track day virgin-advice please

[the saint 911]

hi, i want to try a couple of track days this year- seem to be so many of them/?

anyone recommend a couple of places etc,/value for money, and one to teach and show you,,,

of course brands hatch is nearest to me but dont mind travelling- and rather would nt do it in my own car, i was looking at the gold track one/? any advice appreciated-
thks

Paul

[Don]

If you want your hand held when you go on track for the first time (not a bad idea BTW) sign up for a "course" with Motorsport Vision at Brands. They've got a range of cars - pick something. Choose it based on the number of laps you get - not what cars you try. Its laps that are important.

That gets you on track for the first time with an instructor with you continually.

Next up book a full track day with a reputable supplier - and rent a track car. My favourite are Bookatrack who are excellent. The other major suppliers are perfectly good too as far as I know but I've BaT to be good, safe days and Jonny's Caterhams are a HOOT!

You get an instructor for a session - but the rest of the day you are on your own.

If you want to take your Porsche on track why not join the Porsche Club GB and go on one of our days. Bloody good fun. Pretty much only Porsches. Instruction available at £20 for a session. All round good chaps on track with you...aqll of whom want to bring home the P&J in the same state they left etc etc (although there has been the odd prang - its not impossible....)

Choices choices...!

[the saint 911]

Thanks very much Don- thats a great help-
Thats just what i wanted, somewhere i can get tuition etc,+with other cars,

id love to take my car out, would be great to do it with other porsches,,meet people,,get tips, so ill look at that. I should reallY join the porsche club so i can see when these things go on.

I just want/need some tuition first and get the most out of the cars...

Thanks Again.

[stillfirm]

hi - did you do this and how did you get on? i am keen to get out on the track but dont really want to take my porker out on my debut!

[DavidCane]

I'm tempted to go on the novice track day at Brands on the 6th. It looks like a good way to get on track without getting in the way of regular trackdayers. £199 for the full day and I've got a quote of £109 for insuranace, which ain't cheap but it's cheaper than a new car.

Come along.

[Noel]

I did the MSV afternoon at Brands on the 17th, I haven't driven the track before and was in my new (to me) M3. I booked a session with an instructor which was all I needed to set me up to enjoy the afternoon. I wasn't the fastest but the car flattered me so I wasn't the slowest.

One mistake I did make was not to line up early for the sighting lap, I was last in my group which meant the instrcutor car was long gone by the time I left the pitlane so was unsure of lines/braking points, I have to admit to not really enjoying having to play catch up.

[driverrob]

MSV do excellent novices' track days (and half-days or evenings) at Brands Hatch. I've done two with my own car plus one in a supplied saloon & single seat racer. They provide lots of guidance and a safe environment on the track.
Read the small print on any trackday insurance cover. The one I looked at not only had a high excess but a maximum cover of 10% of the car's value. So I'd give MSV's advice: don't race others, don't time yourself, don't show off. Concentrate on getting the racing line, braking and accelerating points before you gradually increase your speed towards the limit. Few of us know how our cars will behave at or beyond that limit.

[DavidCane]

driverrob said:

Concentrate on getting the racing line, braking and accelerating points before you gradually increase your speed towards the limit. Few of us know how our cars will behave at or beyond that limit.

This is the very reason why I want to go on a novice track day I just want to get a feel for the car as it approaches the limit in a safe environment where I won't end up in a farmer's field (or worse) if I make a mistake.

I'm glad to see good feedback on the MSV brands day, I think I'm definitely going to book. On the topic of insurance, are there any providers who have policies for road cover (5k miles per year, SD&P + commuting) with a number of track days, say 4 per year, included in the premium? My renewal is due in a few weeks and if I get the trackday bug on the 6th I'll be looking for a road policy with track options.

Ta,

DC

[DMC2]

DavidCane said:

driverrob said:

Concentrate on getting the racing line, braking and accelerating points before you gradually increase your speed towards the limit. Few of us know how our cars will behave at or beyond that limit.

This is the very reason why I want to go on a novice track day I just want to get a feel for the car as it approaches the limit in a safe environment where I won't end up in a farmer's field (or worse) if I make a mistake.

I'm glad to see good feedback on the MSV brands day, I think I'm definitely going to book. On the topic of insurance, are there any providers who have policies for road cover (5k miles per year, SD&P + commuting) with a number of track days, say 4 per year, included in the premium? My renewal is due in a few weeks and if I get the trackday bug on the 6th I'll be looking for a road policy with track options.

I'm insured through Manning, £1000 per year for a GT3 RS with unlimited trackdays as long as the organisers are members of ATDO or FAEO (this includes MSV days). There is a 10% excess, but that is pretty standard.
Call Lee Sargent on 01491 578759 ext 209 if you are interested.

www.manninguk.com

[grahamn]

Or try Competion Car Insurance. I have the Cerbera insured with them, £600 per year with 4 trackdays included.

[DavidCane]

CCI have quoted me £946 for annual road cover including 4 track days. I've got around 3 weeks until my renewal is due so it's a good starting point. I've also booked onto the Abingdon track day on the 16th May with an hour's tuition booked too.