Low power track days

Low power track days

Author
Discussion

AdeR

Original Poster:

109 posts

190 months

Saturday 3rd August 2013
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Hello!

Basically I've done a quick search through ph and not found too much, I'm fairly sure there is no power restrictions on track days.

What I am concerned about is being in the way, and not being welcome as I'm not in something that has a track status.

I'm aware of what's going on around me, and corners are where I'll be holding my speed as straight line speed is hard in my steed. I only have 100bhp in a Megane 2 but track days are something I've been mega eager on for a long time.

Thanks for any advice guys smile

HustleRussell

25,540 posts

174 months

Saturday 3rd August 2013
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Pick your venues carefully, do a novice day first and be prepared to let a lot of people past. As you say, the types of cars at trackdays is broadly unregulated and you'll be driving the slowest / one of the slowest cars there. IMO you'll have fun but you'll quickly find yourself yearning for a more suitable car.

Andy Bell

333 posts

153 months

Saturday 3rd August 2013
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i have a lowered powered Caterham and had the same concern about holding people up on straights. Honestly - do not worry about it. Just always be aware of whats going on behind you, try to let people pass when it is safe and you will have no problems.

Go for it - its alot of fun smile

HustleRussell

25,540 posts

174 months

Saturday 3rd August 2013
quotequote all
Andy, my Caterham has only 100bhp and runs normal road tyres, but even that is in a completely different performance bracket to a 100bhp Megane...

ViperDave

5,647 posts

267 months

Saturday 3rd August 2013
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Unless your going to swerve your way all down the straight, the powerful cars will go past, and while it might feel like your holding everyone up, everyone is only a single person each time so unlikely they will be too bothered or come across you so frequently they get annoyed by you unless your doing something else bad to draw attention.

The people that will be the most inconvenienced are those that aren't quite powerful enough to get past you on the straights but are quicker in the corners, and it wont matter what car you have, or for the most part who you are either, there will always be someone like that at some point during the day and that's what you need to looking in the mirrors for and back out of it and let them past, potentially making it obvious you want them to pass with the use of indicators, obvious moving over and not accelerating down the straight like a scalded cat.

Have fun

V8mate

45,899 posts

203 months

Saturday 3rd August 2013
quotequote all
Andy Bell said:
i have a lowered powered Caterham and had the same concern about holding people up on straights. Honestly - do not worry about it. Just always be aware of whats going on behind you, try to let people pass when it is safe and you will have no problems.

Go for it - its alot of fun smile
Quite. It's not a race.

GreigM

6,739 posts

263 months

Saturday 3rd August 2013
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Everyone loves someone to overtake...never think you are too slow...be courteous and so long as you aren't blocking on the straights the faster cars will simply slide past. In any case, I've seen many people in high powered cars who were hopeless on track - spend a bit of time, learn some techniques, get some instruction, you might surprise by how slow you aren't.

AdeR

Original Poster:

109 posts

190 months

Saturday 3rd August 2013
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Thanks very much for the replies guys! Certainly very confidence inspiring smile

jimbobsimmonds

1,824 posts

179 months

Sunday 4th August 2013
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I wouldn't let it worry you tbh mate.

I was recently passenger round Brands in a Volvo V40 T4 Auto, completely standard, running no boost as a split pin had come off the actuator. So we wasn't quick. But we did have fun and just got out of the way when neccesary.

The only annoyance I have had was with cars where I'm not quite powerful enough to get past them on the straight but quicker in the corners. This is even worse if the driver of the "superior" car refuses to accept that you are quicker (Focus RS would not let me past because I was in a Volvo...)

I am still a novice and still get nervous but it's great fun. I'll be at Woodbridge this Saturday.

moribund

4,158 posts

228 months

Sunday 4th August 2013
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Ditto what everyone else has said. I was slowest by some measure as a novice in a standard 80hp Smart Roadster but still loads of fun and no problem allowing people past.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOtLxlO3Liw

Had to deliberately back off very occasionally to let some cars past safely so keep your eyes in your mirrors. My only problem was a prat testing a race car who passed me mid-corner a couple of times.

auto1

902 posts

210 months

Sunday 4th August 2013
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All above true , do your self a big favour and take advantage of any professional instruction available.
Keep your eye on your mirror and you will be fine.

AdeR

Original Poster:

109 posts

190 months

Sunday 4th August 2013
quotequote all
Thanks for all the replies chaps! What's Donington Park like for driving with low power? That's looking like the most likely one for me to go for! Thanks again.

HustleRussell

25,540 posts

174 months

Sunday 4th August 2013
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Donington is nice and wide and features some decent straights for passing. Go for it.

GVK

906 posts

256 months

Sunday 4th August 2013
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All good points above. Just don't do a Keith O'dor down Craners.

(See TOCA shoot out when he lost it down Craners and rolled OVER the fence into the spectator area)

I very nearly did the same a few years back, brown trousers moment!

Edited by GVK on Sunday 4th August 22:56

paulshears

804 posts

211 months

Sunday 4th August 2013
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I've done a track day in a 55 bhp Polo & had no-one complain about me, so I must have done a good enough job of getting out the way

Built a 100 bhp engine for the car & I had a couple of car's getting out of my way smile


AdeR

Original Poster:

109 posts

190 months

Wednesday 7th August 2013
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Thanks guys! Looking into Oulton Park as well as that's an awful lot closer to me, really excited to get on track now, all be it taking it easy and being aware of everything around myself smile

Gladyman

1 posts

61 months

Monday 2nd June
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You'll love it. I'm sure you did.

It does make me think about organizing a low BHP track day. If you're going around at broadly the same speed, then you can compare yourself to others and have a better chance of having a full lap without needing to move over.

I'd go if these track companies organized one.

keo

2,480 posts

184 months

Monday 2nd June
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You made your first post in 5 years, on a 12 year old thread. Fair play biggrin

M28TTR

55 posts

55 months

Monday 2nd June
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Wow!

Krikkit

27,379 posts

195 months

Tuesday 3rd June
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Gladyman said:
You'll love it. I'm sure you did.

It does make me think about organizing a low BHP track day. If you're going around at broadly the same speed, then you can compare yourself to others and have a better chance of having a full lap without needing to move over.

I'd go if these track companies organized one.
Power to weight would be a good way to organise it. The problem with considering power only is all those pesky Caterfields biggrin