Preparations for newbie
Discussion
Hi,
I'm thinking of doing a track day in my Golf V6. As it's a bog-standard road car I'm wondering about preparation, and about insurance - is it worth getting? Also about driving standards generally. I won't be caning it, but what are the odds of getting caught up in someone else's accident?
Cheers.
ps: which track? Brands, Snetterton, Silverstone and Bedford are within travelling distance for me...
I'm thinking of doing a track day in my Golf V6. As it's a bog-standard road car I'm wondering about preparation, and about insurance - is it worth getting? Also about driving standards generally. I won't be caning it, but what are the odds of getting caught up in someone else's accident?
Cheers.
ps: which track? Brands, Snetterton, Silverstone and Bedford are within travelling distance for me...
I wouldn't worry too much about finding a novice day. Just keep half an eye on your interior mirror and pull to the right at the next straight if anything's behind you.
Even with Radicals and Porsche Cup cars on the track being overtaken isn't particularly worrying. Overtaking other people takes far more getting used to!
Can't comment on the others, but I find Brands quite fun. You have to be a bit sensible with the gradient and camber changes, but it's quite a simple track to find your way around.
Even with Radicals and Porsche Cup cars on the track being overtaken isn't particularly worrying. Overtaking other people takes far more getting used to!
Can't comment on the others, but I find Brands quite fun. You have to be a bit sensible with the gradient and camber changes, but it's quite a simple track to find your way around.
Same here, about to do my first track day in a CTR can't wait. Had a few rides out/lessons with an instructor and was a real eye opener as to just how high the driving standards and level of ability even some of the 'novice' drivers have, but guess everyone has to start somewhere. Keep getting told not to be put off by this and just take things at my own pace and keep one eye in the mirror.
Valued my car at 7K to be on the safe side and best quote was £80 for the day. Still not sure if I should take it out though as excess is £500. Think it probably depends a lot on the circuit and how hard you think you might push.
Budget for an instructor. Im definatley going to use one as much as possible as this gives you more of a chance to concentrate on your own driving/lines etc without having to worry as much about your mirrors as you have a second pair of eyes. You will relax into a rhythm and start enjoying it far sooner. A lot easier to keep an eye on whats coming up behind you once your comfortable with what you are doing yourself. IMHO if I had not been out on a track before would have thought I would be better on my own and would not need the extra help but its a must now as far as Im concerned.
Not really speaking from much experience but would def. recommend good pads/brake fluid and tyres to give you a bit more confidence and track time.
Bedford sounds like a good circuit for large run offs but Im thinking would be pretty hard on the brakes?
Im guessing driving standards will vary depending on the company operating the day and how strictly they enforce overtaking rules/driving standards. From what I have seen it is pretty unlikely to get 'caught up' in something unless you are really pushing it. i.e. spin on a corner with someone close behind or vice versa.
Valued my car at 7K to be on the safe side and best quote was £80 for the day. Still not sure if I should take it out though as excess is £500. Think it probably depends a lot on the circuit and how hard you think you might push.
Budget for an instructor. Im definatley going to use one as much as possible as this gives you more of a chance to concentrate on your own driving/lines etc without having to worry as much about your mirrors as you have a second pair of eyes. You will relax into a rhythm and start enjoying it far sooner. A lot easier to keep an eye on whats coming up behind you once your comfortable with what you are doing yourself. IMHO if I had not been out on a track before would have thought I would be better on my own and would not need the extra help but its a must now as far as Im concerned.
Not really speaking from much experience but would def. recommend good pads/brake fluid and tyres to give you a bit more confidence and track time.
Bedford sounds like a good circuit for large run offs but Im thinking would be pretty hard on the brakes?
Im guessing driving standards will vary depending on the company operating the day and how strictly they enforce overtaking rules/driving standards. From what I have seen it is pretty unlikely to get 'caught up' in something unless you are really pushing it. i.e. spin on a corner with someone close behind or vice versa.
bedford is defintely a great track day location as its a non-spectator track (no stands barriers to protect the public etc)
Its a really long track so to be on the safer side don't full power on the long straights as your brakes and tyres will take a bashing. One of two full powered runs will be enough to experience the braking zones/ability of your car. After that coast along the straight (be careful of faster cars behind) and work on getting your lines right. Doing this will reduce the chance of brake fade and over heating. You don't actually learn anything (other than getting the high speed braking points) pointing it straight and foot flat on the floor doesn't mean anything other than getting a better lap time.
Check your fluid, check your tyres pressures/conditions and leave the hand brake off to avoid uneven cooling of the discs leading to warping (nothing to do with Star Trek)
Also make sure you are on track with people of similar speed as the veterans at track days will alway take more risks than the cautious newbies.
As for insurance its not compulsory so that somthing for you to weigh up.
Have fun
Its a really long track so to be on the safer side don't full power on the long straights as your brakes and tyres will take a bashing. One of two full powered runs will be enough to experience the braking zones/ability of your car. After that coast along the straight (be careful of faster cars behind) and work on getting your lines right. Doing this will reduce the chance of brake fade and over heating. You don't actually learn anything (other than getting the high speed braking points) pointing it straight and foot flat on the floor doesn't mean anything other than getting a better lap time.
Check your fluid, check your tyres pressures/conditions and leave the hand brake off to avoid uneven cooling of the discs leading to warping (nothing to do with Star Trek)
Also make sure you are on track with people of similar speed as the veterans at track days will alway take more risks than the cautious newbies.
As for insurance its not compulsory so that somthing for you to weigh up.
Have fun
The organisers will call out the recovery vehicle if you come off (make sure you have your towing eyes in the car with you on the day!) but you can get cover for it in your insurance as you'll pay the full cost of being recovered and towed home otherwise (MORIS charge an extra £20 or so for recovery).
I'm off to Bedford in June (12th - Evo organised evening) to see what it's like but have been to Brands and it's a great circuit, although I'm a novice too so can only speak from limited experience!
I'm off to Bedford in June (12th - Evo organised evening) to see what it's like but have been to Brands and it's a great circuit, although I'm a novice too so can only speak from limited experience!
Gassing Station | Track Days | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff