Track day for Ultimas?
Discussion
I was wondering if it's worth following this up?
I have heard good reports on Bedford areodrome, although I have'nt been there. It's pretty central to most of the country. It's owned and run by Johnathan Palmers lot. The track is very smooth, varied with loads of run off space! A couple of the Noble owners think it's worth doing.
I do think that you should take your Ultima on track at least once, just to see how good they are. It seems a shame to have such a great handling car and not to use it as it was designed for.
If we could get enough of us interested it could be well worth while doing. If not, we could always ask the Noble guys nicely, we might be able to join them (assuming they are'nt too snobby about it
although having said that the two I have met, Mr Noble and Joust, are very likeable!)
I have heard good reports on Bedford areodrome, although I have'nt been there. It's pretty central to most of the country. It's owned and run by Johnathan Palmers lot. The track is very smooth, varied with loads of run off space! A couple of the Noble owners think it's worth doing.
I do think that you should take your Ultima on track at least once, just to see how good they are. It seems a shame to have such a great handling car and not to use it as it was designed for.
If we could get enough of us interested it could be well worth while doing. If not, we could always ask the Noble guys nicely, we might be able to join them (assuming they are'nt too snobby about it
although having said that the two I have met, Mr Noble and Joust, are very likeable!) gtr-gaz said:
I was wondering if it's worth following this up?
I have heard good reports on Bedford areodrome, although I have'nt been there. It's pretty central to most of the country. It's owned and run by Johnathan Palmers lot. The track is very smooth, varied with loads of run off space! A couple of the Noble owners think it's worth doing.
I do think that you should take your Ultima on track at least once, just to see how good they are. It seems a shame to have such a great handling car and not to use it as it was designed for.
If we could get enough of us interested it could be well worth while doing. If not, we could always ask the Noble guys nicely, we might be able to join them (assuming they are'nt too snobby about it although having said that the two I have met, Mr Noble and Joust, are very likeable!)
I have heard good reports on Bedford areodrome, although I have'nt been there. It's pretty central to most of the country. It's owned and run by Johnathan Palmers lot. The track is very smooth, varied with loads of run off space! A couple of the Noble owners think it's worth doing.
I do think that you should take your Ultima on track at least once, just to see how good they are. It seems a shame to have such a great handling car and not to use it as it was designed for.
If we could get enough of us interested it could be well worth while doing. If not, we could always ask the Noble guys nicely, we might be able to join them (assuming they are'nt too snobby about it
although having said that the two I have met, Mr Noble and Joust, are very likeable!) lol! Noble and Ultima trackday - that's a put-up or shut-up concept if ever I heard one!
I can see the gauntlets being dropped from here
That said, I'd be up for it.
t with zip driving experience in a Corsa running bald tyres. I want to be on track with someone who has as much to lose as me and nothing to prove. Noble or TVR owners probably drive that car from choice rather than wanting or envying something else.
I don't want someone thinking his £2k Nova can outbrake/outcorner me and is damn well going to prove it.
Someone on here already reported his first track day, first lap, first corner incident where a ‘sevenesque’ spun down the grass infield into the apex of the corner. If he hadn’t spotted him coming and hung a left into the kitty litter he would have come away with £50k ish bill for the day. With 3 mortgages to support I can’t afford to break mine.
Steve
I don't want someone thinking his £2k Nova can outbrake/outcorner me and is damn well going to prove it.
Someone on here already reported his first track day, first lap, first corner incident where a ‘sevenesque’ spun down the grass infield into the apex of the corner. If he hadn’t spotted him coming and hung a left into the kitty litter he would have come away with £50k ish bill for the day. With 3 mortgages to support I can’t afford to break mine.
Steve
Steve
I think its all down to the organiser (and his charges maybe) as to what the standard of owner/driver and car are. I've been to a number (no names) both as a participant and driver and have seen a mix of standards and know which ones I trust to organise a safe day.
The value of their car has little to do with it. I have seen a brand new fully race prepared Audi stuff it on his first session out, (Write off) and a new Porsche GT3 crash on his last laps of the day to name but 2. That says more about their driving ability and attitude than their bank balance. The Audi driver walked away and left it as scrap, he could afford to.
