Track Day Advice

Started by Anonymous, September 22, 2003, 09:16

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Anonymous

September 22, 2003, 09:16 Last Edit: January 1, 1970, 01:00 by Anonymous
My wife is buying me some time at Knockhill for my xxth birthday. There are various packages available but the two that look best to me are 1) own car with instructor or 2) MG TF   s:oops: :oops: s:oops:  with instructor (well at least it is a 160).

I'd much rather use my own car but I'm a little worried if something might happen to it. What are the pros and cons of using your own everyday car on a trackday? What about insurance? Doesn't it gub the tyres and brakes? Any help appreciated.

mph

#1
September 22, 2003, 11:46 Last Edit: January 1, 1970, 01:00 by mph
Quote from: "iain_m73"My wife is buying me some time at Knockhill for my xxth birthday. There are various packages available but the two that look best to me are 1) own car with instructor or 2) MG TF   s:oops: :oops: s:oops:  with instructor (well at least it is a 160).

I'd much rather use my own car but I'm a little worried if something might happen to it. What are the pros and cons of using your own everyday car on a trackday? What about insurance? Doesn't it gub the tyres and brakes? Any help appreciated.
Nothing wrong with using your own car for trackdays. As long as your car is well maintained and you follow usual procedure when coming off (leave engine running for a while, don't put the handbrake on) then you shouldn't have any problems.

I'm alway very keen for people to take their own car on track to find out what it can do. Knockhill is up north somewhere - I know  w www.carlimits.com w  also do the odd week up there - the only reason I mention is that I know them and their course structure to highly recommend them. Still, I'm sure Knockhill will be just as good though for you.

Insurance. Specialist on-the-day insurance is waaay too expensive IMO - always best to get it included with your standard road one. Some companies are trackday friendly, others charge a nominal fee and other just won't cover it - best to phone to find out which yours is. At any rate, if you drive within your means (which you should be) then it's highly unlikely (and certainly less likely than on the road) to have any form of accident.

Finally, as for tyres and brakes - our brakes are already fantastic, though will overheat if worked hard for over five laps. As a first timer, I wouldn't anticipate you having any problems. As for tyres, that's entirely down to driving style. If you drive sensibly, not locking wheels or doing silly powerslides then you should have minimal wear on tarmac and only a mm or so on concrete.
[size=92]Martin[/size][size=75]
'06 Black MR2 Roadster
'03 Red Lotus Elise 111S
'01 Black MR2 Roadster SMT turbo[/size]

Anonymous

#2
September 22, 2003, 12:07 Last Edit: January 1, 1970, 01:00 by Anonymous
Thanks. I'm consisently impressed by the depth of knowledge around here.  s:D :D s:D

Anonymous

#3
September 22, 2003, 14:16 Last Edit: January 1, 1970, 01:00 by Anonymous
Just thought I'd follow this up for anyone else considering a track day.

1 hour at Knockhill in an MG TF 160 was going to be £160  s:shock: :shock: s:shock:  

The guy from Car Limits will do a FULL DAY in my car at Crail airfield for £130. The only bad thing is that he won't be in Scotland again until March, but I think it sounds well worth holding out for.

Good recommendation mph!!

Chris

#4
September 22, 2003, 14:24 Last Edit: January 1, 1970, 01:00 by Chris
I would go with option 1 - take your own car. In my eyes, track days are for getting to know you car and it's limits in the relatively safe track environment, which you wouldn't be able to do in someone else's.  Sure you could get to know the theory, but there's nothing like doing/feeling it in your own beast..

I've done 5 trackdays so far and still have plenty of tyre tread and brake pad left.  Most people usually pump up the tyres by a few psi when on track, to help the handling and save the wear a little.

