When is an open pitlane not an open pitlane?
Discussion
Hi. just a bit of a rant really.
We do loads of bike trackdays, but recently got into Car Trackdays too.
We booked a couple of events with Trackdays.co.uk advertised as "open pitlane".
When we get there we discover it's not. Only 10 cars on the track at any-one time. This is aparently standard practice. So on the basis that if Trackdays.co.uk sell 11 places for the day it cannot possibley be "open pitlane"
We have to que around the paddock, and wait for each 20 min session to end, move up the que until it's our turn. Therefor have to spend all day in our cars, moving them up the line every 20 mins.
No chance for a cupper/piss/fag break etc....
Is this normal???
We do loads of bike trackdays, but recently got into Car Trackdays too.
We booked a couple of events with Trackdays.co.uk advertised as "open pitlane".
When we get there we discover it's not. Only 10 cars on the track at any-one time. This is aparently standard practice. So on the basis that if Trackdays.co.uk sell 11 places for the day it cannot possibley be "open pitlane"
We have to que around the paddock, and wait for each 20 min session to end, move up the que until it's our turn. Therefor have to spend all day in our cars, moving them up the line every 20 mins.
No chance for a cupper/piss/fag break etc....
Is this normal???
Something odd there and I'm slightly suspicious of your post.
This would not be normal and I know of no track in the UK where only 10 cars are on circuit at once (Goodwood perhaps?)
What circuit was it?
What date?
Or do you have some other reason for naming and shaming in your first post?
This would not be normal and I know of no track in the UK where only 10 cars are on circuit at once (Goodwood perhaps?)
What circuit was it?
What date?
Or do you have some other reason for naming and shaming in your first post?
I wasn't expecting a hostile response, and no, not naming and shaming, unless Trackdays are guilty of deception.
The day in question was indeed Goodwood, but I've got a day booked at Castle Coombe tomorrow, and having checked with them they have said the same thing.
I was simply comparing Bike days with Car days, and was asking if this was the norm.
Sorry if thats offended you.
The day in question was indeed Goodwood, but I've got a day booked at Castle Coombe tomorrow, and having checked with them they have said the same thing.
I was simply comparing Bike days with Car days, and was asking if this was the norm.
Sorry if thats offended you.
All circuits have a maximum limit on the number of cars permitted on circuit at any time. So the bottom line with booking a car track day advertised as open pit lane is you need to decide what you want out of the day and book accordingly. So assuming a fully booked day with a TDO -
Cheap open pit lane track day = lots of cars and lots of queuing in the pits in a long line of cars waiting for track access.
Good quality open pit lane track day = not cheap but fewer cars properly matched to the circuit limit so there is minimal pit lane queuing or even no pit lane queue at all for the majority of the day.
So if you don't mind queuing then go cheap. If you'd rather have time to socialise in the paddock, or have a cup of coffee when you are not on-track, pick a quality track day operator.
David
BHP
Cheap open pit lane track day = lots of cars and lots of queuing in the pits in a long line of cars waiting for track access.
Good quality open pit lane track day = not cheap but fewer cars properly matched to the circuit limit so there is minimal pit lane queuing or even no pit lane queue at all for the majority of the day.
So if you don't mind queuing then go cheap. If you'd rather have time to socialise in the paddock, or have a cup of coffee when you are not on-track, pick a quality track day operator.
David
BHP
I've rarely seen lengthy queueing even at "cheap" open pitlane trackdays apart from after red flags and first half hour after lunch (never been to Goodwood though) Doesn't bother me to sit in a queue for 5-10 mins.
Lots of people seem to either go home or break their cars by mid afternoon so the last couple of hours are usually quite empty
Lots of people seem to either go home or break their cars by mid afternoon so the last couple of hours are usually quite empty
As soon as I saw the thread title I thought "Goodwood". That's the answer to your question.
They have an unfortunate noise issue. Big shame but thats how it is with getting on track there. Sounds like your chosen operator didn't make you fully aware of the terms and conditions of the day, or they did and you didn't comprehend what they told you.
They have an unfortunate noise issue. Big shame but thats how it is with getting on track there. Sounds like your chosen operator didn't make you fully aware of the terms and conditions of the day, or they did and you didn't comprehend what they told you.
Hi Matt, I wasn't going to mention the noise issue, but.....
My mate was turned away as his RX8 was 100 dbA. Tested 2 weeks prior at Brands at 96.
Later in the day when several people had complained (one had come from Leeds) were then allowed on track with cars that were so overly noisy. In the meantime my mate had gone home. £250.00 up the swanny!!
My mate was turned away as his RX8 was 100 dbA. Tested 2 weeks prior at Brands at 96.
Later in the day when several people had complained (one had come from Leeds) were then allowed on track with cars that were so overly noisy. In the meantime my mate had gone home. £250.00 up the swanny!!
I will caveat the following by saying that one of our friendly TDOs will be along to provide the correct detail, but to paraphrase what I can remember the situation is this:
Goodwood only run two sorts of days "quiet days" and "noisy days".
"Quiet days" - several of them throughout the year, noise limit is static (.5m from the exhaust) 98db - if you have a road car it "should" meet this limit, and something like 10 cars allowed on track at one time.
"Noisy days" - very few throughout the year, 103db static noise and only 5 cars allowed on track at one time.
In addition to the static noise test, Goodwood are bound by an overall noise limit measured by mics around the circuit, and if the overall net limit is too high they have to suspend operations for a period of time.
In summary: If an operator is offering "open pitlane" at Goodwood, you need to check the small print and understand exactly what you are paying for.
Also to add - trackdays.co.uk is just a booking agent website which lists events from various operators they are not the TDO themselves.
Goodwood only run two sorts of days "quiet days" and "noisy days".
"Quiet days" - several of them throughout the year, noise limit is static (.5m from the exhaust) 98db - if you have a road car it "should" meet this limit, and something like 10 cars allowed on track at one time.
"Noisy days" - very few throughout the year, 103db static noise and only 5 cars allowed on track at one time.
In addition to the static noise test, Goodwood are bound by an overall noise limit measured by mics around the circuit, and if the overall net limit is too high they have to suspend operations for a period of time.
In summary: If an operator is offering "open pitlane" at Goodwood, you need to check the small print and understand exactly what you are paying for.
Also to add - trackdays.co.uk is just a booking agent website which lists events from various operators they are not the TDO themselves.
mattdaniels said:
I will caveat the following by saying that one of our friendly TDOs will be along to provide the correct detail, but to paraphrase what I can remember the situation is this:
Goodwood only run two sorts of days "quiet days" and "noisy days".
"Quiet days" - several of them throughout the year, noise limit is static (.5m from the exhaust) 98db - if you have a road car it "should" meet this limit, and something like 10 cars allowed on track at one time.
"Noisy days" - very few throughout the year, 103db static noise and only 5 cars allowed on track at one time.
In addition to the static noise test, Goodwood are bound by an overall noise limit measured by mics around the circuit, and if the overall net limit is too high they have to suspend operations for a period of time.
In summary: If an operator is offering "open pitlane" at Goodwood, you need to check the small print and understand exactly what you are paying for.
Also to add - trackdays.co.uk is just a booking agent website which lists events from various operators they are not the TDO themselves.
Pretty much spot-on except noisy day is 105dB IIRC, not 103dB.Goodwood only run two sorts of days "quiet days" and "noisy days".
"Quiet days" - several of them throughout the year, noise limit is static (.5m from the exhaust) 98db - if you have a road car it "should" meet this limit, and something like 10 cars allowed on track at one time.
"Noisy days" - very few throughout the year, 103db static noise and only 5 cars allowed on track at one time.
In addition to the static noise test, Goodwood are bound by an overall noise limit measured by mics around the circuit, and if the overall net limit is too high they have to suspend operations for a period of time.
In summary: If an operator is offering "open pitlane" at Goodwood, you need to check the small print and understand exactly what you are paying for.
Also to add - trackdays.co.uk is just a booking agent website which lists events from various operators they are not the TDO themselves.
As for OPL at Goodwood, unless you're paying £500+ then don't expect open pit lane in the true/traditional sense of the word. Think of it more as "informal/mixed sessions".
Jonny
BaT
I did Castle Combe at the beginning of the month. 10 cars is indeed the max on track at a time. For noise reasons. With less than 20 cars booked on there was no queuing after the first hour and it was open pit lane all day. However I've been on cheap days in the past which have had to be run as sessions all day because of the numbers (40 cars). The days are generally advertised as open pitlane but the CC circuit staff will decide on the day what is possible...sometimes they change to open pitlane late in the afternoon when numbers have fallen due to breakdowns and crashes.
Edited by boxsey on Thursday 26th September 13:47
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