I think its all down to the organiser (and his charges maybe) as to what the standard of owner/driver and car are. I've been to a number (no names) both as a participant and driver and have seen a mix of standards and know which ones I trust to organise a safe day.
The value of their car has little to do with it. I have seen a brand new fully race prepared Audi stuff it on his first session out, (Write off) and a new Porsche GT3 crash on his last laps of the day to name but 2. That says more about their driving ability and attitude than their bank balance. The Audi driver walked away and left it as scrap, he could afford to.
Edited by canam-phil on Thursday 13th July 13:21
canam-phil said:
Steve
I think its all down to the organiser (and his charges maybe) as to what the standard of owner/driver and car are. I've been to a number (no names) both as a participant and driver and have seen a mix of standards and know which ones I trust to organise a safe day.
The value of their car has little to do with it. I have seen a brand new fully race prepared Audi stuff it on his first session out, (Write off) and a new Porsche GT3 crash on his last laps of the day to name but 2. That says more about their driving ability and attitude than their bank balance. The Audi driver walked away and left it as scrap, he could afford to.
I think its all down to the organiser (and his charges maybe) as to what the standard of owner/driver and car are. I've been to a number (no names) both as a participant and driver and have seen a mix of standards and know which ones I trust to organise a safe day.
The value of their car has little to do with it. I have seen a brand new fully race prepared Audi stuff it on his first session out, (Write off) and a new Porsche GT3 crash on his last laps of the day to name but 2. That says more about their driving ability and attitude than their bank balance. The Audi driver walked away and left it as scrap, he could afford to.
Edited by canam-phil on Thursday 13th July 13:21
I thought that this may be true which unfortunately only compounds my fear of going track.
Steve
Steve
It appears that you go for an airfield type event, one by one, or pay more. Airfields = stone chips on the car and thats not for me.
I had thought that a general test day rather than trackday would at least mean the driving was going to be better. Not so. I have seen people go out with poorly prepared cars and even a lack of knowledge of track rules and regs due to inattention at the briefing.
Maybe it show that the ARDS test is too easy to pass but thats another topic.
At another meeting held by the Jaguar club I saw a Sierra rust bucket with a v8 pulling antics at the chicane showing off to the group of friends (later he was dropping oil as well). This was on a track with pukka Jag racing machinery. I would not venture onto the circuit with him near me.
I find it pays to go with RMA www.rma-limited.com/?id=home at the end of the day. At least the boss sorts the drivers out if they mis-behave.
It appears that you go for an airfield type event, one by one, or pay more. Airfields = stone chips on the car and thats not for me.
I had thought that a general test day rather than trackday would at least mean the driving was going to be better. Not so. I have seen people go out with poorly prepared cars and even a lack of knowledge of track rules and regs due to inattention at the briefing.
Maybe it show that the ARDS test is too easy to pass but thats another topic.
At another meeting held by the Jaguar club I saw a Sierra rust bucket with a v8 pulling antics at the chicane showing off to the group of friends (later he was dropping oil as well). This was on a track with pukka Jag racing machinery. I would not venture onto the circuit with him near me.
I find it pays to go with RMA www.rma-limited.com/?id=home at the end of the day. At least the boss sorts the drivers out if they mis-behave.
Come on guys, track days are great fun and just because you have an expensive car is no guarantee of driving ability, in fact, I would venture to say some owners of exotics have more money than skill!
I've driven the Ultima at the Ring where you mix it with everyone and the one's that will pass you will be the Opel Kadett's of the local boys - knowledge and skill above power and prestige.
Get out on the track and you'll find it's a pretty civilised affair - there is a track day at Bedford set for August 26th - Saturday and at £200+ it will attract only the committed Pistonhead!
Cheers,
Dave.
I've driven the Ultima at the Ring where you mix it with everyone and the one's that will pass you will be the Opel Kadett's of the local boys - knowledge and skill above power and prestige.
