First Time Track Day

[Eifion]

Hi, I'm thinking of going on a track day at Oulton Park in December.

By most standards my car's not hot-it's a 2004 Mini Cooper, something I've wanted for years and have finally saved up and bought.

You can imagine that I don't want some-body piling into my pride and joy (I assume then it's basically tough luck, unless you take out special insurance?). Am I worrying needlessly, is it more organised than I think? Obviously if I stuff it into the tyres that's my look-out and it's up to me how fast I go, my thoughts are that someone might be there in a Noble or something and they'll be doing about twice the speed of me and come accross me in the Cooper and then...bang! Anyone got any advice?

In the long run I'm saving up for some sort of track-day car strictly for the purpose but just want to have a go before committing myself, just in case I decide it's not much fun (unlikely I know).

Cheers.

Eifion

[softtop]

Go down to Oulton park, it is generally free to get in when a track day is on and watch. That should show you the standards of driving. Posts on here will never compensate for seeing it with your own eyes.

[Don]

softtop said:

Go down to Oulton park, it is generally free to get in when a track day is on and watch. That should show you the standards of driving. Posts on here will never compensate for seeing it with your own eyes.

Good advice. And try and go and see the Track Day organiser you intend to book with. I'm happy to recommend Bookatrack - whose days are well organised and reasonably well disciplined.

At a track day there are rules. If followed there should be no accidents where cars come together. You want to see whether or not drivers tend to follow the rules at the days of the organiser of your choice...

I've done a LOT of track days and accidents are, thankfully, very rare. Nonethless I choose my insurance policy very carefully such that includes Track Day cover - which does cost extra. I would recommend you do the same if the car is your P&J.

Other chaps here on PH simply have a car (Caterfield, say) especially for the purpose.

Another thing you can do to enjoy a Track Day at minimal risk is to hire a vehicle for the purpose. Once again Bookatrack can do such a thing for you.

BTW: I have no connection with BaT. I'm just a very occasional but happy customer.

[Eifion]

Cheers for this, the hire option looks like a better bet actually. I suppose when you add up all the costs for petrol, tyres (I assume these will get a hammering), me worrying about my pride & joy and possible insurance costs then the hire costs look pretty good and I suppose you can share with someone as well, plus of course I might get a 'proper' performance car.

Thanks for all you advice

[theboyfold]

If you are looking at doing Oulten Park for you first day, I've heard that it's a tricky circuit and much tighter then some of the other ones up north. I assume you are looking at the day with EasyTrack on the 1st? I might be there as well

Bookatrack are well run days, and they do a few at Donington, which is a fast and flowing track and you can hire a car there.

I'm also not the quickest on trackdays (but getting quicker) the best bit of advice I've been given is drive to your limits. On a well run day, 90% of the faster drivers will only overtake when you pull over and will only do it on the straights.

I've found that letting the faster guys through will allow you to find some empty track and concentrate on getting certain bits of the circuit right.

Also, get some tuition on the day, it'll be the best £25 or so quid you can spend

[scissorhands83]

im finding this thread intresting also, as im thing of doning a track day too, im thinging of uprating the brakes on the old volvo and maybee supercharging it for a laugh, but might go out and buy something a little more for the poupose!

matt

[Eifion]

Hi, was thinking about the trackday on the 9th December on the Oulton Park website, but I've just noticed that on the day before there's a novice track-day which might be a better bet for me and it's only £99 as well which seems really good.

[fergus]

I'd also second getting tuition, if only for 1 session. Be careful of who you book the day with. Some companies have people who rock up in fast(ish) cars, but don't have much track ettiquette, or always seem to be trying a bit too hard, resulting in spins, etc...

[rmac]

nothing wrong with a mini to do a track day with.

Just remember, everyone who does track days had to do their first one at some point - I have never done a track day novice day and I am sure they are great but to be honest, I would rather have my car on track with a load of regulars than a load of novices.

Track day organiser is important - some will cram the track with cars & some don;t give a toss about track ethics.

Stick to a good company - I can very highly reomend the same company Don mentions.

There are nearly always incidents on a track day but they are more likely to be cars overcooking it into the scenery rather than into another car. There are no excuses for car to car accidents on a track day.

You will be fine.