Own everyday car or dedicated track car
Discussion
Interested in everyones views on the following Dilemma...
I have a Mazda 3 MPS and would like to do maybe three or four track days a year.
Thinking of just taking the Mazda or buying something for a couple of grand and throwing a cage in, buckets etc or buying something already done, so it would be a dedicated tack car.
I have done several track days such as Palmera couple of times but still a relative novice!
How many have gone done the first or second route? common problem I think.
I have a Mazda 3 MPS and would like to do maybe three or four track days a year.
Thinking of just taking the Mazda or buying something for a couple of grand and throwing a cage in, buckets etc or buying something already done, so it would be a dedicated tack car.
I have done several track days such as Palmera couple of times but still a relative novice!
How many have gone done the first or second route? common problem I think.
For 3 to 4 days per year renting, especially if sharing with another driver, is by far the most cost effective option against a buying a dedicated track toy.
If you are prepared to take the risk with your daily driver then the calculations become very blurred. The true cost of the track days can be lost in annual costs of running the car, assuming no major incidents at track.
Barry
If you are prepared to take the risk with your daily driver then the calculations become very blurred. The true cost of the track days can be lost in annual costs of running the car, assuming no major incidents at track.
Barry
wackojacko said:
in the instance with your own car if you have any driving talent at all you should adopt the ancient art of "driving within your limits and NOT crashing"
True, but accidents do happen.We've been doing trackdays for around 6 years now and attend around 30 or so a year. We used to have a road legal trackday car that we would drive to and from the circuit. Apart from the odd altenator or starter failr (and one big end failure) we got away with it...
Until November last year my wife (who has been driving on circuit as long as I) has a little off at Eua Rouge at Spa. Even though the damage was purely cosmetic (we could drive it home) and the car was insured for track use; it still has cost us a fair bit in time, inconvenience and hassle sorting out all the insurance.
It also meant we had to go out and buy another banger as a runabout whilst the car was in the bodyshop.
I would definately opt for the hire or dedicated option
Taking your own car is fine when its dry but in the wet most circuits are seriously slippy.
With a dedicated trackcar on a wet track, it can be very rewarding. A slow/cheap car will get to its limits quicker and you'll find that the fast rear wheel drive cars become alot slower. But, if you make a mistake in the wet it will result in a spin or an off.
I ran a dedicated cheap front wheel drive for 2yrs, had a few spins in the dry, loads in the wet plus a touch with some armco (Wet Oulton Park).
With a dedicated car its more fun.
With a dedicated trackcar on a wet track, it can be very rewarding. A slow/cheap car will get to its limits quicker and you'll find that the fast rear wheel drive cars become alot slower. But, if you make a mistake in the wet it will result in a spin or an off.
I ran a dedicated cheap front wheel drive for 2yrs, had a few spins in the dry, loads in the wet plus a touch with some armco (Wet Oulton Park).
With a dedicated car its more fun.
i done my first trackday friday,i used my classic wrx,i did also use this car everyday,depends on your finances ,i am going to use the wrx for trackdays only now,just bort another car to use, as trackdays take alot out of it,brakes ect,if you only want to do afew you maybe ok.
Edited by oxskyline on Monday 28th February 18:38
Personally I'd say a dedicated track car if you can. I have a BMW z4 that I did a few track days with, but tyres and brakes were an issue, and it was cheaper to buy and insure a 2nd car. plus if I put it into a barrier I can't get to work so bought a £800 205 gti that was already sorted for track (stripped out, cobra seats, roll cage) not bothered if it breaks and I actually enjoy working on it, have changed starter and alternator and done a few other bits too it. Doesn't have the power on the straights the BMW had but I find it more fun in corners and not scared to put it on the kerbs or explore the limits in it.
All depends on finances surely? if you want and can afford a dedicated car then go for it!
they can seem a waste of money though.... I have a 500bhp Cossie Westfield, an Exige S, and a properly prepared clio 172.
and you know what? for 6 months of the year I think I must be mad
and sometimes kick my self for the 100k plus that I have sunk into them over last 2 years...
but on some special special days... it ALL seems worth it!!!
Personally though if you are only doing 3-4 days a year... do it in your own car and enjoy it as it is and drive it at 90% rather than balls out!
better pads and brake fluid will transform the brakes I bet... as will a set of proper track rubber.
