Has the bottom dropped out of the car trackday market?

[Terzo204]

With a certain well known TDO going into 'administration' recently (or something like that?) and Focused Events seemingly not offering the quantity of car trackdays they used to any more, has the car trackday market reached saturation point now?

Is this just something I am thinking or has the market changed in the 12/8 months?

I would be interested to know opinions, especially from anyone in the know?

[Wh00sher]

I`m not `in the know`, but I can`t remember having more choice of trackdays than I do this year.

Looking at various TDO`s, you often see messages about few places remaining or events being full before the event.


Apart from Easytrack who appear to have been losing money for sometime, I`ve not seen any other TDO`s closing ?

[GT4EDS]

I think that what ever business you are in, times have changed compare to years ago.

Now a days service is key to retention and word of mouth has a big say .

I give a big thumbs up to anyone starting a new business in the track days world and hope they do well.

I have always been very keen on Goldtrack for a great service and will always use them and just had two great experiences with Javelin ( new for me ) and will use them again.

I think there will always be a good market for track days in UK as this is a nation in love with motorsports.

Comparing to other countries, UK trackdays are much better organised and safer i think , everything goes anywhere else almost.

Hope track days don't fade down and that we will keep enjoying them for ages.

We need more at Oulton Park thought

Come on Melindi, get Goldtrack back in there

Eduardo.

Edited by GT4EDS on Saturday 18th May 10:56

Edited by GT4EDS on Saturday 18th May 10:56

Edited by GT4EDS on Saturday 18th May 10:57

[andyiley]

Whilst this is not the same observation, it could have some relationship to what you are saying.

I work offshore & as such have 3 weeks off after 2 weeks on, and due to my flexibility have always preferred weekday trackdays as they have tended to be less busy.

In the last 12 months I have noticed that I have had less choice than normal in the weekday trackdays.

This could just be down to the "luck of the draw" with my leave times, or could be happening, only time will tell.

I DO hope not!

[FlyingTrotter]

Another TDO was launched and then disappeared last year - forget its name - was tying to deliver a BaT/GT type of day but don't think it lasted a full season - I'm sure someone will remember its name - I did one of their days and it was good - video briefing etc

With some of the circuits running their own days and quite a few owners clubs as well as the TDOs its a crowded market

[iguana]

Saturation point, hmm yes possibly, 10 odd years ago there were only a couple of players & well 20 odd yrs ago almost no one offered track days, other than odd marque specific owners club days & then club 89 I think it was. This is pretty much how it is still in many other countries, but in the UK the trackday market is a big industry now.

There are so many players now that its inevitable some will drop out, esp as MSV do their own days, I hope the established names will stay in place, I don't want to book direct via MSV & I like the atmosphere & different attitudes, client base etc that you know you will get with specific operators once you have got to know them over the years.

[scode]

between BAT and Javelin alone there's loads of track days, hardly signs the industry's bombed

i've managed something like 28 tdays last year so i reckon i'd notice if the options were drying up

[scode]

oh, also easytrack were a very minor player, they did a tiny number of trackdays and based on the one day i did with them they were pretty st... and focused events, i've not done a day with them but weren't they pretty limited as well?

[mattshiz]

Trackday related question: Have they always been this expensive?

I remember looking a few years ago when I didn't have a track suitable car; trackdays used to be available for around £100. Now I've got a car that is somewhat suitable for a trackday (mx5), they all seem to be nearer the £200 mark. Im not the average PH goatee wearing company executive so when I add all the associated costs (fuel, brake pads, tyres etc), its getting on to being a fair amount which limits my track time a year extensively

[juansolo]

It's just more expensive these days. Everyone wants their share and costs have risen accordingly. If you want a quieter day with less cars then the participants will have to cover those costs. It's just one of those things.

I certainly can't afford to do the 10+ days a year that I used to. So now I focus on quality rather than quantity and make sure I at least get to Spa once a year as an absolute minimum.

