PDC - Knockhill
Discussion
I've not taken my V8V to Knockhill but I went there a couple of times in the past in my CSL. I wouldn't go back again.
As trackdays go, it's like the wild, wild west. Very unregulated and not much control. Even on the 'nice car' days, there are untold £2k hot hatch bangers shooting around, without much care for themselves or anyone else. On one of the days I went, someone in a new 911 GT3 punted himself straight off into the barriers. No thanks.
IMHO, it would be worth making a weekend of it and venturing down to one of the great tracks in this country, such as Oulton Park or Donny Park.
As trackdays go, it's like the wild, wild west. Very unregulated and not much control. Even on the 'nice car' days, there are untold £2k hot hatch bangers shooting around, without much care for themselves or anyone else. On one of the days I went, someone in a new 911 GT3 punted himself straight off into the barriers. No thanks.
IMHO, it would be worth making a weekend of it and venturing down to one of the great tracks in this country, such as Oulton Park or Donny Park.
Bravo73 - you have just confirmed one of the niggling doubts I had. I have done Knockhill several times in their cars and even a Subaru invite only day. But never in my own car. What I really want to get out of a PDC is the confidence of knowing the limits of the car without any intention of pushing the car to it on the open road. This is my first rear when drive car having had 3 Audi's previously to it is a bit of a learning curve just now. I guess sharing the track with ~£2k hot hatches and wannabe rally drivers would be quite un-nerving to say the least!!
For what it's worth, I think the track day experience does have a lot to do with who's organising it.
Although I've not had my aston around Knockhill, I did have my GT3 around with Trackday Scotland.
I found them to be rather good, and the driving was of a decent standard.
Had a great night with them, with no issues whatsoever. I'll be booking with them again sometime in the new year.
Although I've not had my aston around Knockhill, I did have my GT3 around with Trackday Scotland.
I found them to be rather good, and the driving was of a decent standard.
Had a great night with them, with no issues whatsoever. I'll be booking with them again sometime in the new year.
BigScotty said:
For what it's worth, I think the track day experience does have a lot to do with who's organising it.
Although I've not had my aston around Knockhill, I did have my GT3 around with Trackday Scotland.
I found them to be rather good, and the driving was of a decent standard.
Had a great night with them, with no issues whatsoever. I'll be booking with them again sometime in the new year.
Although I've not had my aston around Knockhill, I did have my GT3 around with Trackday Scotland.
I found them to be rather good, and the driving was of a decent standard.
Had a great night with them, with no issues whatsoever. I'll be booking with them again sometime in the new year.
Do AM do PDC at Knockhill? If so is it exclusively AM?
Bookatrack are very good, they won't tolerate any muppetry and black flag idoits very quickly
Edited by mikey k on Monday 25th November 10:09
Just realised that the answer from Bravo73 is referring to a Track Day not a Performance Driving Course and I do believe a track day would be full of hot hatch drivers with too much ambition and not enough capability!! The KH PDC looks to be only available Mid-Week so hopefully if I go through the day it will be quiet enough. Would still be interested to hear if anybody has actually done the KH PDC course in an AM?
MikeyK, I don't think they do exclusive for AM's and I am beginning to think that you would probably share the track with people who are on "Driving Experiences". I do think though that Track Days are to be given a wide berth!! Maybe if there were enough like minded AM owners then you could book the track and it would be a great opportunity to meet some other owners.
I did 5-6 track days last year but not in the Aston. Best bet is an organiser that runs it as open pit lane. This means you go on and off track as and when you like.
The other format is sessions so everyone goes out at the same time for 20 mins and that's when I think its tricky. Having a limited time and everyone starting at once leads to challenges. Also avoid any organiser that sells cheap 20 minute taster sessions for the day. That's when you the bad / inexperienced drivers.
The other format is sessions so everyone goes out at the same time for 20 mins and that's when I think its tricky. Having a limited time and everyone starting at once leads to challenges. Also avoid any organiser that sells cheap 20 minute taster sessions for the day. That's when you the bad / inexperienced drivers.
Edited by Stonic on Monday 25th November 11:58
bigeckfaetherigs said:
MikeyK, I don't think they do exclusive for AM's and I am beginning to think that you would probably share the track with people who are on "Driving Experiences". I do think though that Track Days are to be given a wide berth!! Maybe if there were enough like minded AM owners then you could book the track and it would be a great opportunity to meet some other owners.
