Reasonably priced testing???

[paulmj]

Ladies and Gents,

I’ve just joined the forum so – hello!

I’ve also just signed up for the TRC Saloon Series for 2005 and I am just finishing off this year’s racing car. However, what I need to do is go and get some testing done. It has been several years since I have been on a racing track having been limiting things to sprinting and hill climbing for the last 10 years (ish) so track time is definitely required!

What I am hoping someone can help me with is a recommendation of a track that provides testing sessions at a reasonable cost for a decent amount of track time in the South of England. Or, if anyone can recommend a track day which won’t object to a non-road legal car which provides a good amount of on track time for my money.

Any suggestions would be very welcome.

Regards.

Paul

[agent006]

Depends what you define as a reasonable cost really. Sivestone do testing sessions, they're listed on their website.

[kickstart]

Personally if you are trying to get up to racing speed you wont learn a lot at most track days and you will probably also have a noise problem.
As far as testing goes the cheapest place is Mallory park - 1/2 day every Wed £88, it only goes up from there have a google for Motorsportvision - this is the site that covers Brands, Snett, Oulton and Cadwell. From memory a day is about £200 at one of these circuits.
The other main stream alternative is Silverstone, again have a google for website - this year about £220. Others not so close are Donington (very expensive £395) Castle Combe about £270 but loads of track time there is also Goodwood about £260 - 105dB tests once each month.

[Simon Mason]

Carefull track day selection is the cheapest way of testing. The only issue being no timing aloud and noise can be a concern. Otherwise drive with consideration for others and your better off.

If your a serious competitor and of course therefore need times to judge yourself by, then Brands Hatch circuits web site list dates and costs for Snetterton, Brands, Cadwell and Oulton (personaly I would'nt test at Brands itself because you spend most of your session going in and out the pits whilst yet another numbscull goes off). Silverstone I personaly think offers the best value and again use the web site for dates and cost. Mallory used to be good value but is now only worth using before a race there and Donington is just stupid money so bite the bullet on lap times and save over £100 by doing a track day instead.

[nyssa7]

The best kept secret in Motorsport is that club racers can hire Millbrook - the industry research facililty

£50/hour for minimum 2 hours gets you access to the mile long straight, the steering pad, the handling circuits, the banked bowl

Better still, they have a preference for weekends, even Sundays, and you'll probably be almost on your own most of the time

[Graham]

Simon Mason said:

Mallory used to be good value but is now only worth using before a race there

it will be interesting to see what happens to the cost of testing now barc have taken over

[Don]

nyssa7 said:

The best kept secret in Motorsport is that club racers can hire Millbrook - the industry research facililty £50/hour for minimum 2 hours gets you access to the mile long straight, the steering pad, the handling circuits, the banked bowl Better still, they have a preference for weekends, even Sundays, and you'll probably be almost on your own most of the time

That IS interesting. I'd pay a hundred quid for two hours free use of that lot. Thinking about it - what a superb PH event that would make...max your car out on the bowl then lap the handling circuit...then gently round the hill route for a bit of fun...

[paulmj]

Thanks for all of the info guys.

I've just booked a morning at Mallory. 88 quid for 3 1/2 hours of track time. That's what I call reasonable! Got to be there for 0800 though to sign on - 0600 start for me!

Cheers.

Paul

[number 46]

It will only be about 1 and half hours or three sessions as they alternate between saloons and open wheeled. Still good place to check the cars ok though.

[Jon Ison]

Mallory testing is fine, the 1/2 hour breaks give you time to make adjustments ect to the car, don't go there thinking its an easy circuit, its fast too.

[falcemob]

Paul, what car will you be racing this year? If you need more track time then most track day companies don't object to race cars providing they meet the noise limits.
Will you be at Silverstone at Easter and I hope to see you out there sometime this year.
Tim