Anyone done the "own car" track tuition at Knockhill?
Anyone done the "own car" track tuition at Knockhill?
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Discussion

8bit

Original Poster:

5,559 posts

185 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
quotequote all
As above, I've never done any track days at all and thought this might be a good way of both getting an intro to this and learning the limits of my car a little better in a relatively safe environment. Looking for feedback from anyone who's done this?

Allandwf

1,773 posts

225 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
quotequote all
I'm supposed to be doing it, just never had the time yet.

simoid

19,774 posts

188 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
quotequote all
Always (3 visits) decided I'd rather wear their tyres and brake pads instead of mine, but I'm also curious smile

Have you been for other experiences? I've really enjoyed the tuition in the Leons/Sierras so that's what a few relatives club together to buy me at Christmas.

KB_S1

5,967 posts

259 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
quotequote all
My Dad did it.
I don't think it was the package from KH though, possibly part of his owners club when they had a day up there.
I think he really enjoyed it, was comfortable with what he was asked to do and learned a lot.

tvrgit

8,490 posts

282 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
quotequote all
I did it in my TVR S last September - I really enjoyed it. Nice to see what your car can (and can't!) do without being too silly on the public road. I had a really good instructor too, he was really pleasant and helpful.

I was fully intending to do it again this year, but the weather just hasn't been great, and I'm reluctant to book so far in advance when the chances of half-decent weather are slim. I was also going to try a track night but haven't got round to that either.

But now that I'm reminded, I'm going to get something organised. Anybody good at long-range weather forecasting?


Hollowpockets

5,910 posts

246 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
quotequote all
Done it in my tvr and noble, it's not as hard on the car as a proper trackday and a great way to learn the limits of your own motor.

It was Gordon Sheddon who gave me tuition in the tvr at Knockhill, he is some driver!

TVR nut

303 posts

203 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
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I done it year ago and had great fun in a fiesta si. As said before great to try and learn the limits of your car. The only problem i had was by the time we finished my brakes were censored

Sandy59

2,733 posts

241 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
quotequote all
I've done it before in the wet and it was great fun, find the limits at more sensible speeds and much less wear and tear on tyres and brakes etc.

GrahamF430

326 posts

194 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
quotequote all
I did it in my old S2000. I'd already had experience of the track (and, obviously, my car). However, after three laps, I entered the first corner and the instructors hand suddenly appeared in front of my nose, grabbed the wheel and tried to "stop me from making a mistake". This rather alarming behaviour resulted in me exiting from the second bend, backwards across the grass and, fortunately, between two tyre walls. I was "slightly unhappy" at this, as you can imagine.

Car wasn't damaged, though the ECU needed to be reset as it was running like a bag of spanners after that.

I think it was a misunderstanding but I won't accept driver instruction again, especially on a track by a 20-odd year old who had never even been in an S2000 before.

Irrotational

1,580 posts

218 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
quotequote all
Hmm doesn't sound so good.

At the risk of a slight hijack - have any of you done it in an open top car using an intercom?

I am trying to find one which fits inside a helmet, but doesn't need the Mic to be velcro'd to the front of it...and has a triple 3.5mm socket connection in it.

BeillyNoy

390 posts

266 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
quotequote all
tvrgit said:
But now that I'm reminded, I'm going to get something organised. Anybody good at long-range weather forecasting?
Rain.
Followed by showers.

rolleyes

N.

Raffles

1,931 posts

260 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
quotequote all
I did it in my MX-5 last year. I had Rory when I did it and felt he was very professional. I learned a lot about the car's limits as well as having a great time!

I would certainly recommend it. And Knockhill could do with all the business they can get.

7ss

579 posts

252 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
quotequote all
Irrotational said:
Hmm doesn't sound so good.

At the risk of a slight hijack - have any of you done it in an open top car using an intercom?

I am trying to find one which fits inside a helmet, but doesn't need the Mic to be velcro'd to the front of it...and has a triple 3.5mm socket connection in it.
Hi Andy
I've been meaning to get a cheap & cheerful intercom for this too. Have seen a battery operated one used on the Caterham experience days but have yet to find one. Lidl or Aldi were doing them a year or two ago as a deal for bikers but I didn't manage to pick one up at the time. I'm sure something would be available at a bike dealer without going to the expense of an autocom/starcom.

7ss

579 posts

252 months

tvrolet

4,761 posts

312 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
quotequote all
Irrotational said:
Hmm doesn't sound so good.

At the risk of a slight hijack - have any of you done it in an open top car using an intercom?

I am trying to find one which fits inside a helmet, but doesn't need the Mic to be velcro'd to the front of it...and has a triple 3.5mm socket connection in it.
Did it in the tvrolet - open and very very loud. No real need for an intercom, akthough in fairness I was just looking for pointers on better lines rather than 'from scratch' tuition as I had loads of KH miles unter my belt. Hand signals were enough for "brake now", "turn in there", "clip the apex there" etc., then ease off and cruise now and again for a chat.

Not that one times on track days, but it gained me a couple of seconds with the proper lines wink


GreigM

6,740 posts

279 months

Tuesday 24th July 2012
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7ss said:
I bought one of those for exactly this reason (getting tuition) in the Westfield - utter utter ste, the wind noise made it unusable. Have since bought a proper autocom system and it is absoultely fab (if pricey)

VTECBOY

352 posts

174 months

Wednesday 25th July 2012
quotequote all
Ian Forrest
Gordon Sheddon
Rory Butcher

The only people I would like to take me round KH for one of these days.

Rockatansky

1,830 posts

217 months

Wednesday 25th July 2012
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VTECBOY said:
Ian Forrest
Gordon Sheddon
Rory Butcher

The only people I would like to take me round KH for one of these days.
Then you'd be imposing an unneccessary restriction on yourself and missing out on some of the other excellent instructors at KH.

And it's Shedden wink

e21jason

738 posts

249 months

Wednesday 25th July 2012
quotequote all
I did it and enjouyed and used some vouchers to do it back to back with the seat experince.

But i have found doing one of the TrackScotland days and getting one or two tution slots helps as you learn then practice and then have another lesson works better

davidsp80

63 posts

173 months

Wednesday 25th July 2012
quotequote all
Rockatansky said:
Then you'd be imposing an unneccessary restriction on yourself and missing out on some of the other excellent instructors at KH.

And it's Shedden wink
This.

Sandy is very good too.