Road car only vs general car track day
Discussion
I've spied a track day in December, but it's a general car day, so I'm assuming people will be turning up with highly prepped cars, maybe some full on race cars. I have only been on novice days, and all is well, my concern is would it be better to go road car only day, as I use my daily driver, nothing fancy!
Thanks PH!
Thanks PH!
It can sometimes get frustrating having to constantly move over for very fast radicals and the like, especially if it's a small track and lots of race teams turn up on a general day. Definitely worth waiting for a road car only day IMO, much more relaxed and very well regulated. Track is also much more clear and you're chasing and overtaking rather than getting out of the way every other corner.
Anyway, no need to book so far in advance! MSVT road car only days usually become available a few weeks before - my track days usually only get booked a couple of weeks in advance to be honest.
Anyway, no need to book so far in advance! MSVT road car only days usually become available a few weeks before - my track days usually only get booked a couple of weeks in advance to be honest.
that's some great advice, I didn't want to be "that guy" being in the way and having to constantly move over, msv are the people who's site I normally check, I'll stick with their road car days! I don't think it matters, there are some seriously quick road cars out there. You'll always be pulling over or overtaking something.
In my experience the race cars are easier to deal with. Spot them in mirror keep a tight/wide line depending or corner direction out of the next corner with indicator on. They usually give you loads of room and are usually past so quickly with a wave, you rarely need to lift off, just get out of the way.
It doesn't seem to matter what the car is, it's the observance of other drivers that helps things run smoothly or not. It can be just as much of a pain getting stuck behind some idiot who won't use his mirrors.
(Based on track experience driving one the quickest and one of the slowest cars on track)
In my experience the race cars are easier to deal with. Spot them in mirror keep a tight/wide line depending or corner direction out of the next corner with indicator on. They usually give you loads of room and are usually past so quickly with a wave, you rarely need to lift off, just get out of the way.
It doesn't seem to matter what the car is, it's the observance of other drivers that helps things run smoothly or not. It can be just as much of a pain getting stuck behind some idiot who won't use his mirrors.
(Based on track experience driving one the quickest and one of the slowest cars on track)
RockyRoad said:
I don't think it matters, there are some seriously quick road cars out there. You'll always be pulling over or overtaking something.
In my experience the race cars are easier to deal with. Spot them in mirror keep a tight/wide line depending or corner direction out of the next corner with indicator on. They usually give you loads of room and are usually past so quickly with a wave, you rarely need to lift off, just get out of the way.
It doesn't seem to matter what the car is, it's the observance of other drivers that helps things run smoothly or not. It can be just as much of a pain getting stuck behind some idiot who won't use his mirrors.
(Based on track experience driving one the quickest and one of the slowest cars on track)
I'm with Rocky on this. The general atmosphere when there are either race prepped or track only cars should be better. If drivers of quick cars don't play by the track day rules, let someone know. Besides, you can always chat to others and get a few passenger laps. Nothing better than sharing the Radical experience with others in my experience.In my experience the race cars are easier to deal with. Spot them in mirror keep a tight/wide line depending or corner direction out of the next corner with indicator on. They usually give you loads of room and are usually past so quickly with a wave, you rarely need to lift off, just get out of the way.
It doesn't seem to matter what the car is, it's the observance of other drivers that helps things run smoothly or not. It can be just as much of a pain getting stuck behind some idiot who won't use his mirrors.
(Based on track experience driving one the quickest and one of the slowest cars on track)
You tend to find they come in clumps, not evenly spaced, so just back off, let them past, then give it beans to your own level. It will take them a while to get all the way around to catch you again. Most of all have fun.
Personally I wouldn't book too far ahead. Especially in winter. There will still be plenty of space closer to the time, and your car might be off the road at the critical time, or there may be family issues, or we just may be in a run of crap weather......remember the two weeks snow before Christmas a couple of years back?
As an example, according to MSV's website at 17.20 today, you can still get on the evening track session at Brands TOMORROW evening.....and we know the weather will be good. If only my car wasn't up on the ramp with the suspension in bits.....but then, it WILL be ready for Snetterton on Thursday, where this also still space available. See what i mean?
Personally I wouldn't book too far ahead. Especially in winter. There will still be plenty of space closer to the time, and your car might be off the road at the critical time, or there may be family issues, or we just may be in a run of crap weather......remember the two weeks snow before Christmas a couple of years back?
As an example, according to MSV's website at 17.20 today, you can still get on the evening track session at Brands TOMORROW evening.....and we know the weather will be good. If only my car wasn't up on the ramp with the suspension in bits.....but then, it WILL be ready for Snetterton on Thursday, where this also still space available. See what i mean?
I would say - at least with the race style cars at least you know they are there, that they are going to predictably cane you on the straights, will be sensible in a corner, and are generally driven by people who know what they are doing. Its the sheds, s
theaps, and nobends in fast road cars who dont have a clue what they are doing that are the ones I always watch out for.
theaps, and nobends in fast road cars who dont have a clue what they are doing that are the ones I always watch out for. I've had a lot of fun running with race prepped e36s in my lightly tuned road 328, would be missing out on a road day. This is going to sound massively arrogant, but I'd be concerned about being held up all day by slow cars on a road only. This ruins your day a lot more than having to move over for a faster car every now and then.
Clark3y said:
I've had a lot of fun running with race prepped e36s in my lightly tuned road 328, would be missing out on a road day. This is going to sound massively arrogant, but I'd be concerned about being held up all day by slow cars on a road only. This ruins your day a lot more than having to move over for a faster car every now and then.
Depends on what you are driving yourself, and what is on track with you. My last one at Cadwell had a perm (collective noun) of MX5s on it, which were quick enough to be fun overtaking, and they at least watched their mirrors. Its the drivers who don't watch their mirrors, or in the worst case I had recently, didn't have any and were quite a bit slower than me. It was some sort of Caterfield, and would have been easy pickings if they just kept to the slow side of the track, but this lot weaved unpredictably, and not just on the bends. They looked most surprised when I finally got past at 115 mph, almost on the grass on an airfield TD!!Gassing Station | Track Days | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff