What if the worst happens?

[havoc]

cml said:

I've seen more than one rolled car at these events though...

I know a few people who won't go on-track in a car unless it's got a cage in it. Personally, I would, but only at the wheel and only in a car I know is unlikely to roll unless I REALLY cock up.

As for 'action days' - no chance. Too many inexperienced idiots who go crazy at the first sight of track. Better to go with a good trackday provider (there's enough about nowadays) with better marshalling and rules.

[combemarshal]

I have only seen (or on fact heard!) one car actually roll, no make that 2!
One was a company Pug, the other WAS an imaculate Cossie which nearly did a complete roll and landed back on the wheels, but just caught the A pillar!
It tends to be the big action days that are slightly worse, JapFest can be a bit busy with red flags, but they have now cut it down to about 20 cars a session.
Get in touch with your local car club, Bristol Pegasus hire the track for a couple of sprints and a track day each year at combe, and If I remember right they run just 12 car days (could even be a 6 car one!)
As for the sprints, at most there are 3 cars on track .5 of a mile apart (ish!)

OH AND ANYONE THAT DOES A TRACK DAY, AFTER THE CHEQUERED FLAG SLOW DOWN, YOUR CAR WILL NEED IT AND THERE COULD BE RESCUE VEHICLES AND MARSHALS ON TRACK, AND UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE PASS RESCUE VEHICLES UNLESS WAVED PASS OR THEY ARE AT THE INCIDENT IN WHICH CASE PASS SLOWLY.

Thanks!

[zevans]

havoc said:

Holy sh!t!!!

Was that a track-day or an actual race? Because it looked like an out-of-control trackday with a bunch of chav's on-track. That video was beyond scary...'Ali' REALLY can't drive for toffee, and worse is happy to risk his and others' cars safety, plus his "co-driver's" (sic) safety just for kicks.

Not just him tho - there were several sequences there where he was clearly quicker than the car in front, but throughout that whole sequence there was only one occasion where the car in front actually let him past.

I hereby withdraw my remarks regarding trackdays being OK and car show 20-minuters being not OK which I just made in another thread...!

[Phil. S.]

You won't need to worry too much about other drivers if you go with a reputable TDO. I'd recommend Motor-Sport-events for a first track day. They don't tolerate any nonsense (I got called in when I spun trying to avoid a cone that found its way into the middle of a bend) and so you don't need to worry about nutters driving beyond their means in some old banger. Also airfields have plenty of run off areas if you get it wrong. Heritage were also very good about track discipline. Another idea would be to go with a TVR organised event. You'd then be on track with cars of a similar speed and value, and with drivers who, like you, do not wish to damage their pride and joy.

BTW I never bother with insurance. I just drive within my means, buid up speed on new tracks gradually, and be alert. Accidents do happen, but then accidents happen on the public highway. Give it a try and have fun. Oh, and get an instructor out with you. It'll be worth it.

[anonymous-user]

Phil. S. said:

I'd recommend Motor-Sport-events for a first track day.

do they do any events that dont require a toyota prius to pass the noise regs?

IMHO goldtrack everytime. last day at silverstone there must have been £10m worth of classic ferraris like 250lm's there. you dont take that kind of car on track without knowing that "ali" and his mates would be dragged from their cars and strung up in the pits.

[Digital]

Just to clarify, the links I posted are for hot hatch events run at Knockhill, they're run in sessions, overtaking either side, but you probably noticed the cones funneling drivers into single file around the corners. The cones are intended to stop overtaking on the bends, but some people are more likely to just plough through the cones while trying to outbrake their fellow chav... Most of the cars involved are utter sheds so unsurprisingly the driving standards can be pretty shocking.

Needless to say the hot hatch days are great entertainment if you're not involved, but I don't know many people who'd be brave (or stupid) enough to be out there with them!

I've just realised that's probably not what the original poster wanted to see I guarantee that every track day I've done has been very well controlled, nothing like what I posted earlier. The sort of driving in that video is normally stamped down upon very hard in any normal trackday

[Phil. S.]

francisb said:

Phil. S. said:

I'd recommend Motor-Sport-events for a first track day.

do they do any events that dont require a toyota prius to pass the noise regs?

Yep, airfields are typically 100db limit, so not good for the noisier cars. But my Westfield scrapes through as do the TVRs I've seen there. But if you think this might be an issue, they'll sound test your car at any one of their events, so you can test it before you book.

[Paul Drawmer]

You can increase your own safety at a track day by making space. Don't stay with another car if your speeds are similar and it doesn't move over to let you through. Hang back and fit into a gap for you to play in. I've sometimes let a whole string of cars past, just so that I end up with a clear area of track to myself.

As has been already said, if there's a serious nutter out there, go out when he comes in. Do report them; a dangerous, competitive driver on a track day is a danger to everyone.

[Crippo]

I' ve done 2 track days. One with BookaTrack and the other with Lotus on Track and they were both superbly organised. They were very definate about the rules and would tolerate no rule breaking. All of the cars were driven with regard for others on track and most cars were also pretty nice, so owners wanted to keep them that way, and it seemed talking to people there that most didnt bother with track insurance and so as a consequence everyone drove better for it.

