Wish me luck, first track day tomorrow.
Discussion
Is that with Mazda on Track?
I did a day with them last year, with a standard Mk1 and had a great time. They're really friendly and helpful too. As above I started off relatively slowly and then went quicker and quicker through the day. I also paid a bit extra for the one to one tuition and that helped me pick much better lines on certain corners.
You'll have a great time I'm sure.
I did a day with them last year, with a standard Mk1 and had a great time. They're really friendly and helpful too. As above I started off relatively slowly and then went quicker and quicker through the day. I also paid a bit extra for the one to one tuition and that helped me pick much better lines on certain corners.
You'll have a great time I'm sure.
As above. Most important thing is to enjoy it. There will be some very fast/experienced track drivers but I also doubt you'll be the only newbie.
The fast/experienced drivers should have the patience and sense to recognise a newbie and give you the time and space you need.
Make sure the car is up to it: Check there is plenty of meat on all 4 brakes, tyres have plenty of tread left, check the oil, coolant, brake fluid are topped up.
You will love it. The car will come alive in way that you will never experience on the road.
Don't forget your licence!!!
The fast/experienced drivers should have the patience and sense to recognise a newbie and give you the time and space you need.
Make sure the car is up to it: Check there is plenty of meat on all 4 brakes, tyres have plenty of tread left, check the oil, coolant, brake fluid are topped up.
You will love it. The car will come alive in way that you will never experience on the road.
Don't forget your licence!!!
I think they're doing sessions by experience aren't they? I'm sure you won't be the only novice there. Just build up your confidence over the day, and see if you can get some passenger rides with some of the more experienced drivers, you'll pick up some great tips just from having a few laps with them.
Sounds like it's going to be a great day from what i've read, gutted I can't go
Have fun, and don't worry!
Sounds like it's going to be a great day from what i've read, gutted I can't go
Have fun, and don't worry!
Overall I would say good.
If you had asked me at lucnch time I would have said crap. The day started a bit late and it was foggy, the track was very slippy due to damp and leaves at some points.
The day was sessioned in three groups (novice,intermediate,advanced) with me and the mrs in the beginners. I got my first 20 min session in but it was bloody slippy and I tip toed around. Th rest of the morning was very start/stop due to a couple of people with loud exhausts breaching the croft noise restrictions (despite them being made aware before the day to have quiet cars. When the Mrs got her first turn it lasted about 4 minutes before somebody span into a barrier and got the session red flagged. That was it for the morning, very disappointing!
The afternoon was much better, fog lifted and track dried out. No real stoppages and I got 2 20 min sessions in with the mrs getting 1 session. I really enjoyed the sessions i got, I was getting overtaken a bit but I dont thinK i disgraced myself, i was amazed at the way my £1400 std eunos performed and handled, totally reliable and didnt even use much fuel.
Would i do it again? Im not sure. I live fairly close to some great driving roads and a blast over Hartside would be a lot cheaper and easier than a track day.
If you had asked me at lucnch time I would have said crap. The day started a bit late and it was foggy, the track was very slippy due to damp and leaves at some points.
The day was sessioned in three groups (novice,intermediate,advanced) with me and the mrs in the beginners. I got my first 20 min session in but it was bloody slippy and I tip toed around. Th rest of the morning was very start/stop due to a couple of people with loud exhausts breaching the croft noise restrictions (despite them being made aware before the day to have quiet cars. When the Mrs got her first turn it lasted about 4 minutes before somebody span into a barrier and got the session red flagged. That was it for the morning, very disappointing!
The afternoon was much better, fog lifted and track dried out. No real stoppages and I got 2 20 min sessions in with the mrs getting 1 session. I really enjoyed the sessions i got, I was getting overtaken a bit but I dont thinK i disgraced myself, i was amazed at the way my £1400 std eunos performed and handled, totally reliable and didnt even use much fuel.
Would i do it again? Im not sure. I live fairly close to some great driving roads and a blast over Hartside would be a lot cheaper and easier than a track day.
ED209 said:
Overall I would say good.
If you had asked me at lucnch time I would have said crap. The day started a bit late and it was foggy, the track was very slippy due to damp and leaves at some points.
The day was sessioned in three groups (novice,intermediate,advanced) with me and the mrs in the beginners. I got my first 20 min session in but it was bloody slippy and I tip toed around. Th rest of the morning was very start/stop due to a couple of people with loud exhausts breaching the croft noise restrictions (despite them being made aware before the day to have quiet cars. When the Mrs got her first turn it lasted about 4 minutes before somebody span into a barrier and got the session red flagged. That was it for the morning, very disappointing!
The afternoon was much better, fog lifted and track dried out. No real stoppages and I got 2 20 min sessions in with the mrs getting 1 session. I really enjoyed the sessions i got, I was getting overtaken a bit but I dont thinK i disgraced myself, i was amazed at the way my £1400 std eunos performed and handled, totally reliable and didnt even use much fuel.
Would i do it again? Im not sure. I live fairly close to some great driving roads and a blast over Hartside would be a lot cheaper and easier than a track day.
What Mx5 was yours? We got hundreds of pics, can see if we got any of yours.If you had asked me at lucnch time I would have said crap. The day started a bit late and it was foggy, the track was very slippy due to damp and leaves at some points.
The day was sessioned in three groups (novice,intermediate,advanced) with me and the mrs in the beginners. I got my first 20 min session in but it was bloody slippy and I tip toed around. Th rest of the morning was very start/stop due to a couple of people with loud exhausts breaching the croft noise restrictions (despite them being made aware before the day to have quiet cars. When the Mrs got her first turn it lasted about 4 minutes before somebody span into a barrier and got the session red flagged. That was it for the morning, very disappointing!
The afternoon was much better, fog lifted and track dried out. No real stoppages and I got 2 20 min sessions in with the mrs getting 1 session. I really enjoyed the sessions i got, I was getting overtaken a bit but I dont thinK i disgraced myself, i was amazed at the way my £1400 std eunos performed and handled, totally reliable and didnt even use much fuel.
Would i do it again? Im not sure. I live fairly close to some great driving roads and a blast over Hartside would be a lot cheaper and easier than a track day.
em177 said:
What Mx5 was yours? We got hundreds of pics, can see if we got any of yours.
L reg mark 1 eunos in red, black ph smiley on the rear and "no hair dressing tools" sticker on rear. Incredibly crap "rusteeze racing" decal on the bonnet.Any pics would be appreciated as whilst i have about 70 none of them are of my car actually on the track.
ED209 said:
Would i do it again? Im not sure. I live fairly close to some great driving roads and a blast over Hartside would be a lot cheaper and easier than a track day.
You cannot even compare your local roads to a track, I have some fantastic roads but nothing compared to say Cadwell.Sounds like you just had a bad day. Weather conditions and being in sessions would have contributed to that.
While it sounds nice to have sessions depending on experience, it always seems to work better as open pit lane where everyone can come and go as they please. That way you can enjoy as much or as little track time as you like and other drivers are more courteous as they know they aren't losing any real rack time while being caught behind a slower driver. The tracks dry out quicker when there is non-stop driving on them too.
As above though, you can't compare any road to the track - even "The 'ring". You can't push anywhere near as hard on the road. If you did you would likely kill yourself and/or other people in the process.
Give another track day a go. If you get better weather I guarantee that you will enjoy it a lot more and if it's open pit lane instead of sessions it will be even better.
While it sounds nice to have sessions depending on experience, it always seems to work better as open pit lane where everyone can come and go as they please. That way you can enjoy as much or as little track time as you like and other drivers are more courteous as they know they aren't losing any real rack time while being caught behind a slower driver. The tracks dry out quicker when there is non-stop driving on them too.
As above though, you can't compare any road to the track - even "The 'ring". You can't push anywhere near as hard on the road. If you did you would likely kill yourself and/or other people in the process.
Give another track day a go. If you get better weather I guarantee that you will enjoy it a lot more and if it's open pit lane instead of sessions it will be even better.
roddo said:
come-on Cadwell is not a novice track...............
What are you trying to do put him off for life!!!
Yes its one hell of a track and I love it but its not for beginners.
Yeah, I supposed your right...it's strange through I never ever thought of tracks as beginners or advanced, if you pick your moments on an open pit lane day, within reason you can set your own pace, just as long as you really keep a good eye on your mirrors and stay well right for the fast stuff...What are you trying to do put him off for life!!!
Yes its one hell of a track and I love it but its not for beginners.
ED209 said:
Overall I would say good.
Would i do it again? Im not sure.
I am aware this is a bit of a bump, but I randomly found this thread and wanted to comment!Would i do it again? Im not sure.
I was there the same day (blue Mk1 Eunos, semi track spec) and that was actually the 'worst' track day I've ever been on. It wasn't really the fault of any one particular thing, but overall it was the lease enjoyable track day I've attended (in about 20).
I genuinely believe if you give it a second try, you'll enjoy it much more
As said i'd give it another go aswel, maybe an open pit lane at somewhere like Blyton Park. You and your missus will get plenty of track time and days there are around the £100 mark.
You can't compare roads to track days, i've drove some brilliant roads as i did 2k in my mx5 around France this summer but a decent track is another league.
I did my first track day at Cadwell Park (AdamR172 was there infact) and i loved it. Straight in at deep end, i didn't drive beyond my ability and checked my mirrors and had a fantastic day- granted i wasn't setting any lap records but had a laugh which is aim of game
You can't compare roads to track days, i've drove some brilliant roads as i did 2k in my mx5 around France this summer but a decent track is another league.
I did my first track day at Cadwell Park (AdamR172 was there infact) and i loved it. Straight in at deep end, i didn't drive beyond my ability and checked my mirrors and had a fantastic day- granted i wasn't setting any lap records but had a laugh which is aim of game
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