First Track Day

[Farrant]

Thinking of going on my first track day, just a few things not sure of: which is the best track? cheapest? waht do i need? and finally, will I look like a c*ck in a 1.1 saxo?

[LaurenceFrost]

The old saying is that you'll have fun in literally anything on track, but in reality, in something that painfully slow you'll just end up spending your whole day looking in your mirror watching out for other drivers and moving over. You would not get one single lap without being disturbed and needing to move.

Definitely wait until you have something a bit faster, or look at one of the many excellent track day organisers on here who can hire you a half-decent track car for the day. If it's too expensive, then split of with a friend.

[Farrant]

was thinking that it'd b too slow, handles well though, good fun on twisty b roads, might just wait till I've got a VTS (planned second car)

[thequietone]

Take it to Abbeville - great little circuit, little used over the winter so pretty quiet and it's very short and twisty so you're little car wont feel that short of puff - good place to learn too as the speed is fairly low.

http://www.lotus-on-track.com/circuit_guide/abbevi...

[mrmr96]

Different cars tend to go on different days. Generally speaking (this is a VERY general generalisation!) you'll find faster cars on the more expensive days and slower cars on the cheaper days. I suggest you look at the Castle Combe Action Days, or the Knockhill Hot Hatch Days, depending where you live.

http://www.castlecombecircuit.co.uk/events/Action_...
http://www.knockhill.com/events/hot_hatch_car_trac...

Steer clear of Gold Track and RMA as while they are nice people your car would certainly not fit in. A full list of ATDO members is here:
http://www.atdo.co.uk/atdo.php?pg=members&ls=a...

Maybe call a few of the TDO's up and ask if your car is suitable. I would personally suggest that it is not, and you'd have more fun (and more importantly be safer - think cooked brakes) by hiring a track car. You can get things like track prepared MX5's and 205 GTi's etc from here:
http://www.pistonheads.com/trackdays/carhire.asp

There's also a beginners guide to trackdays here:
http://www.pistonheads.com/trackdays/index.asp?sto...

That should be about enough to be getting on with.

[ginettajoe]

Farrant said:

Thinking of going on my first track day, just a few things not sure of: which is the best track? cheapest? waht do i need? and finally, will I look like a c*ck in a 1.1 saxo?

You & your car would be fine here! :- www.thetrackdayclub.co.uk

[agent006]

thequietone said:

Take it to Abbeville - great little circuit, little used over the winter so pretty quiet and it's very short and twisty so you're little car wont feel that short of puff - good place to learn too as the speed is fairly low.

http://www.lotus-on-track.com/circuit_guide/abbevi...

LoT won't allow a Saxo (or any non-sportscar) by the look of things.

[Mrs Muttleysnoop]

Get yourself on a novice day, MSV do them.

[Petrolthreads]

I agree a novice day is a good idea and try and get some mates or other sax drivers from the forums to come along too, MSV use Bedford which is very safe if you have an off as I assume the Saxo is your everyday car

[Farrant]

cheers for advice, I think a might try novice day at snetterton. Would I need anything else? Helmet? How much petrol?

[mrmr96]

Farrant said:

cheers for advice, I think a might try novice day at snetterton. Would I need anything else? Helmet? How much petrol?

You'll need to wear a helmet but many organisers allow you to rent one for about £10 or £20 for the day. Call to check though.

Yes, you'll need petrol! My car does sub 10mpg on track, so I brim it at the nearest shell to the track (45 liters) and also take three 20 litre jerry cans and I tend to have about 20 litres left in the tank by the end of the day to get to the petrol station after.

I expect your car will be less thirsty. You can exit the track at lunch break and fill up. The reason I use cans is because I often swap my wheels for slicks, so I can't easily pop out at lunch for more petrol as that would involve two additional wheel swaps. Jerry cans are about £20 each from somewhere like Machine Mart. Don't forget to get a spout or a funnel.

[Farrant]

ok thanks all. hope to be seeing you on track soon :-D

[PetrolHeadSeb]

Farrant said:

cheers for advice, I think a might try novice day at snetterton. Would I need anything else? Helmet? How much petrol?

I use a Saxo VTS on track and it drank just over half a tank of petrol on a novice day at Snetterton. So if you fill up first you shouldn't need to worry about it

[Mrs Muttleysnoop]

Snetterton is a good choice for your first track day. There is petrol at the track but it is about £1.40 per litre, at the briefing you will be told how to get to the nearest petrol station off site. Remember your driving licence, take plenty of water to drink. Check your car over and make sure your wheel nuts are tight. Most importantly enjoy yourself and get some instruction.

[HVAC MATT]

Mrs Muttleysnoop said:

Snetterton is a good choice for your first track day. There is petrol at the track but it is about £1.40 per litre, at the briefing you will be told how to get to the nearest petrol station off site. Remember your driving licence, take plenty of water to drink. Check your car over and make sure your wheel nuts are tight. Most importantly take a book for the strait.

[Mrs Muttleysnoop]

There is not a strait at Snetts but there is a straight!!!!

[BertBert]

at risk of being argumentative, I'd suggest *not* brimming your car with petrol before going on track. Quite a few cars will piss it out going round the corners which is not the best idea.

Bert

[mrmr96]

BertBert said:

at risk of being argumentative, I'd suggest *not* brimming your car with petrol before going on track. Quite a few cars will piss it out going round the corners which is not the best idea.

Bert

Surely if you have a screw type filler cap then that should keep the fuel in the tank? I must admit I've not witnessed this problem on track before.

[Jon Doe]

Beware of the 'Action Days' at Castle Combe (do a search on hee about them) as the track time is short, but the drivers dont stick to the rules much and end up overtaking in corners and breaking zones (where they put up 'no overtaking' signs).
I havnt yet seen anybody flagged on a Castle Combe action day (at the airfield days I go to people get flagged for breaking the rules).
There is a huge variety of cars often grouped together, so not a good first time track day/ experience. Can lead to for instance a bunch of Evos overtaking during a corner.
I think this clip may be an action day from Castle Combe... Oh yes, big cars overtaking little car on a corner...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-9bhZUlavc

[phil pdp]

Jon Doe said:

Beware of the 'Action Days' at Castle Combe (do a search on hee about them) as the track time is short, but the drivers dont stick to the rules much and end up overtaking in corners and breaking zones (where they put up 'no overtaking' signs).
I havnt yet seen anybody flagged on a Castle Combe action day (at the airfield days I go to people get flagged for breaking the rules).
There is a huge variety of cars often grouped together, so not a good first time track day/ experience. Can lead to for instance a bunch of Evos overtaking during a corner.
I think this clip may be an action day from Castle Combe... Oh yes, big cars overtaking little car on a corner...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-9bhZUlavc

That clip is from a race with different classes, not an action day.