Track Day Experiences
Discussion
Hi all 
I am new to this forum and would like to gain some information on track days as part of my research for my university project. I am a Transport Design student on my final year at Staffordshire University. The task is to design a 2030 Track Day vehicle, this concept will be based on something you can own and take to the tracks. Or a vehicle you experience for the day, similar to the supercar packages where you're instructed by a professional.
But in order to create a track vehicle, I need to gather some info as I have never been on a track day/experience before.
I have listed some questions below for those who are very familiar with it all, or if you had any experiences even if it was for a day, please do share.
Q.1
Do you own a track vehicle?
Q.2
How often do you visit the tracks?
Q.3
Some track vehicles are enclosed to get in and out of the seat, what are the benefits of the vehicle being like this?
(No doors particularly with the single-seaters)
Q.4
How are drivers instructed say if the vehicle was a single-seater? Are they guided by a pace car in front? If so, how does this work exactly?
Q.5
Have you had any problems when it comes to the user experience of a particular vehicle?
Q.6
What would you add to a track day to improve the overall experience?
Q.7
How do drivers on the track be notified on lap times and the quantity of laps available?
Q.8
What functions are there usually on the steering wheel and how do they operate?
Q.9
Do most single-seater vehicles use the semi-automatic transmission? (Paddle-shift gearbox)
Q.10
Do you think augmented reality/heads-up display (HUD), will be advantageous for the overall track day experience?
I would really appreciate your help if you could answer some of the questions above and please do share your experiences.
I look forward to your replies.
Thanks
I am new to this forum and would like to gain some information on track days as part of my research for my university project. I am a Transport Design student on my final year at Staffordshire University. The task is to design a 2030 Track Day vehicle, this concept will be based on something you can own and take to the tracks. Or a vehicle you experience for the day, similar to the supercar packages where you're instructed by a professional.
But in order to create a track vehicle, I need to gather some info as I have never been on a track day/experience before.
I have listed some questions below for those who are very familiar with it all, or if you had any experiences even if it was for a day, please do share.
Q.1
Do you own a track vehicle?
Q.2
How often do you visit the tracks?
Q.3
Some track vehicles are enclosed to get in and out of the seat, what are the benefits of the vehicle being like this?
(No doors particularly with the single-seaters)
Q.4
How are drivers instructed say if the vehicle was a single-seater? Are they guided by a pace car in front? If so, how does this work exactly?
Q.5
Have you had any problems when it comes to the user experience of a particular vehicle?
Q.6
What would you add to a track day to improve the overall experience?
Q.7
How do drivers on the track be notified on lap times and the quantity of laps available?
Q.8
What functions are there usually on the steering wheel and how do they operate?
Q.9
Do most single-seater vehicles use the semi-automatic transmission? (Paddle-shift gearbox)
Q.10
Do you think augmented reality/heads-up display (HUD), will be advantageous for the overall track day experience?
I would really appreciate your help if you could answer some of the questions above and please do share your experiences.
I look forward to your replies.
Thanks
I've got 5 minutes, so...
Q.1
Do you own a track vehicle? Yes
Q.2
How often do you visit the tracks? Once a month
Q.3
Some track vehicles are enclosed to get in and out of the seat, what are the benefits of the vehicle being like this? none that i can see, although can fully see the benefit of decent side impact protection for a track car, which if in place would make doors pointless.
(No doors particularly with the single-seaters)
Q.4
How are drivers instructed say if the vehicle was a single-seater? Are they guided by a pace car in front? If so, how does this work exactly? only time ive seen instruction of a driver in a single seater i think they were following/being followed by a car, with radio communication.
Q.5
Have you had any problems when it comes to the user experience of a particular vehicle? errrm... well, we share our vehicle between a few drivers, so have kept the electrically adjustable seats, rather than a fixed bucket cos we need to move it forwards and backwards easily.
Q.6
What would you add to a track day to improve the overall experience? actually, stricter marshalling on people who drive like bellends, or who have continued off track excursions causing red flags.
Q.7
How do drivers on the track be notified on lap times and the quantity of laps available? n/a. strictly no timing on all the trackdays ive been on, if you're allowed timings its a test day.
Q.8
What functions are there usually on the steering wheel and how do they operate? none on our car besides a horn!
Q.9
Do most single-seater vehicles use the semi-automatic transmission? (Paddle-shift gearbox) errrm... dont see many single seaters, but most caterhams are manuals, theres a few sequential shifts on high end stuff.
Q.10
Do you think augmented reality/heads-up display (HUD), will be advantageous for the overall track day experience? probably not, distracts from driving.
hmmm. dunno if that'll help you or not, but there we go!
Q.1
Do you own a track vehicle? Yes
Q.2
How often do you visit the tracks? Once a month
Q.3
Some track vehicles are enclosed to get in and out of the seat, what are the benefits of the vehicle being like this? none that i can see, although can fully see the benefit of decent side impact protection for a track car, which if in place would make doors pointless.
(No doors particularly with the single-seaters)
Q.4
How are drivers instructed say if the vehicle was a single-seater? Are they guided by a pace car in front? If so, how does this work exactly? only time ive seen instruction of a driver in a single seater i think they were following/being followed by a car, with radio communication.