[benyeats]

Phil. S. said:

francisb said:

Phil. S. said:

I'd recommend Motor-Sport-events for a first track day.

do they do any events that dont require a toyota prius to pass the noise regs?

Yep, airfields are typically 100db limit, so not good for the noisier cars. But my Westfield scrapes through as do the TVRs I've seen there. But if you think this might be an issue, they'll sound test your car at any one of their events, so you can test it before you book.

I did one with them and lots of noisy stuff showed up

Certainly a no-nonsense approach to marshalling and were patient with the Mrs who was a track novice

Ben

[iguana]

elderly said:

francisb said:

or buy a recognised classic and get free trackday insurance

The problem there is that IMO most cars that would come under a 'Classic' policy would not be that suitable to track unless modified.

I do track a 37 year old car but as it's been modified to make it quickier (engine, suspension etc. etc.) and safe (caged) no insurance company would consider it on a 'Classic' policy.

You need to try a few more companies elderly, if i can get agreed value f/c cover for my old Golfy track slag with all the above mods & car is just under 20 yrs old, im sure you can for that lovely old Alfa of yours.

[iguana]

combemarshal said:

I have only seen (or on fact heard!) one car actually roll, no make that 2!
One was a company Pug, the other WAS an imaculate Cossie

Well ive seen 3 on their roofs within a year.

[ripley500]

I got track day insurance with THB Egger Lawson in nottingham - covers me for road use and four free track days - extra ones are about £50 each - the XS goes up to £1500 when on track but thats better than writing off the car. I would certainly not go on one of those video Chav style days - stick with reputable track day companies - much more civilised and safer

[shatnersbassoon]

I'm with Phil S - although that video is a laugh a minute, you'd last less than five minutes driving like that on any track day I've been to. I've been track daying for a couple of years with Motorsport-events and although you do get the occasional arse hell bent on making a point, it is almost without exception well organised, courteous and great fun.

I'm not insured by the way.

[Dakkon]

iguana said:

combemarshal said:

I have only seen (or on fact heard!) one car actually roll, no make that 2!
One was a company Pug, the other WAS an imaculate Cossie

Well ive seen 3 on their roofs within a year.

The action days at Castle Combe are different from a proper organised trackday and I have seen many accidents, one kid drove his Dad's new Evo, went into Quarry way too quick and stuffed it into the tyres writing it off, most impressive crash I ever saw was a guy in an old lotus replica spun on some oil at Avon rise and gently bumps into the tyres a Z3 coupe come through, spins in exactly the same spot, but is going a hell of a lot quicker and smashes into the tyres 20 feet before the lotus. The lotus driver hearing the tyres screech dives over the barrier just as the Z3 goes up into the air off the barrier and lands on top of the lotus smashing it to pieces, the lotus driver was very, very lucky.

I have done a number of action days and never had any trouble, but I have seen a number of accidents when watching the 'Action', too many inexperienced drivers thrashing their cars and not having the skills to drive at speed.

Proper organised trackdays it is much rarer to see accidents.

Edited by Dakkon on Wednesday 13th September 14:37

[Ian964]

I was at a PCGB day at Castle Combe last year where a 996 GT2 clipped another car, went THROUGH the armco up Avon Rise, rolled twice along the banking and back down in to the armco. The driver was fine, other than a scraped nose where the airbag pushed his glasses.

That's the only accident I've seen in about 3 years of PCGB days, but it was a biggie.

[benzo]

""""""However, if the worst happened and I did have an accident that was my fault I'd be fine becuase I was insured but what is the protocol for paying for the other persons damage (because the track insurance seems to be just to cover your own car)?"""""""""


This might be a myth, but i have heard of people having a ding on the track, then take there cars as far from the track as they can then 'have a crash'and put in a claim to cover the damage.

I would'nt do that myself, but i have heard of it.

[chfs911]

If the worst happens they will cart you off in a box!

At Spa last year the chap in the next pit lane left in the ambulance.

Helicopter was not needed. Dead at the scene.

Sad thing was his wife was still reading her book beside us and was none the wiser until the organiser came to break the news an hour later!

Very sobering experience. Get lessons and drive at 90%.

[dern]

Phil. S. said:

You won't need to worry too much about other drivers if you go with a reputable TDO. I'd recommend Motor-Sport-events for a first track day. They don't tolerate any nonsense (I got called in when I spun trying to avoid a cone that found its way into the middle of a bend) and so you don't need to worry about nutters driving beyond their means in some old banger. Also airfields have plenty of run off areas if you get it wrong. Heritage were also very good about track discipline. Another idea would be to go with a TVR organised event. You'd then be on track with cars of a similar speed and value, and with drivers who, like you, do not wish to damage their pride and joy.

This was exactly my experience of a track day with motor sport events on an airfield. I never saw anything like what went on in that video apart from one guy tried to outbrake me going in to a corner early on in the day. I wasn't up for playing that game so just let him go. Apart from that I was mostly overtaking because of power and not skill and everyone got on to a straight, indicated right and off you went on the left.

Regards,

Mark

[Aero_saab]

Scarey video.. heres another:

combe eurofest
Seems the buy a session TD's are a bit frantic.