Cadwell - number of cars attending

[braddo]

What's a sensible number of cars for an OPL day at Cadwell that avoids too much queueing and tailbacks on track?

From what I can see some TDOs allow 60-70 cars. But because the track is quite narrow and windy, it seems that there are fewer obvious spots for slower cars to let others past and people get stuck in a procession while on track (e.g. latest photos on the track day photo thread).

I'd love to do a day at Cadwell but it's a long way for me to get to, and I'd get a bit annoyed going all that way just to constantly be in traffic on track...

[Berger]

braddo said:

What's a sensible number of cars for an OPL day at Cadwell that avoids too much queueing and tailbacks on track?

From what I can see some TDOs allow 60-70 cars. But because the track is quite narrow and windy, it seems that there are fewer obvious spots for slower cars to let others past and people get stuck in a procession while on track (e.g. latest photos on the track day photo thread).

I'd love to do a day at Cadwell but it's a long way for me to get to, and I'd get a bit annoyed going all that way just to constantly be in traffic on track...

On my picture that was the worst time of the day.

Massive variations in talent/cars coupled with it being first thing in the morning caused a few queues.

The video posted gives a more true representation of the day, with it obviously getting quieter as the day went on to being able to lap without any hold ups from 2:30 onwards.

I believe there was 75 or more cars there on the day, with some having more than one driver so getting plenty of use.

Pay your money and take your choices, that day was cheap at only £99 so some traffic is to be expected, pay more and expect less cars but check with the organiser on amounts first!

Depending on peoples ability you can pass other cars in quite a few places, the shorter straights and on some of the longer bends by consent (I am happy to indicate and let people by in the bends save holding people up), but if its mostly a novice day then just the two main straights really.

[edh]

Plenty of places to get past (by consent ) at Cadwell, I wouldn't worry.

Much depends on the TDO & drivers - you might find it's busy if there are lots of reds.

I think I've been held up more at Silverstone - where some slower but more powerful cars have plenty of long straights to pull out a gap before dawdling through the next bend...

[grahamn]

edh said:

Plenty of places to get past (by consent ) at Cadwell, I wouldn't worry.

Much depends on the TDO & drivers - you might find it's busy if there are lots of reds.

I think I've been held up more at Silverstone - where some slower but more powerful cars have plenty of long straights to pull out a gap before dawdling through the next bend...

+1 done a couple of days at Cadwell and never really had a problem.

[jonnyleroux]

I personally think that 70+ cars is far too many for Cadwell Park. However, I will also concede that we don't tend to run track days there - because in my experience there's no market for people who are prepared to pay 50% more to have half as may cars there. As such, we're always the most expensive organiser to visit Cadwell, the flip-side being it will feel like a private day in comparison to one with 75 cars booked on.

We're there on the 20th April and will have ~40 cars there if anyone wants to pop along to see the difference, they're welcome to.

Jonny
BaT

[drakart]

I must admit i've never had a really busy day at Cadwell and I have been there so many times that I have lost count. I tend to stick with just a few companies when booking as some attract more idiots than others... If you have a really fast car with downforce ie Radical, then you will rarely have a clear lap even when its very quiet.
The main problem is red flags as previously mentioned which tend to occur in the mornings when the first timers tend to go off.

I would say that a 45 car day is usual, but i have been on days with only 15-20 cars (MSV run) leaving the afternoon completely clear to have some amazing sessions out on track (most people leave early). I would say with the shape and width of the track, it's not the numbers of cars, but the quality of the drivers. Oh and get instruction for your first visit at least!!

[Steve H]

I'm helping to run a day there next Friday (25th) which is going out at £150, no more than 50-55 cars and free ARDS instruction available, still a few spaces left, cough,cough.

With those kind of numbers we should have no queueing and space on track should be well within sensible limits.

Cadwell isn't too bad for overtaking as there are enough straights for the cars and drivers to sort themselves out. I'd agree with a couple of the comments above though, the pace at there does depend more on driver than car (relative to other tracks) and instruction will make a huge difference .

Steve H

[Dimski]

My last 2 days at Cadwell have been unsold. The first of those two there was 13 cars there. The second, about 20. Amazing stuff, the first one particularly was like exclusive track time.

[8pot]

I have a day booked with my firm Apex Trackdays (www.apextrackdays.co.uk) on 12th May for £160 including free second driver and passenger. The maximum booked on for the day will be 60 cars, as recommended by the circuit.
Mike