Track Days

davy89

davy89

davy89

Associate
Joined
17 Jul 2010
Posts
426
I've been looking into these quite a lot recently, taking my own car to say Snetterton for a day, but I'm a complete novice in this area and wouldn't even have the faintest idea on where to start!

I've kinda got the idea of track day insurance, but what is the likely wear on the car? Are your tyres likely to last the whole day etc?

Completely baffled but have a real need to give me 172 a proper spanking!

Anyone give me sort of a step by step guide to the whole day? Costs? Requirements?

Thanks in advance!
 
I'm going to be doing a few in the Clio this year :) Just need 4 decent tyres! And a full tank of fuel and bobs your uncle! If the car is sound on the road then it should fair well on track, brake fade might be one on the 172 if it is running stock pads, just have fun :) Nothing should break.
 
Check your levels and pressures and if you are really pushing on don't forget to torque your wheel nuts. I forgot after a recent outing and wondered where all the noises were coming from for a few days to the extent it needed a garage visit after me and a few mates (all, embarisingly track day nuts) had diagnosed 100 different things....which in the end none of them right.

Audi: Mr Housey, have you had your tyres changed recently?

Housey: Er, no

Audi: Hmmmm, right, been on a track day?

Housey: Hmmmm, might of

Audi: Torque your wheel bolts back on?

Housey: Wossa torque?

Audi: Well we've replaced the missing bolts and tightened up the lose ones!!

Housey: Here's some money, not for the work, but for your silence. This never happened and I was never here right!

Audi: Yes, errrr, Mr Senna.
 
Always a good idea to check them after easy session, the heat causes the studs to expand and the nuts can become loose. I ruined a wheel when it came loose and the wheel studs made the holes oval.
 
Thanks for the advice gents.

Really weird one, but are you literally driving all day? If so how does it work when you want to stop etc? Weird questions I know!
 
It depends on the day you attend really and if it's open pitlane or sessioned. Open days are where they start at say 9am and go on to 12:30ish then close for lunch and open again around 1 hour later until say 5pm. This means, subject to red flags you can spend the entire 'open time' on track if you wish, though this would be mad not least if you are a novice as you need time to stop and think about things. Sessioned days are less fun and typically involve different classes, novice, intermediate and experienced usually and provide much less track time.
 
davy89 said:
Thanks for the advice gents.

Really weird one, but are you literally driving all day? If so how does it work when you want to stop etc? Weird questions I know!
Click to expand...

It will be sessioned or open pit.

The former will be in 20min stints probably, open pits require you to come in when you want.

Not many cars will last more than an half an hour out on a track
 
Double and triple check your car. If you have any jobs that borderline may need doing 'soon', do them before taking it on the track. I'm talking belts, pads, discs, tyres, etc. Track usage accelerates the wear rate on components. An Oil and filter change might be a good idea also.

The torquing tip above is a good one. There is nothing scarier than realizing that some of your wheel bolts have become finger tight after a day of track driving (perhaps other than losing a wheel at 100MPH+ :D)

If you can foresee yourself doing a few days buy your own helmet. Not having to put my head into something that other people have sweated into, dropped and done all sorts of unspeakable things to is well worth the £60/70 an open faced OMP will set you back.

Bring spare fluids and some basic tools at the very least. On all of the track days I've gone on everyone has been absoultely mega friendly and have always been happy to let me use some fluids or tools if I have needed them, but make the effort and at least try to bring whatever you can.

Take it easy and realize that you aren't there to race, show off or prove anything to anyone (including yourself!!!). I made that mistake once and ended up facing the wrong way at Surtees at Brands Hatch and wondering what the hell happened. Take it slowly and smooth. Consecrate on getting your lines, braking and accelerating right and you'll notice yourself gradually getting faster. It's genuinely more fun too :).
 
