Track Day - Beginners
Discussion
Hey guys,
I'm a novice with no experience of track driving and would like to do a track day. I'm on the South Coast - Which one is best to go for? I'm not so keen on doing one with crazy fast machinery surrounding me, given I have no experience.
Also, are there any issues with wheel bolts /studs becoming stressed with track use?
Many thanks,
Matt
I'm a novice with no experience of track driving and would like to do a track day. I'm on the South Coast - Which one is best to go for? I'm not so keen on doing one with crazy fast machinery surrounding me, given I have no experience.
Also, are there any issues with wheel bolts /studs becoming stressed with track use?
Many thanks,
Matt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-Pr0w6SXYM
That was Friday.
Wheel bolts etc will be fine. Just make sure your brakes, tyres and suspension are in good order. Give the car a good service before, go out and have fun. The faster stuff will just whizz past you and let you on your way.
Nick
Edit to add: I've done a few trackdays over the years but that was my wife's first. She was bricking it but by her 2nd session was well in the groove and anticipating the quick cars and pulling over to let them through.
That was Friday.
Wheel bolts etc will be fine. Just make sure your brakes, tyres and suspension are in good order. Give the car a good service before, go out and have fun. The faster stuff will just whizz past you and let you on your way.
Nick
Edit to add: I've done a few trackdays over the years but that was my wife's first. She was bricking it but by her 2nd session was well in the groove and anticipating the quick cars and pulling over to let them through.
Edited by HorneyMX5 on Sunday 26th May 18:00
Have another vid from friday:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRC8sfb80eI
I was a bit on it in this one as it was late afternoon and I'd settled into more of a groove.
nick
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRC8sfb80eI
I was a bit on it in this one as it was late afternoon and I'd settled into more of a groove.
nick
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVa_BScIS6g
Hi Matt,
check out Abingdon if you want to get to know your car on track. Plenty of run off if it goes wrong with minimal risk of damage. They also set the chicanes out in mini cones rather than tyre walls. My Mrs found Castle Combe a bit intimidating with the tyre walls and gravel traps!
I found CC a bit "long" for the MX, unless you got forced induction on yours? again Abingdon is set out nice and twisty which suits the car. Im off to Bedford on July 1st if you want the details for that???
As for you wheels fslling off, dont worry, youve got to be really unlucky if that ever happened. You say my car on the M27 last month, all i got on that is K&N, de-cat, Koni's and braces, more than enough to haave fun. Go do it
Darren
Hi Matt,
check out Abingdon if you want to get to know your car on track. Plenty of run off if it goes wrong with minimal risk of damage. They also set the chicanes out in mini cones rather than tyre walls. My Mrs found Castle Combe a bit intimidating with the tyre walls and gravel traps!
I found CC a bit "long" for the MX, unless you got forced induction on yours? again Abingdon is set out nice and twisty which suits the car. Im off to Bedford on July 1st if you want the details for that???
As for you wheels fslling off, dont worry, youve got to be really unlucky if that ever happened. You say my car on the M27 last month, all i got on that is K&N, de-cat, Koni's and braces, more than enough to haave fun. Go do it
Darren
If you are a beginner I can highly recommend this day, yes its a cliosport event but there are always loads of other marques there.
The day has free unlimited tuition and the track is really forgiving, I cannot recommend it highly enough.
http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?6848...
You will need to create an account to view, but it is worth it.
The day has free unlimited tuition and the track is really forgiving, I cannot recommend it highly enough.
http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?6848...
You will need to create an account to view, but it is worth it.
As above. Give it a good service first, oil & filter change, make sure the cooling system is working well, change the coolant if you don't know when it was last changed. Same goes for the brake fluid, change if you don't know how old it is. Make sure brake pads have at least 50% material left and that the tyres have enough tread left to last the day. Other than that, just make sure everything is in good working order.
Most of all, just enjoy it!
Most of all, just enjoy it!
Don't try to go as fast as possible at the beginning. Learn the right way round first. Search the breaking points, the apexes and slowly enhance pace as you get more confidence in your car and in the track. Watch the more experienced drivers and learn. Sometimes I ask for a ride as a passenger to learn the fast way round.
