Track Days

[TaviaRS]

Right, I notice that a few of you are interested in doing a trackday.

I'm prepared to sort something out, but I need to know what sort of things you are looking for.

So;

How much are you prepared to pay?
How far are you prepared to travel?
Do you want a mixed day eg other marques there?
Airfield or proper track?
weekends or weekdays?

Let me know you thoughts.

[Tavia4x4]

£60 max...

Most of UK \ Wales \ Scotland....

Mixed is fine to "make up the numbers" if we don't have enough, start with VAG tho?

Prefer track, even if a "sprint" circuit rather than full.

Weekday is fine with me.

[ncarring]

- Can you really get a track day for that price? Most seem to be in the £180-220 range that I've seen (maybe I've been looking in the wrong place). For a figure in Ian's range, I'd definitely be interested.

- Although track is better in that you keep going, I'm conscious that for beginners like me airfields might be better (less hard things to hit if you get it wrong).

- Weekday is probably cheaper and less busy so I'd be happy with that too.

[Tavia4x4]

I've done Curborough (sprint circuit) and Alconbury (arifield) both for less than £40, weekday and enough people should assure a decent price.

Unless you are experienced, I don't see the attraction of a big name circuit, or the costs that seem to go with it.

I'd rather do a few "cheap" days than one expensive day a year. "in my opinion" a £700 ring weekend will pay for a *lot* of trackdays and tyres \ pads to go with em!

Just my point of view, I'm a cheapskate

[ColinD]

Well there really is nothing to worry about!

Seatcupra are possibly crying out for a day out as there alconbury day failed to happen due to public liability issues.

60 to 100 quid maxed, depending on location, if thats with an instructor/guide then even better.

Highly recommend an airfield or track to be honest, the smile was still on my face when I got home and it was amazing how much the car can actually take and you don't have to be a mad nutter at any point in the day.
I just treated it like a fast A road once you knew where you were going and it was a barrel of laughs. Bring it on Jon , yes thats a yes!

[ColinD]

Originally posted by Tavia4x4 in this post
"in my opinion" a £700 ring weekend will pay for a *lot* of trackdays and tyres \ pads to go with em!

So you woke up and decided to make an honest woman out of her at last?

[Tavia4x4]

and you don't have to be a mad nutter at any point in the day

Just what are you trying to say?

Colin, are you suggesting I use a ring weekend as a honeymoon? Hmm, thats an idea!! (but you can put it to her, ok?)

[Fabpreza]

I'd be very interested in a Skoda only track-day if possible - wouldn't this be a 'first' ?
(If you exclude the old-generation Skodas)

My preferences are:
1. Airfield or a lower cost circuit which has plenty of run-off area
2. Cost - prefer up to £100 (£150 max depending on distance to travel)
3. Prefer Skoda only - just because I think its time there was one !
4. I've enjoyed Curborough and Bruntingthorpe for totally different reasons. Depends what people want
5. If we do an airfield day, perhaps we can have a separate, still non-competitive area where we can do
individual timings (but not head to head - re insurance issues ?)

PS I would definitely need uprated pads and fluid - Colin/Ian - know any good suppliers ?!

[DaveU]

£ 100ish

South/Midlands location would be great.

Wouldn't mind other VAG marques - prefer not mixed (no Scoobs for example)

Never tried an airfield - have done circuits (Donnington / Bedford) but they are quite full-on. never tried an airfield - would be up for it

[ncarring]

Dave,

Have you ever tried an airfield? :p

[TaviaRS]

Fab,

Ferodo DS2500 pads
Super DOT 4 fluid
Group N disks

See the discounts section for Sejoc's details. IIRC the 4x4 is 288mm disks at the front. Pads about £115, fluid £25 upwards, discs about £150.

I've never faded mine, Ian and Colin are running the same as me, but with standard disks. Don't think they've had any problems either.

Jon

[TaviaRS]

I've done airfields, sprint circuits, small circuits, major circuits, Spa and the Ring

Just trying to find out how much it is to hire Bruntingthorpe.

[Tavia4x4]

Yup, Ferodo DS2500 pads, Super DOT 4 fluid, best supplier, umm, Jon!

Still running standard discs tho they are looking a little thin, never faded and I do occasionally drive with a little enthusiasm.

Fitted the pads in Sept last year, still going strong.

[Quinten]

Speaking as someone who has never owned a 'performance car' (it's a Skoda, honest! ) and therefore never set foot near a track or airfield (except for flying to some sunny destination), I'd be interested in tagging along first (as a non-driver) to test the water (and not to upset SWMBO too much ). Wouldnt mind driving 200 miles for a days worth of fun though...

Oh, and I'd prefer it to be Skoda only, but as a spectator I might have not much to say when it comes to voting

Q.

[ncarring]

It's a good way to start, Q. I've been on a full-on track day and the Spring Tour thingy earlier this year as a passenger and it's a very enjoyable experience. Having seen the action from close up you can decide whether you want to get in any deeper. I'm thinking it's time I stopped being a wuss and started joining in - still got to persuade my SWMBO though ....

[Fabpreza]

Jon

Thanks for the brake info. It's in for haldex oil (!) next week, but I'll definitely go for the pads before we agree the driving day.

Sorry - should have added these, IF Bruntingthorpe remains part of the final cut:-
- They normally close the circuit at lunchtime and do one at a time high speed runs on the runway.
This is from a standing start so you normally have to brake before you hit top speed even though its
2 miles long !
- Most sensible people plaster the front of the car with masking tape to prevent 'gravel rash' or worse
We should bear this in mind or ensure that if we go airfield, they have swept or sealed the track if
its concrete.
- Enormous run off area and very wide track normally means safe passing (like most airfields ?)

Starting to get excited now and trying to work out how to afford it !

[ColinD]

If you want an idea of space, have a look in the ftp site ftp.briskoda.net/video/alconbury

DID5 &6.zip are quite a good example of how much space there is. Also if you do watch it, the top corner after main straight (circa 120-30mph braking to 60-70) the chap who runs it, put his carerra off at over 100mph, spun and got back on the tarmac with no damage. There was a lot of space, even when you miss a breaking point or play with the apex's.

Don't know bruntingthorpe layout, but possible to spread out to reduce stone work. Some stone work at alconbury, but only if you were right behind somebody and as you can see, plenty plenty of space left and right.

Defo get the pads and fluid, I did the pads and it helped alot, fluid is not the super dot4 stufff and it feels better, despite a change in pedal response. I've just done the fronts so far, std discs.

Oh ps thats Jon driving Ian's Jabba'd 4x4. The red leon is an APR optimax powered car with about 20 more bhp than I had at time of recording, and a few kilos less 1 up, I was 2 up and heavier chassis...

The other DID's are various alconbury items with Dave Clark (aforementioned porscher owner) demoing his skills as an ex touring car driver.

A great day out and a really good way to loose the "trackday" cherry. I'm really chuffed I did it, can you tell? I'd rarhter (cost permitting) do a trackday each month/2 or 3 over a day round B roads with mr plod looking on. Far far more satisfying, but you can't beat Wales!

[Mark]

OK - Jon & Colin have contacted me today re some airfield days

I'll call you tomorrow Jon once I have all my 'stuff' together & a charged up phone.

Brunty with the full circuit (circa 4.5 - 5 miles long) with maybe something to break up the 2 mile straight to prevent Jon proving that his car does 169mph. This would mean that the 'infamous' brunty stones would be less likely to do damage

NOT Slipstreaming cars also helps.

and having 80mph constant wind.



Mark

[fab16v]

I'd be up for this. Done 1 track day in the Fab at Castle Combe VW day last October. Was great fun to see the GTi boys struggle to pull away from a little 1400!

Willing to pay up to about 100 squids and not too fussed on journey times.

[KentStu]

Eek!! - might as well try and take the plunge. Depending on dates would love to give it a try. As im new at it would prefer it to be somewhere safe (probably an airfield then?) and Skoda only so I only make an idiot of myself in front of you lot!!

Only motorsport experience is competetive scrambling when a youngster and a bit of social karting.