Have a question...

[AWRacing]

Hi guys and girls.
Im currently studying for a degree in Automotive Engineering with Motorsport and as part of the first year we have to produce a business plan for the business module.
My group has decided on producing a business plan for a company that hires out trackday cars and as such would like some feedback from trackday regulars who hire cars instead of using their own ones. The cars we're looking at using are Caterham Roadsports, Radical Prosports and race-spec Clio Cup cars.

How do you find your experience with the company you use?

Do you find it good value for money?

What car(s) did you drive and what did you think of the cars?

What do you think of our choice of cars?

How often do you go on trackdays?

Did you have tuition?

Many thanks

Adam

[BertBert]

AWRacing said:

Hi guys and girls.
Im currently studying for a degree in Automotive Engineering with Motorsport and as part of the first year we have to produce a business plan for the business module.
My group has decided on producing a business plan for a company that hires out trackday cars and as such would like some feedback from trackday regulars who hire cars instead of using their own ones. The cars we're looking at using are Caterham Roadsports, Radical Prosports and race-spec Clio Cup cars.

How do you find your experience with the company you use?

Do you find it good value for money?

What car(s) did you drive and what did you think of the cars?

What do you think of our choice of cars?

How often do you go on trackdays?

Did you have tuition?

Many thanks

Adam

Couple of comments on the choice of cars. I think that you would want them all to be 2 seaters so you can instruct/check out in all cars. Certainly rules out the Radical prosport, maybe the clio cup racer. I wouldn't go very close to a radical at all. Two reasons, they are always the cars you see go off in the hands of novices at track days (and maybe experts as well!). Also they are just too fragile for the inexperienced and also people who don't care about the car as it's a hire car. If you want an ultra fast slicks and wings car (not sure you do), you need to go for something with a proper engine and industrial strength gearbox (JP1?).

I also think you need some lower spec ordinary cars for people to rent and to get people going in. Dunno, Audi S3, mini coopers, that kind of thing. If all you have is high class machinery, you will have to have very high prices and be prepared for breakages. The exige is probably a good bet in the line up too.

HTH
Bert

[AWRacing]

Thanks for yo input Bert.
I thought the prosport was the 2 seater? Good comment about having more idiot proof cars though, will suggest that to my group.

Many thanks

[jleroux]

the problem with "idiot proof" cars is that they are far less profitable than their lightweight, high-performance counterparts. The market for the hire of a mini-cooper S is significantly smaller than the market for a caterham or prosport -and the perceived value is much less, too. All this, despite them actually being more expensive to run on track (weight = tyres, brakes, fuel etc).

You end up having a trainer-car like that as a necessary overhead rather than a profit making tool.

Jonny
BookaTrack.com Ltd

[BertBert]

prosport single seat, SR3 or SR4 two seats.

Jonny is right (and he should know) on what will attract people though, so you need to work out your target market. Caterham/westfield/elise/exige have got to be very good bets. If you buzz a radical it's expensive, buzz a regular engined car and well it's just more robust!

I went on a radical customer day a couple of years ago and 2 out of 4 cars stopped working on the day through ineptitude of the driver (not inc me of course)!

You could look at other track day heros too...M3 (E36? whichever it is that is the track day er hero).

Bert

[AWRacing]

Cheers guys, very helpful indeed.