Advice for track day newbie please
Discussion
StratosGirl said:
Thanks for the advice. I checked the oil and all of the melty bits seem to have scrubbed off the tyres now 
Might try Goodwood next.
Goodwood is a wonderful circuit. It is very fast (especially on the back straight). That and the not-quite-a-corner (Folly I think) is amazing. You start the day braking (as a newbie) and finish absolutely flat.Might try Goodwood next.
Of course its history and the wonderful preservation for the Revival lend it a fantastic atmosphere.
Often you don't get that much track time there, though, as they can only have so many on track at once for noise reasons and some organisers cram way too many cars into the day. The Porsche club used to do a cheaper day with 35 cars and a pricier one with 25. If the organiser is putting more than 35 on you'll feel cheated...
Don said:
StratosGirl said:
Thanks for the advice. I checked the oil and all of the melty bits seem to have scrubbed off the tyres now
Might try Goodwood next.
Goodwood is a wonderful circuit. It is very fast (especially on the back straight). That and the not-quite-a-corner (Folly I think) is amazing. You start the day braking (as a newbie) and finish absolutely flat.Might try Goodwood next.
Of course its history and the wonderful preservation for the Revival lend it a fantastic atmosphere.
Often you don't get that much track time there, though, as they can only have so many on track at once for noise reasons and some organisers cram way too many cars into the day. The Porsche club used to do a cheaper day with 35 cars and a pricier one with 25. If the organiser is putting more than 35 on you'll feel cheated...
To the OP - great to hear that you enjoyed it, Goodwood is really very similar to Castle Combe, basically laid out around the perimeter of an airfield, so it will feel familiar, however, I would suggest you try somewhere completely different like Brands or Donington (if its available again).
The thing about Combe and Goodwood (and I imagine Odiham) is because they are basically airfields, and good as they are they are more or less flat. Somewhere like Brands or Donington (or Cadwell or the Nordschleife ...) will introduce elevation, and that quite literally, adds another dimension and really makes a circuit in my view.
tertius said:
The thing about Combe and Goodwood (and I imagine Odiham) is because they are basically airfields, and good as they are they are more or less flat. Somewhere like Brands or Donington (or Cadwell or the Nordschleife ...) will introduce elevation, and that quite literally, adds another dimension and really makes a circuit in my view.
There is absolutely no experience like your first go at Paddock Hill bend at Brands. Awesome. Awesome.If you get a chance to walk the track that's amazing too.
"Turning in. Oh hell, the road is dropping. Oh hell they said I wasn't supposed to go over the rumble strip. Hell. Ooops. Fueck me, it's Druids." Epic.
Should anyone else be considering a trackday car or an upgrade, I am now selling my Radical SR4. It is a 1300cc 205hp Hayabusa, it is in stunning condition and has not ever seen the track and has very low rd miles only. If you are at all interested in one of the ultimate trackday cars please contact me via email. Price... offers around £20,000. More pictures available.
StratosGirl said:
Did you get a photo at the end of the day? Your M3 is in one of mine, albeit blurred!
No i didnt manage to get a photo in the end, I had to leave slightly early as I had to travel up north for a friends stag do. Slightly gutted i didnt get a photo as it would have been a good momento of the day.You should be fine at Combe, but places like Oulton and Bedford eat brakes. Standard pads just don't cut it and you need to have fluid and race pads (and potentially braided hoses) to do a day without tears.
Limit yourself to 7 or 8 laps and do a cool down lap at Combe and you should be fine. Front left tyre will get a workout and it may be worth swapping front left wheel to right at lunchtime to minimize wear on the tyre shoulder. Do not overinflate the tyres. 34 hot is more than enough and gives best grip / wear compromise. Too low and tyre could overheat and chunk (dependent on type of tyre) and too high you will be running on reduced contact patch and will suffer lack of grip, then slide, then damage tyre shoulders.
To start with, get all of your braking done on the Avon Rise before you turn left and right at Quarry. Do not be on the brakes at the crest or you will find out why Quarry has such a savage reputation! Be committed through old paddock, as a lift between the apex and exit could end up very messily backwards into the very close barrier!
Enjoy.
Limit yourself to 7 or 8 laps and do a cool down lap at Combe and you should be fine. Front left tyre will get a workout and it may be worth swapping front left wheel to right at lunchtime to minimize wear on the tyre shoulder. Do not overinflate the tyres. 34 hot is more than enough and gives best grip / wear compromise. Too low and tyre could overheat and chunk (dependent on type of tyre) and too high you will be running on reduced contact patch and will suffer lack of grip, then slide, then damage tyre shoulders.
To start with, get all of your braking done on the Avon Rise before you turn left and right at Quarry. Do not be on the brakes at the crest or you will find out why Quarry has such a savage reputation! Be committed through old paddock, as a lift between the apex and exit could end up very messily backwards into the very close barrier!
Enjoy.
wavesport7 said:
Should anyone else be considering a trackday car or an upgrade, I am now selling my Radical SR4. It is a 1300cc 205hp Hayabusa, it is in stunning condition and has not ever seen the track and has very low rd miles only. If you are at all interested in one of the ultimate trackday cars please contact me via email. Price... offers around £20,000. More pictures available.
Very nice looking ............ mind you the wife would moan too much ........ and not in a good way.Gassing Station | Track Days | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff