WHERES THE BEST TRACK TO TRY OUT JAG XKR?
Discussion
Yes, there is a high chance that you will bend your pride and joy on a visit to a track day.
You have a couple of options. If you want to use your car, then go to a track which has large grassy run off areas. i.e. Castle Combe, Brunting Thorpe? Also make sure you get approval from your insurance company that you want to do a track day, or it may turn out to be a very expensive and miserable day. It will also cost you a set a tyres, unless it is wet and the track surface is relatively smooth.
Alternatively, go drive a car provided by a driving school track day.
All in all using your own car could set you back about £1k with tyres, petrol, insurances, and the day itself, so maybe be cheaper and better to go to a fully organised event.
NormanD, will hopefully be along shortly and give you some suggestions, he is always on a track somewhere in his XKR!
G
You have a couple of options. If you want to use your car, then go to a track which has large grassy run off areas. i.e. Castle Combe, Brunting Thorpe? Also make sure you get approval from your insurance company that you want to do a track day, or it may turn out to be a very expensive and miserable day. It will also cost you a set a tyres, unless it is wet and the track surface is relatively smooth.
Alternatively, go drive a car provided by a driving school track day.
All in all using your own car could set you back about £1k with tyres, petrol, insurances, and the day itself, so maybe be cheaper and better to go to a fully organised event.
NormanD, will hopefully be along shortly and give you some suggestions, he is always on a track somewhere in his XKR!
G
)Triple7 said:
NormanD, will hopefully be along shortly and give you some suggestions, he is always on a track somewhere in his XKR!
Hi Triple7, yes I'm here!As you say any track there is a chance of damaging your P&J, but surprisingly it doesn't happen that often.
My suggestion would be to go on their novice days when they will have plenty of experts on hand to show you the track and give you instruction.
Only go as fast as you feel comfortable and only do say 15 - 20 min's at a time to start.
The mechanics of the car will get a lot hotter than usual as well so look in the mirror for oil hase and the feel of the brakes, when you come in DON'T put the hand brake on, you will damage the disks more that the extra braking.
No one will criticize you unless it is their first time as well and they think they know best.
Main thing is DONT let the red mist come down and blur your judgment.
Most importantly, just go out to enjoy the car and yourself, don't try and prove you are the best there will always be someone who IS better.
Hiya,
As an ex bike racer, and bike/car track day fan, I thought I may be able to help.....
Best track to start with would be somewhere like Bedford Autodrome (on a novice session). There is plenty of run off there as they have large wide grass verges (and nothing too solid for you to drive into), so even if you do get it wrong, you are unlikely to damage anything more than your pride. (Although you will spend a fair while picking bits of grass and mud out from your cars wheel arches etc)!!!!!
Dont forget that not only if you crash can it be hard on the car, but also it can be very hard on tyres and brakes (particularly on an automatic car), so budget for new pads and maybe even some rubber afterwards! (But only if you are really pushing the car!)
If you take it relatively easy you will be fine and have a great day!!!
Try www.motorsportvision.co.uk as they often organise many car days at Bedford (and other tracks), and they are very well managed, as well as offering the chance to pre-book a tuition session with an instructor when you make the initial booking!
Hope this helps,
Scott
As an ex bike racer, and bike/car track day fan, I thought I may be able to help.....
Best track to start with would be somewhere like Bedford Autodrome (on a novice session). There is plenty of run off there as they have large wide grass verges (and nothing too solid for you to drive into), so even if you do get it wrong, you are unlikely to damage anything more than your pride. (Although you will spend a fair while picking bits of grass and mud out from your cars wheel arches etc)!!!!!
Dont forget that not only if you crash can it be hard on the car, but also it can be very hard on tyres and brakes (particularly on an automatic car), so budget for new pads and maybe even some rubber afterwards! (But only if you are really pushing the car!)
If you take it relatively easy you will be fine and have a great day!!!
Try www.motorsportvision.co.uk as they often organise many car days at Bedford (and other tracks), and they are very well managed, as well as offering the chance to pre-book a tuition session with an instructor when you make the initial booking!
Hope this helps,
Scott
Have done several track days in TVRs but took XKR to Nurburgring a couple of weeks ago.Nothing can compare with this track.XKR performed well but manual car would be easier to cope with.I did skid off track but luckily did no damage others not so lucky.
Track is only place to try your own car out but as previous members have advised take it easy and avoid red mist
Track is only place to try your own car out but as previous members have advised take it easy and avoid red mist
tvron said:
Have done several track days in TVRs but took XKR to Nurburgring a couple of weeks ago.Nothing can compare with this track.XKR performed well but manual car would be easier to cope with.I did skid off track but luckily did no damage others not so lucky.
Track is only place to try your own car out but as previous members have advised take it easy and avoid red mist
Yes the Nurburgring IS THE place to go, took my XKR there. Track is only place to try your own car out but as previous members have advised take it easy and avoid red mist
Great,but not for the faint harted!
Hi - I regularly track my MX5 and have - briefly- tracked my new 2006 XKR.
Best track for me is Goodwood, due entirely to the the way the day is run and the fact any amount of tuition is included. There is no pressure to go faster than your capability allows.
I find the MX5 much more fun to track though, than the XKR. Could not keep the gears down low enough long enough in the XKR, despite using the sports and paddles. Also felt very heavy and gave much less feedback. I did 10 laps of Goodwood in XKr and tyres really starting to show the wear.
Would not be concerned about damage - if you build the speed up gradually and make full use of the tuition you will be fine.
- Julia
Best track for me is Goodwood, due entirely to the the way the day is run and the fact any amount of tuition is included. There is no pressure to go faster than your capability allows.
I find the MX5 much more fun to track though, than the XKR. Could not keep the gears down low enough long enough in the XKR, despite using the sports and paddles. Also felt very heavy and gave much less feedback. I did 10 laps of Goodwood in XKr and tyres really starting to show the wear.
Would not be concerned about damage - if you build the speed up gradually and make full use of the tuition you will be fine.
- Julia
Julia,
Have you tried your XK150 on the track?
I loved taking mine around Goodwood. Not sure I managed to wipe the silly grin off my face for the next week. The XK club/JEC organised a trackday, it's run under Goodwoods 105db rules, so only 5 cars on the track at any one time so very civilised.
Cheers
Ken
Have you tried your XK150 on the track?
I loved taking mine around Goodwood. Not sure I managed to wipe the silly grin off my face for the next week. The XK club/JEC organised a trackday, it's run under Goodwoods 105db rules, so only 5 cars on the track at any one time so very civilised.
Cheers
Ken
Hi Ken - no not taken the XK150 on track ---yet!
I am planning to - probably next year now. Really looking forward to it but needs a bit of work beforehand - suspension, breaks and new tyres. All booked in to be done so watch this space!
Hopefully we will meet up at some point - are you going to Painshill?
- Julia
I am planning to - probably next year now. Really looking forward to it but needs a bit of work beforehand - suspension, breaks and new tyres. All booked in to be done so watch this space!
Hopefully we will meet up at some point - are you going to Painshill?
- Julia
mistralblue said:
Hi Ken - no not taken the XK150 on track ---yet!
I am planning to - probably next year now. Really looking forward to it but needs a bit of work beforehand - suspension, breaks and new tyres. All booked in to be done so watch this space!
Hopefully we will meet up at some point - are you going to Painshill?
- Julia
I'd hoped to make it up to Painshill but ran out of time.I am planning to - probably next year now. Really looking forward to it but needs a bit of work beforehand - suspension, breaks and new tyres. All booked in to be done so watch this space!
Hopefully we will meet up at some point - are you going to Painshill?
- Julia
Perhaps I'll see you at next years XK trackday, are you a member of either the JEC or the XK Club?
If you want to take your Jag on a track day, ONLY use Bedford, I am a track day instructor (have been for 18 years), this is the only really safe track, Castle Coombe is most certainly not, in my 25 year racing/instruction career, all my accidents have been at Castle Coombe, best format is to do about half an hour to learn the track (slowly) and then take an instructor for 2 half hour sessions...all the best Alan
Gassing Station | Jaguar | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff