Recommendations for first track day
Discussion
E-bmw said:
I know you are driving a fast car & that you say you will be driving it well within the capabilities of the car nut just something to be aware of.
Brakes, brakes, brakes!
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/\ This.Brakes, brakes, brakes!
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I did my 1st track day at castle combe recently in an almost new TT Quattro.
I got 3 laps in before serious brake fade.
Things did calm down once i'd stopped overbraking for every corner but still! You would hardly call the TT lacking in brake power on the road but the track is a different story.
Castle Combe was fine. Listen to the instructors and other drivers. Don't go mental. Don't stay left over the rise into quarry
Some of the "airfield" tracks like Abingdon are Ok long run offs and no walls!
Thruxton is good if you did an IAM "skills day" where they put in a couple of extra breaking points or lower the speeds a bit. They had a speed limit of 90 on the last one I did ( i have a slow MX5 so by the time I got up to 90 I had to start braking again) but it was the braking and cornering I enjoyed.
My instructor taught me the proper racing lines, and as the sessions got went on I was going around faster.
There are always cars faster than you....let them through....they soon pick up that your a novice and allow for it, and most will pass you safely....just keep an eye on your mirrors!
Learning how your car brakes, corners, and handles the power when fed in properly will make you better on the roads....respecting how narrow they are, and how crap it is when you have on coming traffic!
Top tip.....after about a 15 minute blat do not park up with your handbrake on!..... let the brakes cool a little and let your heart rate drop. drink plenty of water and eat!......leave the beer for the evening at the pub!
enjoy!
Thruxton is good if you did an IAM "skills day" where they put in a couple of extra breaking points or lower the speeds a bit. They had a speed limit of 90 on the last one I did ( i have a slow MX5 so by the time I got up to 90 I had to start braking again) but it was the braking and cornering I enjoyed.
My instructor taught me the proper racing lines, and as the sessions got went on I was going around faster.
There are always cars faster than you....let them through....they soon pick up that your a novice and allow for it, and most will pass you safely....just keep an eye on your mirrors!
Learning how your car brakes, corners, and handles the power when fed in properly will make you better on the roads....respecting how narrow they are, and how crap it is when you have on coming traffic!
Top tip.....after about a 15 minute blat do not park up with your handbrake on!..... let the brakes cool a little and let your heart rate drop. drink plenty of water and eat!......leave the beer for the evening at the pub!
enjoy!
Thanks again for all the advice, Bedford booked for June, looking forward to it! Re brakes, all noted - the car is only 18 months/12000 miles old so everything is pretty new and they were rock solid throughout the Silverstone Sunday service but will keep an eye out for things fading and make sure I do a cool down. Thanks again.
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