17 year old daughter on her first track day - tips?

[W12JFD]

As per title - taking my daughter to Mallory for her first track day drive - any tips for getting her up to speed?

Waiting for late forecast but it will either be a Lotus 2 eleven or Golf GTD depending on rain

Cheers

[threespires]

Nice one - lucky girl, I hope she has fun.

[V8mate]

Took my lad for his first track day when he was 17 too; two weeks after passing his driving test.

Tip: Dad go for a coffee and send your youngster out with a race instructor.

[aka_kerrly]

V8mate said:

Tip: Dad go for a coffee and send your youngster out with a race instructor.

Absolutely, most tracks will have a instructor who is more than happy to jump in for a few laps.

Most of all is reminding her that it should be fun & educational and isn't a race.

Have you considered skid pan training as well?

[Evoluzione]

Only the same you would tell any other first timer.
Go somewhere with plenty of run off (not Cadwell), I took one with me to Blyton a few weeks ago in a 500bhp car, he did ok - just one spin.
(to match mine)

Edited by Evoluzione on Saturday 20th June 08:25

[Matt UK]

V8mate said:

Took my lad for his first track day when he was 17 too; two weeks after passing his driving test.

Tip: Dad go for a coffee and send your youngster out with a race instructor.

My lads aren't old enough yet, but I'd go with this approach 100%.

[doogalman]

Instruction, always a good step.

[HustleRussell]

Go out with her as a passenger at 60% pace and decide how few gears/gear changes you can get away with in that car per lap. In some cars at some circuits you might only need 4 shifts to get around. A few laps with commentary on gears and braking points and then it's her turn. When she's driving keep to gear, braking and turn-in prompts only, keeping any more lengthy comments to between session hydration time.

[QBee]

1. Make sure she knows the real purpose of mirrors is not for applying lippy. It is crucial that she can multi-task, driving while watching mirrors.
2. Employ instructor
3. Go to cafe and take diazepam.

Also:
4. Avoid the first 20 minutes of track time, too many cars on track
5. Let her drive the sighting laps.
6. Personally, I would have taken her to Bedford for a first TD. At Mallory, Gerards is tricky and, as I know from my own efforts, it is easy to spin in the Esses, where the barriers are quite close. I have enough experience when spinning to slam the brakes on rather than fight it, so went straight to the gravel trap without passing Go and collecting barriers.

Having said all that, I am sure she will have a great time.

[leighroy]

Hadn't seen this until now but was also at mallory yesterday, conditions were unfortunate for a first outing but it all looked to be going well (assuming you were out in the golf). Did your daughter enjoy it?

We were in the blue mg and struggling with tyres most of the day.

[croyde]

What a brilliant thing to do with your daughter.

Mine's 17 next year and has a mild interest in cars. You've given me ideas.

[88racing]

Just be aware of how expensive motorsport is - coz that's just where you could end up!

Chris.

[W12JFD]

Thank you all for the kind tips - all useful. The instruction tip took a lot of pressure off me and having done that all I needed to do was sit back and relax (not really) in the passenger seat.

Conditions were atrocious a.m. but improved a bit later.

Millie really started to push the car about later on but Golf stability control picked up the pieces really well. I think the auto box helped a lot as no need to worry about the gears.

Daughter has now truly been bitten by the track drug and we'll look forward to doing more days, though perhaps with less rain / less armco and more run of for my peace of mind.

If anyone else is thinking of taking their kids I found that using a road car with modern stability control helped a great deal with acclimatisation. Second time out we'll be in the Lotus!

Leighroy - saw you there - nice car!

We had a blast!

[QBee]

Try Bedford in the Lotus. Choice of tracks, the full GT circuit is over 4 miles. It's owned by MSV (google MSVT) and Javelin Trackdays do days there. Very nearly nothing to hit, and plenty of straights between corners to recover composure. Lots of grass if you do end up mowing.....

[V8mate]

Snetterton is ace too. Miles of cabbage fields to run off into.

[88racing]

W12JFD said:

Daughter has now truly been bitten by the track drug...

Don't say you weren't warned!

[nicolelh]

88racing said:

Just be aware of how expensive motorsport is - coz that's just where you could end up!

Chris.

and aware of how she'll forever be surrounded by men!

[leighroy]

W12JFD said:

Thank you all for the kind tips - all useful. The instruction tip took a lot of pressure off me and having done that all I needed to do was sit back and relax (not really) in the passenger seat.

Conditions were atrocious a.m. but improved a bit later.

Millie really started to push the car about later on but Golf stability control picked up the pieces really well. I think the auto box helped a lot as no need to worry about the gears.

Daughter has now truly been bitten by the track drug and we'll look forward to doing more days, though perhaps with less rain / less armco and more run of for my peace of mind.

If anyone else is thinking of taking their kids I found that using a road car with modern stability control helped a great deal with acclimatisation. Second time out we'll be in the Lotus!

Leighroy - saw you there - nice car!

We had a blast!

Good stuff, I certainly didn't know it was first time on track.

Thanks, first time at Mallory and once the weather cleared we really enjoyed the layout. I explored the scenery at gerrards more than i would've liked though

[ccgoose]

having been out of the track day set for a while (8 years) I did my first in a new car at Goodwood. £170 for the morning and a very smart and well run day. No idiots around, timed release from the pit lane and very sharp on watching idiots out on circuit.

Best advice I can give would be to get an instructor out and go at your own pace, too many people think it's a race (easy to get a bit carried away) but I really enjoyed goodwood and very much looking forward to going back.

[W12JFD]

nicolelh said:

and aware of how she'll forever be surrounded by men!

Yes, she did notice that she was the only girl on track!