Drive Limits - What to expect?
Discussion
After a tentative wet session at Snetterton in my first ever RWD track car, I've decided to book onto a Drive Limits day with "Mark" at North Weald airfield. It's a 4-person day, so I'm hoping to get plenty of coaching time to improve my ability to push the car further.
Has anyone done one? What did you think?
Has anyone done one? What did you think?
I've done two circuit days with them when they were called car limits.
First was torrential, in fact we had to call it due to aquaplaning in a straight line but before we bailed it was showing promise.
Second day was dry, Blyton Park for four people was amazing and I easily gained 2 seconds of time there.
More critically I was made to feel very comfortable going sideways and it allowed me to attack circuits much differently in future trackdays.
Some eye opening lessons on braking and how to get the most out of it, but the biggest gain for me was understanding in a controlled environment what the car actually wants to do when you go beyond its limits.
Strongly recommend, I'd love to do another but I don't believe they do Blyton anymore and NW is a bit of a trek!
First was torrential, in fact we had to call it due to aquaplaning in a straight line but before we bailed it was showing promise.
Second day was dry, Blyton Park for four people was amazing and I easily gained 2 seconds of time there.
More critically I was made to feel very comfortable going sideways and it allowed me to attack circuits much differently in future trackdays.
Some eye opening lessons on braking and how to get the most out of it, but the biggest gain for me was understanding in a controlled environment what the car actually wants to do when you go beyond its limits.
Strongly recommend, I'd love to do another but I don't believe they do Blyton anymore and NW is a bit of a trek!
Did it last year as a group of 20. It has single handedly allowed the biggest improvement in my circuit driving in a fairly powerful RWD car. Got some great feedback from the chap that runs it but I think the main thing was being able to push beyond the limit and play about a bit.
For £80 it is a bargain, going again in september.
I’d be surprised if you don’t end up coming back here saying how great a day it was.
For £80 it is a bargain, going again in september.
I’d be surprised if you don’t end up coming back here saying how great a day it was.
Thanks chaps. I've had much more powerful RWD road cars, but only ever tracked FWD cars. I was hopeful that a wet trackday would be a good starting point, but it was pretty busy with some fairly tasty machinery, so I never got to have the track to myself in a way that made me feel comfortable to explore the limits.
I've been giving some thought to adding an LSD to my Z4, but I'm holding back on any major modification until I can be confident that I'm not the weakest link. At the cost of an expensive trackday, it feels like a sensible place to start.
I've been giving some thought to adding an LSD to my Z4, but I'm holding back on any major modification until I can be confident that I'm not the weakest link. At the cost of an expensive trackday, it feels like a sensible place to start.
gareth h said:
shalmaneser said:
Enjoyed it a lot but do budget for some new tyres. Surface is very abrasive!
A bit gravely, I’ve been a dozen times and not noticed the tyrewear, but keep your windows closed when you spin otherwise you’ll end up with a cabin full of dust!I did it last year at North Weald, 4 person day.
Like mentioned above, the surface is a little poor, basically you are on a small section of the old runway, but in terms of fun and learning a few things about your car's abilities (and yours) it is great.
Mark is a good guy, plenty of in-car tuition and lots of opportunity to drive. I was in my Atom and discovered that he used to be a Atom hot lap instructor so that really helped. Was also good when he had a drive in my car and showed me what it is really capable of - differing level of speed.
I think it is good value for money when you look at the cost of anything else that gets you this sort of time on un-restricted tarmac.
Like mentioned above, the surface is a little poor, basically you are on a small section of the old runway, but in terms of fun and learning a few things about your car's abilities (and yours) it is great.
Mark is a good guy, plenty of in-car tuition and lots of opportunity to drive. I was in my Atom and discovered that he used to be a Atom hot lap instructor so that really helped. Was also good when he had a drive in my car and showed me what it is really capable of - differing level of speed.
I think it is good value for money when you look at the cost of anything else that gets you this sort of time on un-restricted tarmac.
rooney1000 said:
I did it last year at North Weald, 4 person day.
Like mentioned above, the surface is a little poor, basically you are on a small section of the old runway, but in terms of fun and learning a few things about your car's abilities (and yours) it is great.
Mark is a good guy, plenty of in-car tuition and lots of opportunity to drive. I was in my Atom and discovered that he used to be a Atom hot lap instructor so that really helped. Was also good when he had a drive in my car and showed me what it is really capable of - differing level of speed.
I think it is good value for money when you look at the cost of anything else that gets you this sort of time on un-restricted tarmac.
Excellent, thank you. This is exactly what I was hoping for!Like mentioned above, the surface is a little poor, basically you are on a small section of the old runway, but in terms of fun and learning a few things about your car's abilities (and yours) it is great.
Mark is a good guy, plenty of in-car tuition and lots of opportunity to drive. I was in my Atom and discovered that he used to be a Atom hot lap instructor so that really helped. Was also good when he had a drive in my car and showed me what it is really capable of - differing level of speed.
I think it is good value for money when you look at the cost of anything else that gets you this sort of time on un-restricted tarmac.
Tyrant said:
I was at North Weald with Mark yesterday. Great tuition and an environment suitable for driving well beyond what you’d get away with on a track day. Well worth the trip from Brecon to Essex and back through multiple storms (in an Atom!)
Good effort, I’ve moved to St Davids and am umming and ahhing about doing another day with Mark in my recently acquired Caterham, but the 5 hour drive each way is curbing my enthusiasm Tyrant said:
I was at North Weald with Mark yesterday. Great tuition and an environment suitable for driving well beyond what you’d get away with on a track day. Well worth the trip from Brecon to Essex and back through multiple storms (in an Atom!)
Excellent stuff! Did you do a 4-car session?I've done multiple days with Mark over the years, both 4 and 2 man days. I can't recommend them highly enough, though they can be fairly hard on the car (especially tyres) and in particular when it's hot.
Without a doubt it's made me a better circuit driver and given me the skills to drive faster and more safely on track - I haven't spun a car in years now I'm pleased to say, other than at North Weald (which is kind of half the point of going). I'm very local and considering another day with him, as you can never have too much practice.
Without a doubt it's made me a better circuit driver and given me the skills to drive faster and more safely on track - I haven't spun a car in years now I'm pleased to say, other than at North Weald (which is kind of half the point of going). I'm very local and considering another day with him, as you can never have too much practice.
Gassing Station | Track Days | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff