Bigpower

Feedback from all will be welcomed. I titled this in such a way as Maxx has the necessary qualifications to answer it and he also seems to make a decent effort to answer thoroughly.

I have been following your thread in your 'Newb' post and this has prompted the following;

Is there any middle ground between racing in the true sense and track days? Allow me to explain my thoughts.

I have been attending track days for the last 7 years and have driven a few UK circuits and the Ring. I reckon in total I have done around 2000 laps of various circuits at some pace or another, so not that experienced but not that green either. I do not have the time or money to race but I am a little concerned that my interest in conventional track days may wane if the Health and Safety boys move in. I am fortunate that I do not suffer with poor etiquette on tracks (either giving or receiving in a manner of speaking) but I do find the occassional problem with the 'guy' in front taking bizarre lines or someones erratic braking.......based on that, in an ideal world I'd love to buzz up the inside or outbreak them as you may in racing, but this is for obvious reasons, frowned upon on track days. Do you see any middle ground for seasoned track dayers like myself who want more than a bimble around a circuit at half throttle (exaggeration but I'm sure you take my point) but cannot commit the time or money to becoming a pwopper racer? There was talk a few years ago about licensing for track days.....do you see any mileage in this concept.

Your ideas and thoughts please. Thank you.

Stu.......your comment about 'the health & safety bods' have you heard anything or was it more tongue in cheek?

I would also be interested in any feedback about the above. I enjoy trackdays but if you do outbrake someone into a corner you get a slapped wrist. I have been in with Trev when he has been blackflagged for overtaking and to be honest it was a joke .

madenglishman wrote:Stu.......your comment about 'the health & safety bods' have you heard anything or was it more tongue in cheek?

I would also be interested in any feedback about the above. I enjoy trackdays but if you do outbrake someone into a corner you get a slapped wrist. I have been in with Trev when he has been blackflagged for overtaking and to be honest it was a joke .

thing is dan, what can you do?

this is what i feel "our" trackdays are for.

we can develop a trust and understanding of fellow members driving styles.

this in turn should remove preassure to over do it or risk car fatigue and call it a day?

i totally agree with stuart though.

i am now taking it quite seriously its boderline professional?

how would you feel having a group of cars "rubbing" you and little nudges into corners?

a group of 20 odd cars all vieing for the same apex on lap one scares me!!

maybe a competency test like a driving test is a good thing?

but at what cost and how long would it take to test?

people have 3 months waiting just for a regular driving test!

I think you have misunderstood me Jim. I don't mean a demo derby with rubbing and a mad dash for the first corner . I like to think I have very good etiquette on track and I respect others but, like Stu mentioned above, I am just curious about a little bit more 'edge' without running a full race team :-D

Id same time trialing/hill climbs are the middle ground between racing and track days, the thrill of competitive driving and when it all goes wrong, its not going to be anybody elses fault :-D

A number of the SXOC guys that have progressed from track days did a couple of trial events last year and are taking on time attack 2007 this, of course its not cheep

Worth a look.

My 2 pennorth, having done trackdays, racing and instructing...

There is a world of difference between the pace and aggression levels in even a lairy trackday, and in a race.

With cars it is difficult to have a fast session, with close driving, like you can with bikes - there just isn't enough room on track.

However, I do have a solution.

Race practise.

Wednesday morning at Mallory park - Open Test Session. Drive whatever you like, however you like. Gurls need not apply.

In the afternoon it's bikes - I once signed in third at about 10am:

1. N. Mackensie (VIrgin Yamaha R1)
2. S. Smart (Sabre Honda NSR500)
3. J. Dening (CBR600).

:P :P

How we laughed, as Niall wheelspun his way round the outside of me at the Elbow.

Sounds interesting James. Can I ask what the running requirements are? (in terms of license, clothing etc)

Public track days have always been viewed as erring on the safe side and so they should be. The rules are clear though, there should be no overtaking into braking areas and all overtaking is with the consent of the driver in front. No disrespect to Trev as I fully understand his will to push the car and his own limits too, but there is no smoke without fire. If he was black flagged it would have been read as either aggressive or dangerous or just in the wrong place. If he tries the tactics of storming up to the marshalls at Snett and having a row (ala Thurrock go karts) that will most definitely be the end of his day. I wasn't there when he did get flagged though so I cannot comment on the specifics.........was this before or after he/you span 3 or 4 times? :lol:

Perhaps it is just the competitive devil in all of us that creates this need to want more......more power, more money etc.......better lap times?

Good discussion this

niall mackenzie and scott smart!

i do agree though. having done bike days too its a lot easier to go your own pace.

but it was also 7-10 years ago and things weren't so popular either.

there seems a massive increase in "track bikes" which people have "daytime" MOT's to get by.

its cheaper to run and easier to transport.

this is what my point was between track days and a race series.

very competitive etc.

I dont really have much relevent experience to give to this debate,

My natural feelings would be to progress to sprints and then try to find some form of race series that doesnt cost a fortune - there are some out there. Failing that perhaps a BigPower hotrods team !!!

If some form of "race practice" as described could be arranged then it would be great, although I for one would certainly be less than happy at having the GT3 wiped out by some nonce who mistimed a late breaking manouvre in a shed worth

stuartstaples wrote:Sounds interesting James. Can I ask what the running requirements are? (in terms of license, clothing etc)

Date: Every Wednesday to 22nd December plus 20th December.
Times: Cars 9.00am -12.30pm
Motorcycles 1.30pm - 5.00pm
Sidecars: Afternoon, 10 minutes every hour, starting at 1.30pm JD: Usually followed by 20 minutes of cleaning all the fecking oil up....

Cost: Cars