Paying for track days...
Discussion
When booking a track day is the only way to pay via the organisers web site? i.e. Javelin?
A friend is telling me he has turned up to Croft and Knock hill and paid on the day? Yet when I looking at booking a Javelin track day at Oulton Park its saying limited spaces left. Which indicates to me there are only so many spaces and you need to pre book? Or do Croft and Knock Hill run this different? or was he just lucky when he went?
Thanks
A friend is telling me he has turned up to Croft and Knock hill and paid on the day? Yet when I looking at booking a Javelin track day at Oulton Park its saying limited spaces left. Which indicates to me there are only so many spaces and you need to pre book? Or do Croft and Knock Hill run this different? or was he just lucky when he went?
Thanks
The Organiser will have a number of places for sale for the day. Some will charge more and book fewer cars, others will charge less but have more spaces.
Javelin let you know on their website if the day is close to filling, then when it`s sold out, so you can gamble if you want and wait until the day. Most other organisers have stopped showing on their websites how many people have already booked, which I`m not a fan of. I`ve sometimes thought `I`ll see how my plans go and book that nearer the time`, only to see it sold out a few days before I was going to book it. If I`d known it was almost full, i`d have booked earlier.
If you see an event is full, you could turn up on the day, but it`s unlikely you`d be allowed to pay on the day and go on track. If the event isn`t full, it might be worth a try, but you will probably have to wait until the customers who paid in advance are booked in and on circuit before the TDO books you on and sorts out the paperwork. Your mate was just lucky that Knockhill and Croft had places available when he turned up.
I always book ahead, by the time I`ve loaded up my car, gone to the effort of getting to a circuit, the last thing I want is to be told it`s full and have waster my time.
Javelin let you know on their website if the day is close to filling, then when it`s sold out, so you can gamble if you want and wait until the day. Most other organisers have stopped showing on their websites how many people have already booked, which I`m not a fan of. I`ve sometimes thought `I`ll see how my plans go and book that nearer the time`, only to see it sold out a few days before I was going to book it. If I`d known it was almost full, i`d have booked earlier.
If you see an event is full, you could turn up on the day, but it`s unlikely you`d be allowed to pay on the day and go on track. If the event isn`t full, it might be worth a try, but you will probably have to wait until the customers who paid in advance are booked in and on circuit before the TDO books you on and sorts out the paperwork. Your mate was just lucky that Knockhill and Croft had places available when he turned up.
I always book ahead, by the time I`ve loaded up my car, gone to the effort of getting to a circuit, the last thing I want is to be told it`s full and have waster my time.
+1 for Wh00sher's comments
I would also add that Knockhill actually promote that you can pay on the day and there is a slightly higher price for that. Generally I don't think many circuits or organisers do that - they all work on pre-booking in the first instance. I assume you still run the risk of Knockhill being fully booked on the day unless you book in advance.
I'm not aware that Croft do any track days themselves (but they do test days), the days at Croft are all run by track day organisers - but I stand to be corrected.
I would also add that Knockhill actually promote that you can pay on the day and there is a slightly higher price for that. Generally I don't think many circuits or organisers do that - they all work on pre-booking in the first instance. I assume you still run the risk of Knockhill being fully booked on the day unless you book in advance.
I'm not aware that Croft do any track days themselves (but they do test days), the days at Croft are all run by track day organisers - but I stand to be corrected.
TDO's want you to book in advance and they have nothing to gain from last minute bookings. We like the convenience of being able to leave it late and weather watch etc but gets them sweating with a big circuit hire bill to cover. If there are spaces on the day then they will take your money gladly. Maybe a bit extra for it. If it's full you will probably have to wait till after lunch.
I'd never even consider attempting to pay on the day. Many good dates are heavily oversubscribed in advance, and do you really want to commit your time, preparation (personal and vehicular), possibly a day off work, and travel expenses to get there and just be told "the day's full, why didn't you book like everyone else?"?
Unless it's specifically advertised as having spaces available on the day, seems crazy.
Unless it's specifically advertised as having spaces available on the day, seems crazy.
If the track is on your doorstep it's worth it as I've done a couple of full and a few 1/2 days at oulton . 1/2 days are a bargain as there is usually a few casualties in the morning so there will be space to do the afternoon session at less than 1/2 tthe price of the full day . Usually the track will be clearer and at least have a dry ish line from the mornings session
mighty kitten said:
1/2 days are a bargain as there is usually a few casualties in the morning so there will be space to do the afternoon session at less than 1/2 tthe price of the full day .
I wouldn't expect you to get it for less than 1/2 the full rate very often. Speaking as a part-time TDO we are happy to take entries not he day if there's space but we don't encourage it, when you are stumping out thousands on hiring a track it's nice to know that you've got your costs covered before you run the day. I'm not a fan of putting the prices up as the day gets closer but I can very well see why some organisers do it and the on the day price should probably be even higher still!OP, if you are looking at Cadwell there's a few PHers coming along on the 23rd
The only way you might succeed turning up on the day is if you are happy with going all that way etc for just the afternoon......turn up mid-morning and see what the lie of the land is. If a few have dropped out during the morning through mechanical failure or whatever, you might get on track, particularly if the organisers know you have already attended their events. I have managed to get a friend who turned up to watch on track twice that way.
Put yourself in their shoes - they need well over 75% capacity to break even, so they just couldn't operate if there wasn't advance booking to tell them the numbers coming. MSV have a multi-pronged track owning operation, but people like Javelin do it for love and to make a modest living, so let's support them rather than bash them.
I agree with others that i like Javelin's method of telling you who is going and how full the list is - just remember that the website isn't 'live' - it gets updated about 48 hours in arrears.
But you can always call any TDO and ask them how full it is.....I would at this time of year, as i have already had one day lost due to wet weather (Brands was like driving on ice) and one due to snow (cancelled by Javelin in plenty of time, bless them)
Put yourself in their shoes - they need well over 75% capacity to break even, so they just couldn't operate if there wasn't advance booking to tell them the numbers coming. MSV have a multi-pronged track owning operation, but people like Javelin do it for love and to make a modest living, so let's support them rather than bash them.
I agree with others that i like Javelin's method of telling you who is going and how full the list is - just remember that the website isn't 'live' - it gets updated about 48 hours in arrears.
But you can always call any TDO and ask them how full it is.....I would at this time of year, as i have already had one day lost due to wet weather (Brands was like driving on ice) and one due to snow (cancelled by Javelin in plenty of time, bless them)
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