I wouldnt be scared of hiring a book a track caterham either! look great fun and great value
they can seem a waste of money though.... I have a 500bhp Cossie Westfield, an Exige S, and a properly prepared clio 172.
and you know what? for 6 months of the year I think I must be mad
and sometimes kick my self for the 100k plus that I have sunk into them over last 2 years... but on some special special days... it ALL seems worth it!!!
Personally though if you are only doing 3-4 days a year... do it in your own car and enjoy it as it is and drive it at 90% rather than balls out!
better pads and brake fluid will transform the brakes I bet... as will a set of proper track rubber.
I wouldnt be scared of hiring a book a track caterham either! look great fun and great value
Edited by Porkie on Monday 28th February 20:01
Depends on what you want out of a track day.
Personally for me the whole point is taking “my car” that I already enjoy on the road and pushing it harder to really explore the limits on track.
I am fully aware a proper track prepped car would be quicker and more suited to the task but not necessarily more fun as I find reaching the limits of my own, familiar car's abilities more interesting than travelling at a similar or faster speed in a more competent car.
Buying a track only car for me would mean driving something much more mundane as a daily to fund it. I enjoy about 10k road miles and 4 track days is probably less than 800miles a year.
I do agree that should anything break or I damage it, it’s far from ideal when needing to get to work in it the very next day but its still the best option for me.
Personally for me the whole point is taking “my car” that I already enjoy on the road and pushing it harder to really explore the limits on track.
I am fully aware a proper track prepped car would be quicker and more suited to the task but not necessarily more fun as I find reaching the limits of my own, familiar car's abilities more interesting than travelling at a similar or faster speed in a more competent car.
Buying a track only car for me would mean driving something much more mundane as a daily to fund it. I enjoy about 10k road miles and 4 track days is probably less than 800miles a year.
I do agree that should anything break or I damage it, it’s far from ideal when needing to get to work in it the very next day but its still the best option for me.
For 3-4 days a year I think you should at least start with your Mazda and see how it goes. It depends on what you want out of trackdays but I agree with the viewpoint about enjoying your own car in a safer environment than the public roads.
If you then find the Mazda isn't doing it for you, trying renting - you could try a few different cars without the hassle of buying/maintaining your own dedicated car, e.g. Caterhams from bookatrack and MX5s and E30 BMWs from Javelin.
Don't forget you need a trailer and an appropriate tow car if you want your own track car - way too much cost/hassle for a few days per year, in my opinion.
If you then find the Mazda isn't doing it for you, trying renting - you could try a few different cars without the hassle of buying/maintaining your own dedicated car, e.g. Caterhams from bookatrack and MX5s and E30 BMWs from Javelin.
Don't forget you need a trailer and an appropriate tow car if you want your own track car - way too much cost/hassle for a few days per year, in my opinion.
braddo said:
For 3-4 days a year I think you should at least start with your Mazda and see how it goes. It depends on what you want out of trackdays but I agree with the viewpoint about enjoying your own car in a safer environment than the public roads.
If you then find the Mazda isn't doing it for you, trying renting - you could try a few different cars without the hassle of buying/maintaining your own dedicated car, e.g. Caterhams from bookatrack and MX5s and E30 BMWs from Javelin.
Don't forget you need a trailer and an appropriate tow car if you want your own track car - way too much cost/hassle for a few days per year, in my opinion.
totally agreeIf you then find the Mazda isn't doing it for you, trying renting - you could try a few different cars without the hassle of buying/maintaining your own dedicated car, e.g. Caterhams from bookatrack and MX5s and E30 BMWs from Javelin.
Don't forget you need a trailer and an appropriate tow car if you want your own track car - way too much cost/hassle for a few days per year, in my opinion.
apart from the fact that you dont have to trailer dedictaed trackcars. They can be road legal
Porkie said:
totally agree
apart from the fact that you dont have to trailer dedictaed trackcars. They can be road legal
True, I was being presumptuous about a 'cheap' dedicated track car not being road legal apart from the fact that you dont have to trailer dedictaed trackcars. They can be road legal
, but my point was there will be costs either way - trailer on the one hand, MOT/tax/insurance on the other.Those funds might be better spent on track days in the Mazda and/or renting.
shoestring7 said:
tertius said:
Rent.
Any links?SS7
Bookatrack
Javelin
And for foreign:
Rent-racecar
RSR Nurburg
rent4ring
I'm sure there are others.
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