Track day tips?

Duke

Duke

Duke

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Joined
29 Jun 2003
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Wiltshire
Booking a space on track at Castle Combe, on the last Friday in September.

I've watched a few times in the past but wondered if anyone had any tips, advice etc to give?

Plus anyone want to join me? :D
 
Thanks for the info.

Puma is due a major service next month which is good timing, so all the filters/oil etc will be changed anyway.

If I enjoy it (which I think I will :D) then I'll defo do it more often and upgrade the brakes front and rear.
 
Trickle said:
Most people I've spoken to dont seem to think getting a feel for the track via a console game fist helps. But after doing Oulton on Toca 3 I think it really helped me get going quickly and I'd already decided which corner not to tempt fate on (and true to the game, all people crashing on the day went off on the one I kept losing it in the game on!). Maybe I'm a slow learner, but I've never managed to even get a feel for a new track from the sighting laps before. however with Oulton I was ready to go.

I cant emphasise enough the importance of getting to the track on time for the first briefing, and therefore not missing the sighting lap and then being able to get out straight away.

In the afternoon there may be less cars on track, but the first part of the morning session is essential for getting your confidence up. Because the cars get quicker through the day as people learn the track and push harder, its good to get out early whist cars arnt pushing 100%. This enables you to also take it easy. If you start half an hour in having missed the sighting laps and track time you will litterally be going so much slower than the now fast pased field, you spend all your time being passed and not being able to get a feel for racing lines and braking zones.

That said, saving your brakes and petrol for the last 1.5 hours can be good as many people have gone by mid afternoon and the track is quieter.
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Thanks for the info :)
 
Thanks again for the info. Brakes will certainly need upratings if I keep going as they are tiny atm (238mm!) they upgraded them to 258mm (still not that great) on the later revisions. It is possible to get 300mm conversion on the Puma so that should help :p
 
Got the camera mount and mini-dv camera setup and tested.. all ready for Friday :cool:

Anyone else going Friday (or watching?) :)


edit: Castle Combe for those who haven't read OP ;)
 
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Overall had a great day today on track.

I met a group of MX5 owners who seemed really nice people and there was another Puma on track. Usual M3, Evos, Imprezas etc.

Started the day off with briefing and sound check (80dba - limit was 100). Had a passenger ride in a 2006 Impreza WRX, which blew me away.. awesome grip and power :o

It was wet day all day which unfortunately meant a fair amount of people slid off in one way or another.. including me :(

I was heading towards tower corner with two evo's (who were racing each other) closing in. I pulled to the left side of the track, going down hammerdown but they didn't go past as I expected them too.. queue me then missing my breaking point for Tower corner and drifting off and kissing the tyre barrier :(
Got it back to the pitlane and checked the car over.. duct taped few areas then went back out there. Was pretty shooken up but throughly enjoyed the day apart from that.

Managed to hit 110mph going towards Avonrise.. bit of a tank slapper as well there with the lowered suspension lol.
Gave the MX5s a good run.. was quicker than the 1.6s and just catching the 1.8 turbo which I thought was pretty good.

Shame about the weather.. by 3pm most people were leaving as it was so heavy coming down.

Photos + video over the weekend.
 
Yeah they seemed to enjoy themselves a lot :)


Videos as I'm editing them (Divx codec - right click, save as)

- Oops (3.5MB)
 
I've got an onboard 5-6 laps video and a few trackside views but just sorting hosting out.
 
Yeah bit of a mess but it woke me up and taught me a hell of a lot. I went out much more carefully and concentrated a lot more.. building up the speed lap by lap.
 
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Trickle said:
After a couple of track days you get used to 'being on track' and other cars wont phase you. You get good at seeing them in the rear view and choosing exactly the right point to get out of their way. It is daunting the first time, but I dont think any driver - even the annoying corporate ones - minds being held up for up to two corners.

I had intended posting asking what you were doing pulling over "to the left", but isnt Castle Combe the sole uk track to go round the other way? If you missed your braking point, then you know why they didnt overtake you. You out braked them! ;)
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Yeah after a few runs, I felt a lot more confident and was passing as many cars as I had to let by. I was prepared to go home after feeling a **** from doing that but after some other people came over and gave their stories etc I felt more at home, had some help bodging it and got back out there.
I don't know if the MX5 chaps had been on track before (I'm guessing they are semi-regular) but one of them spun in the same corner as I did after passing me.. thankfully for him though he kept it on the black stuff and I just had to brake hard myself to make sure we didn't touch.

You have to pull and indicate to the left side when being passed at CC. Isn't that the same for other tracks?
 
Booked another track day (first one of the season) - 23rd March :D Hope there will be better weather conditions this time!

I have uploaded my in car video onto youtube -
. Mmm throaty zetec engine for the win :)
 
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