First time at Cadwell, anything I need to know?

First time at Cadwell, anything I need to know?

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TroubledSoul

Original Poster:

4,589 posts

193 months

Tuesday 25th October 2016
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Me and the Mrs are going for our first time at Cadwell at the end of November. Very excited! Is there anything worth knowing?

I noticed it said garages were not available, so what's the deal with changing wheels/working on the car etc.?

Also, I've booked us both a bit of tuition. Anyone know how long they sit in with you on the MSV days? It's only £25 a pop so I'm guessing 15 mins?

kaese

727 posts

186 months

Tuesday 25th October 2016
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One thing I always try to remember at Cadwell: take it easy through the Hall Bends - it's the highest-risk part of the track where the most accidents tend to happen, but arguably where the least lap time is gained.

AdiT

1,025 posts

156 months

Tuesday 25th October 2016
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Working on the car you'll have to do on the hard standing in the paddock. Tuition sessions are usually 20min. Take care through hall bends; there's not a lot of run off and it'll be greasy under the trees there.

Great track though.

CABC

5,536 posts

100 months

Tuesday 25th October 2016
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kaese said:
One thing I always try to remember at Cadwell: take it easy through the Hall Bends - it's the highest-risk part of the track where the most accidents tend to happen, but arguably where the least lap time is gained.
that section, and the hairpin are a lot of fun though...

QBee

20,905 posts

143 months

Tuesday 25th October 2016
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It's a fantastic circuit, 15 bends in 2.1 miles, and it is really rewarding - it just flows, without many bored seconds sitting on straights. My favourite, and one of the best in a good handling car.

Start slowly and learn the circuit, and be VERY careful if the track is wet.
If the day starts wet, sit in the cafe and watch.
Sure enough someone will come up and over the Mountain and, in front of your eyes, will shoot off to their right, your left, straight into the barriers.
There is a bump near the top that isn't straight, and tends to throw the car to the right just as the rear goes light.

That apart, it is sooo rewarding to drive. You can go through Coppice, Charlies etc much faster then you think, ditto the Gooseneck.
Even the Hall Bends can be taken quite quickly in the dry. But the hairpin is slow, with bales on the exit if you get it wrong.

have fun and get the instruction in early - best £20-25 you can spend.

flimper

560 posts

182 months

Wednesday 26th October 2016
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QBee said:
You can go through Coppice much faster then you think

get the instruction in early - best £20-25 you can spend.
Two very good bits of advice

Craikeybaby

10,369 posts

224 months

Wednesday 26th October 2016
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How does it work at Cadwell on trackdays? Do you join the track from the paddock? Or are you based in the centre of the circuit at the pitlane? I seem to remember that you need to cross the track to get from the paddock to the pitlane.

HustleRussell

24,602 posts

159 months

Wednesday 26th October 2016
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Craikeybaby said:
How does it work at Cadwell on trackdays? Do you join the track from the paddock? Or are you based in the centre of the circuit at the pitlane? I seem to remember that you need to cross the track to get from the paddock to the pitlane.
The pitlane is seldom used. The assembly area is outside the circuit next to the mountain, and you join the circuit between the mountain and hall bends.

TroubledSoul

Original Poster:

4,589 posts

193 months

Wednesday 26th October 2016
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Thanks folks, every little helps, as they say biggrin

Very much looking forward to the tuition.

QBee

20,905 posts

143 months

Wednesday 26th October 2016
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....and there are no garages available.....because there are no garages, no pits, no nothing.
You just queue in an area outside the cafe and are allowed onto the track when there is nothing coming.
Marshalling is top notch, being an MSV circuit. Watch your mirrors and learn the track before going flat out.

It's an utterly beautiful circuit in a natural bowl in the hills, and it makes full use of the contours.
You will love it, just build up gradually and be careful on the damp patches.....
....sounds like wedding night advice... evil

kaese

727 posts

186 months

Wednesday 26th October 2016
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CABC said:
that section, and the hairpin are a lot of fun though...
Totally agree. That, combined with the sometimes 'crowd' at the Clubhouse can encourage one to travel a little faster than usual smile

QBee

20,905 posts

143 months

Wednesday 26th October 2016
quotequote all
kaese said:
CABC said:
that section, and the hairpin are a lot of fun though...
Totally agree. That, combined with the sometimes 'crowd' at the Clubhouse can encourage one to travel a little faster than usual smile
My car tends to let go a good "bang" of exploding unburnt fuel when the engine is hot, just as I back off the throttle going into the Hall Bends....which is right outside the clubhouse. I then take 4 bends with all four tyres squealing. My inner 19 year old has a lot of explaining to do. hehe

HustleRussell

24,602 posts

159 months

Thursday 27th October 2016
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Don't be fooled, Charlies I and Charlies II are the same corner. If you treat them as separate corners you will apex too early at Charlies I and take too little speed through Charlies II.

If it's wet don't get to blasé about braking for the chicane before Mountain. It's easy to slither off the circuit there and for reasons I don't understand the grass runoff slopes away from the circuit and funnels you straight into the barrier.

Hall bends and especially Old Hairpin need your respect. Those hay bales are heavy. Try to avoid going into that section of the circuit with a faster / more aggressive driver right up your trumpet because firstly it's distracting and secondly if either one of you cocks up your braking for the Old Hairpin you'll wipe each other out.

JohnnyFive

86 posts

138 months

Thursday 27th October 2016
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If it is wet, take it easy. I would put money on someone crashing into something.

The track is relatively narrow and not a lot of run off in places.

At several locations, leaving the black stuff means you WILL hit something because the few metres of wet grass separating you and the barrier doesn't slow you down much!

It is a lovely track though, very interesting and rewarding to get right.

Beware the rear end going light up the mountain and bits under the trees will stay slippy if the rest of the track starts to dry out.

Have fun!

battered

4,088 posts

146 months

Thursday 27th October 2016
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Hall Bends are great. It's my favourite bit of the circuit as a spectator. Everyone gets a lift at the top of the Mountain, bikes take off completely, and most people land a bit sideways. You are then into Hall Bends and the descent towards the Hairpin which as others say can be greasy, being under the trees. It's very very easy to foul it up, and very entertaining to watch people having "oh sh 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 t" moments as they crest the mountain and come in too hot.

Another bit to watch is the Gooseneck, I've seen many people take to the hills there. The wisest move when this happens seems to be to turn it into a rallycross circuit and rejoin the track some way after the chicane. I've even seen someone disappear round the back of the marshals' hut there. It seems a 3 wheeler Morgan isn't very easy to control on wet grass. I rather suspect he saw a black flag and had a chat with the marshal after that.

TroubledSoul

Original Poster:

4,589 posts

193 months

Thursday 27th October 2016
quotequote all
Thanks all, very helpful tips.

If there are no garages, are you having to basically leave wheels, jacks etc. at your own risk?

Not a big fan of that!

I'll be watching a few YouTube videos over the coming weeks to try and get an idea of the place.

QBee

20,905 posts

143 months

Thursday 27th October 2016
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TroubledSoul said:
Thanks all, very helpful tips.

If there are no garages, are you having to basically leave wheels, jacks etc. at your own risk?

Not a big fan of that!

I'll be watching a few YouTube videos over the coming weeks to try and get an idea of the place.
This is no guarantee, but in 30+ track days I have never lost anything. Our fellow trackdayers seem to have the same respect for other peoples' stuff that you have.

foxsasha

1,416 posts

134 months

Thursday 27th October 2016
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QBee said:
This is no guarantee, but in 30+ track days I have never lost anything. Our fellow trackdayers seem to have the same respect for other peoples' stuff that you have.
+1 It's not like like 3 Sisters where the area surrounding the track is full of scallis. I'm at Cadwell tomorrow. As has been said, be careful through Hall, The Hairpin and Barn as it takes an age for the track to dry there.

CABC

5,536 posts

100 months

Thursday 27th October 2016
quotequote all
QBee said:
TroubledSoul said:
Thanks all, very helpful tips.

If there are no garages, are you having to basically leave wheels, jacks etc. at your own risk?

Not a big fan of that!

I'll be watching a few YouTube videos over the coming weeks to try and get an idea of the place.
This is no guarantee, but in 30+ track days I have never lost anything. Our fellow trackdayers seem to have the same respect for other peoples' stuff that you have.
park next to somebody and say hello.

QBee

20,905 posts

143 months

Thursday 27th October 2016
quotequote all
foxsasha said:
QBee said:
This is no guarantee, but in 30+ track days I have never lost anything. Our fellow trackdayers seem to have the same respect for other peoples' stuff that you have.
I'm at Cadwell tomorrow.
Wish I was frown

Car presently in bits having an engine and chassis refresh. Say hi to the TVR gang for me!