Newbie not wishing to trash his car
Discussion
This is going to sound naive but....
I went to one of the 6th Gear days last weekend and drove the Caterham and the Atom. I now would really like to take my S1 Elise to a trackday as the actual driving was great (the weather and avoiding the trafic was another thing!) and I think I could get what I have been missing from owning the car.
But, I don't want to knacker my Elise because she is a really nice, low mileage, tidy and original S1. I don't realy want to make this a full time hobby (neither time nor money will allow), perhaps just a few times a year. I am also not exactly a speed freak driving at the very edge of my car and ability; think more driving Miss Daisy.
Is it feasible to drive to the circuit, not take track tyres, drive more sensibly and come away with the fun without excessive wear and tear? If not, what is the minimum I need to do to get a fun day from it? I was thinking Anglesey or similar.
I told you it was naive!
I went to one of the 6th Gear days last weekend and drove the Caterham and the Atom. I now would really like to take my S1 Elise to a trackday as the actual driving was great (the weather and avoiding the trafic was another thing!) and I think I could get what I have been missing from owning the car.
But, I don't want to knacker my Elise because she is a really nice, low mileage, tidy and original S1. I don't realy want to make this a full time hobby (neither time nor money will allow), perhaps just a few times a year. I am also not exactly a speed freak driving at the very edge of my car and ability; think more driving Miss Daisy.
Is it feasible to drive to the circuit, not take track tyres, drive more sensibly and come away with the fun without excessive wear and tear? If not, what is the minimum I need to do to get a fun day from it? I was thinking Anglesey or similar.
I told you it was naive!
Edited by Brown and Boris on Monday 30th March 12:50
I don't have the storage, cash or interest yet to think about buying a second car just for the track TBH. Brakle pads are cheap enough and I have penty left on the existing tyres although would I be looking to replace them after a day?
I hope I won't be meeting the baroer as recovery home might also be an issue as I guess the RAC won't play ball!
I hope I won't be meeting the baroer as recovery home might also be an issue as I guess the RAC won't play ball!
Brown and Boris said:
This is going to sound naive but....
I went to one of the 6th Gear days last weekend and drove the Caterham and the Atom. I now would really like to take my S1 Elise to a trackday as the actual driving was great (the weather and avoiding the trafic was another thing!) and I think I could get what I have been missing from owning the car.
But, I don't want to knacker my Elise because she is a really nice, low mileage, tidy and original S1. I don't realy want to make this a full time hobby (neither time nor money will allow), perhaps just a few times a year. I am also not exactly a speed freak driving at the very edge of my car and ability; think more driving Miss Daisy.
Is it feasible to drive to the circuit, not take track tyres, drive more sensibly and come away with the fun without excessive wear and tear? If not, what is the minimum I need to do to get a fun day from it? I was thinking Anglesey or similar.
I told you it was naive!
Your Elise will be more than capable of handling trackdays, especially if you aren't looking to acheive "qualifying time" type laps. As already mentioned, make sure your brake pads have a reasonable amount of material left on them, tyres all good, check all fluid levels before and throughout the day, remembering that fuel & oil consumption will be far greater than you are accustomed to!! If you do fit new pads before the day, make sure you use a reasonable quality manufacturer, and bed the pads in, according to the manufacturers recommendations! Each time you come in off track, don't apply the hanbrake, and don't sit there with your foot on the brakes, .... switch off the engine and leave in gear, remembering to take it out of gear, or dip the clutch before re-starting the engine.I went to one of the 6th Gear days last weekend and drove the Caterham and the Atom. I now would really like to take my S1 Elise to a trackday as the actual driving was great (the weather and avoiding the trafic was another thing!) and I think I could get what I have been missing from owning the car.
But, I don't want to knacker my Elise because she is a really nice, low mileage, tidy and original S1. I don't realy want to make this a full time hobby (neither time nor money will allow), perhaps just a few times a year. I am also not exactly a speed freak driving at the very edge of my car and ability; think more driving Miss Daisy.
Is it feasible to drive to the circuit, not take track tyres, drive more sensibly and come away with the fun without excessive wear and tear? If not, what is the minimum I need to do to get a fun day from it? I was thinking Anglesey or similar.
I told you it was naive!
Edited by Brown and Boris on Monday 30th March 12:50
As a full time instructor, the best advice I can offer to any track newbie, is to have some sessions of instruction, as early as possible on the day. If funds will stretch, have an instructor for the whole of the day, it will more than pay for itself over the days you do in future. If the instructor does his job properley, you should learn techniques than will reduce tyre and brake wear significantly, at the same time encouraging you to drive smoothly, safely, and quicker than perhaps you imagine you could. The hard part of initial track driving is preventing yourself using years of bad road driving habits, when you should be doing exactly the opposite!! Correct track driving technique will improve your road driving dramatically, but "road driving" on a track will end up as an expensive disaster.
If you require any further advice, feel free to PM me.
HTH
Regards, Howard
Unless your planning on going sideways on every corner (which I doubt the marshalls would be happy about in the uk anyway) your standard tires should last a fair amount of days.
If you are worried about your car you could consider hiring one. Bookatrack hire caterhams mainly but had an elise last time I looked and lambogenie do elise rental for what looks like good value.
If you are worried about your car you could consider hiring one. Bookatrack hire caterhams mainly but had an elise last time I looked and lambogenie do elise rental for what looks like good value.
You'll be fine in the Elise. Just make sure it is properly warmed up before you go for it, don't take it up to the rev limiter in every gear (on a standard car there is no point going past 6000 rpm), and make sure you do a cool down lap and leave the car ticking over for 10 minutes or so after each session. This was what the car was designed to do, so get on track and enjoy!
Start with an airfield day.No armco to worry about,cheaper than true circuits and less likely to have very quick stuff flying around.
If you are really worried, then a sessioned event may suit, as you will then be on track with people of similar ability.
MSV do novice track days, which is a good starting point.
Only you can decide how hard to push the car.
If you are really worried, then a sessioned event may suit, as you will then be on track with people of similar ability.
MSV do novice track days, which is a good starting point.
Only you can decide how hard to push the car.
Agree your Elise will happily cope with a few track days, especially if driven within its limits (which will be much greater than your or my limits!). I had one last year for a while. Three track days absolutely no problem. They're such light and well balanced cars that the tyres and breaks really don't get the sort of hammering they do with M5s, Evos etc.
There are some very well run airfield days in the South West (Motorsport Events), which is a bit of a schlep for you, but you are really unlikely to come away with any damage. I've done lots of these and never seen car to car contact, or serious damage by over-cooking it.
Life is short - get out there and do it!
There are some very well run airfield days in the South West (Motorsport Events), which is a bit of a schlep for you, but you are really unlikely to come away with any damage. I've done lots of these and never seen car to car contact, or serious damage by over-cooking it.
Life is short - get out there and do it!
If you are only planning on doing the odd trackday then go for hiring a car for the day instead:
look at www.track-club.com
Stephen at the above has a series 2 elise that you can hire for £695. For this you get the car delivered to track, first tank of fuel, and importantly INSURED.
You need to pay the trackday fee and any further fuel (£50 would cover it easily).
Best way to do it in your situation IMO.
ETA: Your car is standard. The track club car is preped for circuit work i.e beefed up suspension, brakes etc.
look at www.track-club.com
Stephen at the above has a series 2 elise that you can hire for £695. For this you get the car delivered to track, first tank of fuel, and importantly INSURED.
You need to pay the trackday fee and any further fuel (£50 would cover it easily).
Best way to do it in your situation IMO.
ETA: Your car is standard. The track club car is preped for circuit work i.e beefed up suspension, brakes etc.
Edited by BenElliottRacing on Tuesday 31st March 16:28
Had my s1 Elise on track a couple of times now great fun. Tyres didn’t really wear much although you can see the worn tread on the edges of the front ones. But the front brake pads really did get used up quick, took 50% off the pads in a few hours track time (pagid pads).
Part from that as long as you don’t drive beyond your ability you will have no problems and am unlikely to be hit by any other cars.
Has your car ever been on track before as I know some people would rather buy cars that have not been tracked when you come to sell, but with new tires I can’t see how track use would leave any negative signs on your car.
Part from that as long as you don’t drive beyond your ability you will have no problems and am unlikely to be hit by any other cars.
Has your car ever been on track before as I know some people would rather buy cars that have not been tracked when you come to sell, but with new tires I can’t see how track use would leave any negative signs on your car.
Birdthom said:
Be fair, H - I only lost a wheel a couple of times.
The good thing is, it was only one wheel on two occasions!!! So being licenced for a car or a three wheeler was OK, but if it had been two wheels at the same time it would have been a two wheeler!!! ...... Are you licenced for a bike??Being used to something fibreglass now, and three wheels previously, ..... why don't you consider a Reliant Robin??? Craner would be a blast!!!
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