Arrive and drive trackdays

Get to know you and your car's limits on the track.
gidz_master_flash
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Post by gidz_master_flash »

pablo wrote:Are we in danger of becoming slightly snobbish with reference to virgin track drivers. How many of us on our first track day had tuition, how many of us on our first track day were quick, how many of us on our first track day knew the racing lines of a new track. All these things come from experience and are part of the learning curve and fun.

When you're out driving on the public road and you come up behind a learner do you tailgate them, hassle them, or give them room and time. Do you swear at them for stalling or breaking suddenly or do you anticipate what they migjt do and drive accordingly.

Track days are not about getting the fastest lap, that's motorsport and not what track days are for. If there are slower cars or novices out on track then surely as more experienced drivers we should give them a little space we should be able to read the situation and decided early at what point we are going to pass them and not expect with a snobby attitude for them to through themselves off the track to make way for us.

Arrive and drive track days are a good idea for people who want to try it for the first time but are also useful to others who simply want to do some testing of their track cars. Therefore there will be a mix.

If the track is full of street racers throwing themselves into the kitty litter at every bend so be it, it's a learning curve and better they do it on a track than on the public road.
+1

I did an "arrive & drive" 20 mins session as my first taste of a trackday at Brands during Track Attack.
Brands needed to fill up the rest of the day as TA isn't a full days motorsport, so they had a few sessions avalible throught the day.
Although i do quite a bit of sprinting i've always been weary of trackdays on the notion that someone elses accident/error can become my problem.
We had block booked whole 20mins as the Toyota Sprint Series & it was reassuring to know the other cars & drivers on track with me plus most of the other guys also hadn't trackdayed before.
So our session went really smoothly & without incident (other than an MR2 Turbo going off into the kittylitter at paddock, but car & driver were fine). I enjoyed it so much i was itching for another session straight after.

Now Brands will be offering more 20 minute sessions, it's so close to me could even pop up in my lunch hour for a blat :grin:
Be a pigeon, not a statue.

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Jon
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Post by Jon »

Fast Eddy wrote:Also there are special novice trackdays, which must be the best place to start and great value.
http://www.motorsportvision.co.uk/snett ... mit=Search
Eddy
After finally plucking up the courage i've booked myself on this http://www.motorsportvision.co.uk/track ... uctID=4481 with tuition.
I will also be attending on the 6th at Snetterton for a general feel of the trackday buzz. Can't wait :D

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duncan
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Post by duncan »

Just be aware of:

[quote]All vehicles participating in track days at Bedford Autodrome must conform to MSV

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Gerry H
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Post by Gerry H »

That looks even better.

Bedford Autodrome is one of the safest places to spin or go off so you'll have plenty of opportunity to test yourself and the car.

Be aware though, they are very strict on noise levels. the 101 dB static isn't the prolem but the 87.5dB drive by is a killer. If you have an aftermarket exhaust or induction, get it tested.
Handle every stressful situation like a dog. If you can't eat it or hump it, piss on it and walk away!

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Gerry H
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Post by Gerry H »

Also, if you find yourself in the area, you can take your car along and they'll test it for you. It does mean that one of their instructors drives the car past the noise meters but you can sit in while he's driving.

They usually noise test at lunchtimes but just phone beforehand and make an appointment. It's FOC :grin:
Handle every stressful situation like a dog. If you can't eat it or hump it, piss on it and walk away!

Opentrack
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Post by Opentrack »

Micared wrote:
Fast Eddy wrote:Also there are special novice trackdays, which must be the best place to start and great value.
http://www.motorsportvision.co.uk/snett ... mit=Search
Eddy
After finally plucking up the courage i've booked myself on this http://www.motorsportvision.co.uk/track ... uctID=4481 with tuition.
I will also be attending on the 6th at Snetterton for a general feel of the trackday buzz. Can't wait :D
When you come down on the 6th come and find me and say hi , I am sure you will be bitten by the track day bug .
However it is not a bad bug to be bitten with. Better than Fishing !
( i would like to point out that is my opinion )

Some people i am sure would not agree with my fishing statement but i don't like fish . :grin:

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Gerry H
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Post by Gerry H »

mgv8dave wrote:
Some people i am sure would not agree with my fishing statement but i don't like fish . :grin:
Hmmm :fishing:

:D
Handle every stressful situation like a dog. If you can't eat it or hump it, piss on it and walk away!

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Jon
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Post by Jon »

Thanks for the advice on noise levels. I had kind of anticipated that and fitted a bung today which has dramatically reduced the howl, but as i live miles from Bedford i will just have to wing it and hope it's quiet enough. Failing that, i suppose my new hobby could be sitting on a riverbank hoping to catch more than a cold but i'd much rather not :(

Opentrack
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Post by Opentrack »

Micared wrote:Thanks for the advice on noise levels. I had kind of anticipated that and fitted a bung today which has dramatically reduced the howl, but as i live miles from Bedford i will just have to wing it and hope it's quiet enough. Failing that, i suppose my new hobby could be sitting on a riverbank hoping to catch more than a cold but i'd much rather not :(
Mate give Snetterton a call and they will give you a static test if you ask nicely . which will give you a idea what the car is doing for Bedford.

Please don't go sitting by a riverbank ..... that could be a whole new topic so we should stop there :grin:

Suz
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Post by Suz »

Anyone know the rules on passengers, my godson is desparate to have a go round a racetrack and I would love to take him round. Anyone know the age limits?

Suz
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