Focused Events and "Chrono" Day
Discussion
Well, that was at the complete opposite end of the scale from my first experience with Focused Events at Snetterton.
Just got home after the loooooong drive home and I can safely say that was one of the best track days I've done for a long time! It seemed like a completely different TDO from the one back in February.
The three from FE (I'm really sorry, I don't know your names) seemed genuinely happy to be there this morning; lively, friendly and approachable all day long, and keeping everyone well informed. So, thank you very much! Plus a complimentary bacon butty and cuppa tea was a very nice touch.
An added bonus was the weather this morning, as was about 37 cars compared to over 80 last time out. I was a little nervous about how everyone would react to the fact each lap was being timed on these "Chrono" days, and how the driving standards would reflect this. But the standards were excellent and the only red flags I can remember were due to unfortunate mechanical issues...
...Which is more that can be said for me: attempting to create some space for a late flying lap, letting the rear tyres go cold and ending up practicing automotive ballet in a field. What a numpty!
So I'd just like to extend my thanks to Focused Events and everyone at Snetterton today who made it great! I eat my words from an earlier post and will be cross-referencing my diary with FE's to book my next track day with them soon.
The only thing I was slightly disappointed with was that the photographer wasn't able to make it today. Shame, because the body shop washed my car for me ready for Snet. At least there's no evidence of me nearly rolling...
Just got home after the loooooong drive home and I can safely say that was one of the best track days I've done for a long time! It seemed like a completely different TDO from the one back in February.
The three from FE (I'm really sorry, I don't know your names) seemed genuinely happy to be there this morning; lively, friendly and approachable all day long, and keeping everyone well informed. So, thank you very much! Plus a complimentary bacon butty and cuppa tea was a very nice touch.
An added bonus was the weather this morning, as was about 37 cars compared to over 80 last time out. I was a little nervous about how everyone would react to the fact each lap was being timed on these "Chrono" days, and how the driving standards would reflect this. But the standards were excellent and the only red flags I can remember were due to unfortunate mechanical issues...
...Which is more that can be said for me: attempting to create some space for a late flying lap, letting the rear tyres go cold and ending up practicing automotive ballet in a field. What a numpty!
So I'd just like to extend my thanks to Focused Events and everyone at Snetterton today who made it great! I eat my words from an earlier post and will be cross-referencing my diary with FE's to book my next track day with them soon.
The only thing I was slightly disappointed with was that the photographer wasn't able to make it today. Shame, because the body shop washed my car for me ready for Snet. At least there's no evidence of me nearly rolling...
I too have had mixed experiences with FE but todays experience was excellent. Never got to have the bacon butty as it finished at 11:30 but a minor thing compared to the excellent running of the day.
Managed to damage the Exige by spinning at Hamilton and the engine cover flipping up and over-extending it so it ripped the fibreglass on the top panel. Vibration appeared from rear nearside and tripod joint fubared so it went home on a trailer.
M3 needs a bit of attention also as gears hard to get when hot but otherwise setup changes sorted out over the winter improved the handling in high speed corners.
Had a go in a Renault Megane sport and was impressed with it's grip and handling. Very playful on turning in on the brakes.
All in all a top day.
Managed to damage the Exige by spinning at Hamilton and the engine cover flipping up and over-extending it so it ripped the fibreglass on the top panel. Vibration appeared from rear nearside and tripod joint fubared so it went home on a trailer.
M3 needs a bit of attention also as gears hard to get when hot but otherwise setup changes sorted out over the winter improved the handling in high speed corners.
Had a go in a Renault Megane sport and was impressed with it's grip and handling. Very playful on turning in on the brakes.
All in all a top day.
Yep, one of the best ever track days, well run and what a track, absolutely the mutts nuts.
After the Brands Evening session I did with FE last year I was never going to use them again but if yesterday is any thing to go by they have listened to their customers.
I have to say that the driving standard was very high, people moved out the way nice and quickly and were generally very few off's.
Top day, when is the next one?
After the Brands Evening session I did with FE last year I was never going to use them again but if yesterday is any thing to go by they have listened to their customers.
I have to say that the driving standard was very high, people moved out the way nice and quickly and were generally very few off's.
Top day, when is the next one?
That's so unfortunate when a track day ends that way, rex. Hope it doesn't set you back too much to put right.
However, I was bought an FE gift voucher for Christmas, and decided to use it at the last minute and, back on Mondaay, book Snetterton. I didn't hold out much hope, especially when I asked the woman on the other end of the phone how many other cars would be there, I was greeted with the response: "I'm not allowed to release that information to you".
But yesterday couldn't have gone any better IMO and it was made all the much better by the members of FE staff.
Does anyone know where or when we get to see our times?
gruffalo said:
After the Brands Evening session I did with FE last year I was never going to use them again but if yesterday is any thing to go by they have listened to their customers.
I have to say that the driving standard was very high, people moved out the way nice and quickly and were generally very few off's.
The first time I ever booked with FE, it was cancelled with just little over 12 hours notice. OK, so 'frozen gravel traps' was supposedly to blame that time. So I rebooked for Snetterton back in February, which was poorly organised and heavily over-subscribed, then an FE employee came on here to shout his/her mouth off at everyone who complained.I have to say that the driving standard was very high, people moved out the way nice and quickly and were generally very few off's.
