Thinking about buying a car just for trackdays...
Discussion
I currently have a convertable. I was at Castle Combe on Friday and a 911 rolled the day before. SO have been thinking about getting a car just for trackdays, ie one that I buy and keep for say 5 years. Something like a 95 M3 that I can put a rollcage in (like they are doing in Evo mag at the moment).
Trouble is its going to cost £1,000 a year just to insure and park it (I live in London). It thus makes doing say 8-10 trackdays a year quite expensive (trackday cost + insurance + depreciation + parts = about £500 a trackday!).
Has anyone done this before that can advise for/against it?
Trouble is its going to cost £1,000 a year just to insure and park it (I live in London). It thus makes doing say 8-10 trackdays a year quite expensive (trackday cost + insurance + depreciation + parts = about £500 a trackday!).
Has anyone done this before that can advise for/against it?
Slight vest interest obviously but have you considered track-club (www.track-club.com)?
From £1695 if you collect cars or £2995 if you want arrive & drive. Not only does it take the pain (for some) away of ownership but you get a choice of cars. There are quite a few London based members already.
Stephen
From £1695 if you collect cars or £2995 if you want arrive & drive. Not only does it take the pain (for some) away of ownership but you get a choice of cars. There are quite a few London based members already.
Stephen
brendonj said:
I currently have a convertable. I was at Castle Combe on Friday and a 911 rolled the day before. SO have been thinking about getting a car just for trackdays, ie one that I buy and keep for say 5 years. Something like a 95 M3 that I can put a rollcage in (like they are doing in Evo mag at the moment).
Trouble is its going to cost £1,000 a year just to insure and park it (I live in London). It thus makes doing say 8-10 trackdays a year quite expensive (trackday cost + insurance + depreciation + parts = about £500 a trackday!).
Has anyone done this before that can advise for/against it?
Brendan
I too live in London and have done just this. I bought a 205 gti and stuck a 405 Mi16 engine in it. It has a bolt in cage, single seat, NO interior, uprated brakes, suspension, sump, etc, etc.
I rent a council garage in St Albans (20 mins from North London) for £7/week. Insurance is about £250/year fully comp inc european cover (did someone mention the 'Ring...).
Car incl mods is worth about £3k and will see off a lot more expensive machinery. Was pulling an indicated 145 up a 95 993 C2's backside on the E40 last time I went over to the Ring.
The other thing is, that at 800kg, there's not too much momentum to arrest should the car touch the armco, and at £3k, I can just get out and walk away and get a plane home....
lovely.
suits me sir.
drop me a PM if you want to chat. I'm based in NW3.
Ideal car for trackdays has to be a Caterham or similar. I'm a little biased but I got here from the position you are in now. I wanted to do trackdays but the cost of running any normal car on track is pretty horrendous. Brakes (which will fade badly), tyres and suspension wear are all pretty bad on your average 1500kg daily driver. I started to think along the 205 GTi route but unless you can find one ready prepared you will have to uprate the brakes and probably the suspension in order make it handle decently - it's probably a good choice for a FWD car though. I then thought about a cheap Westfield/Tiger/Locost but they need some skilled setup to get the best out of them and still use many road car components. Caterhams have a reputation of handling well on track "out of the box" although further setup can make a big difference. The brakes and suspension are designed for racing and there are variants with big brakes, LSD, adjustable suspension, etc. which all make the car better on track. Although the initial purchase cost is high the running costs are much lower and you can even get cheap trackday insurance through the Caterham scheme with Egger Lawson (4 free trackdays and £40 per day thereafter). For some more information on starting out on trackdays have a look at the Easytrack website here.
i'm not referring to the handling on a wet track, more the convenience side. Getting in and out for a start is a nighmare with the roof up, leaking; with a heavy downpoor i'd rather not be inside a caterham.
just my opinions of course, so i prefer a tin top for all year round convenience
just my opinions of course, so i prefer a tin top for all year round convenience
I do see your point, I prefer the convenience of an awning 
It also depends if you're trailering or driving. The whole idea of a track specific car for me is that it spends little (if any) time on the road
I think (and it's backed up from the replies here) that it's horses for courses. But whatever you choose, you can always flog it and buy something else if your choice proves too impractical/slow/cold/wet/expensive/French etc
It also depends if you're trailering or driving. The whole idea of a track specific car for me is that it spends little (if any) time on the road
I think (and it's backed up from the replies here) that it's horses for courses. But whatever you choose, you can always flog it and buy something else if your choice proves too impractical/slow/cold/wet/expensive/French etc
Just a suggestion but for about £500 per event you could go racing. For about £500 per meeting you could certainly hire a Formula Vee (about £350 - £400) so including entry fees that should come in about £500. The next step up would be a Formula Ford 1600 or Zetec /F4 car etc and this would come in at about £600 - £750 per event.
kickstart said:A damage budget would also be of value if you are racing
Just a suggestion but for about £500 per event you could go racing. For about £500 per meeting you could certainly hire a Formula Vee (about £350 - £400) so including entry fees that should come in about £500. The next step up would be a Formula Ford 1600 or Zetec /F4 car etc and this would come in at about £600 - £750 per event.
.fergus said:
I rent a council garage in St Albans (20 mins from North London) for £7/week. Insurance is about £250/year fully comp inc european cover (did someone mention the 'Ring...).
How did you find the garage? I need one near Oxford for the same purpose and haven't had much luck so far. It needs to be big enough to take a trailer with the car on it.
Cheers,
Pete
smckeown said:
i'm not referring to the handling on a wet track, more the convenience side. Getting in and out for a start is a nighmare with the roof up, leaking; with a heavy downpoor i'd rather not be inside a caterham.
just my opinions of course, so i prefer a tin top for all year round convenience
Stop whinging borr!
You're British. It it rains enjoy it and think of the tyres you are saving.
>> Edited by cdp on Wednesday 27th July 15:13
Hello mate,
I was at Combe on Friday in my 318is....
I believe you were with me when I stacked it into the tyre wall weren't you? Sorry I am rubbish with names and I can't remember your username so excuse me if I am being rude!
Try www.bmwtrackdays.com
Evo mag have signed up there with there M3 looking at modifications. I insure mine as a road car, costs £300 a year with all mods declared, and parts are cheap (just bought a new door for £20 ;-)
)
I was at Combe on Friday in my 318is....
I believe you were with me when I stacked it into the tyre wall weren't you? Sorry I am rubbish with names and I can't remember your username so excuse me if I am being rude!
Try www.bmwtrackdays.com
Evo mag have signed up there with there M3 looking at modifications. I insure mine as a road car, costs £300 a year with all mods declared, and parts are cheap (just bought a new door for £20 ;-)
)
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