Newby hoping for advice / opinions
Discussion
I've just picked up a 1990 BMW 318is for use as a track toy- I did a fair amount of research and the consensus seemde to be that these were ideal (revvy front engine, rear drive, fairly lightweight etc.)The idea is to drive it there and back, and as I'm based in London I'm looking at Brands and Bedford I guess.
Now I've done a couple in the past with friends (and a red letter day- sorry), but I'm worried about being too slow. I'm not sure I fancy going on one of the novice days as you seem to spend a few hours talking and less time driving. Conversely I don't want to rock up somewhere in my little 318 only to a nuisance to the GT3RS & M3 crowd.
Can anyone give me any advice as to the best place to start out...
Thanks
p.s.- I'm sure I'll be on here asking lots more daft questions over the next months.
Now I've done a couple in the past with friends (and a red letter day- sorry), but I'm worried about being too slow. I'm not sure I fancy going on one of the novice days as you seem to spend a few hours talking and less time driving. Conversely I don't want to rock up somewhere in my little 318 only to a nuisance to the GT3RS & M3 crowd.
Can anyone give me any advice as to the best place to start out...
Thanks
p.s.- I'm sure I'll be on here asking lots more daft questions over the next months.
If you don't want to do the MSV novice days then you could look at someone like Gold Track. They run their days in advanced and beginner sessions, so you'll still get 7 x 30min sessions, but the 'beginner' sessions are generally used by people with less powerful cars, so you still get a very good standard of driving but in a slower session.
And don't worry about 996 turbo's, etc. They have the faster car so they will find their way around you, just stay on the right hand side on the straights, (most organisers stipulate a pass-on-the-left-hand-side-only rule) and concentrate on your own driving. If you drive well enough you won't be holding anyone up!!!
And don't worry about 996 turbo's, etc. They have the faster car so they will find their way around you, just stay on the right hand side on the straights, (most organisers stipulate a pass-on-the-left-hand-side-only rule) and concentrate on your own driving. If you drive well enough you won't be holding anyone up!!!
IMO Brands Indy is not a great circuit if you are a beginner
and in a car you feel might be slow;
if only because of it's very short lap length.
You may be forever looking in your mirrors for the
very fast stuff which will come past time and time again.
I think that the full Bedford layout would be a much better place to start.
>> Edited by elderly on Tuesday 24th January 15:19
and in a car you feel might be slow;
if only because of it's very short lap length.
You may be forever looking in your mirrors for the
very fast stuff which will come past time and time again.
I think that the full Bedford layout would be a much better place to start.
>> Edited by elderly on Tuesday 24th January 15:19
exboxster said:Bedford would be a good one, but, wherever you go, do NOT let a couple of infantile hotheads whose cars are a lot better than their driving skills or their manners are intimidate you.
where would you recommend then ?
Do frequent mirror checks to ensure that you're neither holding someone up on a straight nor about to block someone's path. On UK trackdays, when entering and going around bends, the car in front has the right of way - full stop. You do want to be aware of what's going on for the sake of both courtesy and safety.
Rightly or wrongly ...I did my first track day with Goldtrack on Sunday at Silverstone...after a lot of trepidation at the outset..was really enjoying it by the end of the day. I'm sure I got in some peoples way and if it was anyone reading this I apologise, for your first time seems so much to be concentrating on. But nobody goes around shaking their fists at you & compared to the glares & looks you get driving in traffic there are no real problems. The experienced guys really don't seem to mind you that much as long as you get out of their way as quickly as possible. Goldtrack have some good instructors out there who can help you and are really worth the expense through your first few circuits. I was also lucky in being there with some people who had done it before & were a great help. It could certainly have been intimidating without them.
Go do it you'll have a great time & remember everyone had to set out on the track for their 1st time once.
Go do it you'll have a great time & remember everyone had to set out on the track for their 1st time once.
Snetterton is a good track for beginners, with huge amounts of run off and long straights to allow the fast stuff through. I've driven very quick and very slow stuff there and enjoyed myself in both. MSV events that run in sessions shouldn't talk you to death, and 20 minutes in every hour is plenty for your first time out. If you are north of the river or near the M25 it shouldn't take you too long to get there either.
We all start somewhere, and as long as you stick to the safety briefing advice you won't get in anyone's way. It's all relative. M3 drivers only get in the way of radicals, after all...
We all start somewhere, and as long as you stick to the safety briefing advice you won't get in anyone's way. It's all relative. M3 drivers only get in the way of radicals, after all...
exboxster said:
where would you recommend then ?
Snetterton April 24th TVR track day... Over cars are most welcome.
Keep away from open pit days or unrestricted db days.
Open pit days you get every man and he,s dog there, bit like the m25
on a friday evening.
Unrestricted db days you can get race teams testing and come past you like your going backwards...