Q.5
Have you had any problems when it comes to the user experience of a particular vehicle? errrm... well, we share our vehicle between a few drivers, so have kept the electrically adjustable seats, rather than a fixed bucket cos we need to move it forwards and backwards easily.
Q.6
What would you add to a track day to improve the overall experience? actually, stricter marshalling on people who drive like bellends, or who have continued off track excursions causing red flags.
Q.7
How do drivers on the track be notified on lap times and the quantity of laps available? n/a. strictly no timing on all the trackdays ive been on, if you're allowed timings its a test day.
Q.8
What functions are there usually on the steering wheel and how do they operate? none on our car besides a horn!
Q.9
Do most single-seater vehicles use the semi-automatic transmission? (Paddle-shift gearbox) errrm... dont see many single seaters, but most caterhams are manuals, theres a few sequential shifts on high end stuff.
Q.10
Do you think augmented reality/heads-up display (HUD), will be advantageous for the overall track day experience? probably not, distracts from driving.
hmmm. dunno if that'll help you or not, but there we go!
Might want to edit those questions slightly as timing isn't permitted on a trackday at all. You also can't have single seaters on a trackday either depending on exactly what you're thinking of with that phrase, a BAC Mono is technically a single seater but would be allowed as it is enclosed but a formula something style single seater would not. Looking at the way you seem to be going about it I think you'd be better off focusing towards an experience type event as an experience day and a trackday are completely different and there is not as much crossover as people generally seem to think and they would not have the same requirements. If you focus on trackdays then you're going to need to alter your approach to the project a bit more and it will be more restrictive in what you can do with it
Edited by Lorientfo on Wednesday 12th November 15:21
This might be a good place to brush up on your track day general knowledge:
http://www.bookatrack.com/faq
Generally, single seaters are not permitted on track days, only test days.
http://www.bookatrack.com/faq
Generally, single seaters are not permitted on track days, only test days.
Most of your questions have been answered, but to get a real idea of what a track day involves, just turn up to one with a few quid in your pocket and see for yourself. Most track days are happy to have spectators for free, and assuming you have access to transport to get there, you should be able to see what goes on, chat to the car owners, and blag some passenger rides on track (the latter will require a helmet, which can normally be hired at the track for a tenner or bring your own, and a payment of a fee of about a further tenner for the entire day, and signing a disclaimer).
Nearest tracks to you are Oulton Park (Cheshire), followed by Donington Park (Leicestershire), Mallory Park (leicestershire), Silverstone (Northants).
Track day calendars for Oulton can be found on www.msvtrackdays.com, for other tracks can be found on www.javelintrackdays.co.uk and a few other websites.
Or try each track's own website.
I am doing one at Brands Hatch (Kent, so a fair way from Staffs) early next month and will happily show you around and give you passenger rides if you can get there. There's a wide range of cars on that day, all the way from a Ferrari 458 to a Rover 25.....if you like cars with numbers. I will be in one of the seven TVRs. Email me through my profile if you are going to turn up so that i can look out for you.....
Nearest tracks to you are Oulton Park (Cheshire), followed by Donington Park (Leicestershire), Mallory Park (leicestershire), Silverstone (Northants).
Track day calendars for Oulton can be found on www.msvtrackdays.com, for other tracks can be found on www.javelintrackdays.co.uk and a few other websites.
Or try each track's own website.
I am doing one at Brands Hatch (Kent, so a fair way from Staffs) early next month and will happily show you around and give you passenger rides if you can get there. There's a wide range of cars on that day, all the way from a Ferrari 458 to a Rover 25.....if you like cars with numbers. I will be in one of the seven TVRs. Email me through my profile if you are going to turn up so that i can look out for you.....
Lorientfo said:
You also can't have single seaters on a trackday either depending on exactly what you're thinking of with that phrase, a BAC Mono is technically a single seater but would be allowed as it is enclosed but a formula something style single seater would not.
The Aerial Atom is an open single seater, they are very popular at track day events. I think as long as a single seater is 'Road Legal' it is permitted on most track days. The BAC-Mono http://www.bac-mono.com/ looks perfect to me if you want a single seater racing car experience. That has the sequential gear box and steering wheel displays as per a single seat racer. However, if you want to make it a more sociable experience and maybe have some proper instruction, you will need 2 seats! So for me, a track based sports GT such as the Porsche GT3-RS would be perfect.
Sifly said:
The Aerial Atom is an open single seater, they are very popular at track day events. I think as long as a single seater is 'Road Legal' it is permitted on most track days. The BAC-Mono http://www.bac-mono.com/ looks perfect to me if you want a single seater racing car experience. That has the sequential gear box and steering wheel displays as per a single seat racer.
However, if you want to make it a more sociable experience and maybe have some proper instruction, you will need 2 seats! So for me, a track based sports GT such as the Porsche GT3-RS would be perfect.
Atoms have two seats don't they?However, if you want to make it a more sociable experience and maybe have some proper instruction, you will need 2 seats! So for me, a track based sports GT such as the Porsche GT3-RS would be perfect.
As per the poster above, I would get yourself along to a trackday, watch what goes on, speak to drivers and if possible hire a helmet and blag some passenger laps. All the guys I've met at trackdays are very friendly and would be happy to talk to you I'd have thought and take you out on track. As above, if you can get there, I'll be at Silverstone on the 13th December if you want to come along and say "Hi".
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