Discussion
Welcome and good for you for going to the track so young.
I assume you'll do the Indy configuration. The Saxo is quite light, but check the brake fluid (possibly flush it and upgrade it to a higher dry boiling point one) and the brake pads.
Also invest 25 quid in a session with an instructor. It will be very beneficial and will make the rest of your day more enjoyable.
Good luck!
I assume you'll do the Indy configuration. The Saxo is quite light, but check the brake fluid (possibly flush it and upgrade it to a higher dry boiling point one) and the brake pads.
Also invest 25 quid in a session with an instructor. It will be very beneficial and will make the rest of your day more enjoyable.
Good luck!
Good on you for having a go ! Track days are great in any car. I would recommend an evening Track Day because they are cheaper & 2.5hrs is long enough in my view.
Just done Brands indy with Circuit Days and you can ask the local instructor to sit in for free - I do this EVERY time - you can always learn new ideas.
As mentioned, pay attention to your brakes & make sure you do a slow down lap. Loosing brakes & pranging into a Ferrari is bad form. Have fun.
Just done Brands indy with Circuit Days and you can ask the local instructor to sit in for free - I do this EVERY time - you can always learn new ideas.
As mentioned, pay attention to your brakes & make sure you do a slow down lap. Loosing brakes & pranging into a Ferrari is bad form. Have fun.
muhuha said:
Was down brands hatch today watching the bike racing (if anyone else was down). The circuit looks pretty kool, by a slow down lap what do you mean letting the brakes cool down gradually-what does this achieve?
It gives everything: engine, gearbox and especially brakes a chance to cool down, rather than roaring off the circuit and stopping and leaving it all to cook. If you come off with the brakes red hot and then let the car sit, with no air flow, you have a decent chance of the brake fluid boiling while it sits there and if you go out soon after you'll have no brakes. A bit of mechanical sympathy lets it all cool down a little first.I expect someone already said that when you do pull back into the pits, don't use the handbrake but just leave it in gear. Same reason - the handbrake will hold the pads on the disc and heat will sink into the pads from the disks leaving deposits of pad material on the disks, which will make the brakes judder.
At the risk of repeating some comments, remember you will be pushing your car (and yourself) to the limit. Imagine you are to sit an important exam, or are playing a very important football match (or whatever sports takes your fancy).
Your car needs to be prepared:
1- tracking & tyre pressures: are you sure your tyres are properly aligned? Pressure ok? They will heat up, and when they do you need to let air out to get back to the original pressure.
2- Brakes / oil / fluids: make sure the oil is ok, brakes are ok, brake fluid is ok! If in doubt, best spend £50-100 and get a specialist to look at everything in 1 go.
By and large I think that is it for the hard stuff, now for the car /soft stuff: let it cool down, as you would yourself after a run, you do not stop dead, you will develop lactic acid. The car's brakes will run very warm, so they need to cool down properly as pointed by fellow Pistonites(! I like this term). DO NOT ENGAGE your handbrake, the brake pads will stick to the pads when warm, and mess up.
What you need to learn:
1- INSTRUCTOR
2- INSTRUCTOR
3- INSTRUCTOR
Seriously, imagine never playing tennis or skiing, best get an instructor, everyone thinks they can drive well except those who have circuit experience and know the truth. It is not that you will bump against anyone, more likely the opposite will happen (seldom have I seen newbies go too fast, although it does happen depending on corners). Most people on circuit are clued up about the response of cars around them, there are not that many ways to go around corners), but by definition you fall outside this zone.
Above all, remember, it is actually quite safe, and do not concentrate on others unless they are EXTREMELY good, and if so you would not be able to follow them anyway...
By the end you will be hopelessly ADDICTED (aren't we all), so start saving!
JAG
PS: If you want an instructor, do not ask Sean, he might terrorise you, flood your car through your sweat, and eek out 1.000bhp out of your poor engine.
Your car needs to be prepared:
1- tracking & tyre pressures: are you sure your tyres are properly aligned? Pressure ok? They will heat up, and when they do you need to let air out to get back to the original pressure.
2- Brakes / oil / fluids: make sure the oil is ok, brakes are ok, brake fluid is ok! If in doubt, best spend £50-100 and get a specialist to look at everything in 1 go.
By and large I think that is it for the hard stuff, now for the car /soft stuff: let it cool down, as you would yourself after a run, you do not stop dead, you will develop lactic acid. The car's brakes will run very warm, so they need to cool down properly as pointed by fellow Pistonites(! I like this term). DO NOT ENGAGE your handbrake, the brake pads will stick to the pads when warm, and mess up.
