Flat out or don t bother
Discussion
As a complete beginner to track days, other than doing some circuit experience days which I appreciate are very different, I’m not sure about a few things and wanted some opinions before I start.
Firstly the car I have is my daily, only car, and so I want to be able to drive it there and back as well as have fun on track. However is a 340bhp saloon driven at 8/10ths just gonna get in the way? I’m asking that as concerned if I drive flat out the tyres, brakes and potentially gearbox are going to get hammered. Maybe most cars can take it these days, and of course would expect a fair amount of wear.
Secondly insurance, from what I can see for 1 track day it costs £150-200 but with excess around £1000-1500. This seems a lot and if I’m taking it easier then it’s others I’m more worried about.
Then taking both points into consideration I wonder whether it’s better just to get a cheap hatchback like a Mini Cooper s or similar for a few grand and use for primarily track and if it breaks or gets damaged it’s not as big an issue.
I’m not sure.
Firstly the car I have is my daily, only car, and so I want to be able to drive it there and back as well as have fun on track. However is a 340bhp saloon driven at 8/10ths just gonna get in the way? I’m asking that as concerned if I drive flat out the tyres, brakes and potentially gearbox are going to get hammered. Maybe most cars can take it these days, and of course would expect a fair amount of wear.
Secondly insurance, from what I can see for 1 track day it costs £150-200 but with excess around £1000-1500. This seems a lot and if I’m taking it easier then it’s others I’m more worried about.
Then taking both points into consideration I wonder whether it’s better just to get a cheap hatchback like a Mini Cooper s or similar for a few grand and use for primarily track and if it breaks or gets damaged it’s not as big an issue.
I’m not sure.
1. Drive as steady as you wish. There will always be someone going faster and someone going slower so as long as you work with the other cars to allow safe overtaking it’s all good.
2. 90% of trackdayers don’t insure. If you are undecided then maybe insure for your first day and then judge again for future ones.
3. If you are doing it regularly then it may be worth getting a dedicated car but if you have something you can have a first go with then that’s a good place to start.
2. 90% of trackdayers don’t insure. If you are undecided then maybe insure for your first day and then judge again for future ones.
3. If you are doing it regularly then it may be worth getting a dedicated car but if you have something you can have a first go with then that’s a good place to start.
Personally, I've never taken my daily on track. Isn't designed for it, brakes and tyres would take an unnecessary hammering and if it goes wrong, either mechanically or crash damage, then no daily.
I much prefer a cheap track car for the job. Have had various bmws, a z4 and now in a boxster.
I'd recommend either a cheap mx5 nc, or a cheap z4. Great fun on track, can be thrashed all day and not the end of the world if you bin it. I have never insured any of my track cars.
While a 340bhp saloon driven at 8 tenths wouldn't get in the way, there's no point going to a trackday and babying the car, IMO. get something you can drive properly.
I much prefer a cheap track car for the job. Have had various bmws, a z4 and now in a boxster.
I'd recommend either a cheap mx5 nc, or a cheap z4. Great fun on track, can be thrashed all day and not the end of the world if you bin it. I have never insured any of my track cars.
While a 340bhp saloon driven at 8 tenths wouldn't get in the way, there's no point going to a trackday and babying the car, IMO. get something you can drive properly.
Using a performance road car as a daily and track car will get very expensive, very quickly.
I used my Corrado VR6, e34 M5s and Z4MC as both commuter (15-30,000 miles a year) and trackday (5-10 days a year, plus 'Ring trips) car for about 20 years...and I'd say the maintenance costs probably trebled over being just a daily (for about 5 heavy trackday years I had to replace the electronic suspension on the M5 annually - at a cost of £700-£1200/corner).
Tyres could last 2-3 trackdays as well as 10,000 miles...or I could go through a whole set in half a day...depending on the track.
I only took insurance when I was going to a new track, or using a new TDO, and ALWAYS at Castle Combe (because of the number of numpties who always drove there...so much so that I stopped going to CC).
I still have/use the Z4MC (on 165,000 miles)...but it does less UK trackdays and more trips to the Nurburgring instead (not just for the trackdays/TF days, but so I can enjoy driving around the region and doing some easy 100mph+ runs).
I've probably taken all my cars since the Corrado on the track...even those not meant for it when I've had a car problem and didn't want to (or couldn't) cancel. I've also taken a 105/115bhp Alfa 147JTD to the Ring for a week, and to Cadwell, and I've taken my e46 330D auto on all-seasons to Oulton Park and the 'Ring. A lot of fun, but in a very different way to the more performance-orientated cars.
As to your original question...just take it easy for your first couple of sessions / track days, and don't get tempted to chase lower-powered cars, as you don't know the level of track prep the car/driver has and you could end up in the armco/tyre wall on your first track day (I've seen someone in the exact same road car as me, following my lines around a wet Castle Combe and then just sliding off on a fast bend simply due to something simple like putting a bit of power on, or lifting off slightly, or putting a bit too much steering in).
If you catch the bug, you can then decide whether you need a dedicated trackday car (and/or trailer).
I used my Corrado VR6, e34 M5s and Z4MC as both commuter (15-30,000 miles a year) and trackday (5-10 days a year, plus 'Ring trips) car for about 20 years...and I'd say the maintenance costs probably trebled over being just a daily (for about 5 heavy trackday years I had to replace the electronic suspension on the M5 annually - at a cost of £700-£1200/corner).
Tyres could last 2-3 trackdays as well as 10,000 miles...or I could go through a whole set in half a day...depending on the track.
I only took insurance when I was going to a new track, or using a new TDO, and ALWAYS at Castle Combe (because of the number of numpties who always drove there...so much so that I stopped going to CC).
I still have/use the Z4MC (on 165,000 miles)...but it does less UK trackdays and more trips to the Nurburgring instead (not just for the trackdays/TF days, but so I can enjoy driving around the region and doing some easy 100mph+ runs).
I've probably taken all my cars since the Corrado on the track...even those not meant for it when I've had a car problem and didn't want to (or couldn't) cancel. I've also taken a 105/115bhp Alfa 147JTD to the Ring for a week, and to Cadwell, and I've taken my e46 330D auto on all-seasons to Oulton Park and the 'Ring. A lot of fun, but in a very different way to the more performance-orientated cars.
As to your original question...just take it easy for your first couple of sessions / track days, and don't get tempted to chase lower-powered cars, as you don't know the level of track prep the car/driver has and you could end up in the armco/tyre wall on your first track day (I've seen someone in the exact same road car as me, following my lines around a wet Castle Combe and then just sliding off on a fast bend simply due to something simple like putting a bit of power on, or lifting off slightly, or putting a bit too much steering in).
If you catch the bug, you can then decide whether you need a dedicated trackday car (and/or trailer).
Edited by mmm-five on Friday 20th February 11:49
Gassing Station | Track Days | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff