Track days - Whats the crack ?
Discussion
Tempted to do a track day.
Have a few questions
Im unsure what you actually get for your money. How long on track etc
Does it have to have a MOT or similar type tests surely the car must have to be upto a certain level of safety ? I will probably buy a car just to track and not keep on the road which is why i ask.
Have a few questions
Im unsure what you actually get for your money. How long on track etc
Does it have to have a MOT or similar type tests surely the car must have to be upto a certain level of safety ? I will probably buy a car just to track and not keep on the road which is why i ask.
How much track time? Depends. A sessioned day is divided into sessions and you'll be in one group. You'll probably get about 2 hours track time total in a full day (6x 20 min sessions)
On an open pit lane day, you'll get unlimited track access between say 9:30-12:30 13:30-16:30, except for a little time spent waiting to join the track.
The cars used must be in a suitable spec and condition to pass an MOT but an MOT is not a prerequisite to taking part. Basically they'll let anything on that'll pass a noise test so long as it's not clearly unsafe or dropping fluids everywhere.
On an open pit lane day, you'll get unlimited track access between say 9:30-12:30 13:30-16:30, except for a little time spent waiting to join the track.
The cars used must be in a suitable spec and condition to pass an MOT but an MOT is not a prerequisite to taking part. Basically they'll let anything on that'll pass a noise test so long as it's not clearly unsafe or dropping fluids everywhere.
Hi,
Firstly DO IT. You'll love it.
Track time depends on the format. Open pitlane is my preferred format as you can just come and go as you please from the track (provided the track hasn't reached the limit of cars allowed at any one time, in which case you may have to queue for 5 or 10 minutes). Other track days group participants by experience into 3 or 4 groups and only have one group on track at a time. Some prefer this as it means you'll only be out on track with people of similar experience but your track time is more limited as a result.
Most track days don't have scrutineering as such, bar the noise testing, but you are obliged to have your vehicle in a condition that will not be unsafe to yourself or other participants and if they decide that your vehicle is unsafe then you won't be allowed out on track or you'll be black flagged and not let back on.
Lastly DO IT. You'll love it.
Firstly DO IT. You'll love it.
Track time depends on the format. Open pitlane is my preferred format as you can just come and go as you please from the track (provided the track hasn't reached the limit of cars allowed at any one time, in which case you may have to queue for 5 or 10 minutes). Other track days group participants by experience into 3 or 4 groups and only have one group on track at a time. Some prefer this as it means you'll only be out on track with people of similar experience but your track time is more limited as a result.
Most track days don't have scrutineering as such, bar the noise testing, but you are obliged to have your vehicle in a condition that will not be unsafe to yourself or other participants and if they decide that your vehicle is unsafe then you won't be allowed out on track or you'll be black flagged and not let back on.
Lastly DO IT. You'll love it.
theshrew said:
It looks like i need to decide what car to get then. Just something cheap that doesnt matter if i crash or anything.
The last thing i want to do is drive around like a big girl just because i dont want to crash my pride and joy.
Please let me know what ones you are going on. (With that attitude I don’t want to be there)The last thing i want to do is drive around like a big girl just because i dont want to crash my pride and joy.
Maybe you should take up banger racing
Edited by auto1 on Tuesday 12th March 17:03
auto1 said:
theshrew said:
It looks like i need to decide what car to get then. Just something cheap that doesnt matter if i crash or anything.
The last thing i want to do is drive around like a big girl just because i dont want to crash my pride and joy.
Please let me know what ones you are going on. (With that attitude I don’t want to be there)The last thing i want to do is drive around like a big girl just because i dont want to crash my pride and joy.
Just because you choose to drive a wreck that you don't give a toss about, doesn't mean that everyone else is of the same frame of mind.
Bit harsh, no? (giving the benefit of the doubt.. there does seem to be a bit of a theme tho!)
Let's face it there's a chance of getting it wrong and meeting a tire wall (far less chance of hitting another car if you're not being a kn*b) That's track driving.
Not unreasonably to want to do that in something you can afford to throw away rather than something that's got a heap of finance on it / is irreplacable / going to cause you significant financial angst if something happens.
Track days aren't an excuse to get some heap and drive like an idiot tho - crashing isn't recommended.
Let's face it there's a chance of getting it wrong and meeting a tire wall (far less chance of hitting another car if you're not being a kn*b) That's track driving.
Not unreasonably to want to do that in something you can afford to throw away rather than something that's got a heap of finance on it / is irreplacable / going to cause you significant financial angst if something happens.
Track days aren't an excuse to get some heap and drive like an idiot tho - crashing isn't recommended.
Edited by upsidedownmark on Tuesday 12th March 17:37
Jeepers hang on a min.
Just because im not going to track s 911 or anything with a heavy price tag doesnt mean i will be driving a clapped out old £20 job from a scrap yard.
Maybe you guys got the impression from me saying about MOT's - I was just trying to get some info on what the safety rules are for doing a track day ie if its MOT std or higher or something totaly different alltogether - not if i can get away with driving a death trap. Hopefully i will have the use of a trailer so wont need a road legal car to use.
