PH Donington unslienced tack day 22 march 2011
Discussion
Just a little write up on my experiences today.
I unfortunately wasn't driving but I am really wanting to get into track days. I posted up on the main thread on here asking if anyone knew what the protocol was and asked if anyone would mind taking me for a passenger ride. No body replied for a few days so I emailed Jonny at BookaTrack last week and asked him if it was ok for me to come and watch some of the action etc... To say he was hospitable would be a massive understatement. On the email, he responded saying that if I was to turn up for the driver briefing at 8:30am then I would be able to get a better idea of how TD's are run. Soon after, someone posted up on the main thread (BertBert) offered me a passenger ride in his Radical SR3. I jumped at the chance and swiftly responded.
Jump forward to today, I arrived bright and early and found Jonny and the BookaTrack team. Jonny gave the driver briefing to everyone firstly and then I went over to introduce myself. Jonny suggested that I get signed on as a passenger and jumped into the car with the instructors for the sighting laps, so that I could get a feel for the track. I was hardly going to refuse, so I hopped in and off we went.
After the sighting laps I wandered off to the infield to watch some of the track action. After a short while a sierra hit a cone which caused it to drop coolant on the track and resulted in a red flag. I took a walk back to the makeshift pits for the day, on the way over I met Andrew, who co-owned one of the loudest cars on the day. A C20XE powered Westfield. I figured that if you don't ask you don't get, so I asked if he or his brother would mind taking me out for a few laps. He said that he would set me up for a passenger ride with his brother, as he pushes the car a bit more than himself.
Back in the pits I was strapped into the Westfield and off we went, my first time on track (other than the golf on the sighting laps). What a thrill! a 230bhp Westfield really can fly! We stayed out for about 15 minutes, traffic was minimal so we got some nice clean laps it too.
Next a quick lunch break and then I went off to find BertBert in the Radical SR3. The Third Radical I came to happened to be BertBert (actually called Graham not Bert). We organised for me to come over around 2:00pm for the passenger lap once he had got himself and the car ready again.
I spent a bit more time on the in field watching the action before going back tot the pits to chat to some other drivers. I got talking to a chap with a 996 GT3 who offered to take me out also. By now it was nearing 2:00pm so I said I would love to, if the offer still stood in 15/20 minutes.
I headed back over to Graham in the Radical and got strapped into seat. We headed for the track, starting with a few warm up laps and slowly building pace. I thought the Westfield was fast, this just re-calibrated my perception of fast... Graham really knew how to peddle this little whippet around. We managed a good few "hot" laps before a black flag was shown in our direction, we left the track and unbuckled. Turns out the black flag was for one of the Fun Cup cars and not us, so we could have stayed out. Never mind, we were back in the pits now and we had managed a good few laps. I was loving the day so far!
I was still buzzing from the Westfield and the Radical laps when the chap with the GT3 came over and said he was heading out, was I getting in? If the offer was there, I wasn't going to refuse.
We headed out for a good 15 minutes again. This was a different kind of fast tot he other 2 cars. They were "bum scraping on floor, lots of noise and wind in the face" kind of fast, this was "effortless, civilised, and relatively quiet (in comparison) kind of fast, Stuttgart kind of fast.
After the session in the Porsche, I saw Dan and Andrew again and had a bit of a chat, We headed off to Redgate corner to take a few photos and then back to the pits again... This is how the rest of the day went, a combination of watching the cars and talking to the drivers.
Right on the last 20 minutes, Dan offered me to get back in for another final drive, once again, I wasn't going to say no, so off we went again, carrying on until the chequered flag.
All I can say is thank you so much Jonny, Stuart, Helen, Sarah and everyone else at BookaTrack for going out of their was to make me feel welcome and getting me on the track, and Thank you to Dan, Andrew, Graham and the guy with the GT3 (sorry I'm awful with names) you all made my day fantastic.
I shall soon be seeing all of my money poured into track time and hope to see some of you there again.
Jonny and the team, I will definitely be seeing you again in the near future, hopefully with me behind the wheel, and probably in one of your Cat's. I had a great day and it wouldn't have happened without you all making me feel welcome, signing me on and running a smooth day.
