Saturday Afternoon Novice Trackday Brands Hatch

[mcswerve]

Just a thought, but as there are a few PH’s going, if those that have them take digital camera’s, we can do a: ‘If you show me yours I’ll show you mine’.

Lap piccies that is.

So via the profiles I need to look out for:
Westfield Red
182
TVR Chim Red
MX5 Blue
TT Dark Blue
Noble
Elise Silver

964 Dark Grey (If my illustrious mechanical back up team manage to nail it together by then)
If not I’ll be the goon hanging over the pit wall asking you to say cheese.

Carry on

[steve rance]

Watch the bumps in the braking zone at Paddock. If you are in a 911, it is better to take a lower line to the turn in point so that you miss the larger bumps which can be unsettling for a rear engined car. turn in late at Druids and apex late, it allows you to get on the power ealier for the run down hill. Try not to take too much curb on the exit of Graham hill as it will unsettle the car, turn in at the surface change for surtees - Many left foot brake here before turn in - and straight line the corner, take curb on the 2nd apex but wait until the car is settled before you brake - aiming at the Marshall's post - for Clearways. Rock the car in at the end of the braking zone and aim for your apex point. IT IS ESSENTIAL that you apex perfectly. If you do, you will exit perfectly for Paddock hill, if you don't you may run wide on the entry to paddock - The surface drops away here and you want to be asking the car to do as little as possible here because the chassis will be working hard already. A lot of people miss the apex, run wide on the exit, try to pull the car back on line, loose grip and spin. If you do run wide, don't pannic, feather the throttle and gently try and wind on more lock. Hug the pit wall along paddock hill and come across to take the racing line just before the start finish line.

Hope this helps

Have fun. Brands Indy is a fantasic little circuit

Steve R

[GlenJeary]

Hi Guys, I'm a bit new to all this. After reading all your comments i'm seriously thinking about booking up for this. My only previous experience of a track day was Oulton Park in a Astra . How will i know who's a PH and who's not?

[wedge girl]

GlenJeary said:

Hi Guys, I'm a bit new to all this. After reading all your comments i'm seriously thinking about booking up for this. My only previous experience of a track day was Oulton Park in a Astra . How will i know who's a PH and who's not?

The Piston Heads sticker on my bumper should give it away.

[GlenJeary]

ok thanks wedge girl we'll maybe see you there. I might even invest in a sticker myself.

[vava.voom182]

Hello all, I'm a newbie on here, just wanted to say hi, and I'm also looking forward to Brands next week. Let's hope the summer arrives B4 then.

I'm bringing my black 182, just to try and keep up with Karen.

[TomT]

steve rance said:

Watch the bumps in the braking zone at Paddock. If you are in a 911, it is better to take a lower line to the turn in point so that you miss the larger bumps which can be unsettling for a rear engined car. turn in late at Druids and apex late, it allows you to get on the power ealier for the run down hill. Try not to take too much curb on the exit of Graham hill as it will unsettle the car, turn in at the surface change for surtees - Many left foot brake here before turn in - and straight line the corner, take curb on the 2nd apex but wait until the car is settled before you brake - aiming at the Marshall's post - for Clearways. Rock the car in at the end of the braking zone and aim for your apex point. IT IS ESSENTIAL that you apex perfectly. If you do, you will exit perfectly for Paddock hill, if you don't you may run wide on the entry to paddock - The surface drops away here and you want to be asking the car to do as little as possible here because the chassis will be working hard already. A lot of people miss the apex, run wide on the exit, try to pull the car back on line, loose grip and spin. If you do run wide, don't pannic, feather the throttle and gently try and wind on more lock. Hug the pit wall along paddock hill and come across to take the racing line just before the start finish line. Hope this helps Have fun. Brands Indy is a fantasic little circuit Steve R

Hi Steve,
Thanks for the advice.

Completely O/T, re: your surname. Do you have a cousin called Michelle (works in Swiss co, remarried last year so no longer a rance)? If so, this is a very small world indeed!

