Low Friction drifting tracks
Discussion
Hi All,
Had a go recently on the brilliant low friction surface at the Porsche Experience Centre at Silverstone. It was cracking fun and I'm told that there's virtually zero tyre wear due to the surface.
I know that Oulton Park has a couple of low friction tracks. Does anyone know of any other low friction tracks in southern England? - keen to take the bimmer for some sideways action!
Had a go recently on the brilliant low friction surface at the Porsche Experience Centre at Silverstone. It was cracking fun and I'm told that there's virtually zero tyre wear due to the surface.
I know that Oulton Park has a couple of low friction tracks. Does anyone know of any other low friction tracks in southern England? - keen to take the bimmer for some sideways action!
Chris71 said:
mmm-five said:
MSV also does the drift stages at Brands Hatch.
As in competitive drift events or a 'wet grip' day that anyone can book and have a go at?Rockingham definitely does a similar thing, but that's starting to get a bit far north. It's grim oop there.
Bunch of pansy southerners 
For those that don't panic if they are north of Watford Gap we are doing a club day on the Oulton stages on the 25th of this month, there's a few places left if anyone wants to have a go, you get loads of runs at both stages and free instruction included
, CLICK HEREfor more info .
Steve H
TA-OL
For those that don't panic if they are north of Watford Gap we are doing a club day on the Oulton stages on the 25th of this month, there's a few places left if anyone wants to have a go, you get loads of runs at both stages and free instruction included
, CLICK HEREfor more info . Steve H
TA-OL
mmm-five said:
Chris71 said:
mmm-five said:
MSV also does the drift stages at Brands Hatch.
As in competitive drift events or a 'wet grip' day that anyone can book and have a go at?Rockingham definitely does a similar thing, but that's starting to get a bit far north. It's grim oop there.
Chris71 said:
mmm-five said:
Chris71 said:
mmm-five said:
MSV also does the drift stages at Brands Hatch.
As in competitive drift events or a 'wet grip' day that anyone can book and have a go at?Rockingham definitely does a similar thing, but that's starting to get a bit far north. It's grim oop there.
daveknott5 said:
Looks like Oulton park is the only spot then - apart from the Porsche centre at Silverstone. Damn, have to get up early sometime and trek up north.
Nope, not the only one. Rockingham has one (it's just a different company). In fact a group of the PH TVR people are heading up there next month. Dave, have a word with Jonny At Bookatrack.com . He has a deal with Rockingham and has access to the wet grip facility. I do know it is expensive though. I don't know exactly but I am pretty sure it is over £3k for a day! If you can get 30 plus mates together it may be worth getting for the day.
There are in theory, skid pans dotted all over the country too. In the old days! You could ask the police if you could use one, they obviously used them for training purposes.
My local advanced driving school has a day on a skid pan too. Although I reckon they would frown a bit if you just started drifting!
Try Mira too. I think they have the best facilities in the country, (great big low friction circle) although I have never used them. I would be well up for a day there though if you can arrange it!
There are in theory, skid pans dotted all over the country too. In the old days! You could ask the police if you could use one, they obviously used them for training purposes.
My local advanced driving school has a day on a skid pan too. Although I reckon they would frown a bit if you just started drifting!
Try Mira too. I think they have the best facilities in the country, (great big low friction circle) although I have never used them. I would be well up for a day there though if you can arrange it!
This is a google shot of the Oulton tracks -
They are pretty much unique, like a sprint course in layout with a variety of corners and changes in gradient and camber but with a surface that has to be driven to be believed
.
We get drifters, trackdayers and owners who just want to see how their car handles when it runs out of grip at these days and the feedback from the drivers is always superb - a real fun day out.
Steve H
TA-OL
They are pretty much unique, like a sprint course in layout with a variety of corners and changes in gradient and camber but with a surface that has to be driven to be believed
.We get drifters, trackdayers and owners who just want to see how their car handles when it runs out of grip at these days and the feedback from the drivers is always superb - a real fun day out.
Steve H
TA-OL
The problem with Oulton is the owners dont spend any money on the outside of the track. On the exit of corners, the outside of Corner 7 on track 1 or between 9 and 10 on track 2 were awful when I was there. Deep holes where the tarmac finished and the dirt started, where people had run wide, the wheels spinning on the tarmac then chewed up the dirt.
They should, IMO be putting something like grippy concrete there, so you would gain traction and go back on track. It THE only reason I haven`t been back, I have a RWD road car that was great fun, but everytime I span in those areas, I was always aware of the possible car damage and as its my daily, I couldn`t enjoy it quite as much.
If I had a dedicated RWD old track / drift car, I`d be there much more often.
They should, IMO be putting something like grippy concrete there, so you would gain traction and go back on track. It THE only reason I haven`t been back, I have a RWD road car that was great fun, but everytime I span in those areas, I was always aware of the possible car damage and as its my daily, I couldn`t enjoy it quite as much.
If I had a dedicated RWD old track / drift car, I`d be there much more often.
Wh00sher said:
The problem with Oulton is the owners dont spend any money on the outside of the track. On the exit of corners, the outside of Corner 7 on track 1 or between 9 and 10 on track 2 were awful when I was there. Deep holes where the tarmac finished and the dirt started, where people had run wide, the wheels spinning on the tarmac then chewed up the dirt.
They should, IMO be putting something like grippy concrete there, so you would gain traction and go back on track. It THE only reason I haven`t been back, I have a RWD road car that was great fun, but everytime I span in those areas, I was always aware of the possible car damage and as its my daily, I couldn`t enjoy it quite as much.
If I had a dedicated RWD old track / drift car, I`d be there much more often.
I totally agree, we would love to see some extra repairs done but as with all things right now, I guess belts are being tightened. They should, IMO be putting something like grippy concrete there, so you would gain traction and go back on track. It THE only reason I haven`t been back, I have a RWD road car that was great fun, but everytime I span in those areas, I was always aware of the possible car damage and as its my daily, I couldn`t enjoy it quite as much.
If I had a dedicated RWD old track / drift car, I`d be there much more often.
As an interim measure they have put lightweight plastic barriers on the corners where the deeper kerbs have developed; it's not a perfect solution but it does clearly indicate which places you can push harder on. To be honest, it also has improved the driving standards because a lot of the damage was caused by drivers keeping the throttle fully planted as they went off onto the grass whereas now if they are past the point of no return they tend to just let it spin out whilst still on the tarmac causing no damage to the car or the course
.Dave, the day retails at £140 (similar to MSV) but we do some club discounts which I'm sure could be extended to regular PHers, say anyone with over 100 posts. This would bring the price down to £120, it does run from 9-5 with one hour for lunch and we have three instructors on site to help you get the best from the day. If anyone wants to come along please shout up with your email address or register on OUR FORUM and PM me and I'll send you the discount code for our day on the 25th.
Cheers
Steve H
Try these guys :
http://driftone.co.uk/
They have a couple of cars you can use if you're worried about using your own. And they positively promote you going sideways. Good tuition too.
http://driftone.co.uk/
They have a couple of cars you can use if you're worried about using your own. And they positively promote you going sideways. Good tuition too.
Chris71 said:
Maybe not grippy tarmac... I've had an Impreza on two wheels before coming off a low-grip section onto regular black top.
The low grip test facilities I've been on (MIRA, Rockingham) have high grip tarmac lining the outside of the low grip surfaces to stop you spinning away to oblivion - the idea is that you get the car straight before you finish the section so there should not even be any tyre squeel when you hit the high grip stuff let alone go on two wheels - you must have been carrying some speed! GLOL!I hired Rockingham last year through Bookatrack for a few friends of mine and we had a great time. It's worth pointing out that it is like a large carpark with some low grip sections for different exercises, it's not a wet circuit to drift around. The kick plate is excellent fun. We had a blast.
The "Rockingham Wet Car Park" :
Lesson 1 - Remember to shut your windows before you start :
Lesson 2 - ...or wear waterproofs
Lesson 3 - ...or do it in something completely inappropriate yet strangely hilarious
Lesson 4 - And remember - front wheel drive cars can't drift, right?
Lesson 5 - So it looks like fun. Now, where's my keys, my car and my missus cos it's my turn for a go...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_daniels/sets/721...
Edited by mattdaniels on Sunday 12th July 08:13
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