PCGB Track Days 2006
Discussion
Anyone else sorted out their calendar yet?
I just put the cheques in the post...six booked...maybe more to follow...we'll see.
No big Brands weekend this year...but there's a date at Oulton Park (wish I was closer - its on a Wednesday and just too far for me to make it a day trip).
As always I'm doing Castle Combe (a couple of times), Goodwood and Brands. I've also decided to repeat the Bedford GT circuit - what a blast! This year I've also decided to make the trip up to Donington. Did it in a Caterham a couple of years back with BaT and it was utterly brilliant fun so I thought it would be well worth taking the Porsche to. Can I keep it flat all the way through the Craner Curves? Maybe...maybe...
All in all a pleasant start to the Track Day year - planning the fun for later on...
See some of you there?
I just put the cheques in the post...six booked...maybe more to follow...we'll see.
No big Brands weekend this year...but there's a date at Oulton Park (wish I was closer - its on a Wednesday and just too far for me to make it a day trip).
As always I'm doing Castle Combe (a couple of times), Goodwood and Brands. I've also decided to repeat the Bedford GT circuit - what a blast! This year I've also decided to make the trip up to Donington. Did it in a Caterham a couple of years back with BaT and it was utterly brilliant fun so I thought it would be well worth taking the Porsche to. Can I keep it flat all the way through the Craner Curves? Maybe...maybe...
All in all a pleasant start to the Track Day year - planning the fun for later on...
See some of you there?
roygarth said:
Well if they would email the schedule to me as requested/promised I might be able to book some before they are all oversubscribed! Does some sort of insider network operate at PCGB?
Nope. No insider thing. I just signed up,as I suspect you did, at one of the Track days a couple of years ago and wrote my e-mail addy on a little slip of paper. I've been getting the (very occasional) e-mail update ever since. Send the Trackdays crew an e-mail yourself and request to be put on the list...
Don said:
Well if they would email the schedule to me as requested/promised I might be able to book some before they are all oversubscribed! Does some sort of insider network operate at PCGB?
Nope. No insider thing. I just signed up,as I suspect you did, at one of the Track days a couple of years ago and wrote my e-mail addy on a little slip of paper. I've been getting the (very occasional) e-mail update ever since. Send the Trackdays crew an e-mail yourself and request to be put on the list...
Indeed that's what i did Don. Must be an oversight, I'll call them tomorrow.
Don I can't remember if its you I was discussing Thruxton with- & the frustration that its our most local track, yet its seemingly imposible to get a trackday at- status.
Anyway recently into my inbox popped Evo/Heritage's trackday calender for '06 & had a Thruxton date on it (Aug 4th i think it was)
Not quite up with PCGB type standards of driving when Ive been on an Evo day, but if you are gagging to do Thux it may be the only option as ive never seen another trackdy advertised there in the recent past.
Anyway recently into my inbox popped Evo/Heritage's trackday calender for '06 & had a Thruxton date on it (Aug 4th i think it was)
Not quite up with PCGB type standards of driving when Ive been on an Evo day, but if you are gagging to do Thux it may be the only option as ive never seen another trackdy advertised there in the recent past.
iguana said:
Don I can't remember if its you I was discussing Thruxton with- & the frustration that its our most local track, yet its seemingly imposible to get a trackday at- status.
Anyway recently into my inbox popped Evo/Heritage's trackday calender for '06 & had a Thruxton date on it (Aug 4th i think it was)
Not quite up with PCGB type standards of driving when Ive been on an Evo day, but if you are gagging to do Thux it may be the only option as ive never seen another trackdy advertised there in the recent past.
I think it may well have been, my dear lizard. I've done Thruxton twice now - and both times it had to be done by buying a place on one the "experiences". I chose the Lotus Elise thing as you get the most laps for the money.
The second time I discovered I was a bloody liability.
You really shouldn't mix someone with a few years experience with absolute beginners. The difference in speed is.....quite significant...and I drive like an old granny! So. Thanks for the head's up - I'll look into it! A day at Thruxton (or even just a half day) would be great!
Don said:
How much is the bedford PCGB day?
The somewhat expensive price of £275 to members. There again it is a PCGB day which has its own benefits.
what are those then??
The RMA charged from £99 up to £175 for a Bedford day and their days are run better than anyone. IMHO.
peterpeter said:
The RMA charged from £99 up to £175 for a Bedford day and their days are run better than anyone. IMHO.
Indeed and they may well be - I haven't been on an RMA day. What's their membership fee?
Personally I enjoy the "club atmosphere" at the PCGB days. I'm also happy that everyone on-track with me is as keen as I am to take their P&J home in as pristine a state as when it arrived.
Not saying this isn't true at RMA days...just that I know it is at PCGB days - apart from the odd twit with more money than talent - but what organiser doesn't have the odd one?
Having said this - I know PCGB days are pricey in comparison to some. For me the economics work due to the terms of my road insurance policy. PCGB days are covered fully comprehensively F.O.C. This saves me between £600 a year (at £70 - £100 a pop on other road insurance policies) or £2K a year (at Moris prices).
Don said:
Indeed and they may well be - I haven't been on an RMA day. What's their membership fee?
Unfortunately, through their newsletter, RMA announced that they will be doing no 2006 trackdays at Bedford (their favoured venue) nor in the UK whatsoever. I've cut and paste the details from RMA below -
"Our last event of 2005 took place at Bedford Autodrome where we once again enjoyed an excellent day on what is undoubtedly one of the safest and best track day venues in the UK. The event was fully subscribed with a waiting list; the staff there could not be more helpful and just about everyone had a thoroughly enjoyable day. Such an obviously successful event prompted lots of questions as to why we had made the decision to withdraw from the UK.
The reason was not simply the track rental prices of British track day venues. A lot of circuits have in fact reduced their prices over the last couple of years, when you consider the multi million pound investment that the MSV group are making into their five venues, the new pit complex presently under construction at Donington and the millions spent at Silverstone over the last few years one can understand the reason for the rental charges to be as they are. UK circuits have to operate as stand alone commercial operations as opposed to the continental circuits which are often partly or wholly municipally owned and as such are not subjected to the same commercial pressure.
I believe the majority of circuit owners should be applauded for their commitment to British motorsport and the investment they are making into their venues, the overall standard of which is way ahead of most continental circuits; I do not believe they are overcharging, albeit a 50% price reduction just for RMA would be nice!
Neither do I think for one moment that Motor Sport Vision are trying to take over the track day market for themselves, which appears to be another popular myth, there is no doubt what-so-ever in my mind that boss of the MSV circuits Jonathan Palmer has bigger fish to fry and would much prefer to rent his circuits to the likes of RMA, letting us take the risk on filling the day and the hassle of administering and running the event whilst all they have to do is bank the cheque. Obviously the circuits cannot lay idle; if there are unsold days they have every right to run what ever type of event they like including, of course, track days.
However, the number of people running track days in the UK has created a very competitive and price conscious market. While there has always been a number of RMA members prepared to pay a premium for limited numbers I do not believe there are sufficient to launch a full programme of events over and above that offered by the Paddock Club. (Which I appreciate dose not suit everyone) RMA has always been a premier track day brand and we wish to remain as such, we will return to the UK market as soon as there is evidence of there being sufficient numbers prepared to pay the fees required to operate a calendar of top quality days on an efficient and profitable basis. As I have already mentioned most of the circuit owners will be running their own days and I would certainly have no problem recommending the MSV days at Bedford, Brands, Oulton Park, Snetterton and Cadwell Park which I’m sure will be run on a very professional basis, for details of track days at all their five circuits see their website www.motorsportvision.co.uk/trackdaysor speak to Alex on 0870 8505014 for events at Donington check out www.doningtonpark.co.uk
We will shortly be writing to all 2005 members with confirmation of the various ways of retaining your RMA membership options including details of the shortly to be launched RMA International which will offer a number of unique benefits on our continental events.
Once again best wishes for 2006,
Graham
Graham Clarke
Managing Director
RMA Limited"
So essentially RMA are doing Nurburgring, Spa, and probably their eastern European circuits extravaganza/tour for 2006.
Ah ref that Thruxton day just had Heritage/Evo update notification of-
"We will be running Thruxton as an Introduction Trackday for those without circuit driving experience (an opportunity for all the family to have a go?). Therefore this day is only open to complete novices and the price will be confirmed in the next couple of weeks"
Bit of a bugger that, guess might be an idea for other halfs not into trackdays to have a bash tho.
"We will be running Thruxton as an Introduction Trackday for those without circuit driving experience (an opportunity for all the family to have a go?). Therefore this day is only open to complete novices and the price will be confirmed in the next couple of weeks"
Bit of a bugger that, guess might be an idea for other halfs not into trackdays to have a bash tho.
iguana said:
Ah ref that Thruxton day just had Heritage/Evo update notification of-
"We will be running Thruxton as an Introduction Trackday for those without circuit driving experience (an opportunity for all the family to have a go?). Therefore this day is only open to complete novices and the price will be confirmed in the next couple of weeks"
Bit of a bugger that, guess might be an idea for other halfs not into trackdays to have a bash tho.
How are they going to stop more experienced people signing on, though?
Sure - if one then turns up with the support vehicle and a set of slicks they'll probably smell a rat but... I searched the net and found a mention of this day on the Radical web-site. 4th August, yes? Does that make sense with the intro thing?
Crikey no I'd not want to be driving on a novice day, im not paricually fast on wide open tracks, but I went in a novice group at Donny before, thinking its a new track & I can always move up if needed & the cornering speed diferentials were frankly very dangerous, so went right to advanced & thats where i stay nowadays, unless its chocka with GT3RS's & Radicals etc then inters is a better & far safer bet bet! 
Dunno abouta link but Ive forwarded you that email.
Dunno abouta link but Ive forwarded you that email.
iguana said:
Crikey no I'd not want to be driving on a novice day, im not paricually fast on wide open tracks, but I went in a novice group at Donny before, thinking its a new track & I can always move up if needed & the cornering speed diferentials were frankly very dangerous, so went right to advanced & thats where i stay nowadays, unless its chocka with GT3RS's & Radicals etc then inters is a better & far safer bet bet!
When I was last at Thruxton with the race school I had that exact experience. I'd only gone to look after the wife, really. But I thought, what the hell, and was honest with the instructor. He was really good and tried to get some real speed out of me...but the differential in pace between someone with even a modicum of experience and someone doing it for the first time (as most attendees of "experiences" are) was quite an eye-opener.
Trust me - in comparison to the Track Day crew I drive like an old Granny - but in comparison to this lot I was flying.
It meant lots of overtaking with care - as you couldn't be sure if they were using their mirrors or not...I wouldn't choose to do that again, particularly. Not sure how dangerous it is - but it ain't as much fun. The instructors who were doing "fast" passenger laps must be really, really calm and tolerant...
iguana said:
Dunno abouta link but Ive forwarded you that email.
Thanks, mate. Much appreciated.
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