Track Day Newbie. Advise please.
Discussion
Hi Guys,
Right I would like to take my S2000 on a track day. I'm in west wales so would like to go to Pembrey as it's close (ish) to me. Is this track ok for beginners or would I be better off going somewhere else first?
Tyres... how much tread will I use on a typical track day? Are 2 sets of tyres needed or will I be ok with 6mm of tread on my tyres to get there and get home after the track day?
Anything else you guys can suggest to make it a nice first experience? What tools etc should I take with me?
I know I should probably look at doing a service and some brake pads a week or so before going on the track.
Right I would like to take my S2000 on a track day. I'm in west wales so would like to go to Pembrey as it's close (ish) to me. Is this track ok for beginners or would I be better off going somewhere else first?
Tyres... how much tread will I use on a typical track day? Are 2 sets of tyres needed or will I be ok with 6mm of tread on my tyres to get there and get home after the track day?
Anything else you guys can suggest to make it a nice first experience? What tools etc should I take with me?
I know I should probably look at doing a service and some brake pads a week or so before going on the track.
james_gt3rs said:
As long as you do 5-10 lap sessions at a time, your brakes and tyres will be fine, seen loads of S2000s lapping all day.
Don't forget to bring oil if your car burns any.
That's good to know and yes my car does burn a little so I'm guessing it will be exaggerated on the track.Don't forget to bring oil if your car burns any.
Thanks for the reply.
Trev450 said:
Pembrey is quite a technical circuit but plenty of room to make mistakes. 
It would possibly be worth having a session with one of the instructors to learn the lines as they are not that obvious.
Yes thats something I will deffo look into. I would be nervous as hell doing it on my own from the off. It would possibly be worth having a session with one of the instructors to learn the lines as they are not that obvious. Thanks.
Hi.
Pembrey's a great track! I go there whenever I can as I find it's a track that's easy enough to learn, very difficult to perfect and rewarding to drive. It's ok for beginners too, (including me!) there are things that you could hit, but there's as much run off as you'll get at most other circuits. The speeds you get up to aren't too high either, most of the corners are relatively slow.
I'll be going there on 6th of September with Motorsport Events. They are one of the better organisers if you want to be around other drivers that are safe and not have too many people booked into the track day. I'll be in my S2000 too.
I find the brakes to be the weakest link with mine. Especially when I first started out doing track days as you tend to brake more then people that know what they're doing and have done lots of track days. You'll need some performance brake pads that can hanndle the heat, preferably front and rear as the rears get hotter than the fronts do.
Tyre wise you'll be fine if you've got 6mm of tread on normal road tyres, you'll hardly wear them really. I use Federal 595 RS-R semi slicks which wear faster than road tyres and I can get several track days out of them.
Tool wise take whatever you can although with an S2000 you'll struggle to fit much in the boot! I take a spare full size wheel/tyre, a 20 litre Jerry can plus mine and my Mrs' crash helmets which pretty much fills the boot. A few tools, cable ties, tape, a tyre pump, all our food and camping chairs get crammed in too, some of it behind our seats.
I'd change the engine oil and filter before the trak day too, you want to give the engine the most protection you can when you're driving it as hard as you will ever be able to.
I'm heading to Anglesey on 19th of August with Javelin Track Days too. Not sure how far that is from you? That day will be busier and more chaotic though.
If you search for 'Honda S2000 Track Day Pembrey' on Youtube you'll probably find videos I've taken at Pembrey so you'll be able to see what it's like.
Pembrey's a great track! I go there whenever I can as I find it's a track that's easy enough to learn, very difficult to perfect and rewarding to drive. It's ok for beginners too, (including me!) there are things that you could hit, but there's as much run off as you'll get at most other circuits. The speeds you get up to aren't too high either, most of the corners are relatively slow.
I'll be going there on 6th of September with Motorsport Events. They are one of the better organisers if you want to be around other drivers that are safe and not have too many people booked into the track day. I'll be in my S2000 too.
I find the brakes to be the weakest link with mine. Especially when I first started out doing track days as you tend to brake more then people that know what they're doing and have done lots of track days. You'll need some performance brake pads that can hanndle the heat, preferably front and rear as the rears get hotter than the fronts do.
Tyre wise you'll be fine if you've got 6mm of tread on normal road tyres, you'll hardly wear them really. I use Federal 595 RS-R semi slicks which wear faster than road tyres and I can get several track days out of them.
Tool wise take whatever you can although with an S2000 you'll struggle to fit much in the boot! I take a spare full size wheel/tyre, a 20 litre Jerry can plus mine and my Mrs' crash helmets which pretty much fills the boot. A few tools, cable ties, tape, a tyre pump, all our food and camping chairs get crammed in too, some of it behind our seats.
I'd change the engine oil and filter before the trak day too, you want to give the engine the most protection you can when you're driving it as hard as you will ever be able to.
I'm heading to Anglesey on 19th of August with Javelin Track Days too. Not sure how far that is from you? That day will be busier and more chaotic though.
If you search for 'Honda S2000 Track Day Pembrey' on Youtube you'll probably find videos I've taken at Pembrey so you'll be able to see what it's like.
Edited by Broomer on Wednesday 15th July 18:06
Broomer said:
Hi.
Pembrey's a great track! I go there whenever I can as I find it's a track that's easy enough to learn, very difficult to perfect and rewarding to drive. It's ok for beginners too, (including me!) there are things that you could hit, but there's as much run off as you'll get at most other circuits. The speeds you get up to aren't too high either, most of the corners are relatively slow.
I'll be going there on 6th of September with Motorsport Events. They are one of the better organisers if you want to be around other drivers that are safe and not have too many people booked into the track day. I'll be in my S2000 too.
I find the brakes to be the weakest link with mine. Especially when I first started out doing track days as you tend to brake more then people that know what they're doing and have done lots of track days. You'll need some performance brake pads that can hanndle the heat, preferably front and rear as the rears get hotter than the fronts do.
Tyre wise you'll be fine if you've got 6mm of tread on normal road tyres, you'll hardly wear them really. I use Federal 595 RS-R semi slicks which wear faster than road tyres and I can get several track days out of them.
Tool wise take whatever you can although with an S2000 you'll struggle to fit much in the boot! I take a spare full size wheel/tyre, a 20 litre Jerry can plus mine and my Mrs' crash helmets which pretty much fills the boot. A few tools, cable ties, tape, a tyre pump, all our food and camping chairs get crammed in too, some of it behind our seats.
I'd change the engine oil and filter before the trak day too, you want to give the engine the most protection you can when you're driving it as hard as you will ever be able to.
I'm heading to Anglesey on 19th of August with Javelin Track Days too. Not sure how far that is from you? That day will be busier and more chaotic though.
If you search for 'Honda S2000 Track Day Pembrey' on Youtube you'll probably find videos I've taken at Pembrey so you'll be able to see what it's like.
This is pretty much spot on couldn't have said anything better myself.Pembrey's a great track! I go there whenever I can as I find it's a track that's easy enough to learn, very difficult to perfect and rewarding to drive. It's ok for beginners too, (including me!) there are things that you could hit, but there's as much run off as you'll get at most other circuits. The speeds you get up to aren't too high either, most of the corners are relatively slow.
I'll be going there on 6th of September with Motorsport Events. They are one of the better organisers if you want to be around other drivers that are safe and not have too many people booked into the track day. I'll be in my S2000 too.
I find the brakes to be the weakest link with mine. Especially when I first started out doing track days as you tend to brake more then people that know what they're doing and have done lots of track days. You'll need some performance brake pads that can hanndle the heat, preferably front and rear as the rears get hotter than the fronts do.
Tyre wise you'll be fine if you've got 6mm of tread on normal road tyres, you'll hardly wear them really. I use Federal 595 RS-R semi slicks which wear faster than road tyres and I can get several track days out of them.
Tool wise take whatever you can although with an S2000 you'll struggle to fit much in the boot! I take a spare full size wheel/tyre, a 20 litre Jerry can plus mine and my Mrs' crash helmets which pretty much fills the boot. A few tools, cable ties, tape, a tyre pump, all our food and camping chairs get crammed in too, some of it behind our seats.
I'd change the engine oil and filter before the trak day too, you want to give the engine the most protection you can when you're driving it as hard as you will ever be able to.
I'm heading to Anglesey on 19th of August with Javelin Track Days too. Not sure how far that is from you? That day will be busier and more chaotic though.
If you search for 'Honda S2000 Track Day Pembrey' on Youtube you'll probably find videos I've taken at Pembrey so you'll be able to see what it's like.
Edited by Broomer on Wednesday 15th July 18:06
Im also a regular to pembrey well been there once this year and going again on the 6th which is also my birthday.
I will say though as a newbie maybe trying out llandow first to get to grips with track driving they have sessions in the morning for different experience groups then go open pit in the afternoon. Both llandow and pembrey offer different experiences and due to them being so close you will normally catch a few same people at each event.
I will be at both llandow on august 8th and pembrey September 6th in my exocet kit car come say hi if your attending any of the days above.
All great advice. Thanks so much for all these replys guys. Much appreciated. This is deffinately making me more confident about going on a track day.
Regarding the brake pads. I'm going for Ferodo DS2500. I was told these would be suitable for road and track. Any thoughts?
Regarding the brake pads. I'm going for Ferodo DS2500. I was told these would be suitable for road and track. Any thoughts?
- EDIT* I have just been reaing the S2KI link and it actually advises those pads. This makes me happy
Edited by Shnev91 on Thursday 16th July 08:58
)MG CHRIS said:
This is pretty much spot on couldn't have said anything better myself.
Im also a regular to pembrey well been there once this year and going again on the 6th which is also my birthday.
I will say though as a newbie maybe trying out llandow first to get to grips with track driving they have sessions in the morning for different experience groups then go open pit in the afternoon. Both llandow and pembrey offer different experiences and due to them being so close you will normally catch a few same people at each event.
I will be at both llandow on august 8th and pembrey September 6th in my exocet kit car come say hi if your attending any of the days above.
I was there last month too on 20th June. I did see your Exocet out on track a couple of times (it's black or quite a dark colour isn't it?), they're quick for what they are!Im also a regular to pembrey well been there once this year and going again on the 6th which is also my birthday.
I will say though as a newbie maybe trying out llandow first to get to grips with track driving they have sessions in the morning for different experience groups then go open pit in the afternoon. Both llandow and pembrey offer different experiences and due to them being so close you will normally catch a few same people at each event.
I will be at both llandow on august 8th and pembrey September 6th in my exocet kit car come say hi if your attending any of the days above.
I've been to Llandow a few times too. I find it good fun when I'm there if a little repetative. I do find it's harder on the tyres than many other places are so even though the entry's cheap it ends up costing the same if not more in total than it can at other more entertaining tracks as your almost constantly cornering right handed. The two stops are quite agressive too.
Also there are a few regulars that don't like letting others past them, they keep the throttle pinned all the way up the straights whilst only accasionally moving over at the same time to tempt you to try and get past them even though they're not really letting you do so....
I've seen some near misses there too.
Having said that I'll still go again because it is fun!
Shnev91 said:
Regarding the brake pads. I'm going for Ferodo DS2500. I was told these would be suitable for road and track. Any thoughts?
Yes the Ferodos will be fine for you, they're quite good for the money.- EDIT* I have just been reaing the S2KI link and it actually advises those pads. This makes me happy
Broomer said:
MG CHRIS said:
This is pretty much spot on couldn't have said anything better myself.
Im also a regular to pembrey well been there once this year and going again on the 6th which is also my birthday.
I will say though as a newbie maybe trying out llandow first to get to grips with track driving they have sessions in the morning for different experience groups then go open pit in the afternoon. Both llandow and pembrey offer different experiences and due to them being so close you will normally catch a few same people at each event.
I will be at both llandow on august 8th and pembrey September 6th in my exocet kit car come say hi if your attending any of the days above.
I was there last month too on 20th June. I did see your Exocet out on track a couple of times (it's black or quite a dark colour isn't it?), they're quick for what they are!Im also a regular to pembrey well been there once this year and going again on the 6th which is also my birthday.
I will say though as a newbie maybe trying out llandow first to get to grips with track driving they have sessions in the morning for different experience groups then go open pit in the afternoon. Both llandow and pembrey offer different experiences and due to them being so close you will normally catch a few same people at each event.
I will be at both llandow on august 8th and pembrey September 6th in my exocet kit car come say hi if your attending any of the days above.
I've been to Llandow a few times too. I find it good fun when I'm there if a little repetative. I do find it's harder on the tyres than many other places are so even though the entry's cheap it ends up costing the same if not more in total than it can at other more entertaining tracks as your almost constantly cornering right handed. The two stops are quite agressive too.
Also there are a few regulars that don't like letting others past them, they keep the throttle pinned all the way up the straights whilst only accasionally moving over at the same time to tempt you to try and get past them even though they're not really letting you do so....
I've seen some near misses there too.
Having said that I'll still go again because it is fun!
Shnev91 said:
Regarding the brake pads. I'm going for Ferodo DS2500. I was told these would be suitable for road and track. Any thoughts?
Yes the Ferodos will be fine for you, they're quite good for the money.- EDIT* I have just been reaing the S2KI link and it actually advises those pads. This makes me happy
I be back down pembrey on the 6th so if your there well both of you pop by more than welcome to take you out in the exocet.
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