Trackday tuition in a non-track car

[mk1matt]

Ok, my recent 'ring trip has proved that I'm in desperate need of improvement, so I've started looking into tuition. The offer that Ben Elliot has on at the moment seems pretty appealing.

But, here's the bit of which I'm not sure. I plan to get a dedicated track toy (looking like a Saxo VTS)in the next year or two, and I'll be hiring a Swift from rent4ring next summer. Currently the only car I have access to is my BMW 330ci Sport automatic, which was actually used for this year's ring trip.

I won't have the cash to hire a car for the trackday tuition, so it'll need to be done in the beemer. It's got a tiptronic 5 speed box with paddleshift, so I've at least some control over the transmission, but it's in no way a track car.

I'm guessing the driving experience will be in no way similar to a track prepped little FWD hatchback, but my thoughts are that there must be a generic skill set that is transferrable across whatever car I use.

In short, is there any benefit in getting the tuition in the BMW at this point?

Matt

[Wollcage]

i've seen 'big name' drivers getting tutored in cars from hertz rental, so i reckon you'll be fine.

[HVAC MATT]

sounds fine to me. just take the shopping out the boot first

[ginettajoe]

Wollcage said:

i've seen 'big name' drivers getting tutored in cars from hertz rental, so i reckon you'll be fine.

..... and the one that was written off at Donington, a couple of years ago!! On a serious note, the only downside in using your 330 is the fact it isn't a normal manual gearbox, and you will need to respect your brakes to prevent any distortion, or boiling fluid, and much of that will be down to the circuit you choose to drive. Your gearbox will not allow downchanges at anything like the road speed you want to change, and therefore will lose some of the "engine braking" effect!! The chassis & suspension will be fine, and any instruction in the physics of driving around the circuit, apply in exactly the same way as it would in a dedicated track car!! HTH Howard

[Alfatim]

ginettajoe said:

Wollcage said:

i've seen 'big name' drivers getting tutored in cars from hertz rental, so i reckon you'll be fine.

..... and the one that was written off at Donington, a couple of years ago!! On a serious note, the only downside in using your 330 is the fact it isn't a normal manual gearbox, and you will need to respect your brakes to prevent any distortion, or boiling fluid, and much of that will be down to the circuit you choose to drive. Your gearbox will not allow downchanges at anything like the road speed you want to change, and therefore will lose some of the "engine braking" effect!! The chassis & suspension will be fine, and any instruction in the physics of driving around the circuit, apply in exactly the same way as it would in a dedicated track car!! HTH Howard

Having said all that...... Yes get some instruction in your BMW to start with, a decent instructor (Howard included) will still be of enormous help.

[HereBeMonsters]

Will be fine for your first few hours. You learn general racecraft (or trackcraft, I guess) rather than car specific stuff. It was only after a year or so that I started learning about how to drive f/r differences.

[mk1matt]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Looks like I'll be getting beemer out on track then!

[Stephanie Plum]

You could try the CAT driver training team at Millbrook - learn about threshold braking, single input steering, levelling the platform etc - all will be of immense benefit when you get a track car

http://www.catdrivertraining.co.uk/

[COBRO]

Ditto the comment on CAT Driver Training. I have done 5 days with them now and they are a top team.

[Mrs Muttleysnoop]

CAT are very good. I have done 3 days with them at Millbrook and also been out to the 'Ring with them.

[Zumbruk]

I'll join in and recommend CAT, too. Definitely worthwhile and it doesn't matter what kind of car you have.

[Steve Rance]

My driving coach always used a bog standard Ford Fiesta or Golf. He is regarded as the best in the business coaching Mark Webber and several other F1 drivers so the fact that the car has a non track chasis will not be a problem although brakes will continually need cooling which may well lead to lost track time. I must stress that this is top level coaching so if it's good enough at that level it will good enough for any level. What I think is a problem however is that your car has an auto box. This will prevent any heal toe tuition and effect the braking dynamic of the car. This I think will definately put you at a disadvantage as it's pretty essential that you master these skills. It may be better to hire a manual Fiesta or similar for the day and use that instead.

Good luck