Are trackdays for me?
Discussion
Hello everyone, I've never done any sort of track day before and I was curious to see if it was for me.
My friend and I have been driving for a couple of years, we both own classic cars that are painfully slow and because of this we feel that we would like to get behind the wheel of something fast and to let loose once in a while. We can both afford to initially buy a fast car but we can not afford the commitment to keep it on the road, mainly because of astronomical insurance due to our age.
So I was thinking of buying a car, turning it in to a track car and then towing it to track days using my land rover and trailer. Would the car be allowed on a track day with no MOT, Tax or Insurance?
Is this a good idea or are there other events that would be better suited?
My friend and I have been driving for a couple of years, we both own classic cars that are painfully slow and because of this we feel that we would like to get behind the wheel of something fast and to let loose once in a while. We can both afford to initially buy a fast car but we can not afford the commitment to keep it on the road, mainly because of astronomical insurance due to our age.
So I was thinking of buying a car, turning it in to a track car and then towing it to track days using my land rover and trailer. Would the car be allowed on a track day with no MOT, Tax or Insurance?
Is this a good idea or are there other events that would be better suited?
Plenty of people take along track cars that don't have tax, insurance or an MOT. However not having an MOT does not mean the car does not have to be roadworthy. Breaking down on track is not something you want to do especially if it leads to oil or coolant being dumped on the track. You would not be popular if the latter happened. And of course, you want the car to be in good condition for your own and passengers safety.
I believe a TDO could stop you going on track if they think your car is not fit for purpose. Apart from that, go do it and have fun!
I believe a TDO could stop you going on track if they think your car is not fit for purpose. Apart from that, go do it and have fun!
To be honest?
If you want to dip your toes in the water and find out if it is for you? HIRE a track car. Jonny at Bookatrack will see you right in a brilliant Caterham for a day. Well worth it.
If you then decide you want to do so many track days that you are happy to buy a track car, suffer its depreciation and running costs and tow it to circuits with your Landy you'll be doing so knowing how much fun it is and therefore why it's worth splashing out the money.
In your situation I would buy a Caterham and a trailer anyway. They are mechanically straightforward to look after, ALREADY a perfect track car, inexpensive to buy, slow to depreciate and don't wear out discs, pads and tyres as quickly because they are properly light.
If you want a TRACK car you have to be justifying why you aren't buying a Caterham IMO.
If you want to dip your toes in the water and find out if it is for you? HIRE a track car. Jonny at Bookatrack will see you right in a brilliant Caterham for a day. Well worth it.
If you then decide you want to do so many track days that you are happy to buy a track car, suffer its depreciation and running costs and tow it to circuits with your Landy you'll be doing so knowing how much fun it is and therefore why it's worth splashing out the money.
In your situation I would buy a Caterham and a trailer anyway. They are mechanically straightforward to look after, ALREADY a perfect track car, inexpensive to buy, slow to depreciate and don't wear out discs, pads and tyres as quickly because they are properly light.
If you want a TRACK car you have to be justifying why you aren't buying a Caterham IMO.
Thank you for the answers guys, the car would be in fantastic condition, it just not have t&t. Had a look at the Bookatrack website, looks great I'll ring up and book a day to get the feel. I was thinking of getting an m535i, they're fantastic cars so much fun but that might change after a day in a caterham.
Caterhams are amazing but dont discount other 7esque cars. For a lot less money you could look at Raw Striker, MK Indy, Westfield etc etc
Not trying to turn this into a what 7 is better than others but I wouldn't call a Caterham cheap compared to what else is on offer.
By looking at other 7 cars also opens up all sorts of engine options also throwing into the mix bike engine cars.... Not saying they are better or worse - just different.
When hiring the caterham it would be a good idea to get as many passenger laps as possible in different cars to see what you fancy.
Not trying to turn this into a what 7 is better than others but I wouldn't call a Caterham cheap compared to what else is on offer.
By looking at other 7 cars also opens up all sorts of engine options also throwing into the mix bike engine cars.... Not saying they are better or worse - just different.