There is only one thing to be careful off - and that the addiction!!   s:lol: :lol: s:lol:  
Before you know it, you'll be after upgraded brake fluid and pads and camcorders to film it all!!   s:lol: :lol: s:lol:    s:wink: :wink: s:wink:
[size=100]
2004 Maroon Lotus Elise 111R[/size]
[size=80]Ex 2004 Red 6sp MT TTE Turbo
Ex 2003 Astral Black 6sp SMT
Ex 2002 Lagoon Blue 5sp MT
[/size]

Anonymous

#5
September 22, 2003, 14:25 Last Edit: January 1, 1970, 01:00 by Anonymous
Nice one mph! Good advice. I was thinking of taking the car to a trackday soon, but I would have buggered the motor up cos I didn't know about leaving the handbrake off and the engine running........

Makes sense now you know, but I wouldn't have known. Great stuff......

Cheers  s:D :D s:D

Chris

#6
September 22, 2003, 14:30 Last Edit: January 1, 1970, 01:00 by Chris
on a related note, and you'll probably get told in the briefing beforehand, but it's also worth doing a cool down lap to give yourself and the car a break instead of just blatting straight into the pits from a flying lap...
[size=100]
2004 Maroon Lotus Elise 111R[/size]
[size=80]Ex 2004 Red 6sp MT TTE Turbo
Ex 2003 Astral Black 6sp SMT
Ex 2002 Lagoon Blue 5sp MT
[/size]

mph

#7
September 22, 2003, 16:26 Last Edit: January 1, 1970, 01:00 by mph
Quote from: "Chris"I've done 5 trackdays so far and still have plenty of tyre tread and brake pad left.
s:shock: :shock: s:shock:    s:shock: :shock: s:shock:    s:shock: :shock: s:shock:    s:shock: :shock: s:shock:    s:wink: :wink: s:wink:
[size=92]Martin[/size][size=75]
'06 Black MR2 Roadster
'03 Red Lotus Elise 111S
'01 Black MR2 Roadster SMT turbo[/size]

Chris

#8
September 22, 2003, 18:16 Last Edit: January 1, 1970, 01:00 by Chris
Oh yeah, that's a good point - if you drive like Martin with no respect for the brakes then you will definately need new pads!!!   s:lol: :lol: s:lol:    s:lol: :lol: s:lol:    s:wink: :wink: s:wink:  

If however, you drive like a big girl like me, then you should be ok for at least the following: Prestwold, Bedford, Bedford (evening), 'Ring, and Spa (wet).
[size=100]
2004 Maroon Lotus Elise 111R[/size]
[size=80]Ex 2004 Red 6sp MT TTE Turbo
Ex 2003 Astral Black 6sp SMT
Ex 2002 Lagoon Blue 5sp MT
[/size]

Anonymous

#9
September 30, 2003, 21:45 Last Edit: January 1, 1970, 01:00 by Anonymous
A word of advice (yes, I know I'm a girl but...)

I went to a track day recently (not going to mention the type of cars but it was organised by another forum I belong to).  Someone I know tracked his motor but forgot to check the oil first and subsequently has knackered the engine big time that it's costing in excess of £3K to correct (so far).  He also didn't take out Track Day Insurance and the tyres were unbelievably blistered at the end of the day's tracking   s:roll: :roll: s:roll:    Please don't make the same mistake.

Anonymous

#10
September 30, 2003, 23:27 Last Edit: January 1, 1970, 01:00 by Anonymous
Quote from: "Super10"A word of advice (yes, I know I'm a girl but...)

I went to a track day recently (not going to mention the type of cars but it was organised by another forum I belong to).  Someone I know tracked his motor but forgot to check the oil first and subsequently has knackered the engine big time that it's costing in excess of £3K to correct (so far).  He also didn't take out Track Day Insurance and the tyres were unbelievably blistered at the end of the day's tracking   s:roll: :roll: s:roll:    Please don't make the same mistake.

Sounds like a K-Series problem to me...

Anonymous

#11
October 1, 2003, 21:45 Last Edit: January 1, 1970, 01:00 by Anonymous
Might have been.  You know something I don't?!   s:D :D s:D
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