Car trackday newbie

[Rick101]

Hi,

Got about £1800 saved and instead of putting it away for a rainy day I quite fancy buying a 3 series of some guise and using it for trackdays.

It would be road registered and driven to the event
I would have no concerns if if got written off at an event.

I have participated in a couple of trackdays before at Cadwell park when I had my motorbike a few years ago. Looking at pricing it seems about the same, £120pd.

Just wondering is there much difference between a car and bike event?
Do you get 3 groups? I'd be in novice.
Can you take a passenger? Can said passenger drive?

Bike events you often tape up lights, remove mirrors, indicators etc. Is there much prep needed for a road car?

Considering something like this
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...


Thanks.

[valverguy]

Do not buy a pristine looking car, Get a beaten up 3 series with the straight 6 in any guise and pay less than a grand for it, use the rest to service it. Then strip everything out you possible can, and the spend remaining funds on learning to drive it on a track.. All IMO of course

ATB

[rhinochopig]

Personally I only tend to use BaT (Bookatrack) as Jonny doesn't suffer fools gladly. Anyone driving like a dick is quickly given a stand up meeting without coffee.

Don't underestimate the benefits of a polite track-day when starting out.

They also do tuition which is very very reasonably priced: worth it to learn to the braking points, fastest lines etc.

[Rick101]

Aye, thats car just happened to be clean but fully understand the mechanics are far more important than the cosmetics.

Can I get a decent 3 series under a grand?

Unlikley I'll strip it out as it will be also used on the road as a runabout.

Very keen to find a 'polite' day as a newbie.

Very keen to 'learn to drive'.

Cheers for the advice.

[iguana]

Rick101 said:

Hi,



1-is there much difference between a car and bike event?

2-Do you get 3 groups? I'd be in novice.

3- Can you take a passenger? Can said passenger drive?

4- Bike events you often tape up lights, remove mirrors, indicators etc. Is there much prep needed for a road car?

Considering something like this
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

1- 2 extra wheels & unless you do toss tw@t packed days like Trax or Castle Combe action days, less carnage than a bike day free for all.

2- yes if you do sessioned days, I've not done sessioned in years open pit is far far preferable

3- yes & yes

4- No, but you would be a moron not to have a car to a decent prep & race brake fluid & pads as a min.


The car linked to is not the best you could get, its got cheapie coilovers is a lower power 323 & is expensive.

Decent 328s can be had for 600quid odd, decnet but budget suspension, pads, good service etc & you can be on track for far less than yr budget.