Cadwell Park tips please......
Discussion
Cadwell Park is as scary as you want to make it, it you drive within your (and your cars) limitations you won't have any problems.
Just take care if it rains, some parts of the track take a long time to dry out and some parts don't have a lot of run-off.
Take care and you'll have a great day.
davidy
Just take care if it rains, some parts of the track take a long time to dry out and some parts don't have a lot of run-off.
Take care and you'll have a great day.
davidy
Cadwell is a great circuit, one of my favourites, but it does not have much run off and the barriers are close so you don't reallly want to come off. If you are doing the full circuit, then the section after the mountain though the trees does stay damp much longer so you need to be very careful there. If it's you first time I would get an instructor to drive you round in your car for a few laps and show you the lines etc. then you will be able to enjoy it much more. It does have blind crests/apexes and adverse cambers etc. so the lines are important. But well worth the trip!!!
Already mentioned, but GET AN INSTRUCTOR!!! it is a narrow track, but there are many wrong lines that you can have you off on the next corner. Hall Bends are where most people lose it/have a moment. they require smoothness and good car balance/poise. People normally take the wrong line in to the corner which means they are off line for the next few twisties.
Gooseneck is an amazing corner that can be taken at amazing speed if driven correctly. Cones are put out on the circuit - use them. you wont go far wrong if you use the cones for turn in and apex. they may seem in the wrong place, but they aren't. Many lines seem unorthodox and they are, but they are safest and quickest lines!! The correct lines are too difficult to be explained by written prose, so i wont even try!
Cadwell is a very complicated circuit, but once mastered is an absolute joy.
Gooseneck is an amazing corner that can be taken at amazing speed if driven correctly. Cones are put out on the circuit - use them. you wont go far wrong if you use the cones for turn in and apex. they may seem in the wrong place, but they aren't. Many lines seem unorthodox and they are, but they are safest and quickest lines!! The correct lines are too difficult to be explained by written prose, so i wont even try!
Cadwell is a very complicated circuit, but once mastered is an absolute joy.
second tip of the day 
DONT GO OUT FIRST TIME IN THE WET
what would you do without my tips!
and yes the barriers could be whoite metal thing but also galvanised metal things, tyres, trees, spectators and at Cadwell: marshalls, other cars, etc
but still is the best day i have had on track to date so have a great time
DONT GO OUT FIRST TIME IN THE WET
what would you do without my tips!
and yes the barriers could be whoite metal thing but also galvanised metal things, tyres, trees, spectators and at Cadwell: marshalls, other cars, etc
but still is the best day i have had on track to date so have a great time
I did Cadwell as my first track day this time last year . . it absolutely poured down too!
As stated above, don't push yourself or your car too far and you'll be fine.
The instructors are ace and will generally get you going faster but smoother, so well worth it.
I did Cadwell again on Sunday with BaT, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a fantastic track!
)
As stated above, don't push yourself or your car too far and you'll be fine.
The instructors are ace and will generally get you going faster but smoother, so well worth it.
I did Cadwell again on Sunday with BaT, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a fantastic track!
)I suggest setting some priorities for the day. Admittedly This is true for any circuit but particularly for Cadwell due to the risks as outlined already.
For example:
Really try and stick to the racing line.
Brake early and smoothly so you never arrive at the corner out of balance.
Be in the best gear for each corner and stick to it, particularly noting places that benefit from short shifting.
Be consistent with your style around each corner.
Look well ahead and into the corner.
Once you start to apply the throttle around a corner never release the pressure.
Do not try and max every corner, first try corners you favour , and feel comfortable with, then with that in the bag, concentrate on mastering the next one.
Keep your distance from other cars. Check their style before you approach them to overtake and watch your mirror.
Stop if you start feeling tired or are starting to make mistakes.
Nothing new here, but you must be your own best critic, so be tough on yourself. That way minimum mistakes and risk, leading to maximum fun and enjoyment!
After all the more challenging the track the more satisfaction there is to be gained by getting things right.
For example:
Really try and stick to the racing line.
Brake early and smoothly so you never arrive at the corner out of balance.
Be in the best gear for each corner and stick to it, particularly noting places that benefit from short shifting.
Be consistent with your style around each corner.
Look well ahead and into the corner.
Once you start to apply the throttle around a corner never release the pressure.
Do not try and max every corner, first try corners you favour , and feel comfortable with, then with that in the bag, concentrate on mastering the next one.
Keep your distance from other cars. Check their style before you approach them to overtake and watch your mirror.
Stop if you start feeling tired or are starting to make mistakes.
Nothing new here, but you must be your own best critic, so be tough on yourself. That way minimum mistakes and risk, leading to maximum fun and enjoyment!
After all the more challenging the track the more satisfaction there is to be gained by getting things right.
Not sure. That appears to be the only track day in March for Cadwell (could've sworn there were more). But I'm also looking at visiting Castle Donington (my local track).
I like to plan ahead but sometime's even that doesn't work. With it being Easter my wife and daughter might have something to say about me galavanting off to Cadwell.
There's time to convince/persuade them yet
I'll keep you posted
I like to plan ahead but sometime's even that doesn't work. With it being Easter my wife and daughter might have something to say about me galavanting off to Cadwell.
There's time to convince/persuade them yet
I'll keep you postedThere is a trackday at cadwell with Trackaction-online march 28th,its a total bargain too,open pit lane full day.
www.trackaction-online.co.uk
www.trackaction-online.co.uk
Edited by schuey on Saturday 16th February 17:59
When it rains there water collects on the start finish straight and can have you aquaplaning off very easily. My oh sh
t moment happened on a bike whilst running full wets at around 110mph before backing off for coppice. I made it, but ran out onto the white line which is awful if you want to make the next right hander.
t moment happened on a bike whilst running full wets at around 110mph before backing off for coppice. I made it, but ran out onto the white line which is awful if you want to make the next right hander.cadwell is fantastic in the dry and to be fair its ok in the rain if you have wet tyres on. I did a day there in November and got caught out a few times with the wrong tyres on , it can be dry one half of the circuit and wet on the other. evidence of this on my onboard footage as I ventured across the grass !
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=23082295...
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=23082295...
JeffC said:
cadwell is fantastic in the dry and to be fair its ok in the rain if you have wet tyres on. I did a day there in November and got caught out a few times with the wrong tyres on , it can be dry one half of the circuit and wet on the other. evidence of this on my onboard footage as I ventured across the grass !
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=23082295...
Some fantastic viewing there!! The near miss at Cadwell was pretty impressive, I just can't fathom how you managed to get through the pit lane entrance then avoid hitting the edge of it!!!! http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=23082295...
p.s. Can I bags a passenger lap if you're at any of the track days I'm at?
cheers, I was so lucky not to hit anything!! I new something was up as I was understeering every corner the previous two laps hence dawdling behind the Pug, then for some reason I decided to push it to try and work out what the problem was and hey presto a near miss! turns our anti roll bar had snapped 
If you ever see me at a circuit give me a shout your welcome for a few laps .( no fattys though car is hideous with excess weight in the passenger side ! )
If you ever see me at a circuit give me a shout your welcome for a few laps .( no fattys though car is hideous with excess weight in the passenger side ! )
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