Get out on the track and you'll find it's a pretty civilised affair - there is a track day at Bedford set for August 26th - Saturday and at £200+ it will attract only the committed Pistonhead!
Cheers,
Dave.
IMHO, we seem to be a little alarmist, having done trackdays for hmmm, well a long time, it's nothing like the, oh well i've got a big powerful car can I live up to it! No one really cares, everyone is far to busy having thier own nightmares about thier abilities compared to thier car.
My experience is you get the respect from your fellow trackday contempories, because you turn up and do it, not because you have the biggest pen-s on the block, most trackdays are run well and organisers take a dim view of poor track standards are quick to act and remove offenders.
So, if you drive within your limits, respect and be aware of other track users, it's a great way to enjoy your car. By the way, if you want a venue to enjoy an Ultima, Donnington is the place !!
My experience is you get the respect from your fellow trackday contempories, because you turn up and do it, not because you have the biggest pen-s on the block, most trackdays are run well and organisers take a dim view of poor track standards are quick to act and remove offenders.
So, if you drive within your limits, respect and be aware of other track users, it's a great way to enjoy your car. By the way, if you want a venue to enjoy an Ultima, Donnington is the place !!
B1 ECC said:
IMHO, we seem to be a little alarmist, having done trackdays for hmmm, well a long time, it's nothing like the, oh well i've got a big powerful car can I live up to it! No one really cares, everyone is far to busy having thier own nightmares about thier abilities compared to thier car.
My experience is you get the respect from your fellow trackday contempories, because you turn up and do it, not because you have the biggest pen-s on the block, most trackdays are run well and organisers take a dim view of poor track standards are quick to act and remove offenders.
So, if you drive within your limits, respect and be aware of other track users, it's a great way to enjoy your car. By the way, if you want a venue to enjoy an Ultima, Donnington is the place !!
My experience is you get the respect from your fellow trackday contempories, because you turn up and do it, not because you have the biggest pen-s on the block, most trackdays are run well and organisers take a dim view of poor track standards are quick to act and remove offenders.
So, if you drive within your limits, respect and be aware of other track users, it's a great way to enjoy your car. By the way, if you want a venue to enjoy an Ultima, Donnington is the place !!
Absolutely - wot Ian said!
- which is why I'll be there next Saturday (22nd)
Edited by stig on Friday 14th July 10:46
Don't your trackdays divide you up into groups according to level of experience? Here in the states my track divides us up into 4 groups and you are not allowed to go out solo until you have progressed through the first 3 levels and been checked off for solo by an instructor. I'm sure there are organized events like this that make things much safer.
Cheers!
-Mack
Cheers!
-Mack
I have attended many bike trackdays in the past and most have been very well organised with proper briefings etc. On all of them, we were divided into 3 groups - novice, intermediate & fast, and all newcomers were forced to start in the novice group no matter how fast they believed they were. Anyone caught 'showboating' or putting any other track users at risk was immediately black-flagged from the session and given a stern talking to by the officials. If they continued their antics they were immediately banned and excluded from any further sessions. It has been my experience, that the idiots are soon weeded out in the early sessions - either through their own crashes or being black-flagged, and therefore if you take it easy early on and build your speed gradually you should be fine and have a thoroughly enjoyable time. My personal rules for trackdays are as follows:- 1. Take it easy early on - build speed gradually. 2. Remind yourself that it is not a race (you are there to have fun not prove that you are the fastest) 3. If you are a novice, don't bother with lap times - concentrate on being smooth and the times will follow. 4. Don't try and set your fastest lap in the final session you will probably crash through a combination of tiredness and trying too hard.
Remember these basic principles and by applying basic commonsense and awareness you will have a great time and enjoy exploring the capabilities of your bike/car. I remember my first trackday and the trepidation with which I first went out on track but I soon relaxed and was hooked by the buzz.
Remember these basic principles and by applying basic commonsense and awareness you will have a great time and enjoy exploring the capabilities of your bike/car. I remember my first trackday and the trepidation with which I first went out on track but I soon relaxed and was hooked by the buzz.
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