I found it hard to judge speed there. North of 160mph on an R1 didn't feel that fast. Until Stowe was coming at me at an alarming rate that is!
That said, my last car trackday was probably 7 years ago now(Nissan 100NX FTW!
). I will be rusty for sure but no doubt it will all come flooding back to me.Just in case it doesn't, i'll be in a blue focus ST170, just so you know who to avoid!
It should be a cracking morning, I'm really looking forward to it.
AdamIndy said:
Cheers for the advice guys, much appreciated!
Just to clarify, I have done probably 20 track days before, mostly on bikes and 4 or 5 in cars. I have done the old silverstone GP circuit, the new GP circuit and the international circuit on bikes. You are right, silverstone is WIDE! I found it hard to judge speed there. North of 160mph on an R1 didn't feel that fast. Until Stowe was coming at me at an alarming rate that is!
That said, my last car trackday was probably 7 years ago now(Nissan 100NX FTW! ). I will be rusty for sure but no doubt it will all come flooding back to me.
Just in case it doesn't, i'll be in a blue focus ST170, just so you know who to avoid!
It should be a cracking morning, I'm really looking forward to it.
Sorry bud, I thought it was your first ever trackday! In that case ignore everything I said in the previous post and get the hammer down!Just to clarify, I have done probably 20 track days before, mostly on bikes and 4 or 5 in cars. I have done the old silverstone GP circuit, the new GP circuit and the international circuit on bikes. You are right, silverstone is WIDE! I found it hard to judge speed there. North of 160mph on an R1 didn't feel that fast. Until Stowe was coming at me at an alarming rate that is!
That said, my last car trackday was probably 7 years ago now(Nissan 100NX FTW!
). I will be rusty for sure but no doubt it will all come flooding back to me.Just in case it doesn't, i'll be in a blue focus ST170, just so you know who to avoid!
It should be a cracking morning, I'm really looking forward to it.
I've done a couple of MSV days at Snetterton with my oldest boy and we've had a blast (promised youngest similar when he has time). Two observations: MSV does a very good briefing and their marshals do a good job of blue- flagging; we do an out lap followed by 3 or 4 reasonably quick laps followed by a cool-down lap. If we're blue flagged we indicate right and get off the line, if we're approached by a faster car we indicate right and get off the line. There's a fair few folks who, despite what I typed, don't overtake and it frustrates us and must be really frustrating for them. We have a 2009 Focus RS on std brakes with decent pads but they do get a bit hot hence the slow-down laps but I'd wish more folks would get past when we're indicating right. Snetterton (esp 300) is a nice circuit though.
Opposite for me. My last trackday I was never shown a blue flag (although that said they never needed to as I saw everyone coming well in advnace) BUT I was constantly stuck behind people that were never shown the blue either. Normally I would just back off bit as I had cameras rolling but it was car more entertaining to stay behind them 
checkmate91 said:
...faster car we indicate right and get off the line. There's a fair few folks who, despite what I typed, don't overtake and it frustrates us and must be really frustrating for them... but I'd wish more folks would get past when we're indicating right.
Do you lift at the same time? It could (and often is) that they're quicker than you over a whole lap but not as fast in a straight line.checkmate91 said:
I've done a couple of MSV days at Snetterton with my oldest boy and we've had a blast (promised youngest similar when he has time). Two observations: MSV does a very good briefing and their marshals do a good job of blue- flagging; we do an out lap followed by 3 or 4 reasonably quick laps followed by a cool-down lap. If we're blue flagged we indicate right and get off the line, if we're approached by a faster car we indicate right and get off the line. There's a fair few folks who, despite what I typed, don't overtake and it frustrates us and must be really frustrating for them. We have a 2009 Focus RS on std brakes with decent pads but they do get a bit hot hence the slow-down laps but I'd wish more folks would get past when we're indicating right. Snetterton (esp 300) is a nice circuit though.
You would think seeing you indicating and moving off the racing line, and a blue flag would be enough incentive to pass! Especially on the two long straights. Do they allow overtakes through Coram? It's a big section of track, which obviously isnt a straight, but the racing line is on the right and the track is nice and wide.
I know Javelin allow overtakes at Corham which is always a bit of a dodgy one depending on the other cars speed and position and how far into the corner it is.
I rarely overtake there as I just don't think it's hugely safe a lot of the time but if someone is in a vastly faster car I will move as far right as I can and brake.
It's a bit situation dpendent with Corham. ..
I rarely overtake there as I just don't think it's hugely safe a lot of the time but if someone is in a vastly faster car I will move as far right as I can and brake.
It's a bit situation dpendent with Corham. ..
JoeMarano said:
I know Javelin allow overtakes at Corham which is always a bit of a dodgy one depending on the other cars speed and position and how far into the corner it is.
I rarely overtake there as I just don't think it's hugely safe a lot of the time but if someone is in a vastly faster car I will move as far right as I can and brake.
It's a bit situation dpendent with Corham. ..
It's all about consent. If the driver in front is a lot slower than you, and/or lifts, and has their right indicator on, and pulls well over to the right, then it can be fine, so long as you are careful not to overcook it yourself and end up on the grass.I rarely overtake there as I just don't think it's hugely safe a lot of the time but if someone is in a vastly faster car I will move as far right as I can and brake.
It's a bit situation dpendent with Corham. ..
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