Trackdays
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Bolide
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If you're a track day virgin I'd suggest doing a few airfield days before going out on a circuit. Although track days are policed pretty well it can be unnerving seeing someone dive past you on the way into a corner and the runoff on most circuits is pretty unfriendly
Motorsport Events run good track days on circuits set out on airfields. They use cones to mark out a track and there's normally nothing to hit when you overcook it
I'd recommend getting some tuition. It makes a big difference to your technique and builds confidence faster than going out on your own. All track day organisers have instructors available
Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk
Motorsport Events run good track days on circuits set out on airfields. They use cones to mark out a track and there's normally nothing to hit when you overcook it
I'd recommend getting some tuition. It makes a big difference to your technique and builds confidence faster than going out on your own. All track day organisers have instructors available
Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk
trackdays in a Merc? dont be so common. we wouldnt be seen dead doing that!
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=19291
ahem.
there are a few companys that offer trackday experinces with race driver tuition. they all say, you drive at the speed you are happy with and they give you advice. so if you dont want to hammer your car or wear out your tyres you dont have too.
a web search will bring up a few different ones.
Silverstone do one called an open pit lane day. costs about £220 for your car, you get to lap the circuit and a few laps instruction. you need a helmet for some events. and even though you can get special insurance for track day cover, as your normal insurance doesnt cover you on a private race track, the cover for special events doesnt cover you for actual time trials and most laps unless you are under instruction for driver education and not race driving. so read the small print.
some insurnace does cover you, but obviously not for breakdowns.
you need to give your car a proper looking at before embarking on a track day, and you need to leave the brakes off when parked for a while so they cool down.
the cannonball people run one to Nurburgring, usually includes instruction for a day, and then the following day you get to pay for your own laps and go as many times as you want.
In the UK however, watch out for some track days being open to companies who wish to test cars, it is subsidised by your arrival and you get to drive in the gaps between testing sessions.
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=19291
ahem.
there are a few companys that offer trackday experinces with race driver tuition. they all say, you drive at the speed you are happy with and they give you advice. so if you dont want to hammer your car or wear out your tyres you dont have too.
a web search will bring up a few different ones.
Silverstone do one called an open pit lane day. costs about £220 for your car, you get to lap the circuit and a few laps instruction. you need a helmet for some events. and even though you can get special insurance for track day cover, as your normal insurance doesnt cover you on a private race track, the cover for special events doesnt cover you for actual time trials and most laps unless you are under instruction for driver education and not race driving. so read the small print.
some insurnace does cover you, but obviously not for breakdowns.
you need to give your car a proper looking at before embarking on a track day, and you need to leave the brakes off when parked for a while so they cool down.
the cannonball people run one to Nurburgring, usually includes instruction for a day, and then the following day you get to pay for your own laps and go as many times as you want.
In the UK however, watch out for some track days being open to companies who wish to test cars, it is subsidised by your arrival and you get to drive in the gaps between testing sessions.
Bolide
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Castle Combe is many things but, in my opinion, "best for beginners" is not one of them. I've raced there and it's a difficult circuit to learn and to feel comfortable withnoops said:
Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk
blassberg
Senior Member
i bought her indoors an extended-single seater virgin(!) experience to have a go round a track first
- Thread Starter
- Thread starter
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i fancy doing a proper racing circuit straight away. is this a sensible idea or not? i want to do one of the touring car circuits, brands, snetterton, donnington?
is this a bit ambitous for my first time out?
is this a bit ambitous for my first time out?
turnipsock
Senior Member
When I was a kid, I bought myself a Caterham 7 and went along to Knockhill for a run round. You used to be able to pay £10 and then you could drive around for a couple of hours. First time I went I had the place pretty much to myself.
One thing that comes as a shock is how tight the corners are and how much g-force you experience.
I wouldn't recommend doing it this way though. You are best to get somebody to take you round first.
I also went to an Ingliston practise day where all the cars were out together, my Caterham on road tyres right up to F2 cars. I had great fun out draging the formula fords on the straights...it was braking for the corners were they got there own back. It's lucky these tracks are pretty wide.
I did a couple of lessons. Basically, a driver takes you out and tells you what you are doing wrong. Then you get to blast round in something like a formula ford.
One thing that comes as a shock is how tight the corners are and how much g-force you experience.
I wouldn't recommend doing it this way though. You are best to get somebody to take you round first.
I also went to an Ingliston practise day where all the cars were out together, my Caterham on road tyres right up to F2 cars. I had great fun out draging the formula fords on the straights...it was braking for the corners were they got there own back. It's lucky these tracks are pretty wide.
I did a couple of lessons. Basically, a driver takes you out and tells you what you are doing wrong. Then you get to blast round in something like a formula ford.
Tell you something, the first time i sat in a single seater on my own, I become very aware of the fact i had forgetton everything they had said. it really made me think,
came back to me after a few laps and i was off, but my intital reaction was, Oh my I should have been paying attention.
and on a 1.8miles lap I did 2, back to back in the following times. 1m17s.590 and 1m17.596. now that is consistant. the fastest i did was 1.15 somehting or other.
and a proper fast lap would be below 1.06.
came back to me after a few laps and i was off, but my intital reaction was, Oh my I should have been paying attention.
and on a 1.8miles lap I did 2, back to back in the following times. 1m17s.590 and 1m17.596. now that is consistant. the fastest i did was 1.15 somehting or other.
and a proper fast lap would be below 1.06.
blassberg
Senior Member
I did a Ron Haslam track day round there - fantastic circuit.SLinKyjoe said:
turnipsock
Senior Member
A single seater at Brands must be a scary thing. Because the track i so lumpy and you are so low to the ground, you will not see much.
Even then, the Indy circuit doesn't a have straight bit of road anywhere.
Even then, the Indy circuit doesn't a have straight bit of road anywhere.
you can see okay but you are right, it doesnt have any straight bits as such. you can still pres on tho. its not that bumpy.
the only thing that came as a suprise to me is the awful racket a single seater makes. you expect it to be like a car but it isnt. And you wrapp your knuckles every time you change gear as the gearchange lever is so close to the side of the cockpit.
the only thing that came as a suprise to me is the awful racket a single seater makes. you expect it to be like a car but it isnt. And you wrapp your knuckles every time you change gear as the gearchange lever is so close to the side of the cockpit.
you may want to check out these links.
they have people who organise these things and have info you may want.
www.pistonheads.com
http://www.uktrackdays.co.uk/
http://www.trackdays.com/
http://www.trackdays.co.uk/
http://www.racedays.co.uk/
http://www.motorsportvision.co.uk/brands-hatch/trackdays/MSV-trackdays.asp
http://www.javelintrackdays.co.uk/
they have people who organise these things and have info you may want.
www.pistonheads.com
http://www.uktrackdays.co.uk/
http://www.trackdays.com/
http://www.trackdays.co.uk/
http://www.racedays.co.uk/
http://www.motorsportvision.co.uk/brands-hatch/trackdays/MSV-trackdays.asp
http://www.javelintrackdays.co.uk/
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