Watch the temperatures of your machinery throuout the day.
As soon as the tyres get too hot, the grip may drop quite suddenly. Bear in mind that this may happen to front/outer/back wheels only. As a result the cars handling behavior may change in an unexpected way. This may be something you are not used from street driving. Be prepared and approach both yours and the cars limits step by step.
After a session drive your car slowly to help it cool down. And don't apply the handbrake while parking. The heat from the disks heats up the brakefluid.
Have fun!
Watch the temperatures of your machinery throuout the day.
As soon as the tyres get too hot, the grip may drop quite suddenly. Bear in mind that this may happen to front/outer/back wheels only. As a result the cars handling behavior may change in an unexpected way. This may be something you are not used from street driving. Be prepared and approach both yours and the cars limits step by step.
After a session drive your car slowly to help it cool down. And don't apply the handbrake while parking. The heat from the disks heats up the brakefluid.
Have fun!
Edited by Charybdis on Tuesday 28th May 13:00
911p said:
Do check your wheel nuts between sessions, and make sure they're torqued up properly.
I had a bit of a scare when I checked mine half way through the day on my first trackday, one more session and there would have been a couple of wheels flying around Snetterton
i had mine come loose half way during a session, luckily it had happened before so i knew what was up and came straight into the pits and fixed it.I had a bit of a scare when I checked mine half way through the day on my first trackday, one more session and there would have been a couple of wheels flying around Snetterton
sbridgey said:
911p said:
Do check your wheel nuts between sessions, and make sure they're torqued up properly.
I had a bit of a scare when I checked mine half way through the day on my first trackday, one more session and there would have been a couple of wheels flying around Snetterton
i had mine come loose half way during a session, luckily it had happened before so i knew what was up and came straight into the pits and fixed it.I had a bit of a scare when I checked mine half way through the day on my first trackday, one more session and there would have been a couple of wheels flying around Snetterton
I've only had it once myself and that was all 4 nuts on one wheel so my guess is that I hadn't "torqued" that wheel up correctly the morning before when I'd swapped to my track wheels.
Personally I never trust tyre fitters. After having tyres fitted I always reset the pressures (it's always way too high, usually 35psi or more) and I always loosen and re-tighten the wheel nuts as they are usually much too tight.
Nobody is perfect though.
p.s. I put "torqued" in quotes like that because I never use a torque wrench on wheel nuts. After over 25 years of working on cars & bikes I have a fair feeling for tightness of things like that.
Personally I never trust tyre fitters. After having tyres fitted I always reset the pressures (it's always way too high, usually 35psi or more) and I always loosen and re-tighten the wheel nuts as they are usually much too tight.
Nobody is perfect though.
p.s. I put "torqued" in quotes like that because I never use a torque wrench on wheel nuts. After over 25 years of working on cars & bikes I have a fair feeling for tightness of things like that.
Bomberharris said:
Lazza,
Who do you know who can check my car over before i take toma track day and bring back ie to see if damaged or part fatigue? Also to fit brace bars and maybe lower ?
In your area I'd say Wheels in Motion. They will happily give it a check over and can fit whatever suspension you like (they can even supply & fit some makes). I'm sure fitting a brace would be no problem for them if you have the parts. Get the alignment done at the same time Who do you know who can check my car over before i take toma track day and bring back ie to see if damaged or part fatigue? Also to fit brace bars and maybe lower ?
MX-5 Lazza said:
I've only had it once myself and that was all 4 nuts on one wheel so my guess is that I hadn't "torqued" that wheel up correctly
MX-5 Lazza said:
I put "torqued" in quotes like that because I never use a torque wrench on wheel nuts. After over 25 years of working on cars & bikes I have a fair feeling for tightness of things like that.
Lol, 10/10 for honesty, but if your nuts are coming loose it might be time to invest in a torque wrench? Your call of course.Gassing Station | Mazda MX5/Roadster/Miata | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff