MSV Novice Track Day - Cadwell Park
Discussion
When i first passed my test i somehow ended up going round Cadwell in my first car a Twingo 133 a month after i passed… 😂
Anyway now a lot later on i have an F87 M2 comp and want to try a track day! I saw the MSV novice track day and wanted to know if people would recommend it for someone as their first proper track experience.
I’ve done some supercar stuff and drove a GT3 RS with some tuition round a track in vegas but thats it really.
Is it worth booking the coaching one thats £500 or is the standard one ok?
Anyway now a lot later on i have an F87 M2 comp and want to try a track day! I saw the MSV novice track day and wanted to know if people would recommend it for someone as their first proper track experience.
I’ve done some supercar stuff and drove a GT3 RS with some tuition round a track in vegas but thats it really.
Is it worth booking the coaching one thats £500 or is the standard one ok?
Standard one will be fine, i id a few novice days when I first started on track days, they are ok but I would say don't expect everyone there to be "novices" because i've been on them and i've seen race teams still using them for shake down laps which shouldn't be happening but it does and others booking on who are experienced track users for testing their new cars out.
The main difference between a novice day and a normal track day is on novice days they limit the session lengths to (i believe) 30 minutes at a time and when I did them there were three groups so you would get 30 mins on track then an hour off then back on again for 30 minutes.
AtCadwell there are no garages or pit lane so if the weather is cold or wet prepare to either spend a lot of time in the cafe or sat in your car.
The main difference between a novice day and a normal track day is on novice days they limit the session lengths to (i believe) 30 minutes at a time and when I did them there were three groups so you would get 30 mins on track then an hour off then back on again for 30 minutes.
AtCadwell there are no garages or pit lane so if the weather is cold or wet prepare to either spend a lot of time in the cafe or sat in your car.
Guessing from your suggestion of cadwell that you're based in the north? Cadwell can bite if you get it wrong, perhaps consider Blyton park which is still a proper track, but more forgiving of any mistakes. Cheaper too.
Personally id not bother seeking out a novice day over a normal open pitlane day... sessions is restrictive, id rather have the freedom to go out, do a couple laps then come back in whenever.
Also I wouldn't bother with tuition unless you really thought you were a liability. Just take it easy, drive within your limits and keep traction control on and you'll be fine.
Personally id not bother seeking out a novice day over a normal open pitlane day... sessions is restrictive, id rather have the freedom to go out, do a couple laps then come back in whenever.
Also I wouldn't bother with tuition unless you really thought you were a liability. Just take it easy, drive within your limits and keep traction control on and you'll be fine.
No need to pick a novice day, whoever thought it was a good idea to be out on track with 30 other drivers who also knew nothing about what they are doing needs their head checked
.
Tuition is never a waste but all day coaching at £500 is probably overkill; if you can chuck £100 at a couple of short sessions over the day you would probably find it to feel like better value.
Cadwell is amazing, take your time and build up pace gently, and enjoy!
.Tuition is never a waste but all day coaching at £500 is probably overkill; if you can chuck £100 at a couple of short sessions over the day you would probably find it to feel like better value.
Cadwell is amazing, take your time and build up pace gently, and enjoy!
Agree with the comment above about Cadwell being a bit much for a starter it VERY much can bite, I have lost count of the number of cars I have seen in the armco & many on lap 1. There are many elevation changes, lots of scenery to hit, several low points for water to stand if it is wet giving lots of aquaplaning potential and not much run off area.
Agree with the comment that Blyton is a much better novice track as there is no elevation changes, no scenery to hit, better sighting lines, more run off area. and shorter laps but still good fun.
Novice days can be a bit hit/miss as if they are mainly novices they might listen to the briefing better & obey the rules or they might just think they are driving gods, but that is the same as a normal day.
Perhaps go for a sessioned day instead where there are (typically) 3 sessions Novice/intermediate/experienced of 20 minutes each.
Definitely don't agree with the statement about not using instruction when available at a new track. Generally 15 - 20 min for not too many beer tokens & it will help you with track etiquette corner lines, cornering speeds & all sorts. Just make sure you sign up early as the slots will go quickly.
Agree with the comment that Blyton is a much better novice track as there is no elevation changes, no scenery to hit, better sighting lines, more run off area. and shorter laps but still good fun.
Novice days can be a bit hit/miss as if they are mainly novices they might listen to the briefing better & obey the rules or they might just think they are driving gods, but that is the same as a normal day.
Perhaps go for a sessioned day instead where there are (typically) 3 sessions Novice/intermediate/experienced of 20 minutes each.
Definitely don't agree with the statement about not using instruction when available at a new track. Generally 15 - 20 min for not too many beer tokens & it will help you with track etiquette corner lines, cornering speeds & all sorts. Just make sure you sign up early as the slots will go quickly.
+1 on tuition.
To build confidence I think a 30-minute session mid-morning after you have found your way around, and another mid-afternoon once you've practiced is perfect.
If others comments have put you off Blyton, you may want to look at Silverstone or Bedford. Both of which are well sighted and have plenty of run off. While you will find fast cars at Silverstone, as there is plenty of space and car-on-car shunts are rare you should be ok. Just take care not to over-correct on the entry to both start-finish straights.
Just do it. Follow everyone's advice to build slowly, have short sessions and give everyone room and you'll have a blast.
To build confidence I think a 30-minute session mid-morning after you have found your way around, and another mid-afternoon once you've practiced is perfect.
If others comments have put you off Blyton, you may want to look at Silverstone or Bedford. Both of which are well sighted and have plenty of run off. While you will find fast cars at Silverstone, as there is plenty of space and car-on-car shunts are rare you should be ok. Just take care not to over-correct on the entry to both start-finish straights.
Just do it. Follow everyone's advice to build slowly, have short sessions and give everyone room and you'll have a blast.
Car etiquette at Silverstone is often not great, to say the least. It’s also expensive and has very few days available.
Bedford encourages bad habits so if you are just after a one-off experience that’s fine but it’s not a good place to prepare a novice for driving on a proper track.
Bedford encourages bad habits so if you are just after a one-off experience that’s fine but it’s not a good place to prepare a novice for driving on a proper track.
Krikkit said:
I don't understand where this rep for Cadwell comes from - treat it like the 'ring where it's a step up from a country road, don't try and set a demon lap, just build up gently...
If anything it's more fun because it feels fast even at modest pace.
I can see both sides of the argument for Cadwell, i've done it myself more times than I can remember and never come unstuck on it even in my early days of track days but I do know personally two people who have come unstuck there as novices, both within the first couple of bends having joined the track, one writing the car off. If anything it's more fun because it feels fast even at modest pace.
Gassing Station | Track Days | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff