Track Day Basics
Discussion
Hi all 
. Im still only 16, but 17 in December. Ive been looking for my first car for well over a year now, just looking up what I want. Ive settled on a Focus, will most probably be a 1.6 3 Door Zetec, but, I used to race karts until only recently. I really would love to do a track day or two, I LOVE driving quickly (not really racing in a Focus I suppose) and miss it BIG time, but, I will almost certainly need some advice.
Firstly, can I track day with a full valied license? (If the answer to this is no, then dont bother about the rest)
Secondly, my old helmet (full MSA standards for karting), is now a little too small. Is there a rule on open helmets with no lids or tints etc?
Thirdly, any particular clothing? I have a full Fire Proof Sparco suit, but I can't see me needing that!!
Lastly, how much wear will I put on the car? New brake pads F&R, front tyres, bushes etc.
I am determined that I want to track day my car, its the only place where I can drive to my satisfaction legally! Id love to hear from you, and many thanks again, Ollie Tebbutt.
. Im still only 16, but 17 in December. Ive been looking for my first car for well over a year now, just looking up what I want. Ive settled on a Focus, will most probably be a 1.6 3 Door Zetec, but, I used to race karts until only recently. I really would love to do a track day or two, I LOVE driving quickly (not really racing in a Focus I suppose) and miss it BIG time, but, I will almost certainly need some advice. Firstly, can I track day with a full valied license? (If the answer to this is no, then dont bother about the rest
)Secondly, my old helmet (full MSA standards for karting), is now a little too small. Is there a rule on open helmets with no lids or tints etc?
Thirdly, any particular clothing? I have a full Fire Proof Sparco suit, but I can't see me needing that!!
Lastly, how much wear will I put on the car? New brake pads F&R, front tyres, bushes etc.
I am determined that I want to track day my car, its the only place where I can drive to my satisfaction legally! Id love to hear from you, and many thanks again, Ollie Tebbutt.
r56_ollie said:
Hi all . Im still only 16, but 17 in December. Ive been looking for my first car for well over a year now, just looking up what I want. Ive settled on a Focus, will most probably be a 1.6 3 Door Zetec, but, I used to race karts until only recently. I really would love to do a track day or two, I LOVE driving quickly (not really racing in a Focus I suppose) and miss it BIG time, but, I will almost certainly need some advice.
Firstly, can I track day with a full valied license? (If the answer to this is no, then dont bother about the rest)
Secondly, my old helmet (full MSA standards for karting), is now a little too small. Is there a rule on open helmets with no lids or tints etc?
Thirdly, any particular clothing? I have a full Fire Proof Sparco suit, but I can't see me needing that!!
Lastly, how much wear will I put on the car? New brake pads F&R, front tyres, bushes etc.
I am determined that I want to track day my car, its the only place where I can drive to my satisfaction legally! Id love to hear from you, and many thanks again, Ollie Tebbutt.
Hey!. Im still only 16, but 17 in December. Ive been looking for my first car for well over a year now, just looking up what I want. Ive settled on a Focus, will most probably be a 1.6 3 Door Zetec, but, I used to race karts until only recently. I really would love to do a track day or two, I LOVE driving quickly (not really racing in a Focus I suppose) and miss it BIG time, but, I will almost certainly need some advice. Firstly, can I track day with a full valied license? (If the answer to this is no, then dont bother about the rest
)Secondly, my old helmet (full MSA standards for karting), is now a little too small. Is there a rule on open helmets with no lids or tints etc?
Thirdly, any particular clothing? I have a full Fire Proof Sparco suit, but I can't see me needing that!!
Lastly, how much wear will I put on the car? New brake pads F&R, front tyres, bushes etc.
I am determined that I want to track day my car, its the only place where I can drive to my satisfaction legally! Id love to hear from you, and many thanks again, Ollie Tebbutt.
Yes, full road licence is what you need.
Any old helmet will pass track day standards, but for your safety, buy the best you can afford.
Nope, some companies require you to have long sleve tops and same with jeans ect...
Pads, tyres, oil and fuel will be the biggest things you will have to replace.
Edited by Sean Edwards on Sunday 30th September 16:52
Also check, dispite you holding a full and valid licence, some circuits/organisers insist on track day participants being over 18yrs, I found this out recently when my son drove my car at Oulton, he was just 18.
Edited by GAjon on Sunday 30th September 17:56
Edited by GAjon on Sunday 30th September 17:57
Best of luck in getting past the initial hurdle which will be to pass your test. Even though you have loads of driving experience already, passing the driving test first time is not the easiest thing to do, especially if you get a grumpy examiner. Being polite to him/her is a good tip 
75_Steve said:
Before dreaming of a Focus, have you had an insurance quote yet?
I think you'll find that the premium will cost you more than the car.
£814 with Direct Line. Dad policy holder, but with Direct Line, all drivers all get their own NCB. Pretty good IMO, only £80 more than a basic Ford KA I think you'll find that the premium will cost you more than the car.
Elderly said:
r56_ollie said:
Ive settled on a Focus, will most probably be a 1.6 3 Door Zetec,
My wife has a 1.6 5 door Zetec ...... it has drum brakes on the rear !!!!!I'm not sure how they could be made to stand up the a track day.
r56_ollie said:
75_Steve said:
Before dreaming of a Focus, have you had an insurance quote yet?
