Starter Track Day's?
Starter Track Day's?
Author
Discussion

greggy50

Original Poster:

6,275 posts

220 months

Friday 11th November 2011
quotequote all
Just wondered would this be a good track day for me to start with based in lincoln for university so it seems nearby and meant to be a good track also says it is specialised for novices. Would love to have some extra training but it seems bloody expensive at £25 for 20 minutes could maybe justify one or two sessions of it on top of the initial cost.
http://www.clubmsv.com/car-home/event-details.aspx...
Are they any better options locally to either Lincoln or Birmingham nearby for around £150 including some training does not even have to be a day to be honest a half day would be ideal as imagine the brakes will cook pretty quickly on my car and it is only a 1.4 ZR anyway...

Steve H

7,515 posts

224 months

Friday 11th November 2011
quotequote all
I wouldn't recommend 20 starter minute sessions, you won't even have learned the layout by the time you come back in again and there's a risk that you are going out with the heros that only have 20 mins to prove how fast they are rolleyes .

Your link goes to a novice day for £89 which is pretty good value for a full day, get some instruction early on if possible and give the car (and you) time to rest between sessions, that way you'll last the day fine. Fresh brake fluid in the car would be a good idea.

You will probably get told that Cadwell isn't suitable for novices, keep your head about you and don't try to be the fastest thing there on your first lap and you shouldn't have a problem.

FlyingTrotter

852 posts

184 months

Friday 11th November 2011
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Isn't Rockingham a better option for you ?

Jon Ison

1,304 posts

262 months

Friday 11th November 2011
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You will get a full day at Blyton for not much more, every time I've been there as been free instruction on offer to, as to be 30 minutes from Lincoln ?

MikeATD

174 posts

182 months

Friday 11th November 2011
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We could sort you some free instruction at donington on 3rd December. May be a better circuit for a novice than cadwell.

greggy50

Original Poster:

6,275 posts

220 months

Friday 11th November 2011
quotequote all
Looking at the advice does this one sound a better bet?
http://www.apextrackdays.co.uk/TrackDayDetail/GetT...
Free instruction as well which is a bonus and being close to Lincoln always helps smile

amk

14 posts

183 months

Friday 11th November 2011
quotequote all
hi,

Worth considering are Javelins days at barkston heath - just north of grantham.
They are run as sprint days, so 1 'lap' of the track at a time, cars set off with big gaps so you basicaly have the track to yourself - great for a first time.
It also means your brakes dont cook even if you are really going for it.
I have been and found I got plenty of track time. They also run 2 tracks , a smooth tarmac track and another which is wide airfield with tyres - you are allowed to drift on this, so it's brilliant for driving in a way you would get black flagged on most days.
If you go on the november day come and say hello - orange caterham.

+1 for blyton park - midweek days are quieter than weekends but loads of run off so more forgiving than cadwell. ( please note I'm not dissing cadwell it's a brilliant track but it will be busy and may not be the best for your first time).

cheers
adam

Jon Ison

1,304 posts

262 months

Friday 11th November 2011
quotequote all
Hi,

just my final 2p, Cadwell is my favourite UK track closely followed by Oulton but Cadwell particularly in the winter months I would find hard to recommend for the first time on track, you will be fine at Blyton, its got plenty to think about but not to much to worry about if things go a little wrong, apex are good trackday organisers you normally get a free coffee when you arrive on their days which is a nice touch and the last time I was at Blyton with them there was free instruction available.

Sat 3rd December, got me thinking may just see you there.


Lozsprint

36 posts

179 months

Saturday 12th November 2011
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Though not exactly close to Lincoln, I'll be organising mid week sprint practice days at Curborough from early March if you want a cheap, fun day, where straightline speed doesn't count for much.

greggy50

Original Poster:

6,275 posts

220 months

Saturday 12th November 2011
quotequote all
Lozsprint said:
Though not exactly close to Lincoln, I'll be organising mid week sprint practice days at Curborough from early March if you want a cheap, fun day, where straightline speed doesn't count for much.
Seen the thread on this will probably be coming to these as well as curborough is about 10 minutes from my parents house smile

ukkid35

6,410 posts

202 months

Wednesday 16th November 2011
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Bedford may be 100 miles away, but it has to be one of the safest tracks in the UK. Any airfield is likely to be a better bet than a purpose built track (with the exception of somewhere like Le Mans Bugatti, but that is slightly too far away to recommend!)

anonymous-user

83 months

Thursday 17th November 2011
quotequote all
Steve H said:
I wouldn't recommend 20 starter minute sessions, you won't even have learned the layout by the time you come back in again
I disagree, 20 minutes at a time is plenty for a novice. My first trackday was one of these at Cadwell; have one session on your own (or with a passenger) to get to know the track then get tuition. You'll then have the rest of the day to put into practice what you learn. Just take lots of time to learn the driving line, when to change gear and brake etc, forget about going 10/10ths. I had a great time and was knackered at the end of the day. I think it was about seven sessions in all. And check your wheelnuts!

tozerman

1,332 posts

256 months

Thursday 17th November 2011
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Check this out,

http://www.donington-park.co.uk/experiences/thunde...

For your £99 you can enter in the "novice" group and get 6 x 20 minute sessions with other novices and tuition available if you want it.

Cheers.....Tony..

Oilchange

9,687 posts

289 months

Thursday 17th November 2011
quotequote all
Thats actually a very good deal, where else can you keep your booking and go on another day due to a weather cancellation?
And the prices are low compared to places like Brands which, frankly, I think is cashing in on the wealthy and leaving less well off people like me to look elsewhere. Are you listening Brands Hatch???

chris7676

2,685 posts

249 months

Thursday 17th November 2011
quotequote all
Oilchange said:
Thats actually a very good deal, where else can you keep your booking and go on another day due to a weather cancellation?
And the prices are low compared to places like Brands which, frankly, I think is cashing in on the wealthy and leaving less well off people like me to look elsewhere. Are you listening Brands Hatch???
Prices are usually low this time of the year, that includes Brands.

Steve H

7,515 posts

224 months

Thursday 17th November 2011
quotequote all
rovermorris999 said:
Steve H said:
I wouldn't recommend 20 starter minute sessions, you won't even have learned the layout by the time you come back in again
I disagree, 20 minutes at a time is plenty for a novice. My first trackday was one of these at Cadwell; have one session on your own (or with a passenger) to get to know the track then get tuition. You'll then have the rest of the day to put into practice what you learn. Just take lots of time to learn the driving line, when to change gear and brake etc, forget about going 10/10ths. I had a great time and was knackered at the end of the day. I think it was about seven sessions in all. And check your wheelnuts!
20 mins at a time is fine but the OP was looking at doing a single 20 minute "taster" session for £25 and wondering if he should book more than one, not the same thing as you describe and not something I would recommend for the reasons I've mentioned.

driverrob

4,847 posts

232 months

Thursday 17th November 2011
quotequote all
I did several clubmsv sessions at Brands Hatch - very safe and well-organised. Paying for a 20 minute instruction session on my first track day was, I thought, a good investment. I learned techniques, timings and best lines it might otherwise have taken me the whole day (or longer) to learn on my own.

greggy50

Original Poster:

6,275 posts

220 months

Thursday 17th November 2011
quotequote all
Thanks for all this advice going to pick one and have it as a Christmas present from the parents for around feb/march time next year smile
Also as car is due an MOT is January as I know the person doing it I can make sure the tyres, brakes etc... are all tip top before taking it on the track as well smile

anonymous-user

83 months

Thursday 17th November 2011
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Steve H said:
20 mins at a time is fine but the OP was looking at doing a single 20 minute "taster" session for £25 and wondering if he should book more than one, not the same thing as you describe and not something I would recommend for the reasons I've mentioned.
I stand corrected. I'll do 50 lines 'I must pay more attention to the original post'. smile

Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 17th November 21:38

GC8

19,910 posts

219 months

Friday 18th November 2011
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I believe that the OP was suggesting a novice day, with instruction available at £25 for 20 minutes.

From this some posters have decided that he was suggesting a twenty minute 'taster' trackday. Their advice would have been good if that was the case, but it wasnt.

Ever so slightly ambiguous, but talk of multiple 20 minute sessions was the clue, I think...