Best tracks - must do tracks
Discussion
nickfrog said:
Steve H said:
cerb4.5lee said:
Bedford has been recommended to me as a track to use as a first timer on a track(not that I'll ever get around to doing one though knowing me).
That happens a lot. They are wrong. Edited by nickfrog on Saturday 25th June 21:21
any transition from tarmac to grass could be ugly quite quickly. I'd never treat Bedford as risk free to be an idiot, but I do choose it for my first run out in a new car. I know it well, good mix of corners and plenty of space for other cars - this last point is probably more important than the oft quoted run off.
Goodwood is wonderful, yet deceiving. those tyre walls are covered in grass and look benign. the circuit is very fast - I'd say it feels faster than Thruxton even though that is officially faster. I'm more balls out through Church than I am through Madgwick, St Mary's or Woodcote.
quite possible that I've misjudged it all of course! I can see why they limit cars at Goodwood. A few guys 'racing' each other would unwind very badly very easily there. The days there are always well run.
CABC said:
I'd like to know a bit more about Steve's rationale.
any transition from tarmac to grass could be ugly quite quickly. I'd never treat Bedford as risk free to be an idiot, but I do choose it for my first run out in a new car. I know it well, good mix of corners and plenty of space for other cars - this last point is probably more important than the oft quoted run off.
As Nick says, this has been done a number of times before and I realise I am in the minority here but I’m still right and everyone else is wrong so here we go again any transition from tarmac to grass could be ugly quite quickly. I'd never treat Bedford as risk free to be an idiot, but I do choose it for my first run out in a new car. I know it well, good mix of corners and plenty of space for other cars - this last point is probably more important than the oft quoted run off.
.1. If your priority when choosing a track is where you can have the least consequences from a crash you shouldn’t be choosing a track, you should be choosing a different hobby. I’ve been messing around on racetracks since the late 80s and I’m all for safety at circuits but if you are confident in advance that you can’t actually keep it on the circuit then who else are you going to take out on the way to your nice safe accident.
Which brings me on to ……
2. I have seen more cars come together at Bedford than at any other circuit. On trackdays.
3. I have also seen as many cars roll on trackdays at Bedford as any other circuit.
So safe, not really.
4. Even if they survive and enjoy the day, what has a novice learned? Well, mostly how to overdrive a car on a wide track with a lot of ill-defined lines and little reward for consistency or accuracy. Lets hope our newly emboldened driving hero doesn’t next decide to take his car to Cadwell, Oulton or pretty much any other track where his experience at Bedford could get him into a lot of trouble.
As I said before, Bedford does an amazing job with Palmersport and for a more experienced trackday driver a lot of my issues with it as a TD venue do not apply as much as they do for novices (although it is still dull and uninspiring compared to the many alternatives that we are lucky enough to choose from) but the constant mantra of it being a great place for people to start trackdaying at is utterly wrong and I will continue to mention it until everyone agrees with me
Steve H said:
If your priority when choosing a track is where you can have the least consequences from a crash you shouldn’t be choosing a track, you should be choosing a different hobby.
This is the sort of unnecessary gatekeeping that makes people think that trackdays are not accessible to all.Anybody should feel perfectly fine to turn up in a road car that's in good mechanical condition and drive around any racetrack for 150 quid or so. If they make a mistake, they bear the consequences, irrespective of where they are.
But the "I've been doing this for 30 years, so my opinion is worth more than yours" gatekeepers, and Dazza with his credit card 'Ring Clubsport' build, seem intent on turning trackdays into some sort of hobby with a high threshold of entry. It really shouldn't be.
I did my first trackday at Bedford on the GT layout for all the reasons I've outlined above. Nobody died. No cars were rolled. I learned loads, and it was the gateway to a fantastic hobby.
I have no doubt you did, and loads of others will have done the same 
. As they will have done at many other circuits.
I’m not gate keeping here, I’m still love trackdaying (after all these years
) and it’s great to see more people joining it as a hobby. I’m just saying that in my experience driving on a track where errors have no obvious consequences can lead to poor driving, and occasionally to some unexpected consequences 
.
. As they will have done at many other circuits. I’m not gate keeping here, I’m still love trackdaying (after all these years
) and it’s great to see more people joining it as a hobby. I’m just saying that in my experience driving on a track where errors have no obvious consequences can lead to poor driving, and occasionally to some unexpected consequences .Go and do Spa.
Not a cheap trip by the time you add up travelling there and staying one night but when you arrive at the circuit stand at the bottom of Eau Rouge on the outside of the circuit and look up the hill,it is spectacular.
Once you have driven it you will never forget it and you will want to go back.
A great circuit.
Not a cheap trip by the time you add up travelling there and staying one night but when you arrive at the circuit stand at the bottom of Eau Rouge on the outside of the circuit and look up the hill,it is spectacular.
Once you have driven it you will never forget it and you will want to go back.
A great circuit.
If you do go to Anglesey, choose a day where the Coastal Circuit is in play. The corkscrew is an excellent set of corners, with the GP circuit missing it to instead add a heavy braking point and hairpin.
I still miss the old circuit (radar was a ace corner) but the track has loads to offer, in beautiful surroundings too.
I still miss the old circuit (radar was a ace corner) but the track has loads to offer, in beautiful surroundings too.
Steve H said:
As Nick says, this has been done a number of times before and I realise I am in the minority here but I’m still right and everyone else is wrong so here we go again .
1. If your priority when choosing a track is where you can have the least consequences from a crash you shouldn’t be choosing a track, you should be choosing a different hobby. I’ve been messing around on racetracks since the late 80s and I’m all for safety at circuits but if you are confident in advance that you can’t actually keep it on the circuit then who else are you going to take out on the way to your nice safe accident.
Which brings me on to ……
2. I have seen more cars come together at Bedford than at any other circuit. On trackdays.
3. I have also seen as many cars roll on trackdays at Bedford as any other circuit.
So safe, not really.
4. Even if they survive and enjoy the day, what has a novice learned? Well, mostly how to overdrive a car on a wide track with a lot of ill-defined lines and little reward for consistency or accuracy. Lets hope our newly emboldened driving hero doesn’t next decide to take his car to Cadwell, Oulton or pretty much any other track where his experience at Bedford could get him into a lot of trouble.
As I said before, Bedford does an amazing job with Palmersport and for a more experienced trackday driver a lot of my issues with it as a TD venue do not apply as much as they do for novices (although it is still dull and uninspiring compared to the many alternatives that we are lucky enough to choose from) but the constant mantra of it being a great place for people to start trackdaying at is utterly wrong and I will continue to mention it until everyone agrees with me
well reasoned, I see you point(s)..1. If your priority when choosing a track is where you can have the least consequences from a crash you shouldn’t be choosing a track, you should be choosing a different hobby. I’ve been messing around on racetracks since the late 80s and I’m all for safety at circuits but if you are confident in advance that you can’t actually keep it on the circuit then who else are you going to take out on the way to your nice safe accident.
Which brings me on to ……
2. I have seen more cars come together at Bedford than at any other circuit. On trackdays.
3. I have also seen as many cars roll on trackdays at Bedford as any other circuit.
So safe, not really.
4. Even if they survive and enjoy the day, what has a novice learned? Well, mostly how to overdrive a car on a wide track with a lot of ill-defined lines and little reward for consistency or accuracy. Lets hope our newly emboldened driving hero doesn’t next decide to take his car to Cadwell, Oulton or pretty much any other track where his experience at Bedford could get him into a lot of trouble.
As I said before, Bedford does an amazing job with Palmersport and for a more experienced trackday driver a lot of my issues with it as a TD venue do not apply as much as they do for novices (although it is still dull and uninspiring compared to the many alternatives that we are lucky enough to choose from) but the constant mantra of it being a great place for people to start trackdaying at is utterly wrong and I will continue to mention it until everyone agrees with me
yes, if you really throw the car around and hit the grass sideways....then roll over baby! The real problem you highlight is other people on track taking extra risks as they believe they can push so much harder with no consequences. Very true. That said, the space on the GT circuit is such that you can have a lot of time away from traffic, and the line of sight behind covers many corners too.
So, in the afternoon the track itself is very safe for a sensible person. just be aware of other drivers. In the morning, for the reasons you highlight, it might be more dangerous. it's a big circuit, give yourself space and be very wary of clowns or little groups having a tussle.
You've called it dull on several occasions, and that just seems OTT. I wouldn't call it the best, but it doesn't justify such harsh judgement. First, I'd focus on the chicane at Thruxton, the surface at Combe or any of the hairpins at Snett or Anglesey.
Does no one like Silverstone?
Big F1 style runoff areas and it is after all where F1 is run these days?
Sure the long straights can be a bit much for lower powered cars but there's always the National circuit in that case which is quite challenging.
Taking the Maggots Beckets complex as close to flat as you dare is quite something IMHO
Big F1 style runoff areas and it is after all where F1 is run these days?
Sure the long straights can be a bit much for lower powered cars but there's always the National circuit in that case which is quite challenging.
Taking the Maggots Beckets complex as close to flat as you dare is quite something IMHO
Tobermory said:
Does no one like Silverstone?
Big F1 style runoff areas and it is after all where F1 is run these days?
Sure the long straights can be a bit much for lower powered cars but there's always the National circuit in that case which is quite challenging.
Taking the Maggots Beckets complex as close to flat as you dare is quite something IMHO
It has always been an awful track from a spectators point of view for me. You sit miles away from the track, and even the F1 cars don't look all that quick there. To say that it is the countrys flagship track, I personally think that it is one of the least interesting tracks that I go to. Big F1 style runoff areas and it is after all where F1 is run these days?
Sure the long straights can be a bit much for lower powered cars but there's always the National circuit in that case which is quite challenging.
Taking the Maggots Beckets complex as close to flat as you dare is quite something IMHO
I presume that it is more interesting to drive around than it is to watch though?
Tobermory said:
Does no one like Silverstone?
Big F1 style runoff areas and it is after all where F1 is run these days?
Sure the long straights can be a bit much for lower powered cars but there's always the National circuit in that case which is quite challenging.
Taking the Maggots Beckets complex as close to flat as you dare is quite something IMHO
Given how few days they run, opportunities to do the National circuit are few and far between.Big F1 style runoff areas and it is after all where F1 is run these days?
Sure the long straights can be a bit much for lower powered cars but there's always the National circuit in that case which is quite challenging.
Taking the Maggots Beckets complex as close to flat as you dare is quite something IMHO
For those of us who don't own mega-power track cars, Silverstone is a circuit where you spend most of your time getting out of other drivers' way. To that end, it's not the most interesting circuit for the average trackday goer.
Steve H said:
Silverstone is great but it’s also expensive and the only way of doing it now is on their days as they have stopped renting it to other TDOs so interest and participation has naturally dropped off.
They have cut out the external run budget days, so must be confident the limited ‘in house’ more expensive and bespoke days are the right move. Shame as it cuts out cheaper access to a good experience, even on the National. Tobermory said:
Does no one like Silverstone?
Big F1 style runoff areas and it is after all where F1 is run these days?
Sure the long straights can be a bit much for lower powered cars but there's always the National circuit in that case which is quite challenging.
Taking the Maggots Beckets complex as close to flat as you dare is quite something IMHO
I really like the GP circuit (but not as much as the old configuration), and I track a lower powered car.Big F1 style runoff areas and it is after all where F1 is run these days?
Sure the long straights can be a bit much for lower powered cars but there's always the National circuit in that case which is quite challenging.
Taking the Maggots Beckets complex as close to flat as you dare is quite something IMHO
As above - Maggots/Beckets is fantastic and then I've time on the Hanger Straight to pull over, let the faster stuff through
and order a take-away pizza before Stowe.
I used to love doing the Silverstone GP circuit in my Radical and as you say the Beckets complex was fantastic. Sadly Radicals are no longer allowed unless you have a race licence and do test days.
A shame that one of the UK’s great circuits is no longer available but hopefully it may come back in the future.
A shame that one of the UK’s great circuits is no longer available but hopefully it may come back in the future.
even in the Mono that comment makes sense to me 
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