First Track Day Advise


Simple Simon

Active Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2014
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189
So I've got the rest of May off work and a couple of weeks in June. I'm wanting to get at least 1 track day in before I leave the country until December ( maybe more depending on funds)

I'm down in Portsmouth so the closest tracks to me would be Thruxton, Brands and Castle Combe (any others down south?).
I know yourself @jesse888, head over to Brands on a regular basis.
Out of those choices which would everyone's preference be for a first timer novice?

I'm looking at maybe a full day open pit session during a weekday (maybe quieter?). Be a first timer I would probably prefer to go around with an instructor, not sure if any of these places offer it for reasonable price though?
Also, does anyone have a particular favourite company to book their track days with, or are they all the same?

I would say my car is pretty much ready for it, but any tip or advice anyone's got would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers
Si
 
I'm looking to book brands 1st of June.. it's a retro evening but I've been told I can sly my way in, perhaps you could too?
Let me know if you decide to do a full day or whatever and I'll meet up with you.

My first proper track day was brands Hatch. Can't say it's bad for beginners just drive within your comfort zone and your unlikely to have an issue. Plenty of gravel and run off in most places etc
 
Ah cool, doubt I'll be let in for a retro evening in an EP3 :oops: haha

Which company/website do you book your track days through @jesse888?

Just had a look on trackways.co.uk and there doesn't appear to be an awful lot left on their website.

motorvisionsport.co.uk has a lot of days/evenings available. They actually have a general trackway on the 1st June during the day before the Retro meet in the evening.

Think I'm going to do Thruxton as well at some point. I'll let you know what day I choose mate. :nice:
 
Whoever has the slot I want I generally book with.
I'm booked on the retro evening.
Looking at booking some time during brands TA event aswell. Go and support pdapaul on here.
 
Castle Combe is my local, I'd be more than willing to teach you a few things if you ever do go for a track day there. I've got a little workshop 2 miles away from Combe so could help with the car if needed.

One thing I will say is make sure you have a decent set of pads fitted, Ferodo ds2500 would be sufficient and also a good set of tires. That way you will get the most out of your track day.
 
Castle Combe is my local, I'd be more than willing to teach you a few things if you ever do go for a track day there. I've got a little workshop 2 miles away from Combe so could help with the car if needed.

One thing I will say is make sure you have a decent set of pads fitted, Ferodo ds2500 would be sufficient and also a good set of tires. That way you will get the most out of your track day.


Ah cool, thanks for the offer mate, much appreciated :nice: I'll let you know if I end up booking a day there, still need to look at dates for Combe actually.

Yeh I've got some Project Mu pads (recommended by friend who does regular track days) and some Federal RSR tyres all round.
That amongst a host of other mods which probably make the car far more capable than I am!:lol: ha
 
Any track you pick just drive within your comfort zone. A track day isn't a race they are supposed to be a fun and safe way to enjoy your car.

If you do book an open pit lane day try and limit yourself to 15 minute stints as it will give you and the car chance to recover. All too often you see people stay out for 30+ minutes and when they and the car come in they look fried.

Almost all circuits will offer instruction, I would suggest taking in a few sight seeing laps on your own then have the instruction so your making the most of your time with the instructor.

If you can go in the week they are normally quieter sessions. Look to take @Smithy18 up on his offer Combe is a great track quick but also rewarding.
 
Don't do it its the fastest way to become poor hahaha from track day to race car to ow **** iam skint again haha
 
Don't do it its the fastest way to become poor hahaha from track day to race car to ow **** iam skint again haha
Haha! probably the best advise...but I'll always be spending on the car either way. Its on the brink of being a little bit too much for a road going daily already lol

Also, look at using some quality brake fluid and keep it fresh if you're going to make it regular thing!
Im currently using ATE Typ200 fluid, is perfectly fine on the road, but haven't pushed it anywhere near its limits (was changed about 6 months ago). Any thoughts on it or other suggestions?
Also have braided brake lines fitted as well

Any track you pick just drive within your comfort zone. A track day isn't a race they are supposed to be a fun and safe way to enjoy your car.

If you do book an open pit lane day try and limit yourself to 15 minute stints as it will give you and the car chance to recover. All too often you see people stay out for 30+ minutes and when they and the car come in they look fried.

Almost all circuits will offer instruction, I would suggest taking in a few sight seeing laps on your own then have the instruction so your making the most of your time with the instructor.

If you can go in the week they are normally quieter sessions. Look to take @Smithy18 up on his offer Combe is a great track quick but also rewarding.

All sound advise mate, cheers for that. Big one there I suppose is limiting time out there to shorter stints in order to preserve myself and the car.
 
I normally do it in 15 minute sessions, 1 - 2 steady laps to get the tyres up to pressure and get the brakes to operating temps. What you will find is after a long day on track you will become fatigued and tired, this is the time to come in and call it a day ( even tho everything in your head will say no stay out lol ) this is where you see big crashes from tiny mistakes.
 
ATE typ 200 is a decent fluid. I've used it in mine for some time now with no bother (well, not fluid related anyway!)
 
Keep an eye on the oil & lower your tyre pressures.

You'll likely be running high 20's / low 30's (PSI) on the road, when the heat of track driving gets to them the PSI will creep and you'll loose grip / surface contact.
I dropped mine to around 25 (hot) and found the car a great deal more stable & made use of my AD08R's.
 
For my first trackday I tried to learn the circuit as much as I can by looking at layouts, watching videos etc. and establishing what the ideal lines are.

Also changed the oil, brake fluid (ATE Superblue) and made sure I had a quality brake setup.
 
Keep an eye on the oil & lower your tyre pressures.

You'll likely be running high 20's / low 30's (PSI) on the road, when the heat of track driving gets to them the PSI will creep and you'll loose grip / surface contact.
I dropped mine to around 25 (hot) and found the car a great deal more stable & made use of my AD08R's.

Ah yeh tyre pressures, good advise! I normally do my tyres to 30psi for general driving.
What psi do you reckon I should go out on track when the tyres are cold? Still 30psi?
Presume you just use a basic tyre pressure gauge, nothing fancy?

So would you go out, do your laps and then take a reading of the pressures as soon as you come off track and then adjust them to your required psi (low 20's)?


On another note, what's people's preference for dampening on coilovers? For the road I just run them about 1/2 way.
Should the front be harder than the rear or the other way round? Or does everyone just whack them up to max all round? Lol

Thanks for all the advise so far guys, will be booking a day or 2 in the next few days!
Was at Combe today for Japday, resisted the urge to go out on track with loads of other people haha
 
I usually go around 22psi Cold at Combe, the front left tyre is the one that takes a pounding so it's worth swapping tyres back to front. Once I've come in I'll check the tyre pressures fairly quickly and they are usually at 30psi give or take a little. Just use a standard psi gauge digital or not it doesn't really matter.

You don't want to go to stiff, you're better off taking the car out for a session and seeing how it feels and make little adjustments as you go
 
Well, looks like I've narrowed my choices down.

Unfortunately there isn't anything available at Combe during the time I'm off so that ones out the question, thanks for the offer though @Smithy18!
Thruxton doesn't have any days on either, so it's just left me with Brands (without having to travel ages)

Going to book it up tonight, 24th May (Full day). Taking a mate along as well and also booking some tuition. Then the 2nd June for an evening session with a mate of mine who is also taking his car. :dance::nerv:
I would have liked to go out on the retro cars evening with you @jesse888, but I'm not going to qualify for it in my car in all honesty. Plus my mate can only make the @nd June one. :(

Only other question I really had was about general spares people take with them?

Guessing a jack and something to be able to remove the wheels if required? Basic mix of spanners & sockets (main ones like 10,12,17 etc)?
Anything else thats essential?
 
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