Track Day Virgin

[Chris JB]

After this weekend at Donnington im contemplating doing a few track days, just wondering if anyone has any ideas about prep and the best way to get into it.

Never done any track stuff before so any help would be appreciated. Also thinking about doing a Lotus driver training day first (could be a good idea).

[Whiz]

After this weekend at Donnington im contemplating doing a few track days, just wondering if anyone has any ideas about prep and the best way to get into it.

Never done any track stuff before so any help would be appreciated. Also thinking about doing a Lotus driver training day first (could be a good idea).

 

I'd definitely go for Lotus Driver Training first. It not only teaches you how to get the best out of your car and how to be safe, it shows you just what a beastie you really do own and exactly what it is capable of!!! Plus you'll have a fab time learning how to approach and exit bends at speed!!

 

Al

[Steve J]

Join Lotus-on-track and have a look at their forums. IIRC they are going to arrange a beginners trackday / evening session at Donington shortly.

[dobbo]

There was talk of that, but it's gone pretty quiet lately.

 

LoT have some driver training days at North Weald airstrip at £20 per day - got to be a safe start. I've just booked up for 3 through Club Lotus (different dates to the LoT dates but same place, same instructor).

[MilesH]

LoT have some driver training days at North Weald airstrip at £20 per day - got to be a safe start.

 

Think you have to do a carlimits day before you can do one of the £20 days? (I may be wrong though )

[Phil.S]

Grab your helmet and go for it! Then work out what you need - you may well be a driving god

The car needs no major prep - it was built for a good thrashing. Bedford autodrome is a good place to go as there's nowt to hit.

[Chris JB]

Sounds good to me. Do you have to be part of LoT or Club Lotus to do the £20 driver training jobbie?

[Balboa]

Chris

 

Was at Donington on Saturday doing only my 4th track day after getting my Exige last October.

 

Bedford is a great place to start as Phil S says nowt to hit, acres of run off area. Did two at Bedford and then braved Donington.

 

Also before getting my own car did two 1 hour 1to1 sessions at Silverstone in their Exiges.

 

£275 per hour in their Exiges or £175 if you take your own car.

 

Very intense as they really push you hard but great fun and awesome learning experience

 

Lotus on Track events are very well organised, great on track etiquete and very friendly people happy to offer tips and advice. Also top instuctors at each event that you can book time with

 

Hope to see you on track soon

[dobbo]

Think you have to do a carlimits day before you can do one of the £20 days? (I may be wrong though )

 

 

Other way round ! (sort of - you don't have to have done this to do a CarLimits day, but this is advertised as a nice intro before doing one)

 

Extract from LoT site (for those that aren't joined up nd can't access the Events page)

 

Come and have a play on one of Andy Walsh's hugely popular http://www.carlimits.co.uk activity days at North Weald, Essex.

 

Plenty of safe, fun to be had for just £20...

 

Location: North Weald Airfield, Essex. Click for map

Price: £20 per car

Noise limit: none

Sessions: none relaxed fun day

Limited to JUST 25 cars..

Start: 9.15am

Finish: 4.00pm

 

A safe fun activity day which will commence with all drivers taking a 90 degree bend at increasing speeds for the first hour before going on to play with 2 small circuits. Theres only one car out on each circuit at a time and no crash barriers or walls. Each of the circuits covers a small area and are set out arround cones. This is a relaxed play day. Each circuit will be timed and there will be an instructor on hand to give advice on better car control or just how to hoon it more as required.

 

This is not a track day - helmets are not required and it's covered under your normal road insurance.

 

 

You can pay for the event in the lot shop here - http://www.lotus-on-track.com/lotshop/

[DunkHSP]

I was a TDV last year and ended up doing 4!!! Did Donington ealry this year also and plan about another 4 or so.

 

My advice for what its worth (being not a track hero or anything), do something like bedford or at least a sessioned TD if you are a bit nervous, get an instructor, maybe even two sessions (am & pm), you WILL learn loads doing this. Check the obvious, tyres, brakes (check inside pads, like i didn't. whoops!!).

 

I think most of all is don't put too much pressure on yourself. As mentioned LoT days are great because they are well ran and good mannered days, nobody gets the arse if yr taking it steady, I should know, been a moving roadblock a few times.

 

My biggest fear was pissing faster people off (being a pretty standard S2 and novice) but it just doesn't happen, people are on the whole really cool.

[Neil_C]

How much driving time do you get on the activity days? Personally i'd rather pay the extra for a 4 person day if you get more out of it. It's not that much more proportionally when you factor in petrol costs there, on the day and back, tyres, lunch and a cheap hotel the night before.

 

If I were you i'd join LOT and get on the snetterton evening on the 17th.

It's cheap (£80) and easy to find.

Its safe and easy to learn.

It's open pit lane so the cars will be more spread out than a sessioned day.

You could turn up early and scav a passenger ride or two from the day peeps to get to know the track (i'll be there at least, just do the opposite)

You get a free training session if your first day but book a couple more as cheap anyway.

It has long straights to put your foot down (a must for a first trackday!), and you can easily overtake and be overtaken with no fuss.

As it's your first day the shorter time on track will help you keep your concentration up till the end.

 

After that you'll have a better idea of what you think of the whole game. Even if it's not for you i'd still do the walshy day as it will help on the road.

[Chris JB]

Thanks for all the help guys, hopefully il see you on the track. Cheers

[Dr H]

Did my first ever track day at Donington. Get in the novice group and you'll be OK. It's nice and wide so plenty of room for others to get past and no need to worry too much about getting in the way.

 

I did the two laps behind the pace car then off we set, I went past the only guy in front of me and then span off the track at Mcleans. Felt a bit stupid but soon got back into the swing of things

 

You might be better off with a sessioned day for your first go so that you are out there with people of similar experience. On an open pit lane day the standard of drivers on track at the same time can be a real mix from novice to amazingly talented.

 

Do it it's great fun.

[dobbo]

Did my first ever track day at Donington. Get in the novice group and you'll be OK. It's nice and wide so plenty of room for others to get past and no need to worry too much about getting in the way.

 

LoT don't allow Donny (nor Oulton Park, nor brands, I think) for Track Day Virgins, even in sessioned days.

[jonamacg83]

I out together a bit of a guide to trackdays for beginners on my website, the link is as follows:

 

http://www.macgracing.co.uk/trackdays.html

 

Usefully that first page has an onboard video of a few laps of Donnington in our TVR Cerbera, might be useful in learning the track a bit more for the non playstation types! Apologies for the vast amounts of tyre squeal at points...our Toyo T1R's were overheating ridiculously as you can probably imagine! Im gradually writing up a large section on the site which will cover setup, with the principles and practice from the basics through to the complex maths behind it all which I will upload soon if anyone is interested.

 

Hope it helps. Any feedback would be much appreciated.

 

Jonny