Really want to go on a track Day one day but...
Discussion
Snetterton is a great circuit for a first time out. Wide, flat, smooth, good visibility, and some long straights. Lots of run off too.
Get your car ready, book an afternoon session and see how you get on. I've done 12 track days in my clio without exploding or breaking anything significant.
When you're there, see if anyone else is in a similar car and say hello.
Get your car ready, book an afternoon session and see how you get on. I've done 12 track days in my clio without exploding or breaking anything significant.
When you're there, see if anyone else is in a similar car and say hello.
ncjones said:
I personally wouldn’t take anything on track that I couldn’t afford to be without. For me I just wouldn’t enjoy it, but folk do have different attitudes to risk.
I bought a cheap mk3 MX5 and love thrashing that around. I’d be sad if I crashed it, but it wouldn’t have any lasting impact on family budget, hols etc.
After a day going around Castle Coombe in April the only noticeable ‘damage’ was some excessive wear (2mm max) of the near side front tyre.
Some people mitigate the risk with track day insurance.I bought a cheap mk3 MX5 and love thrashing that around. I’d be sad if I crashed it, but it wouldn’t have any lasting impact on family budget, hols etc.
After a day going around Castle Coombe in April the only noticeable ‘damage’ was some excessive wear (2mm max) of the near side front tyre.
After many years/decades of paying out and not claiming, I now only buy it for the 'Ring and for the when the TDO and/or track is new to me (or always at Castle Combe until I stopped going there).
If/when you get an MX5, then just to add that the Owners Club run track days (in conjunction with Mazda on Track) and usually have morning sessions based on ability, so you can book yourself on the Novice session in order for you to build up your confidence. The afternoons are then open pit. The good thing about doing this is that most people are driving their pride and joy and are in the same position as you in that they don't want to damage it.
Planet Claire said:
If/when you get an MX5, then just to add that the Owners Club run track days (in conjunction with Mazda on Track) and usually have morning sessions based on ability, so you can book yourself on the Novice session in order for you to build up your confidence. The afternoons are then open pit. The good thing about doing this is that most people are driving their pride and joy and are in the same position as you in that they don't want to damage it.
That's cool I will have to find out about that Cambs_Stuart said:
Snetterton is a great circuit for a first time out. Wide, flat, smooth, good visibility, and some long straights. Lots of run off too.
Get your car ready, book an afternoon session and see how you get on. I've done 12 track days in my clio without exploding or breaking anything significant.
When you're there, see if anyone else is in a similar car and say hello.
Thanks I don't have a fast car atm I only have a 1.2 Vauxhall Corsa not really for the track but it does have decent handling. Might be worth asking if I can borrow someone's car but I doubt it plus never driven anything fast irl though I do sim race sometimes what is apparently harder than real life but idk just nervous Get your car ready, book an afternoon session and see how you get on. I've done 12 track days in my clio without exploding or breaking anything significant.
When you're there, see if anyone else is in a similar car and say hello.
I was the same as you, Jack. After my first day though, the worst damage I did to my car was my cheaply repainted wheels started to blister and bubble through a combination of it being a really hot day, and my being a bit overzealous on the brakes... I did my utmost to keep it out of the gravel traps, too!
You may not think a 1.2 Corsa is a track day car, but I'd wager it's a great way of introducing you to everything! We have an old family friend who's been rallying a long time, he always told me "if you want to learn to drive fast, start with a slow car".
My first track day, I had an instructor sit with me the whole day. If you can afford it, I strongly recommend it. He helped me get over the initial "oh sh*t!" fear of going on a track, and there is no way I'd have learned what I did, were I on my own trying to figure it out. For my first few sessions, he also helped keep an eye out for faster traffic and taught me how to pass safely.
In summary, go and enjoy!
You may not think a 1.2 Corsa is a track day car, but I'd wager it's a great way of introducing you to everything! We have an old family friend who's been rallying a long time, he always told me "if you want to learn to drive fast, start with a slow car".
My first track day, I had an instructor sit with me the whole day. If you can afford it, I strongly recommend it. He helped me get over the initial "oh sh*t!" fear of going on a track, and there is no way I'd have learned what I did, were I on my own trying to figure it out. For my first few sessions, he also helped keep an eye out for faster traffic and taught me how to pass safely.
In summary, go and enjoy!
No need for modifications but make sure your car is in tip top condition with fresh brake fluid and full of oil etc. If Snetterton is your local circuit then it's a good one to try first! Take your time, book tuition (it's free with Opentrack) and enjoy your day. Build your speed up slowly, keep an eye on your mirrors so you can move over for faster cars and you'll have a great day!
Everyone is really friendly so chat to people and have a great day!
Everyone is really friendly so chat to people and have a great day!
Lots of good advice thrown around. Track days are not cheap, and things will go wrong occasionally, not necessarily big issues mind you.
I would just book on a day (get insured! I use Moris personally, expensive for a single day but the more you book the cheaper per day they charge) and see how you get on.
Definitely change your brake fluid, if budget allows get better brake pads (ebc bluestuff is an off the top of my head reasonably priced road/track pad) but you won't fly off the circuit with your standard pads and discs just be wary they won't be able to take the heat of 15 minutes straight on circuit so give them a cool down lap every now and then and you'll be fine.
Most likely you will be hooked as the g forces you feel from a vehicle on a track is quite different to what you've experienced before.
If you want to keep going then depends on your budget but most important things really are:
- keeping on top of brake maintenance (race fluid, track based pads, good condition discs, removing dust shields is a free way to also get the brake temps lower)
- tyres (ns2r is a good option if you only want 1 set of wheels to use, can be used on road all year around and can withstand high track temperatures unlike most road tyres while being reasonably priced)
- a good quality tyre pressure guage (not a tyre inflator, a 30 quid one from Demon tweeks will do)
- general car maintenance (frequent oil changes and general servicing)
Your car is not a common one to see on track but likely your consumables will be cheap and if something did go terribly wrong which is unlikely then you can probably get replacement parts new or 2nd hand quite reasonable.
You won't ruin your paint, you will see a couple stone chips but no more than maybe a daily sees on the motorway. I've had a couple stone chips on the wind screen before but your insurance fixes these for a small fee just be very ambiguous about how it came around haha! Alot of cars that see extreme wear and tear are cars running big power on sticky tyres with tons of grip which in turn generates more heat in the engine bay, brakes, tyres and hugher forces on the car.
I would just book on a day (get insured! I use Moris personally, expensive for a single day but the more you book the cheaper per day they charge) and see how you get on.
Definitely change your brake fluid, if budget allows get better brake pads (ebc bluestuff is an off the top of my head reasonably priced road/track pad) but you won't fly off the circuit with your standard pads and discs just be wary they won't be able to take the heat of 15 minutes straight on circuit so give them a cool down lap every now and then and you'll be fine.
Most likely you will be hooked as the g forces you feel from a vehicle on a track is quite different to what you've experienced before.
If you want to keep going then depends on your budget but most important things really are:
- keeping on top of brake maintenance (race fluid, track based pads, good condition discs, removing dust shields is a free way to also get the brake temps lower)
- tyres (ns2r is a good option if you only want 1 set of wheels to use, can be used on road all year around and can withstand high track temperatures unlike most road tyres while being reasonably priced)
- a good quality tyre pressure guage (not a tyre inflator, a 30 quid one from Demon tweeks will do)
- general car maintenance (frequent oil changes and general servicing)
Your car is not a common one to see on track but likely your consumables will be cheap and if something did go terribly wrong which is unlikely then you can probably get replacement parts new or 2nd hand quite reasonable.
You won't ruin your paint, you will see a couple stone chips but no more than maybe a daily sees on the motorway. I've had a couple stone chips on the wind screen before but your insurance fixes these for a small fee just be very ambiguous about how it came around haha! Alot of cars that see extreme wear and tear are cars running big power on sticky tyres with tons of grip which in turn generates more heat in the engine bay, brakes, tyres and hugher forces on the car.
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