Introduction to track days

[doneitnow]

Can anyone offer there thoughts on the best way/place for me to firstly, get some instruction on driving my GT3 correctly so I get the most pleasure out of it, I would rather my mates took the p for getting instruction rather than because I put in to a tree, and secondly the best way to introduce myself to track days?

Any help gratefully received.

[mrdemon]

why would your mates take the piss for you getting professional driving instruction ?

Bedford is about the safest track and they offer instructors.

[slodge]

Hi,

I went on exactly this journey a year ago.

Finding a good instructor that matches your personality and you can grow with is absolutely key. There are lots of good ones around including Steve Rance who posts on here and you'll get other suggestions no doubt. I chose Gary Marsh (aneedforspeed.co.uk) and am very pleased I did. He is a great bloke and very skilled instructor and he has moved my driving on this year no end. Of particular note are his limit handling days where you have some cones and a large section of airfield to yourself to really appreciate under/oversteer. Take some old tyres...

As for tracks, not sure where you are based, but down south I would suggest Bedford is a very good starting point followed by Silverstone.

Have fun, you've got the right car for it.

Cheers

Slodge

[doneitnow]

Thanks for the replies, I am based about 5 miles from Brands Hatch. I did do a car limits day at North weald with Andrew Walsh in my Cayman which was quite good, it did cost me a set of front tyres and did not do a lot of good for the rears either lol, so when Slodge mentions taking some old tyres, am I better off getting another set of wheels and putting a cheaper set of tyres on them to preserve my good ones, I take it this would only be if I were going to do another type of car limits day?

[DKC]

I'm new to Porsche and am considering doing some track days as well. Can I ask what do people do for insurance cover? I'm insured with Porsche Insurance (Marsh) and they cover 2 track days per year. But what if I want to do more than 2 days?

Thanks for the help!

[911p]

We did a couple of days with Colin Hoad at CAT Driver training, before getting on track instruction with him on the first track day in the GT3. The time spent with him definitely served as an excellent basis for me to begin track days with.

The tuition there is absolutely fantastic, and it's done at Millbrook Proving Ground too which is more like a road surface, and won't rape your tyres like an airfield will (as you found at the Car Limits day!). Maybe a day to consider doing in your new Pork.

Perhaps we'll see you at Brands at some point next year

[sportsandclassic]

DKC said:

I'm new to Porsche and am considering doing some track days as well. Can I ask what do people do for insurance cover? I'm insured with Porsche Insurance (Marsh) and they cover 2 track days per year. But what if I want to do more than 2 days?

Thanks for the help!

Get insured with Mannings, unlimited uk and European track day cover. No need to inform them when going either.

Mike

[thegoose]

If you're so close to Brands Hatch I'd suggest getting in touch with Ben Demetriou, who's one of their instructors but, like all instructors, does freelance work. Here's his details:
http://www.faze1motorsport.co.uk/about-us/

I'm an ARDS instructor myself and if you'd said you were 5 minutes from Oulton Park I'd hope he'd be recommending me!

[WindyMiller67]

This is probably stating the obvious, but whichever circuit you do choose, watch as many in-car videos on YouTube as you possibly can so you learn the circuit - and especially watch the offs and crashes so you don't make the same mistakes!

[David Hype]

As you are only 5 miles from Brands, I would do the PCGB Novice track evening there at Brands Hatch next time around. It is specifically aimed at entry level track drivers in all sorts of Porsches, its relatively low cost and instruction can be booked for the evening.

If you get hooked after that first session, then move on to more advanced teaching and other circuits. I have met a couple of folks that did this evening and then decided that the track was not for them, it takes all sorts...

But without any form of instruction its hopeless especially in a GT3!

[doneitnow]

DKC said:

I'm new to Porsche and am considering doing some track days as well. Can I ask what do people do for insurance cover? I'm insured with Porsche Insurance (Marsh) and they cover 2 track days per year. But what if I want to do more than 2 days?

Thanks for the help!

I have just insured with Mannings, slightly more expensive but unlimited track days.

[doneitnow]

911p said:

We did a couple of days with Colin Hoad at CAT Driver training, before getting on track instruction with him on the first track day in the GT3. The time spent with him definitely served as an excellent basis for me to begin track days with.

The tuition there is absolutely fantastic, and it's done at Millbrook Proving Ground too which is more like a road surface, and won't rape your tyres like an airfield will (as you found at the Car Limits day!). Maybe a day to consider doing in your new Pork.

Perhaps we'll see you at Brands at some point next year

Hi Ben,

Your dad is still enjoying that lovely S/Y GT3 then, you probably don't remember but I was the one that missed out on his old S/Y 911. Yes maybe see you at brands.

[doneitnow]

thegoose said:

If you're so close to Brands Hatch I'd suggest getting in touch with Ben Demetriou, who's one of their instructors but, like all instructors, does freelance work. Here's his details:
http://www.faze1motorsport.co.uk/about-us/

I'm an ARDS instructor myself and if you'd said you were 5 minutes from Oulton Park I'd hope he'd be recommending me!

Thanks goose, I will give him a look.

[doneitnow]

David Hype said:

As you are only 5 miles from Brands, I would do the PCGB Novice track evening there at Brands Hatch next time around. It is specifically aimed at entry level track drivers in all sorts of Porsches, its relatively low cost and instruction can be booked for the evening.

If you get hooked after that first session, then move on to more advanced teaching and other circuits. I have met a couple of folks that did this evening and then decided that the track was not for them, it takes all sorts...

But without any form of instruction its hopeless especially in a GT3!

I did look at the PCGB site yesterday but there is no calendar up on the site yet, this could be a good idea though. Thanks.

[wildman0609]

brands is a great place to learn track day stuff. as its short its pretty quick to learn the basic lines quickly, as you can rack up the laps very quick on a 1 min ish lap. I would also suggest you stick to one circuit for at least the first 4 or 5 days, as this allows you to learn the car more than learning new tracks. then once you are confident with driving you car quickly on track and happy with managing traffic etc, you should use other circuits. MSV have a couple track days at brands next week for not much money. Book on to one of these and pay for instruction on the day.

[911Thrasher]

Bedford! Lots of grass to loose it, flat and just the right length so you actually remember all the corners.

I use to take my 997.1 GT3RS there...no problem in regards of noise level, just fun.

I will take my 964RS there this Saturday for the first time: see a great place to learn a car.

Javelin is running it this weekend, quite chilled. Check their website or give them a call, they might have a slot left.

[doneitnow]

wildman0609 said:

brands is a great place to learn track day stuff. as its short its pretty quick to learn the basic lines quickly, as you can rack up the laps very quick on a 1 min ish lap. I would also suggest you stick to one circuit for at least the first 4 or 5 days, as this allows you to learn the car more than learning new tracks. then once you are confident with driving you car quickly on track and happy with managing traffic etc, you should use other circuits. MSV have a couple track days at brands next week for not much money. Book on to one of these and pay for instruction on the day.

Had a look but busy next week and the first one I could do is sold out, the only other thing I wonder is if I am better doing Porsche only days rather than general days but open to advice.
What does it cost for the instruction on the day, the only instruction I can see is in there own cars?

[doneitnow]

911Thrasher said:

Bedford! Lots of grass to loose it, flat and just the right length so you actually remember all the corners.

I use to take my 997.1 GT3RS there...no problem in regards of noise level, just fun.

I will take my 964RS there this Saturday for the first time: see a great place to learn a car.

Javelin is running it this weekend, quite chilled. Check their website or give them a call, they might have a slot left.

Unfortunately I can't do Saturday due to work which is a shame, I do wonder if I am better waiting till the summer months though until experimenting with track days?

[911p]

doneitnow said:

Hi Ben,

Your dad is still enjoying that lovely S/Y GT3 then, you probably don't remember but I was the one that missed out on his old S/Y 911. Yes maybe see you at brands.

I do remember, thought the username looked familiar! Your new toy looks fantastic!

With regards to waiting until summer to do the track days, we simply wait until 2-3 days before to see what the weather will be like on the day. It usually just seems to be the weekend days which get booked out in the winter.

[wildman0609]

doneitnow said:

Had a look but busy next week and the first one I could do is sold out, the only other thing I wonder is if I am better doing Porsche only days rather than general days but open to advice.
What does it cost for the instruction on the day, the only instruction I can see is in there own cars?

the only benefit to doing porsche only days is so you get a chance to meet with like minded car fans in the paddock. MSV do novice only days, maybe its worth looking at these if you're concerned about who else will be on track at the same time.

All TDO's will have tuition for sale and for around £1 a minute they sit in your passenger seat, you normally book it at signing on. don't book too much tuition to start with as in 20 mins you will get enough info and ideas to keep you going the rest of the day.