Looking at reasonable track days

[joehirth]

I want to take my car on track, besides the cost of the car wear and tear, where are good places to get a decent, cheap as possible day out?

I live near Woking so something within a 1.5 hr radius is preferable. Not too interested in airfields as I heard they ruin tyres, unless someone has a decent one like Bedford?

I haven't got a load of money to spend, thinking max £200 really. Half a day would probably be enough if there's a such thing. Don't want to kill my car.

Ideas welcome

[Gruffy]

Full days at most circuits (except Brands GP and Silverstone GP) are likely to be in the £200 region. Thruxton isn't far. Bedford is good for beginners. In all fairness, 3 minutes on Google and you'd have dozens of options.

[Gruffy]

Worth pointing out that wear and tear on the car (brake pads, tyres and oil mostly) and petrol represent the bigger costs on a track day. Not the track fees. If you're on a serious budget you may find something like the Caterham Challenge days a bit more suitable though, granted, it doesn't scratch the itch of getting your own car on track.

[Glosphil]

joehirth said:

I want to take my car on track, besides the cost of the car wear and tear, where are good places to get a decent, cheap as possible day out?

I live near Woking so something within a 1.5 hr radius is preferable. Not too interested in airfields as I heard they ruin tyres, unless someone has a decent one like Bedford?

I haven't got a load of money to spend, thinking max £200 really. Half a day would probably be enough if there's a such thing. Don't want to kill my car.

Ideas welcome

IAM have reduced cost of 1/2-day from £199 to £129 for their next day at Stowe (inside Silverstone circuit) on 18/10. More than 1½-hour drive for you though.

[flobalob]

Brands Hatch evening sessions are 120 quid for 3 hours ,5pm till 8pm, or a novice evening session is usually 99 quid for the same 3 hours. Or... you can do 20 min sessions for £25 a go ( you can do more than one ). I,m doing 2x 20 min sessions next week at Brands to settle in a new clutch, brake hoses and coilovers, in readiness for Snetterton and Cadwell later next month. The taster sessions are quite good value really. Shame the full GP circuit at Brands is stupidly expensive. Both Snetterton and Cadwell together ( hee hee consecutive days, i hope my car can take it ) are costing me less than 1 session around the GP circuit.

[CatDriver]

BHP do a few half days at Castle Combe.

[MikeATD]

Come to snetterton on Saturday! Under £200 for full day. On the 300 circuit.
Mike

[George mk3]

Yep come have a play this Saturday at Snetterton mate, i'm going .

It's great value for £195 as it's all day 9-5 OPL (open pit lane) so you can come in and go out as much as you want.

As with all Apex run days, you also get instruction for free so ideal if it's your first track day.

[joehirth]

Wish I could come Saturday but I'm busy

Something like the 20 mins for £25 sounds good to start with, just in case something isn't right with my car. I've built it all myself so wouldn't want anything to go wrong early in the day and lose the whole days fee.

[chris7676]

Gruffy said:

Worth pointing out that wear and tear on the car (brake pads, tyres and oil mostly) and petrol represent the bigger costs on a track day. Not the track fees. If you're on a serious budget you may find something like the Caterham Challenge days a bit more suitable though, granted, it doesn't scratch the itch of getting your own car on track.

I would say from my experience it goes in the following order:
1) Trackday fee (£200 average for a day, more in the summer, less in winter)
2) Petrol, including around 100miles return journey (£70-£180 depending on a car)
3) Brakes, tyres (I tend to wear 1mm of pads & tyres for the whole day, a bit cheaper than the petrol still)
4) Oil, need for more frequent servicing and other things you can't quantify

I would suggest doing evenings or half days if the costs are your concern.
And a light 4 cylinder car will be much chepaer to run than a heavier 6 cylinder one (I can tell you comparing the Elise to the Boxster or M3).

[joehirth]

chris7676 said:

I would say from my experience it goes in the following order:
1) Trackday fee (£200 average for a day, more in the summer, less in winter)
2) Petrol, including around 100miles return journey (£70-£180 depending on a car)
3) Brakes, tyres (I tend to wear 1mm of pads & tyres for the whole day, a bit cheaper than the petrol still)
4) Oil, need for more frequent servicing and other things you can't quantify

I would suggest doing evenings or half days if the costs are your concern.
And a light 4 cylinder car will be much chepaer to run than a heavier 6 cylinder one (I can tell you comparing the Elise to the Boxster or M3).

Seems reasonably. I have a 420bhp Ibiza though so I don't think fuel is going to be any cheaper than any M3 or Boxster. I have a friend who has a load of track day tickets that he's trying to get rid of, so I can have a track day for £100 hopefully including a garage. Good value really so I may as well go for the day. Thinking of Bedford on 18th August.