When hiring the caterham it would be a good idea to get as many passenger laps as possible in different cars to see what you fancy.
weight, weight, weight.....it all come down to this in the end for speed and running costs!
lighter weight car means less wear on parts (discs, shocks pads etc)...also faster - no matter how much grunt you have up front.
millions of posts on "what track car should i get" - do a seach
my t'pennworth
e30 325 - stripped out - caged - cheap parts - lots of fun....but then i'm biased - let battle commence - i'm sure the mazda, lotus, scooby boys and all with fight their corner.....!
lighter weight car means less wear on parts (discs, shocks pads etc)...also faster - no matter how much grunt you have up front.
millions of posts on "what track car should i get" - do a seach
my t'pennworth
e30 325 - stripped out - caged - cheap parts - lots of fun....but then i'm biased - let battle commence - i'm sure the mazda, lotus, scooby boys and all with fight their corner.....!
caterham seems like a fun idea for hire, but then id really like an e30 325 or an e34 535. even if the big five isnt the most logical aproach. allso quite fancy a Saab 900 T16 aero. even though its fwd and the gearbox wont take more than 250bhp or so there still fairly light. but for starters lets just book a go in a caterham.
the current car situation. both rwd and fun but not at all track day material and would require too much effort to make either capable of it.
the current car situation. both rwd and fun but not at all track day material and would require too much effort to make either capable of it.
Bimmer 5 series - I wouldn't. It'll probably cost a fortune in tyres and brakes alone, let alone fuel etc.
As other have said get a light car, generally cheaper to run in terms of brakes, tyres and other consumables and much more fun than punting a barge around. You need to factor not just the purchase price of the car (that's the relatively easy bit) but how much its going to cost in terms of TD running costs. Don't forget to budget for getting to a from circuits and bear in mind that most TDs have early briefings so a hotel or B&B can be a good idea so you've had a good night's sleep (track days can be tiring).
I live in Plymouth so most tracks are a fair trip (5-600 or more mile round trips) for me so I always stay in a hotel (you can get a room in a Travelodge for £19.00 with a bit of forward planning). I found my perfect track day toy in a series 1 Elise: 35-40mpg on the way to the track, music to listen to, space for my luggage........and a whole lot of fun on track. Just be wary of the real bargain basement jobs though - they often need a lot of not obvious work.
If a bimmer still appeals have a look in the Seloc classifieds. You'll find a few race-prepped E30s from about £4-5k ready to go.
What ever you get, just make sure its not going to fall apart on track and have fun.
As other have said get a light car, generally cheaper to run in terms of brakes, tyres and other consumables and much more fun than punting a barge around. You need to factor not just the purchase price of the car (that's the relatively easy bit) but how much its going to cost in terms of TD running costs. Don't forget to budget for getting to a from circuits and bear in mind that most TDs have early briefings so a hotel or B&B can be a good idea so you've had a good night's sleep (track days can be tiring).
I live in Plymouth so most tracks are a fair trip (5-600 or more mile round trips) for me so I always stay in a hotel (you can get a room in a Travelodge for £19.00 with a bit of forward planning). I found my perfect track day toy in a series 1 Elise: 35-40mpg on the way to the track, music to listen to, space for my luggage........and a whole lot of fun on track. Just be wary of the real bargain basement jobs though - they often need a lot of not obvious work.
If a bimmer still appeals have a look in the Seloc classifieds. You'll find a few race-prepped E30s from about £4-5k ready to go.
What ever you get, just make sure its not going to fall apart on track and have fun.
If it's purpose is to be a track car and nothing else then you'd be mad to consider anything as heavy as a 5 series. It'll annihilate the brakes (at the bigger tracks with big braking points probably within a few laps), eat tyres and in comparison to an equivalent caterfield, be lardy, wallowy and slow. It seems pointless to buy a large luxury road car as a track car... That goes for most normal road cars this side of a Porsche GT3.
Caterfields on the other hand are cheap to run, cheap to repair, and just about the most fun you can possibly have on a race track. If you're not running it on the road, all the downsides to Caterfield ownership are irrelevant. Hire one and see, you'll not look back.
Caterfields on the other hand are cheap to run, cheap to repair, and just about the most fun you can possibly have on a race track. If you're not running it on the road, all the downsides to Caterfield ownership are irrelevant. Hire one and see, you'll not look back.
Edited by juansolo on Wednesday 29th October 13:49
I use a peugeot 306 gti-6
They are so cheap now, £700 ish for one with a couple of dents, totally strip it out, and upgrade the suspension.
The 6 speed box is a gem on track, parts are 10 a penny, and returns good mpg even on track all things considered.
The engines are good for 200k as long as oil changes are done regulary !
They are so cheap now, £700 ish for one with a couple of dents, totally strip it out, and upgrade the suspension.
The 6 speed box is a gem on track, parts are 10 a penny, and returns good mpg even on track all things considered.
The engines are good for 200k as long as oil changes are done regulary !
avalaugh said:
I use a peugeot 306 gti-6
They are so cheap now, £700 ish for one with a couple of dents, totally strip it out, and upgrade the suspension.
The 6 speed box is a gem on track, parts are 10 a penny, and returns good mpg even on track all things considered.
The engines are good for 200k as long as oil changes are done regulary !
an cambelts are changed very regularlyThey are so cheap now, £700 ish for one with a couple of dents, totally strip it out, and upgrade the suspension.
The 6 speed box is a gem on track, parts are 10 a penny, and returns good mpg even on track all things considered.
The engines are good for 200k as long as oil changes are done regulary !
I do agree with the comments on the 5-series, it would be daft but i still have the mental image of that 1000bhp e34 one going around gatebill. Still would prefer RWD but dont hold some kind of hatred for anything FWD like some seem to. What about MK3 astra's? not paticularly the GSI with the c20xe but the ecotec one must be fairly quick and there very cheap to buy. but then theres the underdamped marshmallow handling.
charnock said:
I do agree with the comments on the 5-series, it would be daft but i still have the mental image of that 1000bhp e34 one going around gatebill. Still would prefer RWD but dont hold some kind of hatred for anything FWD like some seem to. What about MK3 astra's? not paticularly the GSI with the c20xe but the ecotec one must be fairly quick and there very cheap to buy. but then theres the underdamped marshmallow handling.
Because they'll be a rubbish track car, I don't think the m535i is as heavy as everybody thinks 1200kg in standard guise but yeah there's better out there. cheezburger said:
charnock said:
I do agree with the comments on the 5-series, it would be daft but i still have the mental image of that 1000bhp e34 one going around gatebill. Still would prefer RWD but dont hold some kind of hatred for anything FWD like some seem to. What about MK3 astra's? not paticularly the GSI with the c20xe but the ecotec one must be fairly quick and there very cheap to buy. but then theres the underdamped marshmallow handling.
Because they'll be a rubbish track car, I don't think the m535i is as heavy as everybody thinks 1200kg in standard guise but yeah there's better out there. have a look at clio cup 172's and 182's. you can buy the cheap and as they are moden cars you sthe running cost would be cheaper than BMW's and so on. im looking at 7 type cars my self but i plan to use it on the road as well. there are 100 of kit car out there and diffrent engines. it just a matter of what money you have. if you have never done a track day i would recomend you hire a car first, you can pay the pro's to spend 30min with you showing the track and lines.
OR
have you thought about Go-karting. for 2K you can have a good fast 125cc 2 stroke kart. that will do 0-60 faster than most cars and you under a inch from the floor. iv been racing karts for a just over a year or two. and its cheap fast and safe. will cost you £100 a day all in, value for money it the cheapest motor sport for your money. if you a essex persons and are half interested you caould take a test drive in mine lOL.
OR
have you thought about Go-karting. for 2K you can have a good fast 125cc 2 stroke kart. that will do 0-60 faster than most cars and you under a inch from the floor. iv been racing karts for a just over a year or two. and its cheap fast and safe. will cost you £100 a day all in, value for money it the cheapest motor sport for your money. if you a essex persons and are half interested you caould take a test drive in mine lOL.
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