Goodwood track day
Discussion
Goodwood is really enjoyable but it is very fast and unforgiving should you get it wrong. It is my local track and I have done 7 track days there over the past few years and only now am I beginning to get half decent at it. Take it easy and build up gradually. Don't know how much experience you have of track driving or what car you will be in but it might be a good idea to stay in a high gear all the way round at first as concentrating on gear changing can sometimes by an unnecessary consideration at an early stage at least and you will be surprised at how fast you will be able to circulate in this state 
Goodwood is fast but very unforgiving if you get it wrong. I've done around 4 trackdays there, and passengered on a few other days.
Goodwood has a reputation, but to be honest, if you drive within yourself, you'll be fine. It's technically a challenging circuit to get right, mainly because committment is required on what are, mainly very fast corners.
If it's local to you, take a lid down, get signed in as a passenger, and get someone to take you out to see what you think (makesure they know what they're doing though
).
Goodwood has a reputation, but to be honest, if you drive within yourself, you'll be fine. It's technically a challenging circuit to get right, mainly because committment is required on what are, mainly very fast corners.
If it's local to you, take a lid down, get signed in as a passenger, and get someone to take you out to see what you think (makesure they know what they're doing though
).4pot said:
Goodwood is fast but very unforgiving if you get it wrong. I've done around 4 trackdays there, and passengered on a few other days.
Goodwood has a reputation, but to be honest, if you drive within yourself, you'll be fine. It's technically a challenging circuit to get right, mainly because committment is required on what are, mainly very fast corners.
If it's local to you, take a lid down, get signed in as a passenger, and get someone to take you out to see what you think (makesure they know what they're doing though).
Thanks for all of your opinions. The track day in question apparently has the trainers on hand who go out with you. To be honest I'm not a track day person more an advance road (roadcraft) driver, but as it's a surprise (which I accidently found out) then I'm going to go anyway.Goodwood has a reputation, but to be honest, if you drive within yourself, you'll be fine. It's technically a challenging circuit to get right, mainly because committment is required on what are, mainly very fast corners.
If it's local to you, take a lid down, get signed in as a passenger, and get someone to take you out to see what you think (makesure they know what they're doing though
).What they said.....
He's very direct in his teaching style , but very good.
edar said:
Thanks for all of your opinions. The track day in question apparently has the trainers on hand who go out with you. To be honest I'm not a track day person more an advance road (roadcraft) driver, but as it's a surprise (which I accidently found out) then I'm going to go anyway.
Take advantage of the 'trainers' sooner rather than later.... IMO an initial session by yourself would be a waste. According to the Head instructor, there are only seven times you need to move the steering wheel - i.e. there are seven 'curves' within the shape of the track if you are on the racing line.He's very direct in his teaching style
, but very good.Goodwood is fun once you have learnt the track and thats made a little awkward by the traffic light system they use. It means you can't follow a mate who knows the track for the 1st few laps to determine lines, braking etc so its slower to learn than other tracks where you have sighting laps.
When I went it was a cold wet November and it took me all morning to get up to full speed, it'll be easier in the warm and dry. The back straight is long with only a minor kink in it, I could hit the redline in 5th gear in my Euno so 135mph so yes you can get to some high speeds depending on how powerful a car you have.
When I went it was a cold wet November and it took me all morning to get up to full speed, it'll be easier in the warm and dry. The back straight is long with only a minor kink in it, I could hit the redline in 5th gear in my Euno so 135mph so yes you can get to some high speeds depending on how powerful a car you have.
had a great day there on Monday. Had a brilliant time. My chums had driven there before but I hadn't. I had however swotted up with a circuit guide beforehand which made the learning curve my shorter.
It is a very fast circuit. Although it's more or less flat, slight changes in level mean that, in a Radical at least, there are a number of crests and blind brows which made some of the breaking points and lines more challenging than you might think.
Having said that I found I was up to speed very quickly and happy with my lines. The cones and apex markers are excellent! hit those and you will be doing ok. Flat out through Fordwater heading for St Marys is a real thrill! One of the best bits of circuit driving I have experienced. It's a bit like the end of the pit straight into the Dunlop Curve at Le mans. You have to have faith in what you are driving!
It's always a lovely atmosphere at Goodwood too.
Only gripe is that it was sold as open pitlane, but that is subject to the limitations of there being only 5 cars allowed on the circuit at any time. particularly in the morning this meant waiting in the pit lane for some while. Lord knows what it would be like if there were more attendees.
So go, read up on the lines first, drive within yourself, watch your mirrors and it'll be brilliant!
It is a very fast circuit. Although it's more or less flat, slight changes in level mean that, in a Radical at least, there are a number of crests and blind brows which made some of the breaking points and lines more challenging than you might think.
Having said that I found I was up to speed very quickly and happy with my lines. The cones and apex markers are excellent! hit those and you will be doing ok. Flat out through Fordwater heading for St Marys is a real thrill! One of the best bits of circuit driving I have experienced. It's a bit like the end of the pit straight into the Dunlop Curve at Le mans. You have to have faith in what you are driving!
It's always a lovely atmosphere at Goodwood too.
Only gripe is that it was sold as open pitlane, but that is subject to the limitations of there being only 5 cars allowed on the circuit at any time. particularly in the morning this meant waiting in the pit lane for some while. Lord knows what it would be like if there were more attendees.
So go, read up on the lines first, drive within yourself, watch your mirrors and it'll be brilliant!
I popped in for a shuftie on my way to Thruxton and was surprised that as a regular, I was totally unaware that an open pit lane 5 car day is held there once a year, and has been for a while. I stayed for about an hour or so and the first thing that hit me was the open pit lane thing, as you say, five cars on track at any one time and you find yourself waiting to get a slot, may as well have been session-ed IMO, I think it would have been fairer 
I think the £500 pound fee was not worth the exclusivity and supposed open pit lane situation either or at least not when compared to £315 for a 105db 20 car day as I normally book.
I think the £500 pound fee was not worth the exclusivity and supposed open pit lane situation either or at least not when compared to £315 for a 105db 20 car day as I normally book.
We were pretty irritated to be frank and, as you say, £500 for the day put's it right at the top in terms of cost.
We were aware of the 5 car on a circuit rule, even on sessioned days (we understand) but this had been presented as something different. That's why only 15 cars and such a load of money!Or so we thought!
Having said that, in the afternoon various things had broken or worn out so they went home and we had an easier time of it. Sitting in the Radical, in a race suit, for over 20 mins was bl00dy hot, let me tell you!!
Were you there when the Zakspeed Capri was doing some laps?
That was an extra, and was running rev limited. Apparantly it was being driven by the guys that won Spa in it 30 years ago. It's been in storage ever since and they were getting used to it again before running it at the FOS. First time they had seen it let alone sat in it for all that time.
We were aware of the 5 car on a circuit rule, even on sessioned days (we understand) but this had been presented as something different. That's why only 15 cars and such a load of money!Or so we thought!
Having said that, in the afternoon various things had broken or worn out so they went home and we had an easier time of it. Sitting in the Radical, in a race suit, for over 20 mins was bl00dy hot, let me tell you!!
Were you there when the Zakspeed Capri was doing some laps?
That was an extra, and was running rev limited. Apparantly it was being driven by the guys that won Spa in it 30 years ago. It's been in storage ever since and they were getting used to it again before running it at the FOS. First time they had seen it let alone sat in it for all that time.
^^^
I saw the Capri on the way out and could not stay to see it go unfortunately but that's the luck of the draw I guess, I would have loved to have seen it go.
I saw your Radical and spoke to your man just before he set of to get the PAS sorted on the truck, hope he had a result.
I will be at Goodwood on 3.7.09 in my Ultima GTW accompanied by a pal in his Ultima and another in a 996tt with 550bhp and all being well it is set to be a fantastic and exciting prospect ( this will be the first time I have had my car on track ), only hope I don't get carried away
I saw the Capri on the way out and could not stay to see it go unfortunately but that's the luck of the draw I guess, I would have loved to have seen it go.
I saw your Radical and spoke to your man just before he set of to get the PAS sorted on the truck, hope he had a result.
I will be at Goodwood on 3.7.09 in my Ultima GTW accompanied by a pal in his Ultima and another in a 996tt with 550bhp and all being well it is set to be a fantastic and exciting prospect ( this will be the first time I have had my car on track ), only hope I don't get carried away
Edited by GTWayne on Wednesday 24th June 12:07
Herman Toothrot said:
The back straight is long with only a minor kink in it, I could hit the redline in 5th gear in my Euno so 135mph so yes you can get to some high speeds depending on how powerful a car you have.
I hit 130 there today in a Porsche 911 - it was a Mithril race day thing, so i was only in that car for 3 laps, but by god was it good fun!Gassing Station | Track Days | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff