Novice day or not?

[W4X LG]

Been wanting to do a track day for ages and have started looking onto doing one next year.

My question is would it be worth doing a novice day with someone like MSV?

I have done a couple of trips to the Ring already and a few driving experiences at Thruxton (understand this doesn't mean real track experience)

Was interested in what people thought would be a better way to go about it? I would look to try and get some tuition either if it was a novice day or a normal track day.

http://www.clubmsv.com/car-home/novice-drivers-are...

[spyderman8]

Previously I would have said that a novice day is a good idea, but I think if the day is run properly by a decent TDO such as GoldTrack or Open Track, and that all drivers respect the rules, any open pit lane event would be fine. I also use to recommend Bedford as the venue of choice for first track experience, but frankly Silverstone and Snetterton are more interesting - you just have to avoid the gravel! On a first day, the important thing is not to push too hard and to keep an eye on your mirrors.

Edited by spyderman8 on Monday 5th December 13:59

[Classic Grad 98]

You've got some track experience. An Open pit trackday will represent much better value for money.

[Steve H]

I'd go for a normal trackday, I still don't understand why anyone would feel safer when everyone on track is a total novice!

[W4X LG]

Was thinking it would be the better way to go but didn't want to jump in and make a tit of myself! I think i may try and get on one of the evening track sessions at Brands Hatch as these seem pretty good value, as they include some tuition etc.

Just need to finish getting the car finished over the winter so its ready to go in the spring!

[silverthorn2151]

W4X LG said:

Was thinking it would be the better way to go but didn't want to jump in and make a tit of myself! I think i may try and get on one of the evening track sessions at Brands Hatch as these seem pretty good value, as they include some tuition etc.

Just need to finish getting the car finished over the winter so its ready to go in the spring!

To be honest, I'd avoid those for the moment.

Things can be a bit frantic and in my opinion Brands isn't ideal to learn the ways of OPL track days.

Snetterton is fabulous and if you are a little nervous it's easier to see exactly what's happening in your mirrors than at Brands.

Beware though, once bitten!

[Steve H]

Tuition is very much the way to go and don't worry about being out on track with all the more experienced drivers, the thing that would wind other drivers up is poor courtesy, not slower driving.

[Olivera]

I did a novice day last year at Cadwell. Mostly road cars there but also several track prepared BMWs/Golfs along with a very fast race S2000 and Lotus 2-11! Hmm not all novices then... To be honest you are just as well doing any normal open pit-lane day from a respected organizer.

[spyderman8]

I *personally* think that tuition should wait until you've done a few sessions on your own. I did my first track day at Brands and nearly gave up because I couldn't take in what the instructor was saying as well as absorb what the track was actually like and what the car was doing. And as suggested above, Brands isn't the best place to start - Paddock Hill Bend is a bit of a challenge, to say the least, and there very little run-off before you're in the gravel.

[Chicharito]

Most organisers run the first hour or so as sessions, grouped by ability, so you can feel your way around the track before going open pit.

[silverthorn2151]

I don't know whose track days you have been on but I've never seen that.

There are always ducks and drakes sighting laps for a short while at the start of the day but that's standard and (I believe) an insurance requirement.

[gtdc]

Chicharito said:

Most organisers run the first hour or so as sessions, grouped by ability, so you can feel your way around the track before going open pit.

Eh? We don't and I've never heard of that.

[Chicharito]

gtdc said:

Chicharito said:

Most organisers run the first hour or so as sessions, grouped by ability, so you can feel your way around the track before going open pit.

Eh? We don't and I've never heard of that.

All the days I've done have - with a couple of different organisers.

Or there has at least been an opportunity to get out and get a feel before being let loose as a free for all.

[silverthorn2151]

Are you thinking that's what the sighting laps are? If so you need to listen harder at the briefings.

OP: at an OPL day there will be some sighting laps, and everyone will do those, in groups, following an instructor car round for 3 laps or so. The pace will build slightly but you just keep up.

Once those are done then it's an open pit lane. Some circuits will have limits on the number of cars of track at any one time. Best advice; do the sighting laps, get another cup of tea and watch for the first 30/45mins. Things settle down prety quickly and that will allow you to watch and observe how the thing works.

Try one of Melindi's days, they'll see you do it all correctly.

[Chicharito]

It's entirely possible.... although I do know Llandow insist on running at least 2 sessions for each ability group before they open the pit - and they do that for any organiser who uses the track.

I was sure I'd done it elsewhere, too. But obviously not.

[silverthorn2151]

Ah, and I've not done a track day there so it's entirely possible that you're right for that circuit.

[gtdc]

Chicharito said:

gtdc said:

Chicharito said:

Most organisers run the first hour or so as sessions, grouped by ability, so you can feel your way around the track before going open pit.

Eh? We don't and I've never heard of that.

All the days I've done have - with a couple of different organisers.

Or there has at least been an opportunity to get out and get a feel before being let loose as a free for all.

I think you're talking about the sighting laps that some organisers do. That's usually a lap or two run as ducks and drakes - not the first hour or so run as sessions.

[g40steve]

Cannot think of anything worse than a group of virgins on track tripping over each other!

[spyderman8]

silverthorn2151 said:

OP: at an OPL day there will be some sighting laps, and everyone will do those, in groups, following an instructor car round for 3 laps or so.

In my experience, they did this at Bedford (Club MSV) and Snetterton (Opentrack) but never at Silverstone (Gold Track). IMHO ducks and drakes does not show you the right line unless you're in the second or third car because everyone spreads out too much and it becomes like Chinese whispers! But it will show you the circuit. Just don't drive too fast!

[silverthorn2151]

I think they are more to show which way the grey bits go than show you the lines.

We've never got the bloomin Radical ready for them so usually end up in one of the other cars. Let me tell you that a few passenger laps of Snett in a Range Rover is not something to be recommended after a full english!

My recollection was that they were run at Silverstone too, but I've not been there or ages so I may be wrong? Whats the answer Melindi?