Tuition vs seat time on track

[aww999]

Hi guys, I have done four or five track days over the last six months, and I am enjoying it immensely. However, I am really frustrated with my total lack of talent! I really don't feel like I am getting any more than 50 or 60% of the pace my car is capable of, and when I'm out on track I settle into a groove quite early on, and never go any faster all day. When I try and go faster, I check the mirrors, grit my teeth, clench the wheel, stab at the pedals, and (surprise, surprise) normally end up on the grass! I realise I am never going to be properly fast, and it doesn't bother me, but like all of us my main enjoyment on track is from getting the car going as fast as possible, which isn't happening at the moment. One day I hope to overtake someone, but that is a far-off dream at the moment

I have booked a few 20 min training slots on these trackdays, but they seem to be geared much more to learning the right lines (important I know) than teaching me how best to drive the car. I would like to book a full day of tuition from a good instructor, and I am sure it would benefit me. However, my trackday budget is only about £250 a month so if I book an instructor for a day on track next month, that means it will be two - three months before I can afford to get back out there!

After so few trackdays, I still consider myself a total newbie, so would welcome peoples opinions - should I get some tuition at this early stage, or should I spend my money on a couple of extra track days to get used to the car first? I am concerned that I know so little that an instructor would be wasted on me, eg teaching me things at this early stage that I could learn by myself with a bit of perseverance.

Oh, background info: I drive a Fisher Fury 2.0l Zetec, and most of my track experience has been at Bedford GT. The track is very close to me and the big run off areas have already proved invaluable! (I would love to try Cadwell Park but not until I know what I am doing!) The car is quite new to me, I've had big heavy turbo cars before but never used them on track. I've made myself sound like a total numpty in this post, but I can do the basics like successfully steering into a slide out of the hairpins, I think I lack confidence in the faster corners more than anything.

[tertius]

I would try something like a Car Limits day with Andy Walsh (normally at North Weald airfield, so probably reasonably handy) or Don Palmer's Limit Handling day.

These will both help you understand the car and yourself much much better and give you more confidence on track.

I would also look into a more substantial chunk of tuition on a track day, say half a day or even a full day. Its really intense and draining, but well worth it in my opinion. There are several instructors who post on here, who will certainly be able to help, or the TDO will probably be able to sdort something out, or if you mail me, I'll happily give the contact details for the guy I use, who I think is excellent.

[gtdc]

Sounds like you need to book 2 or 3 20 minute sessions on your next day but make sure you speak to the organiser first. Go through what you'd like to achieve and he will match you up with an instructor that will suit your needs.

Make a point of meeting your instructor when you sign on and talk about what you'd like to plan for your sessions. Do not be shy to talk to your instructor through the day, even if it's not your tuition time. He will be interested to hear how you are getting on and will appreciate the thought you are putting into it.

Melindi

[aww999]

Thanks for the response. I totally forgot to say, I did a four-person Car Limits day with Andy Walsh way back in September. That was my first ever time on track, with my old Mk1 MR2. I definitely learnt about the basics of car control, and it improved my steering technique immensely. I think that is why I am getting so frustrated now, because he taught me how little I know!

[aww999]

Another issue I just thought of - my car is a Spyder (no roof, no windscreen), so I wear a full face helmet which makes conversation difficult! Melindi, your suggestion is excellent (I've been on a Gold Track day before and it was great) but would any of your instructors have an intercom system?

[Chris71]

I think there are two sides to this. Firstly there's car control, which is probably best learnt on a deserted airfield with someone like Andy Walsh (as mentioned above). Unless you're doing something pretty wrong it's unlikely that you'll pick up too much of this in conventional track day tuition. What it will teach you, however, is a much better appreciation of the lines etc on that particular track.

I did some tuition at Bedford last year having already been out for a few sessions on my own and it really helped with the lines. Car Limits (Andy Walsh's day at North Weald) was far more use for car control though - on an airfielf (with a mad Welshman yelling at you to do so) you can push things to the point where you will spin, which is obviously a very bad idea on a normal track day.

[gtdc]

All good instructors will have an intercom. We use bike ones which cost pennies but give good sound quality. Again, talk about it with the organiser and make sure that's teed up.

Melindi

[taffyracer]

best bet is to miss a trackday and put the saving towards a decent instrcutor for 1 to 1, Simon Mason is very good, do less but do more of the right things if budget is the issue

[Chris71]

gtdc said:

All good instructors will have an intercom. We use bike ones which cost pennies but give good sound quality. Again, talk about it with the organiser and make sure that's teed up.

Good point. I've had some tuition in my Seven without an intercom and it consistedly largely of hand signals! Even then it was worth the money for a half hour session, but an intercom would have been miles better, so will check ahead next time. Of course I got my own back - my passenger seat was rather loose (firmly anchored but moving) and he had to hang on round every turn. To be fair the guy didn't utter a single complaint. At least I don't think so.