Have fun....
yi8tvr said:In my experience Open Pit Lane can be less crowded than sessions.
Keep away from open pit days or unrestricted db days.
Open pit days you get every man and he,s dog there, bit like the m25
on a friday evening.
With sessions nobody wants to miss their one chance in an hour to get out,
so you almost always have the full contingent of entrants out there.
With open pit lane you can dip in and out at will,
and I have found that except for first thing in the morning and just before
and, after lunch, the track can be quite uncrowded.
With O.P. If it looks empty; go out .... if you feel intimidated by hoardes of
very fast or badly driven cars whilst you are out; come in, you have not 'lost'
your session.
elderly said:
Keep away from open pit days or unrestricted db days.
Open pit days you get every man and he,s dog there, bit like the m25
on a friday evening.
With sessions nobody wants to miss their one chance in an hour to get out,
so you almost always have the full contingent of entrants out there.
With open pit lane you can dip in and out at will,
and I have found that except for first thing in the morning and just before
and, after lunch, the track can be quite uncrowded.
With O.P. If it looks empty; go out .... if you feel intimidated by hoardes of
very fast or badly driven cars whilst you are out; come in, you have not 'lost'
your session.
Your last sentence is exactly what i mean....
My first TD was with EVO magazine at their novice day at Brands Hatch Indy circuit.
Lots of sensible information from instructors
Good mix of cars - fast and slow (old Mini - GT3 RS)
Put in groups not based on car or skill but everyone was (supposed) to be a novice...
As you were in groups you got to talking to other people more easily which is always interesting
Limited track sessions so you are more inclined to stay out longer than you ought to
Was cheaper than most trackdays
Would highly recommend as a first time introduction
Lots of sensible information from instructors Good mix of cars - fast and slow (old Mini - GT3 RS) Put in groups not based on car or skill but everyone was (supposed) to be a novice... As you were in groups you got to talking to other people more easily which is always interesting Limited track sessions so you are more inclined to stay out longer than you ought to Was cheaper than most trackdays Would highly recommend as a first time introduction
Do an airfield day to get the feel of the car with nothing but cones to hit - and they're a lot cheaper too.
Even better do one of the Motorsport Events Academy days which will teach you some of the handling and braking techniques which you'll need on track. These days repay themselves by the bucketload when you get to Brands. www.motorsport-events.co.uk
If you want to go to a track as the above post I'd definitely recommend instruction and you would be better off looking at sessioned days IMO, possibly with someone like Bookatrack who are quite good with novices. And Snett isn't a bad circuit for beginners in the South - I agree with the comments above.
Even better do one of the Motorsport Events Academy days which will teach you some of the handling and braking techniques which you'll need on track. These days repay themselves by the bucketload when you get to Brands. www.motorsport-events.co.uk
If you want to go to a track as the above post I'd definitely recommend instruction and you would be better off looking at sessioned days IMO, possibly with someone like Bookatrack who are quite good with novices. And Snett isn't a bad circuit for beginners in the South - I agree with the comments above.
If you're North of the river, Silverstone is closer than you think, The National circuit is pretty good for beginners (lots of runoff so you don't get spooked, fairly simple corners).
As for getting in people's way:
- It helps to have at least a basic understanding of racing lines (someone dithering in the middle of the track is always irritating)
- Check your mirrors, and show a bit of courtesy (Tip: if you do accidentally baulk someone, don't hesitate to apologise back in the Paddock - at least they will know you made an honest mistake and weren't just being an arse, and you might find you get a bit of advice along the way)
- Go with a reputable organiser (e.g. BookaTrack), and I would consider going in a Beginners session. Reputable organisers seem to get a better class of (responsible) driver, and are more likely to deal with the few muppets.
- Don't get too het up about it. On a good trackday, most people are pretty cool
As for getting in people's way:
- It helps to have at least a basic understanding of racing lines (someone dithering in the middle of the track is always irritating)
- Check your mirrors, and show a bit of courtesy (Tip: if you do accidentally baulk someone, don't hesitate to apologise back in the Paddock - at least they will know you made an honest mistake and weren't just being an arse, and you might find you get a bit of advice along the way)
- Go with a reputable organiser (e.g. BookaTrack), and I would consider going in a Beginners session. Reputable organisers seem to get a better class of (responsible) driver, and are more likely to deal with the few muppets.
- Don't get too het up about it. On a good trackday, most people are pretty cool
Thanks for all the tips / advice. I've now booked in for a full novice day at Brands (Indy).
It's a few weeks off so I'll be looking at brake pad upgrades etc. I've read a few threads and will look at which ones suit best. I've also looked at the threads relating to what people take etc.
Thanks again.
It's a few weeks off so I'll be looking at brake pad upgrades etc. I've read a few threads and will look at which ones suit best. I've also looked at the threads relating to what people take etc.
Thanks again.
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