I think you'll find that the premium will cost you more than the car.
£814 with Direct Line. Dad policy holder, but with Direct Line, all drivers all get their own NCB. Pretty good IMO, only £80 more than a basic Ford KA I think you'll find that the premium will cost you more than the car.
Unless your dad is the main driver, then putting the policy in his name is a bit naughty.
r56_ollie said:
He will ultimatly be the main driver, his name on log book etc
The name on the log-book doesn't define ownership or who is the main driver.If you are going to drive more miles / year in it than your dad, then it should be insured in your name. To do it any other way is fraud and inviting a conviction if you ever get pulled or have to make a claim.
I had to be the second driver on my first car, a Ford Focus 2.0, which Tesco quoted me £4400 to insure per year and the car was worth only £7000 
Being a second driver brought it down to £1400. Although i did the most miles in it, who could ever prove that?
I am now the first driver on my policy, with my new car, as it is only £1100 now, which is a bit more resonable.
Being a second driver brought it down to £1400. Although i did the most miles in it, who could ever prove that?
I am now the first driver on my policy, with my new car, as it is only £1100 now, which is a bit more resonable.
Ollie
The Focus is a bit left-field for track days and will be pretty slow, but they handle well and if you pedal hard you should have a lot of fun. Our old Focus (2ltr) handled really well and I'd happily have another one. It handles better than a lot of things I've driven on track. Bits should be pretty cheap too.
Having said that, you could probably do better for a track car if you go for something lighter. How about an old 90's hatchback of some sort (clio 1.6 or something like that)? It would start out pretty light and when you take all the seats etc out for a track day (much easier than in a Focus) it will be lighter still. It would be dirt cheap to buy, cost buttons to run, there are loads of cheap brake and suspension options (it would certainly need lowering and stiffening but that would stuff up your insurance) and you could put some of that cash towards insuring yourself properly. An old clio is probably not the best choice, but you get the idea.
Don't diddle the insurance though, and if you do go down that road for whatever reason then don't make any undeclared mods or you could be heading for a world of trouble.
Just my 2p. Good luck!
The Focus is a bit left-field for track days and will be pretty slow, but they handle well and if you pedal hard you should have a lot of fun. Our old Focus (2ltr) handled really well and I'd happily have another one. It handles better than a lot of things I've driven on track. Bits should be pretty cheap too.
Having said that, you could probably do better for a track car if you go for something lighter. How about an old 90's hatchback of some sort (clio 1.6 or something like that)? It would start out pretty light and when you take all the seats etc out for a track day (much easier than in a Focus) it will be lighter still. It would be dirt cheap to buy, cost buttons to run, there are loads of cheap brake and suspension options (it would certainly need lowering and stiffening but that would stuff up your insurance) and you could put some of that cash towards insuring yourself properly. An old clio is probably not the best choice, but you get the idea.
Don't diddle the insurance though, and if you do go down that road for whatever reason then don't make any undeclared mods or you could be heading for a world of trouble.
Just my 2p. Good luck!
75_Steve said:
The name on the log-book doesn't define ownership or who is the main driver.
Your name on the log book, your car, it as simple as that.75_Steve said:
If you are going to drive more miles / year in it than your dad, then it should be insured in your name. To do it any other way is fraud and inviting a conviction if you ever get pulled or have to make a claim.
Very difficult to prove I think and it's not exactly the most heinous of road offences is it? At least the lad has got insurance and wants to improve his driving ability with the aid of an instructor on the track not down some dodgy country lanes.Ollie, think sensibly, drive calmly, it's not a race track you won't win anything but you will learn alot and have great fun. Enjoy mate.
ETA: I passed first time, which obviously means i'm a better driver than people who didn't
Edited by WildCards on Friday 5th October 13:31
WildCards said:
75_Steve said:
The name on the log-book doesn't define ownership or who is the main driver.
Your name on the log book, your car, it as simple as that.75_Steve said:
If you are going to drive more miles / year in it than your dad, then it should be insured in your name. To do it any other way is fraud and inviting a conviction if you ever get pulled or have to make a claim.
Very difficult to prove I think and it's not exactly the most heinous of road offences is it? At least the lad has got insurance and wants to improve his driving ability with the aid of an instructor on the track not down some dodgy country lanes.Ollie, think sensibly, drive calmly, it's not a race track you won't win anything but you will learn alot and have great fun. Enjoy mate.
ETA: I passed first time, which obviously means i'm a better driver than people who didn't
Edited by WildCards on Friday 5th October 13:31
It *is* a serious road offence to be main driver of a car without declaring it - this is because the lad won't actually have insurance as he'll have fraudulently told the insurers that his dad is the main driver. It may be tricky to prove who the main driver was, but it's not impossible - don't under-estimate the abilities of insurance investigators when it comes to cases such as these - it's a very commonly used technique to get lower insurance costs. In fact, it's not even that difficult to prove - if his father is main driver on another vehicle, this would instantly raise suspicions - and is very easy to prove as insurers use a common database of facts such as these. If the insurers make a good case for the lad being the named driver, then he'll be driving without insurance.
Honestly, it's really not worth the risk and I'd be *very* pissed off if I was hit by someone who thought they'd got around high insurance costs using such methods, namely because it would end up as an accident with an uninsured driver.
The police are more than aware of this, too, and will investigate it if the lad gets a producer.
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