How long till you took your P&J to a track?
Discussion
I have a targa, and while i know its not a true track car, i would still really like to explore the boundarys of the car a bit more in a legal and relatively safe environment. But what im having trouble with is the risk factor attached to the car not only in terms of wear and tear stuff, but crashing it!
Am i being a wuss, or should i try and spend a morning at one of these porsche experiences first before i try it out on my own car?
Apologies if this is a no-brainer for some people, but also like most people, i feel i've worked hard for the car, and while i want to enjoy it, i dont want to kill it..
Am i being a wuss, or should i try and spend a morning at one of these porsche experiences first before i try it out on my own car?
Apologies if this is a no-brainer for some people, but also like most people, i feel i've worked hard for the car, and while i want to enjoy it, i dont want to kill it..
It's a no brainer - go on an airfield track day. That way if you get it really wrong and spin off you're likely to just cut some grass 
It's great fun to learn the limits of the car by overstepping them a little and i think it actually makes you a safer driver on the road because you are more aware of what happens just before and just after you overstep the limits.
Airfield days are all over the country, unlikely to cost you more than £100 for the day, and you'll enjoy it wet or dry. Be warned, if you get carried away and end up sliding everywhere like me then you will need a new set of tyres the next day!!!
Have fun!
It's great fun to learn the limits of the car by overstepping them a little and i think it actually makes you a safer driver on the road because you are more aware of what happens just before and just after you overstep the limits.
Airfield days are all over the country, unlikely to cost you more than £100 for the day, and you'll enjoy it wet or dry. Be warned, if you get carried away and end up sliding everywhere like me then you will need a new set of tyres the next day!!!
Have fun!
Andy
I would start off going to a couple of airfield days top get a feel of the handling and the unique pendulum effect of a 911 when it all starts going pear shaped. Airfield days are very safe with loads of run off and no armco to worry about. try www.motorsportevents.co.uk. Get some instruction whilst there. After a few airfield days consider going to Bedford Autodrome, almost as safe as an airfield but with the odd bit of armco to catch the nutters out there. Again get some instruction as to lines technique etc, although the quality of Bedford's instructors does vary quite a bit. Then if you have been bitten by the bug, venture out onto one of the UK's racetracks. They are all pretty good in their own way and most will not disappoint. Beware though they have less run-off and lots of tyre walls and armco. You can hedge your bets and get trackday insurance for the day, though it's not cheap. Once again make sure you book some instruction. That's it really. Only advice I could give is that the most cost-effective modification to your car for trackdays is get as much good instruction as you can.
Good luck and enjoy!
I would start off going to a couple of airfield days top get a feel of the handling and the unique pendulum effect of a 911 when it all starts going pear shaped. Airfield days are very safe with loads of run off and no armco to worry about. try www.motorsportevents.co.uk. Get some instruction whilst there. After a few airfield days consider going to Bedford Autodrome, almost as safe as an airfield but with the odd bit of armco to catch the nutters out there. Again get some instruction as to lines technique etc, although the quality of Bedford's instructors does vary quite a bit. Then if you have been bitten by the bug, venture out onto one of the UK's racetracks. They are all pretty good in their own way and most will not disappoint. Beware though they have less run-off and lots of tyre walls and armco. You can hedge your bets and get trackday insurance for the day, though it's not cheap. Once again make sure you book some instruction. That's it really. Only advice I could give is that the most cost-effective modification to your car for trackdays is get as much good instruction as you can.
Good luck and enjoy!
as you say, no brainer. dont really see the point of having a porsche unless you do take it on track! older cars like 964's you can get free track insurance and newer ones you can cover for about 100 quid a day. that said the chance of crashing is pretty small especially if you pick a venue like bedford or silverstone to start with.
Personally speaking, I'm not a fan of airfield days. Airfield surfaces are extremely abrasive and can destroy your tyres within a day, and the lack of an actual road eliminates part of the sensation of driving. I think Bedford is about as good as it gets as a place to learn the handling dynamics of any car, and being able to lap it many times means you'll be able to get a feeling for the handling around a consistent corner. The back straight allows you to build serious speed (150mph), the surface is smooth, and there is a big variety of corners etc... facilities good too.
Ive been to bedford before on the 8 car day and driving the 996 there was the day i decided thats what i wanted. The instructors on those cars were spot on - always pushing you, and got used (kind of) to opposite lock round corners at supid fast speeds in an expensive car. But ive since phoned them up to request a package where myself and some friends just drive the 996 for more than the 8 laps and they point blank said no, which i think is a real shame.
I may check out an airfield day as the tires get near the end, and then move on to bedford.
Cheers for the advice again guys
I may check out an airfield day as the tires get near the end, and then move on to bedford.
Cheers for the advice again guys
bermyandy said:
I may check out an airfield day as the tires get near the end, and then move on to bedford.
Cheers for the advice again guys
i wouldnt go near an airfield day these days, the surfaces are abrasive and will eat tyres and there are alot of stones (causing chips), the facilities are cr@p, the layouts pretty boring and they're cheap so you get alot of max power boxes and associated driving. check out goldtrack for bedford days.
if youve done the 8 car day - imagine all 5 (?) tracks joined together - thats the gt track they do trackdays on.
Edited by francisb on Tuesday 6th June 12:08
I've had my Cayman since mid December and learning about the car in the foul weather between then and now has proven to be good experience. I also went on the 1/2 day driving experience that came with the car and the 3 hours or so at Millbrook were time very well spent in the hands of a very competent instructor. I have also done quite a few track days before and so feel confident that when I'm on a track I won't be causing a traffic jam or getting into difficulties. However, having said that the rules on track days are usually strictly enforced with regard to overtaking etc so most well organised ones pass off with little or no dramas. I'm booked on the PCGB day on the GT circuit at Bedford on August 12th and am looking forward to it. I've spoken to a few people on here and they have backed up messages I'd heard about the PCGB days and I feel 100% comfortable that the day will be run well and there is less likelyhood of any idiots being around than on some days where all makes and models of cars are on the track. I will be taking up the offer of tuition on the day as I believe that the more I receive of this the better driver I will become, not necessarily faster but certainly smoother.
Get out there and book a day just to try it. You don't have to go mad and in the right environment you may learn more about yourself and your car than is possible on the roads, I know I will.
Yex
Get out there and book a day just to try it. You don't have to go mad and in the right environment you may learn more about yourself and your car than is possible on the roads, I know I will.
Yex
bermyandy said:
tertius said:
... did a day with Don Palmer 2 weeks ago (Bruntingthorpe)...
What was involved on the don palmer day? with your own car?
Check this thread:
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=48&t=271671
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