Trackday virgin

[nellyleelephant]

Hi all, i hope you can offer some advice.

I've never done a trackday, but always fancied it. i've just got myself a 1.9 205 gti, so i thought i'd give it a go.

I live in bedford so the Bedford Autodrome would be ideal, as far as distance goes anyway. Not sure it's suitable for novices, but i like the idea of lots of run off!!

What sort of costs might i be looking at for half a day or a full days blatting?

Also, will i be spending the day getting in the way of faster machinary / better drivers?

Any info greatly recieved

thanks in advance.

[Glenn McMenamin]

nellyleelephant said:

Hi all, i hope you can offer some advice. I've never done a trackday, but always fancied it. i've just got myself a 1.9 205 gti, so i thought i'd give it a go. I live in bedford so the Bedford Autodrome would be ideal, as far as distance goes anyway. Not sure it's suitable for novices, but i like the idea of lots of run off!! What sort of costs might i be looking at for half a day or a full days blatting? Also, will i be spending the day getting in the way of faster machinary / better drivers? Any info greatly recieved thanks in advance.

Bedford is perfect for beginners, poss the best in the country IMO

RMA are running sessions there on Saturdays this time of year i think, and they are
usually cheaper round now too, circa £200.

Yes, you will get all kinds of exotica there, but don't be put off, as we all started somewhere.

You will see a big speed differential in different areas, as Bedford has a 1km staraight, where
a lot of cars will come blitzing past, however, the skill is in the corners, and a car like yours
should keep more than a few guys honest.

It will make a massive difference if you get some instruction while you are there, and if so, get it
in the morning, so that you have the rest of the pm to make use of it.

Next thing, get to know your bank manager well, as you'll see alot of him once you are hooked !!!

G.

[BenElliottRacing]

17th december RMA 120 quid. job done

[raceface]

Top choice, but then I'm biased

On twisty circuits you shouldn't be far off the pace, if at all. On power circuits you will get wasted on the straights though. Don't worry about getting in the way; just keep an eye on your mirors & let the faster cars get out of your way.

Not as exotic as some, but grins per pound you'd do well to find better. When hooked, buy an extra set of wheels if you are using it on the road too otherwise it'll cost you almost as much in tyres!

Mark.

[nellyleelephant]

Thanks for the replies.

£120 sounds good!!!

is that a full days worth?

[Club MSV Trackda]

Hello All,

I run the track days for Motorsport Vision - owners of Brands Hatch, Cadwell Park, Oulton Park, Snetterton and Bedford Autodrome.

Bedford is indeed an ideal place for a novice to come on a track day becuase of the huge run offs. We hope to be running novice days up there next year dedicated to encouraging newbies on track but for now the RMA seems like a good option.

We already offer Novice Only Days at Brands Hatch with the option of booking a half day from just £79 as an introduction to track day driving.

If you have any questions then feel free to give me a call on the number below or alterntively send me an email.

Many thanks

Alex
01474 875216
[e-mail]

[gtdc]

I've heard Alex is dead handy with a virgin!!!!

We deflower them gently too.

Melindi
www.goldtrack.co.uk

[wilbo]

Go Melindi !!!!!!

[Guillotine]

www.easytrack.co.uk

have several dates coming up at Bedford (as well as the rest of Europe)

andy

[Paul V]

I did my first proper track day with bookatrack.com they seem very good and I will be back out on track with them in the future.

Just remember to try and get instruction early in the day then you can have something to work towards throughout the day.

[delbox]

I don't want to drive track days regularly; rather I'd like to go out in my car with an instructor for 20 mins or so - just the once - to experience what my car (PASM equipped Boxster 987S) is capable of; but, and here's what I don't seem to be able to find, I don't want any other cars on the circuit - so that I'm not worried about what other drivers, in front of or behind me, are doing. I'm sure that I'm not the only one who would like such an opportunity but nobody seems to have recognised or exploited this area of the market. So, all you track day organisers, have I identified a market area that you might like to fill - or am I alone and unlikely to fulfil my needs?

[Paul V]

Delbox, you really shouldn’t worry to much about the other drivers, most track days are limited on the number of cars that are out with you, if you catch another car they should indicate and let you by and vice versa, I’d suggest a half day with instruction or maybe an evening session in the summer.

[Glenn McMenamin]

delbox said:

I don't want to drive track days regularly; rather I'd like to go out in my car with an instructor for 20 mins or so - just the once - to experience what my car (PASM equipped Boxster 987S) is capable of; but, and here's what I don't seem to be able to find, I don't want any other cars on the circuit - so that I'm not worried about what other drivers, in front of or behind me, are doing. I'm sure that I'm not the only one who would like such an opportunity but nobody seems to have recognised or exploited this area of the market. So, all you track day organisers, have I identified a market area that you might like to fill - or am I alone and unlikely to fulfil my needs?

The only problem with this bud is COST.

The organisers are there to make money, and they do that by getting as many cars on track as
the circuit will allow, (obviously within reason).

An average trackday is say £300, to have the track pretty much to yourself i would think
would cost ITRO £2000+

This maybe an option for people that own Ferrari Enzos and or priceless historical motors, but to like likes
of us mere mortals, would not be remotely attractive.....

I understand your worry, but i have been doing trackdays a good few years now, and i have never heard of
2 cars coming together on track, not saying it hasn't happened, just never hear of it.

The chances of coming off the circuit, and hitting something are MUCH higher, and that will be a risk whether your
out there on your own or not.


G.




>> Edited by Glenn McMenamin on Saturday 26th November 16:31

[delbox]

Thanks for the prompt and understandable comments; however, for those of us who are scared, couldn't organisers allow a couple of 10 or 15 min individual instructional sessions at the start of a day while you experienced drivers are being briefed - or preparing your cars?

Glenn, you are right about the possibility of having an off irrespective of the presence or otherwise of other cars; however, it would reduce my concern and the overall risk of an accident if I was out there on my own. But, as you say, it's all about profits so it looks as though I'm destined not to have my 10 minutes of fame - as Andy Warhol would say!

[Paul V]

Delbox, bookatrack used to rent out their own cars to use, maybe you could try that first and once your get more confident on track I’m sure you’ll not worry about taking your own car out, make sure you have track cover on your insurance and any mishaps will be sorted anyway.

[daydreamer]

The other thing that you could do to reduce the fear is to go along to a day organised by one of the respected companies (RMA, Goldtrack, Boookatrack etc) and see for yourself the lack of problems caused by more than one car on track.

Other than that - tvrbob looked into hiring Croft for the day for the North East section of the forum - costs came to about £5k IIRC. You could therefore go get yourself an instructor (plenty of recommendataions on here) and a few mates and then split the cost.

Thing is once you'd all been out once, then you'd realise what a waste the track was with only one car on it, so you'd all be out together in the afternoon anyway .

Main thing is do it - you won't regret one second!

[willr]

Delbox,

Apart from all the other good advice offered on this thread, you might also be interested in a session with a driving coach - they can often arrange time at an airfield with no other cars around. It won't be quite the same as driving a well-known circuit, but it sounds like you're not so interested in that anyway.