OcUK TrackDay: Donnington 22nd August - £135!

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Hi there


Right guys, lets see if we can get a better turn out than last time and try to organise an OcUK trackday (evening session):-


Organiser: Bookatrack
Venue: Donnington (National Circuit)
Date: 22nd August 2012
Time: 16:30 - 20:30 (3hr track time)
Cost: £135.00
Type: Open Pit Lane
Passenger Cost: £10-£20 paid on the day! (Drivers FREE)
Link: http://bookatrack.com/-pE_Trackday-Calendar.html

Why bookatrack? You pay more for a good reason, Open Pit lane, much better track manners in general and in general far fewer cars on track, a track with too many cars just becomes a nightmare. Having done the lower cost Focused days, lets just say never again.


Drivers
1. Gibbo - 911 C2S
2. Telescopi - Fiat Coupe Turbo
3. NathWraith - Toyota Supra Twin Turbo Automatic of doom - white whale - Moby Dick edition
4. Clarkey - BMW 328i?
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Spectators
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An evening session is great for anyone new to track simply because the expenditure is far lower than a full day, expect cost to be as follows:-

1. Trackday - £135
2. Fuel - A full tank - £60-£100 to get to the track, participate and go home!

As this is is a short session, ideally you should only go out 20 minutes at a time, the end result should be your out on track for about 60-80 minutes in total whenever you like. This limits any wear/damage to your car. By doing this you should cause little to no wear to your brake pads, a couple of mm wear at best, so ensure they have over 5mm on them before the day (new pads typically 10-12mm) and perform an oil change if you wish before or after the day, but if your car has recently being serviced then there shall be no need to do so.

Remember its not a race or an endurance session, go out there, drive at a speed you feel happy to do and limit your time on track to a maximum of 20 minutes at a time, then you won't get tired and your car won't damage itself and you won't cause any excessive wear to your brakes etc.

Donnington is a truly amazing track and you can really learn the limits of both your car and your own skills in a safe environment and get tips from people who know what they are doing or even book some tuition at £20 a time.

Be great to see some OcUK faces there, whether running or spectating. If your want to come in as a passenger, the fee is approx £10-£20 and you will need a helmet, Bookatrack can loan you a helmet on the day too.

If I get enough interest, I can give Johnny a ring and request a discount too, but at this price with a top organiser such as bookatrack, it would be a shame to miss out on such an opportunity.
 
How often will these events run? I'm highly tempted to come along to this one, but need to get the car fixed up a little first (tyres and alignment). If I get this done before August I will book up too


Normally once or twice a month, but dunno when we shall be organising our next, maybe next year or in September.
 
September may be better for me. However I will still try and make this one.

Will it always be Donnington? It's not bad I suppose being central for everyone to get to. (185 miles to get there for me)

Pretty much so, the best tracks are around here, Donnington and Outlon Park. ;)

Bedford aint bed, but its pretty boring and well flat. :p
 
Rockingham looks terrible to me!

Knockhill and Croft would be my shouts, mainly for personal/sentimental reasons. I suspect the location doesn't suit most though. Donny and Oulton are fine with me. I will endeavour to make this event, but if not, I will attend the next one.

I presume helmets are mandatory?

Yes lids are required for driver and passengers.
 
I'm tempted by this, about 3 hours away from where i am in north wales, shame its not oulton as i (by which i mean the missus) can drive that back in the evening where as i'd have to stay overnight at Donnington.

I've only got out on track once in the scoob this year so itching for some more action!

Plenty of places to stay overnight at Donnington and quite reasonable on price too, plus its quite a nice place, plenty to see there. :)
 
If I can coordinate with house hunting in Leamington I could well be along. I've not been on a track day before and would love to have a go!

EDIT: Would it just be the 10 OcUK cars?


Nope shall be many there, check the link to see which other cars are booked so far. :)
 
What insurance options are there?

Hi there

Plenty of 3rd party insurers offer track cover, generally if the car is sub 5k value, should be under £100 for the day for insurance cover. If the value is higher then it shall be more.

For example on my 911, insurance cover via a 3rd party is £250-£300, hence I am glad my insurance provider give me upto 5 trackdays per year for free. :)
 
Do you have to have track insurance to go on track?

I know you would be royally bummed if you crash and damage the circuit and event, so therefor you would be better off with it. Just curious?

Never known Donnington to charge for circuit damage, but seen a fair few crashes there and never witnessed the barriers take damage. They use gravel traps so in most places you won't hit anything. The main place cars hit if the pit entrance wall, a Caterham hit it on Saturday at high speed, the Caterham exploded into many pieces, driver was OK and the concrete wall was well unmarked.
 
All booked, Toyota Supra TT Auto.

This should be interesting!

I have updated the OP too as gibbo is lazy.

Awesome, make sure you book and get it paid for on the bookatrack website. :)

They sometimes increase the pricing closer to the actual date!
 
From what someone said last time, this wasn't a big deal as they measure it from quite far away iirc? Someone with more knowledge than me will be able to tell you more.

This my car is like 108Db on a static test I think and never had an issue at Donnington. :)
 
Hi there

The car was sublime, track manners were not so great today got held up a lot but the 911 was quickest car all day bar right at the end when a yellow kit car had the edge, but was miles quicker than the 996 GT3's and slowly gaining on a 997 GT3. So yeah feel much better and confident inspiring though it did get mental sideways through craners at 100+ and got a good pendulum effect but just managed to hold it. :)
 

Big slide! :D

Though on video it looks rather time, but from the passenger seat I can tell you it was a lot of correcting going on LOL.
 
Not so sure about the etiquette tbh, the S2000 was out for what appeared to be a sunday drive - I don't think it hit Vtec y0! once on track :(

Also the saxo drivers were semi-reluctant to let people pass, and the person who hired car no. 10 was oblivious to the train of traffic behind him.

It was great fun playing with paz and clarkey too, all three of us in E36s, all with different setups/rubber.

Clarkey is a lunatic, oversteer is his middle name. I shall get the videos up later, but there are some great shots of him getting a bit wild on track.

Also got a video of me chasing down nath :D


Was great fun, truly impressed with how the 911 is going now, it was so much quicker than the 996 GT3, so much so he came for a chat, haha. I was marginally gaining on the 997 GT3 and I know the guy is a track veteran, but in fairness I was pushing hard and able to brake later due to ceramics, but I was approaching my skill limit and feel he still probably had more to give. But overall the new GEO has made a great difference, think my best lap was a smidge over 1:23s :)

Next mod to go faster would be set of track wheels with 305 rear section and 245 front section CUP tyres and put the front camber to -3 degrees and set the rear bar one notch stiffer. Am very impressed though with how the car is going for what is still on road tyres. :)
 
Yep I'm well up for another go, really enjoyed it.

Doesn't look like there is another evening session this year though, at least not that I can see. End of October onwards there are full OPL days for 139 though.

Where you seeing them for £139 m8? I am seeing £195 only?
 
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