Snetterton 23 Feb, Novice first timer advise please :)

[GTR LUST]

Hi,

Hope to get the time off for the above, anyone else going?

Do I need to book the driver training session in advance, or can I book this on the day?
Thinking 2nd 20 minute set might be the best time for training.

What should I do to my tyre pressure, cars FWD & around 1300 KG.

Should I bother ditching my spare tyre as well before going out, or just leave it in?
And is there places to leave some stuff whilst on track (chair,coat,lunch, spare etc).

Cheers for you help, and any advise greatly appreciated.

Edited by GTR LUST on Sunday 26th February 10:32

[Classic Grad 98]

GTR LUST said:

Hi,

Hope to get the time off for the above, anyone else going?

Do I need to book the driver training session in advance, or can I book this on the day?
Thinking 2nd 20 minute set might be the best time for training.

What should I do to my tyre pressure, cars FWD & around 1200 KG.

Should I bother ditching my spare tyre as well before going out, or just leave it in?
And is there places to leave some stuff whilst on track (chair,coat,lunch, spare etc).

Cheers for you help, and any advise greatly appreciated.

Going to be quick with this as I'm typing in a blasted phone!

Instruction- you can phone in advance to ensure the instructor will be there, but sometimes they won't let you book and he works on a first-come-first-served basis. They'll introduce him at the driver's briefing so straight after the briefing wander over and ask him. On second thoughts I'm guessing they're paid sessions so I suspect you can organise and pay at the same time you book the day.
Tyre pressures- they'll go up as they get warm, so let them down to 28psi or so before the first session, and straight after each session get out and reduce the pressures to 30. You can then adjust up/down for preference. If it's very wet, leave them as standard or even increase the pressures slightly.
Where do I put my stuff? Well, arrive nice and early and get yourself a spot in a garage. You can leave all your stuff in there, stuff seldom gets nicked and you don't really have an alternative!
No harm in removing unnecessary weight, spare, jack etc. no need to go mad, just make the easy weight savings.
Which layout will you be on? 300? 200?

[GTR LUST]

Hi Grand 98, cheers for the advise.

Think I'll call and see if I can prebook a training session.

Thanks again

Edited by GTR LUST on Thursday 9th February 22:25

[Wildsiejr]

As an instructor I would always recommend going out with any instructor as early as possible,especially as it's your first time,if you can't get an early slot ask at signing on if you could sit in the passenger seat when they do the sighting laps! Don't leave any lose objects in the car, a bolted in spare wheel won't affect the car on your first track day! Best advice is relax and enjoy it Inbox me with any questions you have.

[morgrp]

One tip - the new circuit (all 3 of the track setups) have some very long sweeping corners - I know of several cars that have experienced oil starvation and bottom end failure as a result - all of the cars were running cheapo oil which managed to thin out at high temperatures - I would strongly advise you have plenty of fresh, good quality oil in your sump - take a spare bottle of reserve with you -

One car running on "car lube" oil managed 5 laps on the 300 circuit before its engine failed - keep an eye on you oil pressure and give your car plenty of time to cool down

[davepoth]

morgrp said:

One tip - the new circuit (all 3 of the track setups) have some very long sweeping corners - I know of several cars that have experienced oil starvation and bottom end failure as a result - all of the cars were running cheapo oil which managed to thin out at high temperatures - I would strongly advise you have plenty of fresh, good quality oil in your sump - take a spare bottle of reserve with you -

One car running on "car lube" oil managed 5 laps on the 300 circuit before its engine failed - keep an eye on you oil pressure and give your car plenty of time to cool down

On that, make sure you've got about 3/4 of a tank of petrol too - that can slosh over to one side of the tank in long corners too, and if you are low on fuel it could expose the tank pickup.

[GTR LUST]

Thanks for the advise, spare oil & full tank noted.

Well I'm booked in with driver training session now, so if anyone else is going I'll see you there!

1 of the things I hear people take is a jack.

Do I really need to take a jack with me? I can see it's a good idea an all, but will there not be this type of stuff already there?


Oh, and it is the full 300 track

[Classic Grad 98]

Sounds obvious but you'll need a jack if your expecting to have to remove a wheel- and you aren't, are you? You have the scissor jack which came with the car with you so this will suffice if you suffer any tyre damage. Jacks definately won't be provided by the organisers! Worst comes to the worst you could probably use the trolley jack of a fellow track dayer.
Snett 300 is not a straightforward track, you'll benefit from tuition for certain. If you find yourself fighting with understeer, especially in Palmer and Agostini, relax, take a slower entry and a later apex. It'll be quicker and more mechanically sympathetic.

Edited by Classic Grad 98 on Friday 10th February 13:01

[MADMAX-UK]

Another problem I experienced as a novice was boiling brakes!
It only happened once thankfully without incident but was a good demonstration of how old brake fluid behaves on the track.
"Make sure your brake fluid is fresh!"
And good luck - Snetterton is a first class track.

[Synchromesh]

I did the 300 circuit on Saturday and it was a great track. Good mix of straights (one the longest in the country I believe), fast sweepers, tight ones (2 hairpins), a couple of nice chicanes and a fast tightening radius one for good measure. Quite technical but most of the corners have decent run-off.

Perhaps you could try and blag some passenger laps before you go out, so you can learn the track and don't get yourself caught out - I did and it really helped. Also, try and start slow and build up the speed as your confidence increases.

Tell us how you get on...

[GTR LUST]

Cheers for all the advise.

Well, I had a GREAT day, weather was fantastic, with no serious incidents!

By the end of the day, the tyres were screaming all the way around (!), burned a full tank of fuel, and after a couple of driver training sesions, couldn't belive how much faster I could take the corners. Buzzin, with a grin ear to ear.

This is something I have wanted to do for a very long time, and I have myself another expensive hobby.....Edit : Couple of pics now added






Might not be an ideal track car (my dd), but 150 bhp in a car that weighs 1300 kg was fun enough, altough I now want a rwd for track abuse! The MR2 looked interesting....

Edited by GTR LUST on Sunday 26th February 10:35