What after Bedford
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Discussion

Dan7357

Original Poster:

2,648 posts

232 months

Friday 5th February 2010
quotequote all
Done around 6-7 track days at bedford over the last 3 years and am now looking to move on to the next stage.

What would be a good upgrade !! (a 102db's track)

Thanks

mrmr96

13,736 posts

228 months

Friday 5th February 2010
quotequote all
Silverstone is a nice circuit with big runoffs like Bedford. Also this end of the country are Castle Combe (although barriers are close in and I can't remember the noise test) or Brands Hatch which is an awesome track but the Indy circuit is a bit short and Paddock Hill Bend will properly write off your car if you come off there - very few 2nd chances on that one due to the angle you normally enter the gravel.

I'd reccomend Silverstone as a good one to follow Bedford, since it's wide with big run offs and no big elevation changes.

[edited to fix typos]

Edited by mrmr96 on Friday 5th February 15:45

tertius

6,914 posts

254 months

Friday 5th February 2010
quotequote all
Dan, I cannot believe you have done Bedford 6 or 7 times ... you must have a high boredom threshold ... biggrin

Silverstone would be a good follow on and no noise issues. I'll be there on 30 March with Circuit Days.

Castle Combe is 100 dB I think, I think its a great circuit but flippin heck you wouldn't want to come off - very fast and not a lot of run-off.

Munter

31,330 posts

265 months

Friday 5th February 2010
quotequote all
Assuming you don't keep throwing it off the Bedford track. Whcy not try some elevation changes. Oulton or Cadwell.

silverthorn2151

6,359 posts

203 months

Friday 5th February 2010
quotequote all
Snetterton is a good safe move up from Bedford in my view. Always seems a bit chilled out there for some reason. Brands on the other hand, great though it is, can be a bit frantic and busy.

shim

2,051 posts

232 months

Friday 5th February 2010
quotequote all
tertius said:
Silverstone would be a good follow on and no noise issues. I'll be there on 30 March with Circuit Days..
see you there

shim

2,051 posts

232 months

Friday 5th February 2010
quotequote all
Dan7357 said:
Done around 6-7 track days at bedford over the last 3 years and am now looking to move on to the next stage.

What would be a good upgrade !! (a 102db's track)

Thanks
any track next ffs

now youve mastered what it is all about and are not scared stiff like i was, all the tracks are game for a laugh

Silverstone, Donny(when open), Snetterton, Cadwell, Brands, Pembrey, Croft

Just be particularly carefull at Oulton, Mallory and Castle Combe

drakart

1,751 posts

234 months

Friday 5th February 2010
quotequote all
shim said:
tertius said:
Silverstone would be a good follow on and no noise issues. I'll be there on 30 March with Circuit Days..
see you there
Me too! With my newly rebuilt integra. It blew up at bedford...

GTMSpyder

106 posts

250 months

Friday 5th February 2010
quotequote all
Oulton is awesome and only has a couple of corners where you'd be in real trouble if you went off. Cadwell is too narrow, so it feels intimidating and you need lots of co-operation from other drivers if its busy. Rockingham is interesting but has absolutely no grip when its cold a wet....great for car control skills in a relatively safe environment though.

LuckyP

6,243 posts

249 months

Friday 5th February 2010
quotequote all
silverthorn2151 said:
Snetterton is a good safe move up from Bedford in my view. Always seems a bit chilled out there for some reason. Brands on the other hand, great though it is, can be a bit frantic and busy.
+1

Snett gets my vote. Takes it gently on to the next level. More recognisable as a Motor Racing Circuit than Bedford without the grandeur of a Silv or Brands. Plenty of time to get ready for Riches, Sear, Esses and a few good corners where you can eaily measure improvement - Bomb Hole and Coram. Simple, fast and satisfying.


Rollcage

11,345 posts

216 months

Friday 5th February 2010
quotequote all
mrmr96 said:
Silverstone is a nice circuit with big runoffs like Bedford. Also this end of the country are Castle Combe (although barriers are close in and I can't remember the noise test) or Brands Hatch which is an awesome track but the Indy circuit is a bit short and Paddock Hill Bend will properly write off your car if you come off there - very few 2nd chances on that one due to the angle you normally enter the gravel.