+ i am a qualified mechanic ( although i dont do that anymore ) so its not like i dont understand whats safe or not.
Just because im not going to track s 911 or anything with a heavy price tag doesnt mean i will be driving a clapped out old £20 job from a scrap yard.
Maybe you guys got the impression from me saying about MOT's - I was just trying to get some info on what the safety rules are for doing a track day ie if its MOT std or higher or something totaly different alltogether - not if i can get away with driving a death trap. Hopefully i will have the use of a trailer so wont need a road legal car to use.
+ i am a qualified mechanic ( although i dont do that anymore ) so its not like i dont understand whats safe or not.
Edited by theshrew on Wednesday 13th March 08:47
jeffw said:
that went down hill fast lol
Just a lot!!!Take a breather fella's, calm down, here is my 2p-worth.
The rules are up to the track day organiser and will be promulgate prior to the track day (they will also be available on their website) in question, but here are a few generalities.
There is no scrutineering, but there is the expectation that the vehicle is maintained in a roadworthy condition. By this, there is a certain implication that it should be able to pass the machanical safety aspects of an MOT, but not be too worried about a bulb or tyre.
There are noise checks, as lots of tracks are near to residential areas & so have to consider their neighbours.
There is always the "black flag" rule, where, if your car isn't behaving itself (either because the "nut behind the wheel" is a bit loose, or if the marshalls have issues with your driving standards) they can & will pull you off the track for everyone's safety.
Hope this helps.
I went on my first track day a couple of weeks ago, Snetterton 300 on 1st March.
It was fantastic fun and I used my own road-going car, a 2007 BMW 330d. The day I went on was organised by the BMW Car Club and was very well managed, all the drivers were friendly and I didn't see any idiots on the track all day long. After a couple of laps I soon realised you'd have to really 'go some' to actually come off the track... as long as you're sensible the 'risk' to your car I believe is quite low if the organiser keeps on top of the drivers.
I would say you'd be better driving your own car for your first couple of goes, going out and buying another car just for a track day is a lot of additional expense and unless you KNOW you want to start it as a hobby it might be wasted? Depends what you drive though I suppose!
Would strongly recomend it either way, just go in the right frame of mind - no one wants to right off a car and you don't want to end up in an armco - it isn't a race, just a bit of fun and people on the track will vary in ability and cars in performance... take it easy and enjoy!
It was fantastic fun and I used my own road-going car, a 2007 BMW 330d. The day I went on was organised by the BMW Car Club and was very well managed, all the drivers were friendly and I didn't see any idiots on the track all day long. After a couple of laps I soon realised you'd have to really 'go some' to actually come off the track... as long as you're sensible the 'risk' to your car I believe is quite low if the organiser keeps on top of the drivers.
I would say you'd be better driving your own car for your first couple of goes, going out and buying another car just for a track day is a lot of additional expense and unless you KNOW you want to start it as a hobby it might be wasted? Depends what you drive though I suppose!
Would strongly recomend it either way, just go in the right frame of mind - no one wants to right off a car and you don't want to end up in an armco - it isn't a race, just a bit of fun and people on the track will vary in ability and cars in performance... take it easy and enjoy!
theshrew said:
Jeepers hang on a min.
Just because im not going to track s 911 or anything with a heavy price tag doesnt mean i will be driving a clapped out old 20 job from a scrap yard.
Maybe you guys got the impression from me saying about MOT's - I was just trying to get some info on what the safety rules are for doing a track day ie if its MOT std or higher or something totaly different alltogether - not if i can get away with driving a death trap. Hopefully i will have the use of a trailer so wont need a road legal car to use.
I think the reason people jumped down your throat was that..Just because im not going to track s 911 or anything with a heavy price tag doesnt mean i will be driving a clapped out old 20 job from a scrap yard.
Maybe you guys got the impression from me saying about MOT's - I was just trying to get some info on what the safety rules are for doing a track day ie if its MOT std or higher or something totaly different alltogether - not if i can get away with driving a death trap. Hopefully i will have the use of a trailer so wont need a road legal car to use.
theshrew said:
....doesnt matter if i crash or anything.
The last thing i want to do is drive around like a big girl just because i dont want to crash my pride and joy.
The implication here is that you plan to drive at or beyond the limit of your capabilities. Unfortunately on a track day, if you crash you may well so in a way that involves someone else And unlike on the road, they will(typically) pay for their own damage(or you may waste a lot of others time by causing a red flag). . People therefore usually want to go on track with others they feel will drive at close to, but not at or beyond, their limits. The last thing i want to do is drive around like a big girl just because i dont want to crash my pride and joy.
cris654321 said:
the crack is, track driving is kind of like cocaine....
expensive
addictive
if you abuse it you may end up in hospital
in all seriousness its great fun, but expect a minimum cost of £200-£300 per track day plus outlay of the car
And the rest! Bank on £500 with fuel, track day cost, wear and tear.expensive
addictive
if you abuse it you may end up in hospital
in all seriousness its great fun, but expect a minimum cost of £200-£300 per track day plus outlay of the car
It's proper Cocaine like apart from it does get a bit boring when you have driven thousands of laps round the same old tracks. Then you go to the nurburgring!
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