[Terzo204]

28 trackdays in one season - that's impressive.

[mrmr96]

mattshiz said:

Trackday related question: Have they always been this expensive?

I remember looking a few years ago when I didn't have a track suitable car; trackdays used to be available for around £100. Now I've got a car that is somewhat suitable for a trackday (mx5), they all seem to be nearer the £200 mark. Im not the average PH goatee wearing company executive so when I add all the associated costs (fuel, brake pads, tyres etc), its getting on to being a fair amount which limits my track time a year extensively

Depends where you go, when and with whom. They seem to very from £100 for something like a Castle Combe "action day" up to £400 for Silverstone Full GP circuit with Gold Track.

[supertouring]

mattshiz said:

Trackday related question: Have they always been this expensive?

I remember looking a few years ago when I didn't have a track suitable car; trackdays used to be available for around £100. Now I've got a car that is somewhat suitable for a trackday (mx5), they all seem to be nearer the £200 mark. Im not the average PH goatee wearing company executive so when I add all the associated costs (fuel, brake pads, tyres etc), its getting on to being a fair amount which limits my track time a year extensively

When I was regularly doing trackday many years ago you could easily get trackdays around £100-£150 mark if you booked early enough or did it during the week or late/early season. However, pricing was very circuit dependant.

But as time went on finding anything below £150 got more difficult and around £200 did become the norm, some even more expensive.

And as you say, once you add in associated costs, doing it on a frequent basis makes it a very expensive hobby.

[Guillotine]

My PB was 45 days on track in 2007 inc a couple in Europe ie Spa Ring Hockenheim

As many of the other more senior guys know on here, costs have risen, days are less clubby/friendly and more corporate, and the newbie fun factor has dropped

There are limited circuits and once you've done them a few times...

Finally, as your experience grows and your metal gets faster... TDs are frustrating!

I bit the bullet and went racing.
More expensive still bit MUCH more fulfilling. I still do a few TDs and bought a cheap TD car for fun.

[Guillotine]

My PB was 45 days on track in 2007 inc a couple in Europe ie Spa Ring Hockenheim

As many of the other more senior guys know on here, costs have risen, days are less clubby/friendly and more corporate, and the newbie fun factor has dropped

There are limited circuits and once you've done them a few times...

Finally, as your experience grows and your metal gets faster... TDs are frustrating!

I bit the bullet and went racing.
More expensive still bit MUCH more fulfilling. I still do a few TDs and bought a cheap TD car for fun.

[will121]

i dont know if its just a bit of individuals disposable income biting along with increased costs, i know by this time last year i had done 3 track days, so far ive done none and dont expect to have the cash in my pocket before june to even considder booking one.
even considdering buying another motorbike for trackdays as they still seem cheaper and easier to store along with a trailer or even a 125cc kart as their open track time is only about £40/day

[chris7676]

I have heard the circuit have increased their fees over the last few years, which makes sense as even the cheaper operators are not cheap anymore. It would be interesting to know the reasons behind that.

[m3jappa]

I'm amazed that joe bloggs can afford it tbh. Unless your very well off or your making big sacrifices in other areas of your life a trackday is expensive.

It's not the entry as such (which is generally expensive in itself, but I appreciate what your getting and where the money goes to an extent). It's the fuel, wear and tear on the car which is horrific if its quite heavy.

Ill nenevr forget I think it was the first or second day I ever did was at Bedford and I used nearly half a set of Pagid blues! That was nearly £200 of pad wear in one day. Factor in everything else and I think the day cost in all about 600 or so!

Too much for me sadly

[Terzo204]

It's certainly an expensive hobby. I need to take up knitting or Dominos

[juansolo]

chris7676 said:

I have heard the circuit have increased their fees over the last few years, which makes sense as even the cheaper operators are not cheap anymore. It would be interesting to know the reasons behind that.

Because they can. You charge what the market can stand, that's the way of the world.