Am I a novice?

[benjj]

Doing a track day at Croft tomorrow with a charity I do stuff for. Will be taking the fat little snotter Porsche.

Anyway - am I a novice?!

I've done a lot of rallying, special stages on closed roads, manoeuvrability tests/competitions etc. However, I've only really driven on a track in anger a few times. They have been Silverstone full track and Donnington, in Ferrari 360, Lotus Exige and Peugeot 306 rally car.

I don't really know if I'm a fast track driver or not, I've not got enough experience to base it on. Plus I'm more used to drifting all 4 wheels around airfields than precision quick laps

I want to have fun tomorrow but I don't want to hold up the quicker track drivers. Should I put myself in the novice group?

I'm sorely tempted but for one thing - I could do without complete first timers doing something ridiculous and causing an accident, especially as I'll be using one of my own cars

Tips?

[magooagain]

By your post i would say you are not a novice. Track awareness and awareness of those around you is very important. When in a crowd defensive driving is the way to go so as not to damage your car.

When all is clear give it some beans ! Be safe and enjoy.

[benjj]

Ok, thanks.

I'll have a chat with the organisers but guess I'm erring towards intermediate or equivalent I suppose.

No worries about giving it some pedal. Rallying is 100% throttle or 100% brake, nothing else exists!

[MikeO996]

You are almost certainly not a novice, and if it's wet I bet you surprise a few people.
I guess a new skill might be keeping an eye on your mirrors, but I have a feeling there won't be that many people you're holding up!

Edited by MikeO996 on Thursday 18th October 16:49

[mrmr96]

I'd class a novice (requiring a novice sticker) as someone who's done 3 or fewer trackdays. TD 4 they can remove it.

If you go in the novice group to start with they can always move you between groups during the day. I'm led to believe this is done with reasonable frequency.

[benjj]

Thanks all. Have just chatted with a pal who I rally with - he also races a 1960's Ferrari on things like the Tour Auto (half rally, half track racing).

He suggested starting with the novices and then if I'm going quickly to bump up a class or 2. Think I'll do that.

I'm doing passenger rides for wounded soldiers so want to get it right

[mrmr96]

Sounds fun. What's the car you'll be driving?

[benjj]

Its a very early Porsche 944, 3rd rhd model ever made so a bit of a relic

No PAS, no ABS, no TC, no nothing. Just the way I like it.

[AdiT]

I'd say you'd be fine in the intermediate group. Just be sure you understand the overtaking rules at the briefing as it is a bit different to what you might do anywhere other than a trackday.

If you opt for the novice group you might not be able to move up if the inter' group was already full.

[benjj]

I went for the novice group. So far so good, only 10 cars on track so really just hitting it as hard as I feel like.

No ABS is making it a bit interesting, track half wet and very slippery. Great fun though