Castle Combe - Good 1st trackday?
Discussion
On Weds 13th July there is a track day at Castle Combe. It says "Drive your road legal car at Castle Combe Circuit. New to Track sessions are available"
My dad (996 targa) and I (VX220) are thinking of going along, but it would be his first time and only my second (first one was at Cadwell couple of years ago). Is it a good track to learn on? Are the instructers good with slow learners?
Cheers!
>> Edited by thunderstruck on Wednesday 6th July 13:29
My dad (996 targa) and I (VX220) are thinking of going along, but it would be his first time and only my second (first one was at Cadwell couple of years ago). Is it a good track to learn on? Are the instructers good with slow learners?
Cheers!
>> Edited by thunderstruck on Wednesday 6th July 13:29
The Combe is the first track I got to drive on regularly.
Its fine, and the instructors are'nt bad.
However, be aware that the run-off areas are small and the barriers never far from the track. Quarry corner in particular leaves little margin for cocking it up and many a car has thumped into the tirewall !
The rise before Quarry is tricky too, as the car goes light just as you are entering the corner - badly driven 911's can be a handful there !
But be careful and listen to the instructor and you'll be fine.
Its fine, and the instructors are'nt bad.
However, be aware that the run-off areas are small and the barriers never far from the track. Quarry corner in particular leaves little margin for cocking it up and many a car has thumped into the tirewall !
The rise before Quarry is tricky too, as the car goes light just as you are entering the corner - badly driven 911's can be a handful there !
But be careful and listen to the instructor and you'll be fine.
toppstuff said:
However, be aware that the run-off areas are small and the barriers never far from the track. Quarry corner in particular leaves little margin for cocking it up and many a car has thumped into the tirewall !
All was going well, if a little wet..........
Oppps
Unsettled over the bump before Quarry, 2 wheels on the slippy white lines, followed by 4 wheels on the very slippy grass, I may as well have gone and sat in back for all the good braking or trying to steer did
Be carefull
Guillotine said:
its very fast, and little run off. particularly at the fastest points!! see above.
i'd say no...but its better than Cadwell, and you've already done that one.
I love Castle Combe both as a spectator & to drive & agree with what you say about it being a quick circuit. But I'm interested to know why you prefer it to Cadwell.
>> Edited by 55jnj on Thursday 7th July 22:13
I had my very first track day a few weeks ago at Castel Combe. I was extremely nervous about it but I had a great time. I think the trick is to take it at your own pace and don't let others intimidate you into going faster than you feel comfortable with. I went out on one session with an instructor and that was great - well worth it. He told me what lines to take, when to change gear etc. and made me feel a lot more confident in the sessions afterwards. Hope you have fun if you go for it!
Castle Combe is a good circuit - its fun and challenging, without being overly difficult.
As LB says, just take it at your own pace and you'll be fine - its only when you push too hard that things can go wrong.
Listen to the instructors above Avon Rise into Quarry - thats where most people mess up, mainly because the turn on the crest along with a braking zone can really unsettle your car if you do it wrong...
As LB says, just take it at your own pace and you'll be fine - its only when you push too hard that things can go wrong.
Listen to the instructors above Avon Rise into Quarry - thats where most people mess up, mainly because the turn on the crest along with a braking zone can really unsettle your car if you do it wrong...
Coombe was my first track day, but I had previous coaching and instruction. It was also very wet, so I could have more fun at lower speeds, and I didn't push very hard.
There are better places to go on you first track day, and if this is the first time ever your dad is going to be pushing the car hard, I would say it's best for him not to go to Coombe just yet. If you do both go, just remember it's not a race, and that as soon as you feel a little concerned, come in and rest yourself and the car: Coombe has little to no run off, and is pretty quick, making it easy to go faster than you or the car can handle.
As this is tomorrow, I doubt you can get any extra tuition in first, so if you get a chance, get to the skid pan first, and do some car control, then get onto the track (I think Coombe has a skidpan). This will help him with knowing where the car's limits are, and recognising he is there, and ease off to keep on the black stuff.
There are better places to go on you first track day, and if this is the first time ever your dad is going to be pushing the car hard, I would say it's best for him not to go to Coombe just yet. If you do both go, just remember it's not a race, and that as soon as you feel a little concerned, come in and rest yourself and the car: Coombe has little to no run off, and is pretty quick, making it easy to go faster than you or the car can handle.
As this is tomorrow, I doubt you can get any extra tuition in first, so if you get a chance, get to the skid pan first, and do some car control, then get onto the track (I think Coombe has a skidpan). This will help him with knowing where the car's limits are, and recognising he is there, and ease off to keep on the black stuff.
I'd advise against it as a first/second track day.....for what its worth I'd say go to a big open airfield circuit like Bedford Autodrome, Elvington or Bruntingthorpe. There's loads of run off and you'd have to be very unfortunate to come a cropper. Also these trackdays are generally open pit so you get as much track time as you want, rather than being crammed into sessions. And they are generally cheaper (£100 usually). The purists say they aren't proper circuits and to an extent they are right, but they are the best place to get used to pushing the car far harder than you generally do on the road.
As everyone else says, take it easy and go at 8/10ths and NEVER...EVER...EVER go out in the last 15 minutes. At the end of the session you'll be going soooooo much faster than at the beginning and the temptation to have just one last go, together with the new found confidence is a recipe for disaster. I have seen lots of people just go over the edge right at the end I now spectate for the last few minutes.
Most of all have fun...
As everyone else says, take it easy and go at 8/10ths and NEVER...EVER...EVER go out in the last 15 minutes. At the end of the session you'll be going soooooo much faster than at the beginning and the temptation to have just one last go, together with the new found confidence is a recipe for disaster. I have seen lots of people just go over the edge right at the end I now spectate for the last few minutes.
Most of all have fun...
I did my national B license at Castle combe and don't remember seeing a single gravel trap or much of a run off area except the field in the middle! I haven't driven any other circuits.
It was alright in a Focus (even with fast single seaters and god knows what else on track at the same time) but I'd be a bit scared pushing hard in anything worth over £5k! Particularly with road brakes and no roll cage.. And it's fairly narrow with few really straight bits, so you'd be constantly checking the mirrors and getting out of the way of people.
But IMO it's a great track and definitely one to come back to and spend some time mastering!
Russell
It was alright in a Focus (even with fast single seaters and god knows what else on track at the same time) but I'd be a bit scared pushing hard in anything worth over £5k! Particularly with road brakes and no roll cage.. And it's fairly narrow with few really straight bits, so you'd be constantly checking the mirrors and getting out of the way of people.
But IMO it's a great track and definitely one to come back to and spend some time mastering!
Russell
I would support everything Topstuff said. It's a great venue, but don't get too cocky on your first visit, especially if you have a quick car as the run-offs at Quarry, Tower and Camp aren't huge. There are no gravel/sand traps anywhere at this circuit.
Take it easy whilst learning, grab an instructor session if available, and you'll have a lot of fun there
John
>> Edited by corozin on Tuesday 12th July 17:40
Take it easy whilst learning, grab an instructor session if available, and you'll have a lot of fun there
John
>> Edited by corozin on Tuesday 12th July 17:40
Lost my track day cherry @ Castle Combe, as with any day take your time, learn and follow the rules from the briefing and above all enjoy.
Everyone says quarry is scary, but again take it right and its no problem.
watch people pulling into pits without indicating as a novice this caught me out a few times
Crap for petrol though, make sure you are as full as possible before starting
Everyone says quarry is scary, but again take it right and its no problem.
watch people pulling into pits without indicating as a novice this caught me out a few times
Crap for petrol though, make sure you are as full as possible before starting
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