What you need to learn:
1- INSTRUCTOR
2- INSTRUCTOR
3- INSTRUCTOR
Seriously, imagine never playing tennis or skiing, best get an instructor, everyone thinks they can drive well except those who have circuit experience and know the truth. It is not that you will bump against anyone, more likely the opposite will happen (seldom have I seen newbies go too fast, although it does happen depending on corners). Most people on circuit are clued up about the response of cars around them, there are not that many ways to go around corners), but by definition you fall outside this zone.
Above all, remember, it is actually quite safe, and do not concentrate on others unless they are EXTREMELY good, and if so you would not be able to follow them anyway...
By the end you will be hopelessly ADDICTED (aren't we all), so start saving!
JAG
PS: If you want an instructor, do not ask Sean, he might terrorise you, flood your car through your sweat, and eek out 1.000bhp out of your poor engine.
Edited by johnag007 on Monday 19th May 16:09
johnag007 said:
At the risk of repeating some comments, remember you will be pushing your car (and yourself) to the limit. Imagine you are to sit an important exam, or are playing a very important football match (or whatever sports takes your fancy).
Your car needs to be prepared:
1- tracking & tyre pressures: are you sure your tyres are properly aligned? Pressure ok? They will heat up, and when they do you need to let air out to get back to the original pressure.
2- Brakes / oil / fluids: make sure the oil is ok, brakes are ok, brake fluid is ok! If in doubt, best spend £50-100 and get a specialist to look at everything in 1 go.
By and large I think that is it for the hard stuff, now for the car /soft stuff: let it cool down, as you would yourself after a run, you do not stop dead, you will develop lactic acid. The car's brakes will run very warm, so they need to cool down properly as pointed by fellow Pistonites(! I like this term). DO NOT ENGAGE your handbrake, the brake pads will stick to the pads when warm, and mess up.
What you need to learn:
1- INSTRUCTOR
2- INSTRUCTOR
3- INSTRUCTOR
Seriously, imagine never playing tennis or skiing, best get an instructor, everyone thinks they can drive well except those who have circuit experience and know the truth. It is not that you will bump against anyone, more likely the opposite will happen (seldom have I seen newbies go too fast, although it does happen depending on corners). Most people on circuit are clued up about the response of cars around them, there are not that many ways to go around corners), but by definition you fall outside this zone.
Above all, remember, it is actually quite safe, and do not concentrate on others unless they are EXTREMELY good, and if so you would not be able to follow them anyway...
By the end you will be hopelessly ADDICTED (aren't we all), so start saving!
JAG
PS: If you want an instructor, do not ask Sean, he might terrorise you, flood your car through your sweat, and eek out 1.000bhp out of your poor engine.
I have been on a small cirucit before on motorbikes but i think cars will be a bit different. So ask for sean yea sounds good Your car needs to be prepared:
1- tracking & tyre pressures: are you sure your tyres are properly aligned? Pressure ok? They will heat up, and when they do you need to let air out to get back to the original pressure.
2- Brakes / oil / fluids: make sure the oil is ok, brakes are ok, brake fluid is ok! If in doubt, best spend £50-100 and get a specialist to look at everything in 1 go.
By and large I think that is it for the hard stuff, now for the car /soft stuff: let it cool down, as you would yourself after a run, you do not stop dead, you will develop lactic acid. The car's brakes will run very warm, so they need to cool down properly as pointed by fellow Pistonites(! I like this term). DO NOT ENGAGE your handbrake, the brake pads will stick to the pads when warm, and mess up.
What you need to learn:
1- INSTRUCTOR
2- INSTRUCTOR
3- INSTRUCTOR
Seriously, imagine never playing tennis or skiing, best get an instructor, everyone thinks they can drive well except those who have circuit experience and know the truth. It is not that you will bump against anyone, more likely the opposite will happen (seldom have I seen newbies go too fast, although it does happen depending on corners). Most people on circuit are clued up about the response of cars around them, there are not that many ways to go around corners), but by definition you fall outside this zone.
Above all, remember, it is actually quite safe, and do not concentrate on others unless they are EXTREMELY good, and if so you would not be able to follow them anyway...
By the end you will be hopelessly ADDICTED (aren't we all), so start saving!
JAG
PS: If you want an instructor, do not ask Sean, he might terrorise you, flood your car through your sweat, and eek out 1.000bhp out of your poor engine.
Edited by johnag007 on Monday 19th May 16:09
I did my first track day last week and paid for an hour's instruction. It really was worth every penny because regardless of how much you know, it really really helps when an instructor points out your mistakes as you make them. It allows you to prepare to do it properly on the next lap. By the end of the day you'll be soooo much faster if you have an instructor.
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