Ok, so I�m a bit of a �track day� newbie and wanted to ask for some advice.
I�ve done LOADS of driver training days such as car control days with Don Palmer, one-to-one tuition at the Lotus factory with Alistair McQueen, days down at Millbrook with an instructor doing more car control stuff, etc. However what I haven�t done is go out in my own car, on a �track day� with others blasting around.
I�m a member of LOT and there seem to be a lot of options on there, but to be honest, I don�t really know where to start. SELOC are currently running a thread for a �Novice� track day event(s), possibly at Brands which isn�t too far from me (I live in Essex). However I�ve heard mixed reports about this.
Technically I am a �track day novice� but when it comes to driving, I�m going to be a bit more advanced than a true newbie. I other words, I know about slip angles, hinting, can do heal and toe, rev matching, balancing the throttle to manage weight distribution, etc, so I�m not going to be going out like a nervous nelly! However I do feel as if I should ease myself in, but don�t want to go to an event when I�m really in with a group of proper novices.
It looks likely that I�ll be doing Abbeville in March with the Essex SELOC gang, but are there any other track days that you can recommend that I should be looking at?
Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated as I don�t want to book the wrong sort of track, but equally I don�t want to miss out on some of the dates that are now coming through for 2011.
Your booked up for Angelsey ? The Exiges day with Bookatrack
If not book it and maybe make a weekend of it as its one of the best tracks for the Lotus and relative “safe”.
Other good, relative safe track is Bedford, you need a quiet car though … is very flat and not that atmospheric but is good for learning about the feel of the Exige for fast and slow corners.
I would book with LOT or Bookatrack to start as others can be a less well organised, with less considerate drivers.
I had exactly the same thoughts when I wanted to book my first track day to try out my Elise 160 a few years back. I had not even done anywhere near all the background stuff that you have, but i knew I could keep a car on the road having learnt to drive (sideways) on Australian gravel roads and Canadian snow covered streets!
I booked the WRONG day for my first trackday! It was a sessioned day at Donny and I put myself in the ‘novice’ group. BIG mistake! There were all sorts of nutters in Saxo’s, Imprezzas, etc who thought they could drive fast… they did at the expense of totally ignoring others!!!, both from behind and also infront!
My biggest advice would be to book yourself on an event aimed at Lotus drivers and an open pit lane. BAT and LOT run lots of these. You will find yourself with like minded peeps who give you and others great respect no matter how slow and fast you may be! Track day discipline is everything and at these events it has in my experience always been at the highest levels.
This will allow you to bed yourself in to running with other cars, looking in the mirrors etc etc. It will also allow you to venture out at quieter times to learn the track and build up your confidence in the environment. With a car as fast as yours will be and your driving experience, I am sure you will quickly feel at ‘home’!
You will also be offered pax rides if you like. (I’ll run you out if you wish!) Donny, Anglesey and Silverstone all are great venues as they also have good runoff!
Get your self booked on the Exiges day with BAT in April so we can all meet you and admire your machine too!
Guys, thanks for the advice You’re right about going on a track day aimed at Lotus drivers because I had visions of some plonker in a Saxo trying to race me around the circuit!!
Anyway, I’ve just checked BAT and they doesn’t appear to be any availability left on the 16th April to drive your own car The only option appears to be a �720 offer to hire a Caterham or something.
I’ll keep my eyes peeled for another one that everyone goes to though as I do want to meet up with everyone as well.
As people have suggested stick to the ‘friendly’ TD organisers - LOT, Bookatrack etc. Although don’t expect 100% Loti attendance - a few ‘other’ marques invariably tip up.
Once you have done a few you could maybe venture into more ‘open’ days with Easytrack etc. I did one in November and there were 2 Loti and 40 other nutters !!!
As far as Saxo nutters go you will always find some no matter where you go - like real life !!!
Do the Sunday Chris at Anglesey 17th, there will be a few of us there and I’m bringing a couple of top banana’s over also…they have white cars too and can be generally be seen cleaning the pride and joys through out any TD…tossers
There will usually be one or two cancellations for exiges day at Anglesea . Peeps sometimes have to cancel thro work or car broken (s1) mainly
I’m sure you will drop on a place
… and all this cold weather will undoubtely cause considerable hardening of the already marginal S1 head gaskets… they will all be time bombs ready to expolode.
And if this weather keeps on getting colder as is forecast tonight, their head temperatures will almost certainly reach -11.27 deg C which is the defined limit of being fit for purpose.
I really hope some of the guys read this post and get their motors started tonight. If they keep them idling overnight, that may possible delay the onset of headgasket failure until the trip home.
… and all this cold weather will undoubtely cause considerable hardening of the already marginal S1 head gaskets… they will all be time bombs ready to expolode.
And if this weather keeps on getting colder as is forecast tonight, their head temperatures will almost certainly reach -11.27 deg C which is the defined limit of being fit for purpose.
I really hope some of the guys read this post and get their motors started tonight. If they keep them idling overnight, that may possible delay the onset of headgasket failure until the trip home. [/quote]
Pete,
I have enough sleepless nights about HGF without you adding to them!
Fit for purpose indeed!
Did you pluck that number out of thin air at 30,000feet?
You’re right about going on a track day aimed at Lotus drivers because I had visions of some plonker in a Saxo trying to race me around the circuit!!
The only option appears to be a �720 offer to hire a Caterham or something.