However, I was bought an FE gift voucher for Christmas, and decided to use it at the last minute and, back on Mondaay, book Snetterton. I didn't hold out much hope, especially when I asked the woman on the other end of the phone how many other cars would be there, I was greeted with the response: "I'm not allowed to release that information to you".
But yesterday couldn't have gone any better IMO and it was made all the much better by the members of FE staff.
Does anyone know where or when we get to see our times?
Edited by XLR Motorsport on Friday 8th April 21:46
Just spoke to them and they are "hopeing to get them out on Thursday".
I implied that they may like to get them out slightly quicker than that as it is a paid for service.
Jemma there said she would talk to her manager and see if she could do them this afternoon.
Expect Thursday would be my take from that.
I implied that they may like to get them out slightly quicker than that as it is a paid for service.
Jemma there said she would talk to her manager and see if she could do them this afternoon.
Expect Thursday would be my take from that.
Thanks, gruffalo. Do we know how they're going to be "sent out"? Will it be by post or e-mail? I know e-mail was mentioned last Thursday, but so was posting them out the following day.
Sounds like FE being FE again: over promising, under delivering. Shame, after such a good track day.
Sounds like FE being FE again: over promising, under delivering. Shame, after such a good track day.
Given the total mixed responses mostly poor about focused events.
How much is down to them, numbers on track and pre and post organisation. On the day is there that much you can do?
But if you have 20 ****ers turn up on the day, there isn't too much you can do apart from black flag them. Its not the organisers fault.
I went to Oulton in January and there were loads of stoppages due to peoples cars breaking and accidents, the organiser spoke to everyone individually before going on track to tell them to calm down but it didnt seem to make much difference.
As for the cancelling thing, I had it happen to me last year with Opentrack, "resurfacing" was blamed but I feel it was otherwise. Rebooked with them for later in the year, I felt I should have been offered a summer date as compenstation as I missed a summer trackday and had to do one in late Autumn instead but wouldn't pay the inflated prices for the last few spots.
How much is down to them, numbers on track and pre and post organisation. On the day is there that much you can do?
But if you have 20 ****ers turn up on the day, there isn't too much you can do apart from black flag them. Its not the organisers fault.
I went to Oulton in January and there were loads of stoppages due to peoples cars breaking and accidents, the organiser spoke to everyone individually before going on track to tell them to calm down but it didnt seem to make much difference.
As for the cancelling thing, I had it happen to me last year with Opentrack, "resurfacing" was blamed but I feel it was otherwise. Rebooked with them for later in the year, I felt I should have been offered a summer date as compenstation as I missed a summer trackday and had to do one in late Autumn instead but wouldn't pay the inflated prices for the last few spots.
You're right, responses are pretty mixed.
Have a look at http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... and see as an example. In this post, I don't think the FE rep did him/herself many favours...
No one can help the w
kers that turn up at a track days apart from themselves. It's unfortunately a fact of life that you're going to get people like that at certain events and generally (FE no exception) organisers do their utmost to ensure people don't drive like tits and and everyone gets the most from the day. TDOs don't really have much control, though, if someone is so intent on going out there to spoil everyone else's fun in the first place.
I think, from a personal perspective, FE's niche is with bike track days. I don't know what it is, but maybe car track day-ers expect more from a TDO. Having never even ridden a motorbike, I couldn't really comment.
And as for cancelling, sometimes it's out of people's control, and other times not so much. I do disagree with the 'no refund' policies every TDO seems to operate when an event is cancelled.
Have a look at http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... and see as an example. In this post, I don't think the FE rep did him/herself many favours...
No one can help the w
kers that turn up at a track days apart from themselves. It's unfortunately a fact of life that you're going to get people like that at certain events and generally (FE no exception) organisers do their utmost to ensure people don't drive like tits and and everyone gets the most from the day. TDOs don't really have much control, though, if someone is so intent on going out there to spoil everyone else's fun in the first place.I think, from a personal perspective, FE's niche is with bike track days. I don't know what it is, but maybe car track day-ers expect more from a TDO. Having never even ridden a motorbike, I couldn't really comment.
And as for cancelling, sometimes it's out of people's control, and other times not so much. I do disagree with the 'no refund' policies every TDO seems to operate when an event is cancelled.
My issue with them was never about the type of people who turned up it was the sheer number of people booked on the track that caused me issues, paid £120 for an open pit lane evening at and,spent almost no time on track but plenty waiting in the pit lane to get out, when out unable to do more than drive round gentley it was like the M25.
Bikes take up a lot less space than a car, if Snetterton was any thing to go by they have learnt this lesson.
Bikes take up a lot less space than a car, if Snetterton was any thing to go by they have learnt this lesson.
Got mine earlier, too. Best was a 2:14.1, but I don't know how it really compares to similar cars. Be nice if we could see other people's best times too. And because it's a new circuit effectively, there's no true benchmark just yet.
Back in March, the Porsche Carrera Cup guys were doing 1:51s. That's insane!
Back in March, the Porsche Carrera Cup guys were doing 1:51s. That's insane!
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