Are there any Petrol Heads on this Forum ?

There are at least 2 guys who race/have raced/do trackdays. Should just be a matter of time before they appear.

Tony

This is something I intend to do so I will be interested in suggestions. I will post a question elsewhere to see what response I get and come back.

What vehicle are you in?

Well, I am a Pistonhead. Does that count?

DS

OTD - DJ Koze - Lighta Spuba EP

A thought - try your car owners or similar club for suggestions. They may even organise track days.

quote:

Originally posted by gjw111s:
Has anyone done a trackday recently, if so,
in what car and which track, any recomendations

I've done motorbike trackdays but not one using a car yet (although it's only a matter of time before old age catches up and the bikes get chopped in for a Caterham). I've used Knockhill and Cadwell Park and both were excellent.

quote:

Originally posted by gjw111s:

Has anyone done a trackday recently, if so,
in what car and which track, any recomendations

I did one a few months ago at Mallory Park, got another one coming up at Silverstone next month. Both organised by BMW Car Club and they're not trackdays but "Better Driving Days"... makes all the difference for both your insurance and the attitude of the people turning up.

I've a Caterham (self-built) but I do not go on trackdays with it. Partly because we have great roads here anyway, and partly because I have no idea where the nearest suitable track would be.

If you have the chance to drive a Caterham on a track, take it! They are so light, agile and responsive. A well set up one must surely be one of the best ways to really learn about car control and balance. Some are outrageously quick too, but even my modestly engined one has enough to make you grin a great deal. A used one for the track is not going to cost vast amounts, and tends to keep value too. Lots of potential if you like to fiddle in the garage too.

I hope count.d will be along soon, he has lots of experience of cars/racing/tracks stuff I believe.

Bruce

I compete in the British Hillclimb Championship and have done a few track days with a Caterham in the past.

There are many track day organisers, both at proper race tracks and at improvised events on airfields. The nature of the events varies widely. If you have a Caterham type vehicle you really don't want to be out with loads of 'normal' cars, even Porsches or Ferraris, because they will hold you up.

I hear that http://www.bookatrack.com/ are generally reputable but if your car club organises events that would be a good place to start.

Another option for getting onto a track in a low key controlled environment is to go to one of the hillclimb schools. There's no chance of somebody knocking you off, you can go as fast as you like, instructors will give you feedback. In general it would be much less intimidating than going to an open track day for a first-timer.

Nearest to London would be Gurston Down, Bruce's local would be Harewood. Google will do the rest.

Paul

I've been competing in rallying for the last 13 years (mostly tarmac rallies), I've done the odd trackday, too, but it just doesn't compare to real motorsport

The responses received to my question elsewhere:

"Brands Hatch is very good, and as long as you're not flat out it's fairly safe as well!

Bedford is probably the safest in terms of run-off but it is very hard on brakes.

I would just pick a date and venue that suits, then just turn up and drive as fast as you like within your personal limits. There's no prizes for the quickest driver, and wether you're the quickest or slowest is irrespective because nobody else will know or care!"

quote:

Originally posted by MichaelC:
I would just pick a date and venue that suits, then just turn up and drive as fast as you like within your personal limits.

just don't go anywhere with the gti owner's club as the people at Mallory were telling us that they got turfed out because their driving, unsurprisingly, was so bad.

Paul

Can I assume you were at Shelsy Walsh last weekend.

I went along on Sunday with my father in law who is very much into vintage racing cars, and I had a great time watching the Auto Union, BRM, all the old Frazer Nash's etc doing there stuff.

SImon

I am a bit of a petrolhead and try and do a few trackdays and trips abroad.

I am a member of the VX220 owners club and now that I am back in the UK after 5 years in DE I can catch up on events here

You should try a VX or Elise as they are great cars and pretty affordable to run.

John

I've done a few track days at Donnington in Lotus 7 clones (Westfield, Vindicators and Robin Hoods)

The Vindicator was great fun, my Dad and I built the Vindicator (115BHP Vulcan Pinto) it had so much grip and not too much power, great to start, as it drifts nicely, then into oversteer if throttle is applied a little too early.

Caterhams, Elise and the like are great (better) starters, the feel & feedback in them, as Bruce said helps build confidence and experience quickly.

We have moved up to an MX Sebring (4litre V8, 300BHP Rover), looks like a Healey 3000 with flared wheel arches but is a handful! Great on tracks, though a little tail happy.

Regards

Guy

Wow thank's to everyone for your responses to my post,I didn't quite expect so many of you into trackdays and hill climbs and the like.

Sorry I didn't posted again sooner, just been busy unfortunately, Just to clarify, I have a Lotus Elise 111s, I've had the car for nearly three years now, and It still put a smile on my face when I get behind the wheel.

As regards to trackdays, I have done quite a few, although not so many this year due to work
load having gone stratospheric, but I do love to get back on circuit whenever I can.

I did a evening track session recently at Brands Hatch, just the indie circuit, in the blazing sunshine, I met so many old faces from SELOC, Bookatrack and the like, Fantastic, we all finshed up at another SELOC members pub in Kent for BBQ beer and a chat, great way to spend an evening

I have done several circuits in the UK, Brands, Silverstone, Bedford, Snetteron, Mallory, some air field days in York and Essex and also a few Euopean circuits, Croix, Folumbrey, Zandvoort, Nurbergring. Last year completed the Stelvio trip 100+ Elises, 5000 Miles through the alps, Dolamites, Provance, the Pyranese and all around northern Spain, 17 days in all, If you like driving and seeing new places, including some of the best scenery Europe has to offer, you would definatly enjoy this type of road trip.

Off again on Stelvio 2005 for 9 days in September, different mountain pases and routes, except we will all stop for lunch on top of the highest drivable past in Europe on the 12th September "The Stelvio Pass", this years trip finishes with two days at the Nurberg Ring, let's hope I still have some rubber left on the tyres to get mw home .

Really looking forward to going now

Best Regards for now

Gerald

Hi Gerald,

Should have guessed you had an Elise really by your user name
You have certainly clocked some miles and interesting routes
Like I said, now I am back in the UK I hope to catch up on some UK trackday events but I always do a 2 day Hockenheim event with the Swiss motorsport club every year.
It was handy living in Frankfurt as I was never far away from the famous 'Nordschleife' but I was never really a big fan because of big risk of totalling car because of other idiots on the track, still a great place for exotica spotting
Done loads of German meets driving into Alsace,Lux,Switzerland,Pfalz,Tuscany etc, I totally agree that the euro roads are excellent.
We just did a lovely Cote d'azur drive a couple of months back driving down the 'Route Napoleon' which I am sure you have already driven, but also took a couple of days to do the Torini and Braus peaks and visit Monaco which were great fun.
Am hoping to get down to the Ricard circuit next year time and money permitting

Regards,

John

Ps. Enjoy Stelvio!!

quote:

Can I assume you were at Shelsy Walsh last weekend.

All three days. I share a car with the current record holder and champion elect. There was rather too much oil down on the track on Sunday for really good times, but I think we went fast enough to illustrate the current state of the sport...

I've seen some of the onboard footage from the Napier/Bentley and it's fantastic. You may find the forthcoming 100 years of Shelsley DVD a suitable Christmas present for your Father in Law.

Paul

mostly into bikes if that counts

Paul

quote:

I've seen some of the onboard footage from the Napier/Bentley and it's fantastic. You may find the forthcoming 100 years of Shelsley DVD a suitable Christmas present for your Father in Law.

I will order this, I am sure he will appreciate it.

You must be brave driving that Gould up those narrow tracks at that speed.

I probably have some photos of your car from the day, I shall dig them out if you are interested.

Kind regards

Simon

Paul visiting the Stockholm dealer??: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-50824671819242...&q=getaway+stockholm

Tony

Not guilty...

This is my co-driver having a go.

And I do feature briefly on this compilation.

Paul