[alex s]

Looks like a good turn out from pistonheads. We should get a discount

[Mr Jenks]

mcswerve said:

Just a thought, but as there are a few PH’s going, if those that have them take digital camera’s, we can do a: ‘If you show me yours I’ll show you mine’. Lap piccies that is. So via the profiles I need to look out for: Westfield Red 182 TVR Chim Red MX5 Blue TT Dark Blue Noble Elise Silver 964 Dark Grey (If my illustrious mechanical back up team manage to nail it together by then) If not I’ll be the goon hanging over the pit wall asking you to say cheese. Carry on

Any other takers for what is looking like a great day, My camera is on charge preparing itself for a huge onslaught of piccy taking. Hopefully the weather is going to remain as today or even improve some more.
Dave & Jen

[wedge girl]

Nice to meet a few of you.


Managed to stay on the track, really enjoyed what little track time I had.

Overall, although billed as a novice day, it really wasn't, those of us who were genuine novices often felt intimidated. The track was over crowded, getting on took way to long. People were black flaged and some sent home, but many went unnoticed and continued to drive aggressively and inconsiderately.

I would have been happier if I had been given just one session with true novices.


>> Edited by wedge girl on Saturday 28th May 18:00

[Karen182]

Hello too to those I met

Ooh I didn't know some got sent home - what cars were they in??

I didn't agree with guys going out on slicks - no way novices...

Too busy also, spent half hour queueing to get out on track at one point.

Seemed a lot of offs too... one right in front of me on my instruction session.

Some of the slower cars were not indicating on the straights to let faster cars through either.

Thought the instruction was excellent though - enjoyed that so much! Really enjoyed the day in the end, despite the minor annoyances. I'll be back there soon hopefully!

I took some photos, not sure if I got any of anyone from here and they won't be that great (!) but if you were on the day today and you want to see them, please contact me via my profile as they will be put up on an invite only photo site.

[unosdostres]

Hi,
Just joined and thought I'd post as I was at Brands today as well..
The circuit was great, however, as mentioned before the queue to get back on circuit was just too long. I waited 30mins to get back on only to come across a red flag 3 laps in! They need to limit the number of cars and arrange it as sessions instead.

Instruction was great and paddock hill is impressive.
I must own up to not being a complete novice..not an expert by any means but I saw the good deal and took advantage of it. Also agree in that some of the novices didn't indicate but that's understandable if its your first time on circuit..the whole thing can be quite intimidating.

[Nelson_CupraTDi]

Hello there, just joined after reading this thread, I arrived later in the Afternoon in the Black Ibiza Cupra TDi

This was my first track day and I'm sad to say it could've been much better.

I didn't mind the people who brought slicks with them (as most I spoke to WERE novices, they had just read up ) but the group of people who arrived trailering Caterham 7's? They should've really just sent them home methinks...

I agree about it being way overbooked, the longest I waited was 35 minutes to get on track and some times they would only let you do 4 laps before pulling you off again!! I guess you get what you pay for at the end of the day.

I also managed to have a quick word with vaaa_voom182 and Karen182 at the end of the day while accessing the photographs Good to meet you and I hope, like me, you've caught the bug!

Oh, and if anyone has any photos of a Black SEAT please could you post them here, the camera bloke didn't get ANY of mine

>> Edited by Nelson_CupraTDi on Sunday 29th May 10:00

[grubnut]

Sorry, but I missed all of you - too busy queueing and fettling the car!

I think that the general consensus is that the day was a success overall, and I'm sure that Motorsport Vision will take this kind of constructive feedback onboard.

I think that this type of event is new to the MSV calendar and with some minor refinement will be an important introduction to Track Days, Motor Sport and The Brands Hatch Circuit...I know that the day FAR exceeded my expectations or what circuit driving was about - and I'm hooked!

If anyone caught any photos of a Red and alley Lotus Westfield, I would be extremely grateful for a copy as my digital camera is insisting that none of the 60 - 70 photos that I took are on the card.

Sorry I missed you - maybe see some of you at Ide Hill on the 12 to exchange stories.