I've done a fare few in cheaper cars and would not contemplate taking the Aston on one.Might do AM exclusive one, have a look at Y100's Rockingham one. Bit of a trek for you though.
There is a description of what the PDC entails on the Knockhill website but I think youll have to call them and ask who'll youll be sharing the track with. I kept meaning to do one last year but taking a Friday off was difficult. For what its worth Ive been to many trackdays, session and open pitlane, at Knockhill in the past two years and only ever seen one coming together of cars. I would say the driving standards are fine as they are very closely policed by the marshals. Yes there are 1K bangers flying about but for the past year there has been a below and above 181hp/ton grouping so if you did go in your Aston you would be in a different group. Ive been in my C63 AMG and Ive seen other more expensive machinery come out unscathed. Just be careful in the wet!
Stonic said:
I did 5-6 track days last year but not in the Aston. Best bet is an organiser that runs it as open pit lane. This means you go on and off track as and when you like.
The other format is sessions so everyone goes out at the same time for 20 mins and that's when I think its tricky. Having a limited time and everyone starting at once leads to challenges. Also avoid any organiser that sells cheap 20 minute taster sessions for the day. That's when you the bad / inexperienced drivers.
The other format is sessions so everyone goes out at the same time for 20 mins and that's when I think its tricky. Having a limited time and everyone starting at once leads to challenges. Also avoid any organiser that sells cheap 20 minute taster sessions for the day. That's when you the bad / inexperienced drivers.
both good pointsbigeckfaetherigs said:
MikeyK, I don't think they do exclusive for AM's and I am beginning to think that you would probably share the track with people who are on "Driving Experiences". I do think though that Track Days are to be given a wide berth!! Maybe if there were enough like minded AM owners then you could book the track and it would be a great opportunity to meet some other owners.
There's always Rockingham on the 21st March. 
I know a few guys that have done the performance driving course at Knockhill and the consensus was that it was quite good. I seem to remember the format is something like two laps with you driving so the instructor can see your technique than three laps with the instructor driving, then you drive for 2 x 10 lap sessions with feedback in between.
I bet that as this is midweek you’d probably be the only car on track or at worse there might be one or two of their track experience cars out there and you never know you might even get Flash as your instructor.
If you’ve never been on track this would be a great introduction to it.
I bet that as this is midweek you’d probably be the only car on track or at worse there might be one or two of their track experience cars out there and you never know you might even get Flash as your instructor.
If you’ve never been on track this would be a great introduction to it.
Mikey K - I guess the thing with taking your own car on the track is that you are responsible for your actions on the track and in this particular scenario there is a trained driver beside you who I am sure will not allow you to endanger him/yourself or the car - I hope! Needless to say I certainly wouldn't be pushing it as much as a £2k hothatch or one of theirs.
Trek930 - I read the PDC and I think it will be a lot different to any open pit lane or track day. The point about the wet I had thought about and came to the conclusion that it may not be a bad thing to learn how to handle 420BHP in the wet or should that be "control 420BHP"
Y100 - Bit of a hike from Aberdeen to Rockingham (7 1/2 hours) and the 9 hour drive North from Buckinghamshire where I bought the car is still fresh in my mind.
davidexige - exactly what I was thinking. I am reckoning that you could basically show up anytime and within an hour or so be going around the track under instruction. I have done several experiences at Knockhill and the person who impressed me the most was a girl (think her name was Sasha) who drove a Chrysler Neon (stock) around the track at an unbelievable speed whilst giving a running commentary on what to do (and what not)
Trek930 - I read the PDC and I think it will be a lot different to any open pit lane or track day. The point about the wet I had thought about and came to the conclusion that it may not be a bad thing to learn how to handle 420BHP in the wet or should that be "control 420BHP"
Y100 - Bit of a hike from Aberdeen to Rockingham (7 1/2 hours) and the 9 hour drive North from Buckinghamshire where I bought the car is still fresh in my mind.
davidexige - exactly what I was thinking. I am reckoning that you could basically show up anytime and within an hour or so be going around the track under instruction. I have done several experiences at Knockhill and the person who impressed me the most was a girl (think her name was Sasha) who drove a Chrysler Neon (stock) around the track at an unbelievable speed whilst giving a running commentary on what to do (and what not)
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