I'd reccomend Silverstone as a good one to follow Bedford, since it's wide with big run offs and no big elevation changes.

[edited to fix typos]

Edited by mrmr96 on Friday 5th February 15:45
Indeed. I saw a guy write off a nice Lotus Carlton at PHB a few years back. Rolled it after having got out of shape on the exit. Strange thing was, the car had never looked right all day - seemed to be sat too high.

Dan7357

Original Poster:

2,648 posts

232 months

Saturday 6th February 2010
quotequote all
Munter said:
Assuming you don't keep throwing it off the Bedford track. Whcy not try some elevation changes. Oulton or Cadwell.
Never been off the track, just getting a little bored of Bedford and also I am about to put some new cans on my car which may rule out a return to bedford !

Silverstone is getting a lot of votes.. I did a day there a few years back but as it rained in the afternoon I only did around 10 laps.

wildman0609

885 posts

200 months

Sunday 7th February 2010
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have never done a track day at cadwell but raced there several times and i reckon it would be a laugh on a track day.

elevation changes are great fun and some corners which will scare you if your quick enough. the first left hander and goose neck for example.

love snett too. riches will make you smile when you know you've done it really quick

padock hill is an experience not to be missed. spun twice there whilst racing and not caused any damage.

silverstone is also great

in fact i just love driving on any track

nick_j007

1,600 posts

226 months

Tuesday 9th February 2010
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Would Silverstone be ok as a first track day?

tertius

6,914 posts

254 months

Tuesday 9th February 2010
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nick_j007 said:
Would Silverstone be ok as a first track day?
Yes, its wide and flat, with only a couple of places where an off is really an issue. On the downside it (assuming you mean the GP or Arena circuits) is long, technical and hard to learn. Definitely worth getting instruction.

Its a great circuit. Not my favourite but one I'm happy to do again and again.

Disclaimer: I have only driven the GP circuit so can't comment on some of the other layouts.

theturbs

949 posts

260 months

Tuesday 9th February 2010
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Snetterton, Silverstone, and Brands (provided you drive within your limits) are good steps up from Bedford.

Another option is Abbeville in Northern France. Less than an hour from Calais and seriously chilled-out.

HTH

silverthorn2151

6,359 posts

203 months

Tuesday 9th February 2010
quotequote all
What I would say about Brands is that it can be a bit um frantic.

The track is often very busy and corners and braking zones come one after the other. It's a fabulous circuit but it can be difficult to be sufficiently aware of what's around / behind you.

I would try and do a day there in sessions where they match experience. You will find after Bedford, where you can have a moment to settle yourself and the car between bends, at Brands that time doesn't exist. My first track driving was at Brands. Fine now but Snett was more relaxed.

Incidently,we have been looking to visit Abbeville. Lotus on track do a lot of days there but won't allow Radicals. Anyone else running track days there? Ideally want to combine it with Le Mans Bugatti.

nick_j007

1,600 posts

226 months

Wednesday 10th February 2010
quotequote all
tertius said:
nick_j007 said:
Would Silverstone be ok as a first track day?
Yes, its wide and flat, with only a couple of places where an off is really an issue. On the downside it (assuming you mean the GP or Arena circuits) is long, technical and hard to learn. Definitely worth getting instruction.

Its a great circuit. Not my favourite but one I'm happy to do again and again.

Disclaimer: I have only driven the GP circuit so can't comment on some of the other layouts.
Thanks smile

Opens a new tab for LOT track day schedules wink

nick_j007

1,600 posts

226 months

Wednesday 10th February 2010
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Hmmm. Lotus On Track is clearly saying that a TD coming up on 18th Mar is not suitable for novice/beginners frown

I recall now why I dropped the idea.

I really want a bit of novice TD experience before going to Le Mans with LOT end of May. Looks like I'll have to polish on the Welsh roads as usual.

tertius

6,914 posts

254 months

Wednesday 10th February 2010
quotequote all
nick_j007 said:
Hmmm. Lotus On Track is clearly saying that a TD coming up on 18th Mar is not suitable for novice/beginners frown

I recall now why I dropped the idea.

I really want a bit of novice TD experience before going to Le Mans with LOT end of May. Looks like I'll have to polish on the Welsh roads as usual.
I'm at Silverstone with Circuit Days on March 30 - I have an Elise as well.