Is my car too slow?
Discussion
The DJ 27 said: Ok, thanks. You think Angelsey is a good circuit to start on? I've never done a trackday before (although i have driven on a track), and since im a poor student, it works out pretty well since the day is only £119
I'm doing the Elvington trackday with www.bookatrack.com on Aug 2nd. As a student I know what you mean and airfields are good if cost is important (allows more
in the union!). THe day is £99 if you have your own car. Not a problem at all, and in fact Anglesey is probably as good as it gets for lower-powered cars, no big long straights or brake-killing stops. Have seen plenty of cars with less power at trackdays and the only difference is they're lapping slower - the owners are still having plenty of fun.
Bookatrack days are overtaking by consent, just keep checking your mirrors, then indicate and move aside where you can. The sevens are used to everything else holding them up
Bookatrack days are overtaking by consent, just keep checking your mirrors, then indicate and move aside where you can. The sevens are used to everything else holding them up
I've been up to Anglesey with Bookatrack and I'd say that it's a fantastic circuit for first timers in their own cars - even a 1.4l Ibiza. Bookatrack attract a variety of drivers of varying experience. Most of regulars are very welcoming and you should blag as many passenger rides as possible. Worth getting in touch with Jonny Leroux at BaT and letting him know your concerns.
£119 might seem cheap for track hire, but don't forget tyres, petrol, brakes, clutches, engine wear that will significantly stress your car. Insurance is also a consideration.
For these reasons, I've sold my Elise and use BaT's Caterham now at trackdays. It looks more expensive, but I was spending £1k-£2k/year servicing an Elise for 2-3 track days/year. A shared Caterham works out much cheaper, and huge fun.
£119 might seem cheap for track hire, but don't forget tyres, petrol, brakes, clutches, engine wear that will significantly stress your car. Insurance is also a consideration.
For these reasons, I've sold my Elise and use BaT's Caterham now at trackdays. It looks more expensive, but I was spending £1k-£2k/year servicing an Elise for 2-3 track days/year. A shared Caterham works out much cheaper, and huge fun.
DJ
my nephew ran an Ibiza 1.4 at a few days with Easytrack and had great fun. Steve (Get) Carter took some pics and video
see pics here
www.stevecarter.com/wroughton2/pics.htm
hilarious video of it here
www.stevecarter.com/wroughton2/schoolrun.mpg
my nephew ran an Ibiza 1.4 at a few days with Easytrack and had great fun. Steve (Get) Carter took some pics and video
see pics here
www.stevecarter.com/wroughton2/pics.htm
hilarious video of it here
www.stevecarter.com/wroughton2/schoolrun.mpg
Unless outright speed is your thing you'll have as much fun as anyone, probably more. You'll be able to get to the limits of your car much easier than most of the faster cars. Go in the novices group and you'll be fine. Anglesey is a good track, plenty of runoff in most corners, not too fast with some challenging corners. I've still not been through School corner at top whack. If you're in a standard car then be careful with your brakes, you'll easily overheat them if your are the last of the late brakers. If you're going in June I'll look out for you!
He're another stupid question from a trackday virgin (actually, that's not entirely true - I've been on a track once or twice during my days as a journo - only never in my own car and I thought I was driving rather badly at the MG ZR/ZS/ZT press lauch in Anglesey, so that experience did not do much for confidence).
Would it be a stupid idea to take my low powered daily runabout ('95 Citroën ZX 1.4, 75 bhp, trade-in value about 1,300 euro...) for my first outing instead of my 'weekend fun car' that I've been building over the past couple of years and, while by no means a Seven or Radical, might be a bit scary to unleash for the first time (with a projected 270-300ish bhp, 1,200 kgs kerb weight and FWD, still looking into LSD options that won't interfere with normal steering/braking behaviour...)?
Any advanced driving courses (if possible, on my side of the Channel rather than yours) you folks would recommend to gain a bit of confidence before sharing track space with more experience drivers?
As you can see, I'm not that confident about my own driving. It's not being slow in itself or getting overenthusiastic and crash into the barriers I'm worried about, it's more getting distracted by letting everyone else pass through which I reckon could interfere with my desire not to hit anything... TBH, at the MG event I was so anxious I couldn't even remember where the pit lane entrance was...
Would it be a stupid idea to take my low powered daily runabout ('95 Citroën ZX 1.4, 75 bhp, trade-in value about 1,300 euro...) for my first outing instead of my 'weekend fun car' that I've been building over the past couple of years and, while by no means a Seven or Radical, might be a bit scary to unleash for the first time (with a projected 270-300ish bhp, 1,200 kgs kerb weight and FWD, still looking into LSD options that won't interfere with normal steering/braking behaviour...)?
Any advanced driving courses (if possible, on my side of the Channel rather than yours) you folks would recommend to gain a bit of confidence before sharing track space with more experience drivers?
As you can see, I'm not that confident about my own driving. It's not being slow in itself or getting overenthusiastic and crash into the barriers I'm worried about, it's more getting distracted by letting everyone else pass through which I reckon could interfere with my desire not to hit anything... TBH, at the MG event I was so anxious I couldn't even remember where the pit lane entrance was...
I would imagine that it didn't help that you were probably sitting the wrong side of the car compared to what you were used to.
900T-R said: I thought I was driving rather badly at the MG ZR/ZS/ZT press lauch in Anglesey, so that experience did not do much for confidence).
I'm sure you can have plenty of fun in the ZX - should mean that you'll be less worried about thrashing it, so you can really enjoy the car.
Would it be a stupid idea to take my low powered daily runabout ('95 Citroën ZX 1.4, 75 bhp, trade-in value about 1,300 euro...) for my first outing instead of my 'weekend fun car' that I've been building over the past couple of years
Dunno about any driving courses your side of the channel - I can recommend some over here though
I would imagine that it didn't help that you were probably sitting the wrong side of the car compared to what you were used to.
Yes, I'd like to think that made a big part of it. The drive to the track was my very first RHD experience, and on the second day of the launch trip I did not have any problems with it anymore, punting 'my' bright yellow ZS 180 along with confidence and at a good pace, where on Day 1, I regularly heard the tell tale rumble of the white lines indicating I was rather too close to the kerb. Hit the kerb with the left front wheel (leaving a nice scrape) when returning from the track in a ZR, too, when I had to make a three point turn in front of the hotel...
Anyweays, thanks for the heads up
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