I unfortunately wasn't driving but I am really wanting to get into track days. I posted up on the main thread on here asking if anyone knew what the protocol was and asked if anyone would mind taking me for a passenger ride. No body replied for a few days so I emailed Jonny at BookaTrack last week and asked him if it was ok for me to come and watch some of the action etc... To say he was hospitable would be a massive understatement. On the email, he responded saying that if I was to turn up for the driver briefing at 8:30am then I would be able to get a better idea of how TD's are run. Soon after, someone posted up on the main thread (BertBert) offered me a passenger ride in his Radical SR3. I jumped at the chance and swiftly responded.
Jump forward to today, I arrived bright and early and found Jonny and the BookaTrack team. Jonny gave the driver briefing to everyone firstly and then I went over to introduce myself. Jonny suggested that I get signed on as a passenger and jumped into the car with the instructors for the sighting laps, so that I could get a feel for the track. I was hardly going to refuse, so I hopped in and off we went.
After the sighting laps I wandered off to the infield to watch some of the track action. After a short while a sierra hit a cone which caused it to drop coolant on the track and resulted in a red flag. I took a walk back to the makeshift pits for the day, on the way over I met Andrew, who co-owned one of the loudest cars on the day. A C20XE powered Westfield. I figured that if you don't ask you don't get, so I asked if he or his brother would mind taking me out for a few laps. He said that he would set me up for a passenger ride with his brother, as he pushes the car a bit more than himself.
Back in the pits I was strapped into the Westfield and off we went, my first time on track (other than the golf on the sighting laps). What a thrill! a 230bhp Westfield really can fly! We stayed out for about 15 minutes, traffic was minimal so we got some nice clean laps it too.
Next a quick lunch break and then I went off to find BertBert in the Radical SR3. The Third Radical I came to happened to be BertBert (actually called Graham not Bert). We organised for me to come over around 2:00pm for the passenger lap once he had got himself and the car ready again.
I spent a bit more time on the in field watching the action before going back tot the pits to chat to some other drivers. I got talking to a chap with a 996 GT3 who offered to take me out also. By now it was nearing 2:00pm so I said I would love to, if the offer still stood in 15/20 minutes.
I headed back over to Graham in the Radical and got strapped into seat. We headed for the track, starting with a few warm up laps and slowly building pace. I thought the Westfield was fast, this just re-calibrated my perception of fast... Graham really knew how to peddle this little whippet around. We managed a good few "hot" laps before a black flag was shown in our direction, we left the track and unbuckled. Turns out the black flag was for one of the Fun Cup cars and not us, so we could have stayed out. Never mind, we were back in the pits now and we had managed a good few laps. I was loving the day so far!
I was still buzzing from the Westfield and the Radical laps when the chap with the GT3 came over and said he was heading out, was I getting in? If the offer was there, I wasn't going to refuse.
We headed out for a good 15 minutes again. This was a different kind of fast tot he other 2 cars. They were "bum scraping on floor, lots of noise and wind in the face" kind of fast, this was "effortless, civilised, and relatively quiet (in comparison) kind of fast, Stuttgart kind of fast.
After the session in the Porsche, I saw Dan and Andrew again and had a bit of a chat, We headed off to Redgate corner to take a few photos and then back to the pits again... This is how the rest of the day went, a combination of watching the cars and talking to the drivers.
Right on the last 20 minutes, Dan offered me to get back in for another final drive, once again, I wasn't going to say no, so off we went again, carrying on until the chequered flag.
All I can say is thank you so much Jonny, Stuart, Helen, Sarah and everyone else at BookaTrack for going out of their was to make me feel welcome and getting me on the track, and Thank you to Dan, Andrew, Graham and the guy with the GT3 (sorry I'm awful with names) you all made my day fantastic.
I shall soon be seeing all of my money poured into track time and hope to see some of you there again.
Jonny and the team, I will definitely be seeing you again in the near future, hopefully with me behind the wheel, and probably in one of your Cat's. I had a great day and it wouldn't have happened without you all making me feel welcome, signing me on and running a smooth day.
wackojacko said:
More Jam than Warburtons !
Very happy for you fella, I know how enthused and eager you are to get out on track so it certainly sounds like today was right up your street.
Good little write up to.
Jacko
Very happy for you fella, I know how enthused and eager you are to get out on track so it certainly sounds like today was right up your street.
Good little write up to.
Jacko
I really did strike lucky getting 3 different cars and 4 outings, having only gone to watch originally. Thanks mate, I had a great day, the biggest problem is, I can see this starting to get expensive very quickly! At least its worth it
Thanks, I figured that I should share my experiences (particularly with BookaTrack) after having been looked after so well
stabbed rat said:
Thanks mate, I had a great day, the biggest problem is, I can see this starting to get expensive very quickly! At least its worth it
It's only money, you can't put a price on legal ecstacy. It gets expensive when you have a serious GF and do Trackdays etc ...... Wacko advice STAY SINGLE ! ..... A car can't kick you in the nuts when you go and play with another toy if you catch my drift
Fancy coming along to Abingdon next month ? Or isit abit far for you ?
I'm looking at doing silverstone in May if that's any closer to you.
wackojacko said:
stabbed rat said:
Thanks mate, I had a great day, the biggest problem is, I can see this starting to get expensive very quickly! At least its worth it
It's only money, you can't put a price on legal ecstacy. It gets expensive when you have a serious GF and do Trackdays etc ...... Wacko advice STAY SINGLE ! ..... A car can't kick you in the nuts when you go and play with another toy if you catch my drift
Fancy coming along to Abingdon next month ? Or isit abit far for you ?
I'm looking at doing silverstone in May if that's any closer to you.
"Simple Wacko logic" Yeah, its only money and you only live once! You can get more money but not more time...make the most of it
(I think that line may come into play next time in persuading my Dad to let me get a track car! )Hmmmmm, you drive a hard bargain, I may well make the trip, if it is anything like today, the 4 hour round trip will be worth it! I will check my never busy schedule and do my best to make the journey over. I may also make Silverstone as that isn't too far.
Who is running the Abingdon day, I probably should inform someone of my intentions before driving 2 hours and getting turned away
Motorsport Events is running Abingdon.
That'll be a good crack I'm sure GFW would take you out in the Caterham R300, I'd certainly take you out in the Tuscan. (mine won't have passenger seat )
plenty of other nice chaps are attending just like Donnington.
I take it you have a Helmet etc ?
Certainly not enough time to do everything ..... Unfortunate rule of life.
That'll be a good crack I'm sure GFW would take you out in the Caterham R300, I'd certainly take you out in the Tuscan. (mine won't have passenger seat
)plenty of other nice chaps are attending just like Donnington.
I take it you have a Helmet etc ?
Certainly not enough time to do everything ..... Unfortunate rule of life.
Edited by wackojacko on Wednesday 23 March 08:11
Mousem40 said:
Hey Ben, I'm the one in the GT3 who gave you a ride (ooo er!)
Great write up. It was an excellent day, the Westfield doing power slides was great fun! Shame we were too late to get you a ride in the 2-11.
I'll be there on the 24Th July with proper tyres if you want any more laps.
Rod
Hi Rod, it was great wasn't it, I would love to come on the 24th - is it at donington again? I just have to hope Jonny will let me Great write up. It was an excellent day, the Westfield doing power slides was great fun! Shame we were too late to get you a ride in the 2-11.
I'll be there on the 24Th July with proper tyres if you want any more laps.
Rod
Thanks for taking me round
see you soon! What a great write up and so refreshing to see someone write about the good people at track days as apposed to the knobjockeys who ruin them!!
I had a similar experience to you at Bedford last year. A mate and I took his Integra down for a blast but unfortunately after 4 runs something let go and the car had to be recovered by the AA. Whilst that was happening, I got speaking to a couple of guy's over lunch and explained what happened. They then offered to take us out for the rest of the day! Wicked was the reply....what are you driving? AMV8 Roadster and a Nissan GTR was the reply!!
So I go out for a few laps with the chap in the AMV8, who was all of 19... and it was very clear that this was his first track day so I spent that session showing him the ropes (having done a few track days and I race karts)!
We then pull in to the pits and he asks if I would like to drive!!!!
now, keeping in mind that he's never met me before and he's had his Aston for 3 weeks I thought that was rather brave of him!!! But I was never going to refuse that
So off we go but as I’m pushing it a bit more after each lap the traction keeps getting in the way so I ask if it's ok to turn it off? He fiddles with the traction button but nothing seems to happen (no lights come up to say it's off!) so he say's "give it some in turn 1 and see what happens" LMAO....! Turn 1 arrives, I give it FAAAAAAAR to much right foot and lost the backend BUT managed to turn it in to a (cough) 'controlled' & continuous 360 and drive away like nothing's happened...the owner is sitting in the passenger seat clapping and yelling Yipeeeeee hahaha.
Had a passenger ride out in the GTR later and having thrashed the nut's off one of those many times I know just how forgiving those cars are and I have to say that it was a bloody good job they are!! Thankfully it only lasted 1 lap before the session was stopped which was a blessing as he was just about to start racing a GT3 RS which I have a feeling would have ended in tears!!
I had a similar experience to you at Bedford last year. A mate and I took his Integra down for a blast but unfortunately after 4 runs something let go and the car had to be recovered by the AA. Whilst that was happening, I got speaking to a couple of guy's over lunch and explained what happened. They then offered to take us out for the rest of the day! Wicked was the reply....what are you driving? AMV8 Roadster and a Nissan GTR was the reply!!
So I go out for a few laps with the chap in the AMV8, who was all of 19... and it was very clear that this was his first track day so I spent that session showing him the ropes (having done a few track days and I race karts)!
We then pull in to the pits and he asks if I would like to drive!!!!
now, keeping in mind that he's never met me before and he's had his Aston for 3 weeks I thought that was rather brave of him!!! But I was never going to refuse that So off we go but as I’m pushing it a bit more after each lap the traction keeps getting in the way so I ask if it's ok to turn it off? He fiddles with the traction button but nothing seems to happen (no lights come up to say it's off!) so he say's "give it some in turn 1 and see what happens" LMAO....! Turn 1 arrives, I give it FAAAAAAAR to much right foot and lost the backend BUT managed to turn it in to a (cough) 'controlled' & continuous 360 and drive away like nothing's happened...the owner is sitting in the passenger seat clapping and yelling Yipeeeeee
hahaha.Had a passenger ride out in the GTR later and having thrashed the nut's off one of those many times I know just how forgiving those cars are and I have to say that it was a bloody good job they are!! Thankfully it only lasted 1 lap before the session was stopped which was a blessing as he was just about to start racing a GT3 RS which I have a feeling would have ended in tears!!
stabbed rat said:
Mousem40 said:
Hey Ben, I'm the one in the GT3 who gave you a ride (ooo er!)
Great write up. It was an excellent day, the Westfield doing power slides was great fun! Shame we were too late to get you a ride in the 2-11.
I'll be there on the 24Th July with proper tyres if you want any more laps.
Rod
Hi Rod, it was great wasn't it, I would love to come on the 24th - is it at donington again? I just have to hope Jonny will let me Great write up. It was an excellent day, the Westfield doing power slides was great fun! Shame we were too late to get you a ride in the 2-11.
I'll be there on the 24Th July with proper tyres if you want any more laps.
Rod
Thanks for taking me round
see you soon! stabbed rat said:
Mousem40 said:
Hey Ben, I'm the one in the GT3 who gave you a ride (ooo er!)
Great write up. It was an excellent day, the Westfield doing power slides was great fun! Shame we were too late to get you a ride in the 2-11.
I'll be there on the 24Th July with proper tyres if you want any more laps.
Rod
Hi Rod, it was great wasn't it, I would love to come on the 24th - is it at donington again? I just have to hope Jonny will let me Great write up. It was an excellent day, the Westfield doing power slides was great fun! Shame we were too late to get you a ride in the 2-11.
I'll be there on the 24Th July with proper tyres if you want any more laps.
Rod
Thanks for taking me round
see you soon! MikeO996 said:
Is it me or do BookaTrack get a higher proportion of seriously quick cars than other TD organisers (i.e your Radicals, racecars etc) - puts me off the thought of going with them a bit?
Was an un silenced day, you should probably expect noisy, fast and probably race cars on these days.MikeO996 said:
Is it me or do BookaTrack get a higher proportion of seriously quick cars than other TD organisers (i.e your Radicals, racecars etc) - puts me off the thought of going with them a bit?
You should see when gtdc do it unsilenced (IYSWIM!). I thought the machinery was far too tame!And why was the Atom going round with hazards on?
Bert
MikeO996 said:
Is it me or do BookaTrack get a higher proportion of seriously quick cars than other TD organisers (i.e your Radicals, racecars etc) - puts me off the thought of going with them a bit?
No need to be intimidated. The track day rules apply to all. The good thing about Radicals and the like is that when you let them pass, they overtake very quickly and are gone within a blink of an eye.Gassing Station | Track Days | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff