Anyone at Bedford Autodrome 18th April? Ouchhh!!!

[RichB]

Zod said:

If you spin three times, then even without the marshals, you've had your warning that you are driving beyond your ability.

Clearly the guy sounds like a clot however when I attended my first ever track day, which was also at Bedford, I was instructed to push it until I did spin, indeed I got the feeling that it's a bit like horse riding, you can't claim to be arider until you've been thrown off and climbed straight back on again. During the morning session I span several times mostly on slower tight corners as I got to understand the dynamics of my car. In the afternoon I don't think I span once. At Brands I lost it once coming down Paddock Hill off Paddock Hill Bend but chatting the marshal we reckoned this was because it was on my first lap out of the pits so again I learnt something. Not defending the DB9 guy but I would say if you don't spin you're not learning where the edge of your cars handling envelope is but the art is to do this safely.

[Zod]

I agree to an extent, but spinning on a busy track is not good.

[froggie]

There will always be a bigger risk of damage on a track day than the road that's why your normal insurance will not usually cover these events. hence buy track day insurance if your worried or cannot justify the worst, injury and totaled toys.
if its so much a pride and joy then you should consider parade laps at car shows, as track days put a lot of where and tare on cars chassis , brakes (which can and DO FAIL WITH NO WARNING DUE TO HEAT do not be so naive) suspension and transmission oh and tyres oh and fuel consumption
We all drive in different manners and have different ideas as to what we want from a track day but i think we all have some aims in common which are: to have fun. to learn. to take our toys home in one piece . to go home in sound body and mind.and to improve.and hopefully our back pockets and ego arnt hurt (i think the Aston driver will be beat up enough and learnt a BIG lesson without every one having a dig .imagine if it was you and you posted on here HOW BAD WOULD YOU FEEL )the organisers should take a bit of criticism as well in my view.
HOPEFULLY EVERY ONE INCLUDING THOSE READING THIS POST SHOULD OF LEARNT POSATIVE LESSONS.

I have to put up with mates wiping other mates bikes out and hospitalising each other
last year a 3 race old bike and 3 other bikes down by a numpty hurtling in to a bend at totally ballistic speeds and on another occasion a mangled bike (inc snapped frame) that hadn't done 250 miles
nothing insured and no paying for others toys just apologies.
We just have to way the risks up before we play the game "st HAPPENS"EXPECT THE WORST every thing else is a bonus that way you wont be dissapointed.
even F1 drivers make big mistakes even we cant believe their maneuvers some times.
and yes i have been on a few tracks but i love road racing myself as it tends not to be as safe and involves more skill.
oh and back marker is the last person, hopefully done one lap less than you.

[anonymous-user]

froggie said:

There will always be a bigger risk of damage on a track day than the road that's why your normal insurance will not usually cover these events. hence buy track day insurance if your worried or cannot justify the worst, injury and totaled toys.
if its so much a pride and joy then you should consider parade laps at car shows, as track days put a lot of where and tare on cars chassis , brakes (which can and DO FAIL WITH NO WARNING DUE TO HEAT do not be so naive) suspension and transmission oh and tyres oh and fuel consumption
We all drive in different manners and have different ideas as to what we want from a track day but i think we all have some aims in common which are: to have fun. to learn. to take our toys home in one piece . to go home in sound body and mind.and to improve.and hopefully our back pockets and ego arnt hurt (i think the Aston driver will be beat up enough and learnt a BIG lesson without every one having a dig .imagine if it was you and you posted on here HOW BAD WOULD YOU FEEL )the organisers should take a bit of criticism as well in my view.
HOPEFULLY EVERY ONE INCLUDING THOSE READING THIS POST SHOULD OF LEARNT POSATIVE LESSONS.

I have to put up with mates wiping other mates bikes out and hospitalising each other
last year a 3 race old bike and 3 other bikes down by a numpty hurtling in to a bend at totally ballistic speeds and on another occasion a mangled bike (inc snapped frame) that hadn't done 250 miles
nothing insured and no paying for others toys just apologies.
We just have to way the risks up before we play the game "st HAPPENS"EXPECT THE WORST every thing else is a bonus that way you wont be dissapointed.
even F1 drivers make big mistakes even we cant believe their maneuvers some times.
and yes i have been on a few tracks but i love road racing myself as it tends not to be as safe and involves more skill.
oh and back marker is the last person, hopefully done one lap less than you.

[RichB]

froggie said:

oh and back marker is the last person, hopefully done one lap less than you.

Froggie, I really do wonder if you're just making it all up as you go along, I can't make you out. You talk some sense yet clearly have no idea about what it's like on a track day. Let me explain... there is no back marker and no leader, peopel leave the pits at different times and so there is just 20 or so cars circulating round the track at different speeds. You seem to have the idea that it's a race and you are counting laps, nothing could be further from the truth. Hence my question and hence my response to your answer.

[anonymous-user]

RichB said:

froggie said:

oh and back marker is the last person, hopefully done one lap less than you.

Froggie, I really do wonder if you're just making it all up as you go along, I can't make you out. You talk some sense yet clearly have no idea about what it's like on a track day. Let me explain... there is no back marker and no leader, peopel leave the pits at different times and so there is just 20 or so cars circulating round the track at different speeds. You seem to have the idea that it's a race and you are counting laps, nothing could be further from the truth. Hence my question and hence my response to your answer.

He's never been on a track day like we have, that's for sure. The comment that really makes me wonder about him is, "I have to put up with mates wiping other mates bikes out and hospitalising each other " WTF!!!!!!

[stanwan]

Aye he does seem to be on another planet... :-)


Track days are more like automotive merry-go-rounds. It's just the ego driven fools that have to pass everybody at any cost that make it stressful.