Claire Helen Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 Following on from my other post (feedback greatly appreciated) - Can people give me an idea of good track day events they have been too. Nothing stupidly expensive and prefer it to be at an actual event. For example, The BHP Performance show (Lydden Hill) you can put your car on the track for £30 a session and also enjoy the actual event too, rather than it being just a track day during the week kind of thing! As I study/work during the week then it will have to be weekends! Hope that makes sense!! Post away!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 Why an actual event? I find it better to start slow and build up as the day progresses, you also dont want to be out for too long at once (concentration levels drop and things go wrong). Lots on the weekends as well....again, Silverstone is good for beginners (lots of run-off), Castle Combe not so beginner friendly (some big heavy impact walls pretty close to the track), Thruxton s beginner friendly, but noise restricted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 Donington is probably the safest, Oulton the riskiest. Bookatrack organise well managed days at relatively modest prices. Avoid "track days" at mega events like the plague, they attract juvenile heroes in tuppence halfpenny cars, blindly trying to attract the attentions of F1 managers, despite a total lack of ability, whilst actually being watched by monosyllabic lager swilling morons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_jza80 Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 whilst actually being watched by monosyllabic lager swilling morons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 Donington is probably the safest, Oulton the riskiest. Bookatrack organise well managed days at relatively modest prices. Avoid "track days" at mega events like the plague, they attract juvenile heroes in tuppence halfpenny cars, blindly trying to attract the attentions of F1 managers, despite a total lack of ability, whilst actually being watched by monosyllabic lager swilling morons. Well stated Thruxton organisers are very good... very friendly and helpful, but take a hard line with the rules of overtaking, etc. Which is very useful beginner days, I have done a few now and I still prefer there days the most (http://www.motorsport-events.com/). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 brands is nice and local, I'd recommend it.... http://www.msvtrackdays.com/car/calendar.aspx?circuit=Bran&products=all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claire Helen Posted September 14, 2015 Author Share Posted September 14, 2015 Why an actual event? I find it better to start slow and build up as the day progresses, you also dont want to be out for too long at once (concentration levels drop and things go wrong). Lots on the weekends as well....again, Silverstone is good for beginners (lots of run-off), Castle Combe not so beginner friendly (some big heavy impact walls pretty close to the track), Thruxton s beginner friendly, but noise restricted. Literally can't do during the week as go to university and they don't let you have the time off I am local to Brands, they are quite strict though, not that I'd not obey the rules lol! I don't mind travelling around, thats part of the experience I feel. Be really interesting to hear from people around the country. Went to Castle Coombe this year for jap fest, quite a few spinners on that track lol! Looked so much fun though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 Something like Japfest is the worst possible place to gain experience, loads of kids trying to learn the circuit in two laps, hell bent on pretending to know what they are doing. You need proper tuition in a calm, properly controlled environment, encompassing a dozens of laps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 Castle Combe does alot of Saturdays... Thruxton I go on Fridays because I prefer the type of cars and people that arrive.... Car enthusiats VS chavs Castle Combe tends to have a lot of track/race cars arriving, like Radicals, etc so you do need to a little more careful. My missus loves Thruxton, checks the days that the operate, might do weekends as well. Goodwood does AM and PM sessions (so half day) and they usually allow very limited numbers, not to mention limited numbers on track at the same time. Looking to book up for end of October. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claire Helen Posted September 14, 2015 Author Share Posted September 14, 2015 Something like Japfest is the worst possible place to gain experience, loads of kids trying to learn the circuit in two laps, hell bent on pretending to know what they are doing. You need proper tuition in a calm, properly controlled environment, encompassing a dozens of laps. Lol I saw Jap Fest and won't be taking that on anytime soon. Just trying to use an example of an event where you can book track time. Just wanted some days to give it a try, literally can't do any week days so going to struggle, plus I enjoy going to the events, so don't wan't to miss out. Was hoping to hear other peoples experiences of places so I could line some track days up for next year. If I enjoy it then I'll go do my ARDS test so I am trained properly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claire Helen Posted September 14, 2015 Author Share Posted September 14, 2015 Castle Combe does alot of Saturdays... Thruxton I go on Fridays because I prefer the type of cars and people that arrive.... Car enthusiats VS chavs Castle Combe tends to have a lot of track/race cars arriving, like Radicals, etc so you do need to a little more careful. My missus loves Thruxton, checks the days that the operate, might do weekends as well. Goodwood does AM and PM sessions (so half day) and they usually allow very limited numbers, not to mention limited numbers on track at the same time. Looking to book up for end of October. Does your gf do many races Graham? How does she find it, would be great to hear how another lady driver gets on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 She doesnt race, just does track days.... she enjoys it. Not a huge fan of driving the GTR, its just too quick for her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claire Helen Posted September 14, 2015 Author Share Posted September 14, 2015 She doesnt race, just does track days.... she enjoys it. Not a huge fan of driving the GTR, its just too quick for her Wish I could afford a GTR lol! She the one with the pink GTR? Wish I could afford it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 No.... she drives this And occasionally this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjy Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 No.... she drives this http://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad45/grahamcleverly/Events/2015/Castle%20Combe%20-%2020150801/DSC_4099_zpskxf8obc8.jpg Mate, that looks the nuts in action!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 Mate, that looks the nuts in action!! It managed 9 or 10 separate sessions at Thruxton on Friday with 4 different drivers.... its such a laugh to drive, but lacking in power - foot is welded to the floor for most of the circuit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjy Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 It managed 9 or 10 separate sessions at Thruxton on Friday with 4 different drivers.... its such a laugh to drive, but lacking in power - foot is welded to the floor for most of the circuit! Excellent! I take it you don't need to upgrade the brakes for Thruxton then, as you barely use them? It's not under powered, it's just not as powerful as the GTR. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 Excellent! I take it you don't need to upgrade the brakes for Thruxton then, as you barely use them? It's not under powered, it's just not as powerful as the GTR. Brakes are hardly touched its the slowest thing at most track - but still SC will fix that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjy Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claire Helen Posted September 14, 2015 Author Share Posted September 14, 2015 The GTR is gorgeous! Thats my only worry with a MX5 that its slow, I don't like slow hehe! How much is a super charger set up on one of them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 Skuzzle say it's about 3k... Slow depending on previous cars GTR is just a little quick! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignum Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 Forget your 30 quid sessions if you want to gain anything out of attending a trackday, thats ok for a little taster, like chris said book at Donington or bedford and book some tuition if you are unsure about what you`re doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 Sadly the track owners, and track day organisers (sometimes one and the same people, sometimes not) realise that many people can only do weekend jaunts, and charge a premium, plus 99% of proper races are held at weekend to maximise crowd attendance figures, so weekend track days cost quite a bit more. Track days are NOT cheap if you are honest with your running, maintenance and repair costs. In fact they are bloody expensive if you get into them and drive the car hard. A heavy, thirsty car with fairly basic mods probably averages out at £750 plus per track day. Don't believe me? Do some, fit big brakes with race pads, raise the boost and run decent tyres on something like a Supra or GTR and do the maths... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 Couldn't agree more and it's surprising how quickly the costs add up. And that is without wanting to mod the hell out of the car. Fuel wise GTR goes through a tank of fuel in about 85 miles on track. Brakes and tyres are not cheap either.... R888 tyres are 1066 for a full set but are awesome. Not sure on brake costs, but I have just had to replace front pads. At Thruxton I find I am falling out of the seat badly, so need proper seats. I am also very tempted to get a rear half cage with harness bar and of course harnesses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignum Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 We run used slicks £40 a corner which keeps the costs down abit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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