is 30 cars too many on track at Donnington (National)?
Discussion
Done a few track days - open pit lanes - at Donnington National and not too sure how many cars were out there at once.
Was looking at a track day where they run the 20 min sessioned days and they said its 30 cars per session (admittedly novice, inter, advanced etc split up) but Donnington strikes me as quite a fast circuit and 30 cars seems a hell of a lot on track at one time?
Any comments from Donnington regulars or people who have done sessioned days up there as to whether 30 cars is normal or a lot would be appreciated before i book.....
Was looking at a track day where they run the 20 min sessioned days and they said its 30 cars per session (admittedly novice, inter, advanced etc split up) but Donnington strikes me as quite a fast circuit and 30 cars seems a hell of a lot on track at one time?
Any comments from Donnington regulars or people who have done sessioned days up there as to whether 30 cars is normal or a lot would be appreciated before i book.....
did a 30 car session day on september and it was ok.
depends on the people on the day as if they are hardened track dayers then they likely will be out there all for each 20 min session whereas if they are just easy going or in l=oilder cars they tend to spedn more time chilling and chating and fidling with the cars rather then driving.
if it is a trakzone day direct with donners then it will be full of capris and 205s so you may get a busy day but what the hell great track so go for it
depends on the people on the day as if they are hardened track dayers then they likely will be out there all for each 20 min session whereas if they are just easy going or in l=oilder cars they tend to spedn more time chilling and chating and fidling with the cars rather then driving.
if it is a trakzone day direct with donners then it will be full of capris and 205s so you may get a busy day but what the hell great track so go for it
I was there yesterday* and it was fully booked which meant the full compliment in each session. They actually put us on the GP circuit but I've been on the National earlier in the year. Both circuits (especially the GP) are big enough for 30 cars IMO.
The only time it becomes a problem is if you get stuck in traffic (happened to me once yesterday). To avoid this I've found you can either: Get at the front of the pit lane queue in which case you can pull away from the slower drivers and let faster drivers past or get at the back of the queue and do a sedate out lap before you start to up the pace. Both of these methods create space on the track so you can enjoy it more.
The only time it becomes a problem is if you get stuck in traffic (happened to me once yesterday). To avoid this I've found you can either: Get at the front of the pit lane queue in which case you can pull away from the slower drivers and let faster drivers past or get at the back of the queue and do a sedate out lap before you start to up the pace. Both of these methods create space on the track so you can enjoy it more.
- Shim was almost there too
Edited by boxsey on Monday 22 October 17:50
Done only 4 days there but i prefer the " open Pit " idea as then you can come and go as you please.
i done ok with traffic made my own little space and had some good laps i always find it best to let others go and
just go on at your own pace ..... national is great and you can get in to your own stride with things
i done ok with traffic made my own little space and had some good laps i always find it best to let others go and
just go on at your own pace ..... national is great and you can get in to your own stride with things
Sounds like a trakzone day, which can often end up with gaggles of cars going round bumper to bumper for 15/20 minutes at a time. This is actually a good thing - if you back off/time it right you can usually get 90% of the track to yourself while everyone else occupies the remaining 10% Loads of people tend to drop out during the day and the last couple of sessions are often really good - some of the clearest time I've had on track has been on trakzone days.
30 on track is fine if you avoid the traffic. Do what Boxsey said up there ^^^^ and you'll have a great day. Some of the driving on these days tends to be a bit questionable but you can usually spot the ones to avoid pretty quickly. In terms of dealing with other drivers' behaviour it's quite good preparation for a trip to the ring IMO!
30 on track is fine if you avoid the traffic. Do what Boxsey said up there ^^^^ and you'll have a great day. Some of the driving on these days tends to be a bit questionable but you can usually spot the ones to avoid pretty quickly. In terms of dealing with other drivers' behaviour it's quite good preparation for a trip to the ring IMO!
That's a good point by Birdthom about it getting quieter as the day goes on which is due to people finding that their cars are not up to a full track day or they get told to leave because of the noise regs.
Just to prove you can get lots of space during a 30 car session, here's me yesterday. I'll leave you guys to work out if you think I'm leading from the front or bringing up the rear
Just to prove you can get lots of space during a 30 car session, here's me yesterday. I'll leave you guys to work out if you think I'm leading from the front or bringing up the rear
30 is too many cars; it is OK towards the end of the day, but that's because there's no longer 30 cars on track!!!!
Finding space is not always easy, as whatever tactic you try (driving slowly through the pit lane if you are stuck in a gaggle?) the chances are that you will come up behind one or two (non co-operative?) slower cars with a small train of quicker stuff behind them that takes a bit of time
before you can all get past.
Finding space is not always easy, as whatever tactic you try (driving slowly through the pit lane if you are stuck in a gaggle?) the chances are that you will come up behind one or two (non co-operative?) slower cars with a small train of quicker stuff behind them that takes a bit of time
before you can all get past.
was there today with goldtrack and very well organised and 2 half hour sessions.
only problem in my 'not fast group' there was a significant difference in ability and on track speed. we had radicals down to a fiesta and Gt40 (taking it very easy)
every session half the pack ended up in a long line and distinct lack of pulling over by some drivers. I think today the instructed cars were worse as the they kept their guys on the racing line for far too long, all the way from Redgate to Coppice.
i can see why they want this to give their guys a good shot at learning but for everyone else it was pants!
only problem in my 'not fast group' there was a significant difference in ability and on track speed. we had radicals down to a fiesta and Gt40 (taking it very easy)
every session half the pack ended up in a long line and distinct lack of pulling over by some drivers. I think today the instructed cars were worse as the they kept their guys on the racing line for far too long, all the way from Redgate to Coppice.
i can see why they want this to give their guys a good shot at learning but for everyone else it was pants!
shim said:
was there today with goldtrack and very well organised and 2 half hour sessions.
only problem in my 'not fast group' there was a significant difference in ability and on track speed. we had radicals down to a fiesta and Gt40 (taking it very easy)
every session half the pack ended up in a long line and distinct lack of pulling over by some drivers. I think today the instructed cars were worse as the they kept their guys on the racing line for far too long, all the way from Redgate to Coppice.
i can see why they want this to give their guys a good shot at learning but for everyone else it was pants!
Was there today myself and was very hard to find a clear lap. As you say, there was a wild variety of skill, speed and awareness.only problem in my 'not fast group' there was a significant difference in ability and on track speed. we had radicals down to a fiesta and Gt40 (taking it very easy)
every session half the pack ended up in a long line and distinct lack of pulling over by some drivers. I think today the instructed cars were worse as the they kept their guys on the racing line for far too long, all the way from Redgate to Coppice.
i can see why they want this to give their guys a good shot at learning but for everyone else it was pants!
By the afternoon though it was better with people more aware of who was quick and letting them through in more places (that or I was just getting more abrupt by them).
yes pm was a little better especially late when people had started to wonder off home.
i managed 3 clear flying laps in 79 so not great though.
people did start to get more pushy later in the day whcih gets you poast but does raise the stakes a little bit. There seemed to be more spinners in the afternoon but nobody colected anybody else i dont think.
Still a good day and enjoyable (what were you in, i was slow group and CSL)
i managed 3 clear flying laps in 79 so not great though.
people did start to get more pushy later in the day whcih gets you poast but does raise the stakes a little bit. There seemed to be more spinners in the afternoon but nobody colected anybody else i dont think.
Still a good day and enjoyable (what were you in, i was slow group and CSL)
shim said:
There seemed to be more spinners in the afternoon but nobody colected anybody else i dont think.
Still a good day and enjoyable (what were you in, i was slow group and CSL)
I was one of the spinners Still a good day and enjoyable (what were you in, i was slow group and CSL)
I span under braking at the entry to Coppice and also had a tank-slapper on the exit earlier in the day when I took too much kerb. Managed to jkeep out of the way of other cars though
I was in the peppermint green M3. Came up against a grey CSL a couple of times during the day, so that was probably you
yes you were going very well i thought and had some good straight line speed as well. The other bmw 3series blue/white also ran consisitently well all day.
main issues were with the tutored Seat and CLio and Golf/polo plus a couple of the slow Caterhams types (plus that GT40). There were just too many of them. One or two you can avoid or just put up with but they seemed to be everywhere.
main issues were with the tutored Seat and CLio and Golf/polo plus a couple of the slow Caterhams types (plus that GT40). There were just too many of them. One or two you can avoid or just put up with but they seemed to be everywhere.
shim said:
yes you were going very well i thought and had some good straight line speed as well. The other bmw 3series blue/white also ran consisitently well all day.
main issues were with the tutored Seat and CLio and Golf/polo plus a couple of the slow Caterhams types (plus that GT40). There were just too many of them. One or two you can avoid or just put up with but they seemed to be everywhere.
main issues were with the tutored Seat and CLio and Golf/polo plus a couple of the slow Caterhams types (plus that GT40). There were just too many of them. One or two you can avoid or just put up with but they seemed to be everywhere.
Hello chaps.
I was there also, under instruction in a red Ginetta. I was a veritable mobile chicane myself in the morning, but started making some progress in the pm.
I had most difficulty with the Fiesta and the GT40, but its hard to be too harsh on them. There's almost a case for a 3rd group really of absolute novices, though this might reduce track time overall I spose.
It was the march of the M3s yesterday, they were bloody everywhere, usually approaching quickly from behind (oo err).
ETA: was a spinner also at Coppice but stayed out of the way - and a far less glamourous lockup to overshoot the final chicane
Edited by 308mate on Thursday 25th October 13:02
I suspect it was so busy as it's probably one of the last dates before winter rears its ugly head and the cars get locked away in garages to be prepped for next season. That's certainly the case with mine.
I recon the rest of this year's trackdays will be much cheaper and less crowded
I recon the rest of this year's trackdays will be much cheaper and less crowded
shim said:
308mate said:
Hello chaps.
I was there also, under instruction in a red Ginetta.
i thought you had installed a turbo in the afternoon or had a different driver tbh.I was there also, under instruction in a red Ginetta.
Was a bit nervous in the morning and had a very good instructor, hence some extra pace as the day wore on.
Glad the weather held out.
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