[Mr Jenks]

Although it wasn`t my first track day it was for the wife. From my experience the day was seriously overbooked especially as it was promoted as a novices day, trailered caterhams and the out & out honda race car should never have been there amongst a few others. The intention was for me to have one or two sessions at a very leisurely pace, that I could adjust the suspension settings on the car, with the remainder of track time for Mrs J.to have a go and find out why it is such an addictive pastime. I think a few people saw it as a cheap day on a great circuit, sadly I think this spoiled it for the true novices who would have felt very intimidated, and far more comfortable with fewer cars out and maybe split into 4 groups run in sessions, this being the reason why Mrs Jenks only drove the 3 sighting laps behind a school car and one session with an instructor, who, I have to say, deserves a very large and an even larger medal for sitting and persuading her to gradually increase speed in a car that scared the living cr*p out of her earlier on.
Hopefully MSV, who have not run days like this previously, will pick up the feedback from eveyone, view it as constructive critisicism and build on their experience and next time it will be a far better day all round.
Dave and a red TVR Chimaera

[wedge girl]

The biggest problem I encountered was, that if I indicated to let people pass, then when I stopped indicating I wasn't allowed back to the racing line, infact I was blocked and forced off, which went unnoticed by marshals, but was delt with when reported.

Many cars had four or five drivers, all of whom were not novices.

When I booked I was told there were only 40 spaces with additional driver, and yet there seemed many more than this, with people still booking on the day.

I spoke at length to the organisers and will follow up with a detailed letter, but they seemed to have no way of limiting it to real novices, which for me and many of the other true novices whom I spoke with, was a real problem. It should have been possible to grade people and group them into different classes, say advanced, intermediate and novice, giving each group a 20 minute run every hour.

Without a doubt Brands is a great circuit and I have waited a considerably time for an opportunity to drive it, but for me it was spoilt by the sheer arogance of some advanced track drivers.

[kevin ritson]

wedge girl said:

The biggest problem I encountered was, that if I indicated to let people pass, then when I stopped indicating I wasn't allowed back to the racing line, infact I was blocked and forced off, which went unnoticed by marshals, but was delt with when reported. Many cars had four or five drivers, all of whom were not novices. When I booked I was told there were only 40 spaces with additional driver, and yet there seemed many more than this, with people still booking on the day. I spoke at length to the organisers and will follow up with a detailed letter, but they seemed to have no way of limiting it to real novices, which for me and many of the other true novices whom I spoke with, was a real problem. It should have been possible to grade people and group them into different classes, say advanced, intermediate and novice, giving each group a 20 minute run every hour. Without a doubt Brands is a great circuit and I have waited a considerably time for an opportunity to drive it, but for me it was spoilt by the sheer arogance of some advanced track drivers.

Totally agree with you. I didn't drive but had a few pax laps with a friend who was taking his Caterham on track for only the second time. After one session (which I wasn't in the car for) he returned disgusted with some of the driving standards, exactly as you had described - very little indicating or cooperation, difficult to return to the racing line, plus very few people were paying attention to the overtaking rule so cars were passing in corners! I told him to go to race control, which he did.

TBH the novice aspect had little to do with this - I've been to EVO novice days at Brands and a good safety briefing normally means that people follow the rules - MSVs problem was having far too many cars and I would guess poor instruction. I also spotted very few marshalls on track compared to other days I've been to - considering how much money MSV had milked out of the day that's not good and a bit worrying if they try to dominate trackdays at their circuits.

[Nelson_CupraTDi]

So who saw the grey FQ340 go off track earlier in the day then?

[grubnut]

I didn't see the evo go off but the MR2 went off right in front of me as I was hoping for a pass up to druids - he fishtailed about 4 times before opting for the gravel and it was quite un-nerving to have that so close in front of you as you don't know which way to go or who is coming down Paddock hill to find a slowing car hard on the brakes (I can only imagine how un nerving it was for the MR2 driver!!!)

[Don]

Don said:

Tell you what though - at £100 open pit lane its quite a bargain. More experienced drivers are certainly going to start booking on. The only problem is that at £100 - you have absolutely no idea who will be booking on - anyone and everyone. Not all are going to care about their P&J as much as you do... Please report back on how well "policed" the day is - whether knobbers get shown the door or not. Its OK for fast drivers to overtake - its not OK to monster the car in front, spin, close the session due to a trip to the gravel trap etc etc

So...did my suspicions come true?

I'm glad many of you went - and are hooked. But next time book on to one of Jonny's (Bookatracks) days. A decent balance between cost and number of cars on track...an excellent briefing...insistence on driving standards.

I believe some days are sessioned - which would be suitable for novices.