Housey said:
Check your levels and pressures and if you are really pushing on don't forget to torque your wheel nuts. I forgot after a recent outing and wondered where all the noises were coming from for a few days to the extent it needed a garage visit after me and a few mates (all, embarisingly track day nuts) had diagnosed 100 different things....which in the end none of them right.

Audi: Mr Housey, have you had your tyres changed recently?

Housey: Er, no

Audi: Hmmmm, right, been on a track day?

Housey: Hmmmm, might of

Audi: Torque your wheel bolts back on?

Housey: Wossa torque?

Audi: Well we've replaced the missing bolts and tightened up the lose ones!!

Housey: Here's some money, not for the work, but for your silence. This never happened and I was never here right!

Audi: Yes, errrr, Mr Senna.
Click to expand...


Class. :D
 
Joshy said:
Double and triple check your car. If you have any jobs that borderline may need doing 'soon', do them before taking it on the track. I'm talking belts, pads, discs, tyres, etc. Track usage accelerates the wear rate on components. An Oil and filter change might be a good idea also.

The torquing tip above is a good one. There is nothing scarier than realizing that some of your wheel bolts have become finger tight after a day of track driving (perhaps other than losing a wheel at 100MPH+ :D)

If you can foresee yourself doing a few days buy your own helmet. Not having to put my head into something that other people have sweated into, dropped and done all sorts of unspeakable things to is well worth the £60/70 an open faced OMP will set you back.

Bring spare fluids and some basic tools at the very least. On all of the track days I've gone on everyone has been absoultely mega friendly and have always been happy to let me use some fluids or tools if I have needed them, but make the effort and at least try to bring whatever you can.

Take it easy and realize that you aren't there to race, show off or prove anything to anyone (including yourself!!!). I made that mistake once and ended up facing the wrong way at Surtees at Brands Hatch and wondering what the hell happened. Take it slowly and smooth. Consecrate on getting your lines, braking and accelerating right and you'll notice yourself gradually getting faster. It's genuinely more fun too :).
Click to expand...

Great advice there mate, this torqueing your wheel nuts thing seems like quite good advice, have been reading some horror stories!

This I do need to do on mine before I eventually go is a leaking cv gaitor (no fault of my own the company which did my tracking for me "free" very kindly left me some holes in my cv gaitor!!)
 
I would strongly advise against torquing your wheel nuts while they're still hot after a session though, especially if you have nice lightweight alloy ones. I learned that lesson the hard way... :rolleyes:

Also, the best thing you can do is get some tuition.
 
Overlag said:
and if i mate can go with you, take the spare wheel/jack out, glove box etc and put it in his car.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't worry. I've seen people leave £100s of quids worth of tools, jacks, parts and wheels around in pit garages 'unattained'. Your spare wheel + jack and contents of your glove box is hardly going to be the prime targets of thieves :D.
 
Donington had some cars stolen a couple of seasons ago and there was a spate of wheels and 'stuff' going missing from track days some years back. I'd still urge caution on things though it is generally a good bunch who go to track events.
 
No, insurance is far from a must. The vast majority of people I know who do track days don't bother with insurance. If you aren't prepared to (in the absolute worse case scenario) completely lose your car and get nothing more than scrap/breaker more for it then I'd say don't bother unless you can arrange track day cover (which I believe is quite expensive) The truth is that the chances of you completely mullering your car is lower than you might think due to the ample run off and gravel areas on most tracks, but it is worth bearing in mind.
 
Housey said:
Donington had some cars stolen a couple of seasons ago and there was a spate of wheels and 'stuff' going missing from track days some years back. I'd still urge caution on things though it is generally a good bunch who go to track events.
Click to expand...

indeed, after all, ANYONE can drive into the paddock as the gates are fully open. I only left stuff in the garage once, and thats because we always had someone in there with our stuff. lately though, everyone is out on track at the same time, so its good to have a support car. Rob (R26R guy) once had all FiestaST spare wheels in his Volvo :) He could have made some money selling them lol.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom