Silverstone or Snetterton?
Discussion
It's all go for my 7 and I from March! Have a carlimits course booked at the end of the March with another long weekend road trip to Wales mid April. Thinking about attending a track day in the second week of March. Lotus on Track are running a sessioned event at Silverstone on the 10th and MSV are doing Snetterton on the 13th with an open pit lane.
Is it worth paying £60 more for SIlverstone? I have not been to either track. My 7 is an ex academy 1600 K Series but tuned slightly so Its running just under 140bhp. Has a diff too. Which track would suit the car better? If they are both OK, which one should I book?
Is it worth paying £60 more for SIlverstone? I have not been to either track. My 7 is an ex academy 1600 K Series but tuned slightly so Its running just under 140bhp. Has a diff too. Which track would suit the car better? If they are both OK, which one should I book?
Silverstone national? If GP, way too long for a low powered 7. I haven't drive Snett 300 but old Snett was a hoot. I'd imagine 300 would be even better for lower powered 7s.
Btw Car Limits will teach you little about driving on track, but is great fun, if not hard on tyres and paintwork. I assume Walshy is still running it? Try to best 90 through the wet bend
Btw Car Limits will teach you little about driving on track, but is great fun, if not hard on tyres and paintwork. I assume Walshy is still running it? Try to best 90 through the wet bend
rubystone said:
Silverstone national? If GP, way too long for a low powered 7. I haven't drive Snett 300 but old Snett was a hoot. I'd imagine 300 would be even better for lower powered 7s.
Btw Car Limits will teach you little about driving on track, but is great fun, if not hard on tyres and paintwork. I assume Walshy is still running it? Try to best 90 through the wet bend
It is the GP circuit and my initial thought was that my car's probably not powerful enough so I think it I will go for Snetterton on the basis of your comments.Btw Car Limits will teach you little about driving on track, but is great fun, if not hard on tyres and paintwork. I assume Walshy is still running it? Try to best 90 through the wet bend
I actually prefer road driving in my 7 but want to hit some trackdays and try the carlimits course to practise my car control so I can attack roads with greater skill and confidence.
I actually need an excuse to wear my tyres out sooner rather than later. Previous owner fitted a set of the cheaper Toyo's and I don't really like them. In what what will the paintwork suffer?
Let me guess the previous owner put on a set of Toyo T1R? They are the cheapest tyre you can get for them and are way too hard for Caterham ( I had exactly the same).
I did a car limits day last year with SKCC and I had the T1R's and I spun a fair few times as the tyre just didn't warm up enough and have enough grip, well, thats my excuse and I am sticking to it.
The tyre wear was probably about 2 mil on the rears and 1.5 mil on the front, give or take. I didn't really care for the tyres as I new I was going to get a new set or R1R's which are much better.
So it was a good laugh but definitely change the tyres before you do the car limits day.
I did a car limits day last year with SKCC and I had the T1R's and I spun a fair few times as the tyre just didn't warm up enough and have enough grip, well, thats my excuse and I am sticking to it.
The tyre wear was probably about 2 mil on the rears and 1.5 mil on the front, give or take. I didn't really care for the tyres as I new I was going to get a new set or R1R's which are much better.
So it was a good laugh but definitely change the tyres before you do the car limits day.
rubystone said:
Silverstone national? If GP, way too long for a low powered 7. I haven't drive Snett 300 but old Snett was a hoot. I'd imagine 300 would be even better for lower powered 7s.
In what way is Silverstone GP 'too long'? and since when is 270bhp/ton 'low powered'? Geniunely curious. Snett 300 is second only to Silverstone GP in length (UK circuits), and if the length of the straights is the issue, the Bentley straight at Snett is not significantly shorter than Hangar.
I have driven many laps of both circuits in a 100bhp Caterham and it didn't blow up and I was at no point bored to death.
ETA: I suppose I should actually answer the question.
If it was going to be your last ever trackday, and given the choice of those two, I would chose Silverstone without a shadow of a doubt. Silverstone GP is up there with the greats.
However 60 quid more and sessionned running means that Snetterton 300 looks like much better value.
Snetterton 300 is not a bad circuit, very technical and certainly challenging enough. However, in getting rid of 'Sears' and 'Russells' they at a stroke removed two interesting and unique corners and in those places the new layout feels bloody awkward, and not in a good way. A boring symmetrical chicane and an overly slow ninety degree left hander are not good substitutes.
You're going to have a lot of fun at either circuit so you can't lose so your choice is simply which day fits best for you and how much you care about value for money- however if you chose Snett 300, don't let Silverstone pass you by as it's the better circuit and- dare I cliche this to the extreme- hallowed tarmac.
EATA: I echo the 'get rid of the T1Rs ASAP' comment. Not a suitable tyre for a Caterham. You need 13" Yokohamas, Toyos or Avons in list 1b flavour.
Edited by BritishRacinGrin on Friday 20th February 06:58
Yes I have T1R's which I agree are not nice at all. The only problem is that they have loads of tread left on them so I was hoping to replace them only once they wear out. Having read the comments though it seems that I might have a more enjoyable time if I get some good tyre's fitted beforehand. Where could I go near Chigwell in Essex to get some Avon's?
Edited by assadahmed on Friday 20th February 10:59
assadahmed said:
Yes I have T1R's which I agree are not nice at all. The only problem is that they have loads of tread left on them so I was hoping to replace them only once they wear out. Having read the comments though it seems that I might have a more enjoyable time if I get some good tyre's fitted beforehand. Where could I go near Chigwell in Essex to get some Avon's?
I know how you feel, but those tyres will be really compromising your car, although barely worn I bet they're already hardened and they're only going to get worse to the point that they may try to kill you before you even get a chance to wear them down. Don't mean to sound alarmist but I've been there and done that, and watched others do the same. eBay 'em if it's worth it?
If you're going for CR500s, standard fitment for your car would be 175/55r13 all 'round so you're likely to lose some ride height fitting them. You may need to raise the suspension.
BritishRacinGrin said:
I know how you feel, but those tyres will be really compromising your car, although barely worn I bet they're already hardened and they're only going to get worse to the point that they may try to kill you before you even get a chance to wear them down. Don't mean to sound alarmist but I've been there and done that, and watched others do the same.
eBay 'em if it's worth it?
If you're going for CR500s, standard fitment for your car would be 175/55r13 all 'round so you're likely to lose some ride height fitting them. You may need to raise the suspension.
Its OK everyone, I have already decided over the course of the day to change them! I actually have 15" rims on the car. Shall I get some 13" rims too considering how everyone says it improves the handling?? I could then sell my current wheels and tyre's on eBay. What am I likely to get for them and where would be the best place to buy a set of 13 wheels and tyres??eBay 'em if it's worth it?
If you're going for CR500s, standard fitment for your car would be 175/55r13 all 'round so you're likely to lose some ride height fitting them. You may need to raise the suspension.
I'm not sure I can answer your question as to whether it is worth spending extra money. I've raced on both circuits (in a 120bhp Caterham) and Silverstone GP is surprisingly good to drive in a Caterham, even though I didn't expect it to be. Snetterton 300 is good as well, but I'm not a massive fan of the new section to be honest.
Not sure I understand the LoT details for the Silverstone day -
"As we have done for the last 8 or so years we are running a joint event with our friends at MG’s on Track, they have two sessions and we have one."
Might limit track time. They also say for intermediate drivers only and you must have done at least two open pit lane days before.
"As we have done for the last 8 or so years we are running a joint event with our friends at MG’s on Track, they have two sessions and we have one."
Might limit track time. They also say for intermediate drivers only and you must have done at least two open pit lane days before.
MikeO996 said:
Not sure I understand the LoT details for the Silverstone day -
"As we have done for the last 8 or so years we are running a joint event with our friends at MG’s on Track, they have two sessions and we have one."
Might limit track time. They also say for intermediate drivers only and you must have done at least two open pit lane days before.
I have plenty of experience going fast around tracks including a few in the 7. I think the sessioned runs will equate to 20 mins track time each hour which may not be to bad if numbers are limited. In any case I have decided to cancel an early March trackday so I can spend the money on a new set of 13" wheels and tyres. I like the Compomotive CXR. Once they get fitted to car I will get rid of my 15's on eBay or something. That way it should not work out to be too expensive."As we have done for the last 8 or so years we are running a joint event with our friends at MG’s on Track, they have two sessions and we have one."
Might limit track time. They also say for intermediate drivers only and you must have done at least two open pit lane days before.
assadahmed said:
I have plenty of experience going fast around tracks including a few in the 7. I think the sessioned runs will equate to 20 mins track time each hour which may not be to bad if numbers are limited. In any case I have decided to cancel an early March trackday so I can spend the money on a new set of 13" wheels and tyres. I like the Compomotive CXR. Once they get fitted to car I will get rid of my 15's on eBay or something. That way it should not work out to be too expensive.
I'm guessing you have adjustable platforms? Spend some cash in corner weighting too.Also note that ideally you'd need to change wing stays on front for 13 inch wheels
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