Driving experiences/Track days

DomTom

A few of us fancy doing one of these track days, and having never done it was looking for some advice from people who had done it.

can anyone recommend a company or even a thrill?

i'd be using tesco clubcards so the choices are

croft circuit
thruxton racing
every man racing

i personally fancy driving a lambo, or a ferrari

BillyMansell

I recently did a driving experience with Everyman Racing at the MIRA Proving Ground. Someone had given me Tesco club card vouchers for two drives but that was never going to be enough for me so I added to it and did the Euro Challenge 4 driving a Lamborghini Gallardo Spider, Ferarri F430, Aston Martin Vantage and Porsche 911. Others went further and also drove an Audi R8 or a Lamborghini LP640.

Be prepared as it can be a long day for the amount of time you spend in the cars, but if you're there with friends you'll have lots to talk about so time should pass quickly. Also, at MIRA you can't take your own photos.

cyclonebri1

Hi there,
What you seem to be looking for is not actually a "trackday". It would seem from your experience that you want one of those "experience days" which some seem to get as a pressy from family members at 40 or 50 or.....

They are good fun, safe, and you will get nice photograph. All cars nicely spaced to avoid any issues;)

However, the downside is you will get a minimum time in the car of your choice. You will get several 3 lap stints in a demo production hatchback or similar, may or may not get the chance to actually drive this, followed be a few laps in a supercar under the strict control of "stig".

General track days allow you to take your road wheels or specialist car to the track, and get more or less unlimited track time, again. Fault being the average mental age of the participants is sub zero, you may find youself in a "mini" with 2 tons of american muscle car pushing you:eek:, and you are likely to get you car wrecked and have to bike it home.

Best are the specialist car trackdays, usually only open to single type or manufacturer, ie kitcar only, TVR, etc etc. These are much safer, similar type cars on track together, with much more respect shown for fellow enthusiasts.

Maybe needs to be looked into a little further as it can be fantastic fun, (have the teeshirt;))

Rallydriver

Cheapest way to get a trackday is to buy a cheapish 2nd car with a decent club that books its own trackdays. Then get on one of those and enjoy yourself. Lots of small cars have clubs that do this, Saxo, 106, Clio 172 owners and decent versions of the car can be picked up and sorted ready for the track for not alot.

Other things to note, trackdays are very demanding on the tyres, brakes, engine and driver. Usually you'll do no more than 3 laps in one go before coming in to give the car a rest unless you've built a car to take the continual pounding.

You'll need a helmet if you're using road tyres and most require a rollcage and fire extinguisher if you wish to use track tyres.

Most trackdays are in one of two formats. Sessioned, where groups of cars go out together for say 30 minute sessions. Open pitlane, usually more expensive but you can go out and come in as you please.

Trackdays at established tracks are usually more expensive than those at less well known tracks. So places on the BTCC calander will be more expensive than Bedford or Anglesea for example.

I've never done one of those experience days, but from what I've heard they never allow you to exploit the limits of the cars and that would be a letdown for me.

I found it more fun thrashing a 30 year old rear drive car round with the backend sliding out on every corner than I ever did driving a pedigree car on track.

Consider a trip to the nurburgring. Its not as scary as people make it out to be and its hugely fun for about the same cost as a UK trackday but you can go for 3 days and get alot more time in.

tomstickland

If you want a track day with your own car, then one of the cheapest ways is to go to a Castle Combe action day. You can get a track session for £35 per session (about 15 minutes). There's 2 coming up: 5th Sept and 26th Sept.

karenx

that's well expensive! Speed sundays at knockhill is £70 for the day!
Or its £1800 to book it for 2 hours to yourself fully marshalled. We have done this, got 29 other people and it costs £60 each! Great fun!

Limey

I've done a number of trackdays in what was my everyday car (Mk1 MR2). Booked throught bookatrack they cost in the region of £150 for a full day open pit with 2 drivers (second driver doesn't cost any more but you can split the price).

No roll cage required.
Tyre wear on a proper track was pretty insignificant (Anglesey).
Tyre wear on an airfield was VERY significant (Elvington).
Brakes take a beating but it does depend on how you drive.
Fuel consumption was about 10mpg.
I never had any faults caused by the track but I always kept the car well maintained.

Tuition is available that'd be better than an experience day, last time I went it was £25 for 20mins.

BaT track days are generally very well marshalled and any misbehaviour is stamped on fairly quickly so car-car contact is rare and morons are given the boot.

Airfields are good for beginners as there's plenty of runoff and you're unlikely to damage anything in a spin, proper tracks are more fun but there's a bit more roadside furniture if things go horribly wrong. I spun out at about 60+mph at Bruntingthorpe airfield to much hilarity and carried on after a quick word with the marshall who told me what I'd done wrong and not to do it again. lol

cyclonebri1

as you see op, everyone is pointing you towards true trackdays, not experience days

DomTom

sorry for the late reply, have limited access to internet.

indeed trackdays seem better apart from the fact my car is pretty slow and i would prefer to keep it in one piece lol. I didn't think they'd let anyone push a supercar to its limit, which is a shame, but understandable. I've had friends to experience days and they seemed to think it was worth the money, and with tescoclubcard vouchers it would end up as 1/4 of the actual price.

goldspanners

if you ever go to florida (or anywhere else that has this) you could try the nascar experience at disneyworld,we done this, it cost around $300 each to drive a real nascar, they have been de tuned a bit so it isnt as fast as it could be,but still over 100 mph,maximum speed they allow is 135mph the noise from them makes it sound like 300 mph right enough, its a great day out and can provoke some serious competition between friends.
you drive around behind a pace car, there isnt anyone else in your car.

cyclonebri1

DomTom wrote: »

sorry for the late reply, have limited access to internet.

indeed trackdays seem better apart from the fact my car is pretty slow and i would prefer to keep it in one piece lol. I didn't think they'd let anyone push a supercar to its limit, which is a shame, but understandable. I've had friends to experience days and they seemed to think it was worth the money, and with tescoclubcard vouchers it would end up as 1/4 of the actual price.

Just as long as you know what you will be getting you will be fine.

However my 1st day at Mallory park with the Westfield club, ie, small lightweight cars only will stick in my memory forever. £80 for the day, thoroughly enjoyed it, got more track time than I needed, crashed, not badly, and got to drive home.

try any aspect of it, it's an eyeopener;)