Track days, good or evil help me.

[fewie_172]

Just about to book my first track day, the official R.S. one @ oulton park. Mentioned it to my three friends who own 172s (one real one, two 172 popularlar plus aka cups) and they were up for it as well. Now when it comes to booking there all pulling out, saying things like "our lass isnt to impressed about me taking our car on track" or "i dont want to trash my motor" or even "you can get a track day in a scooby for less"

Ive tried to convince them to stop being pussies, 172s where designed to be driven hard and as for the scooby track day, what i dont think they realise is youll be lucky to get any more the 20 mins in the car.

Post your opinions on track days and show em what they be missing the maybe ill be able to convince them after all!!

 

[telford_mike]

Ive done 4 trackdays in the last 3 months - theyre brilliant, but very addictive. Doing a day in somebody elses car completely defeats the object personally speaking. Track performance is the whole point of modding the car for me - driving a rented car might be a bit of a laugh but thats all it is.

See you at Oulton Park!

http://www.mike.easley.dsl.pipex.com/brands1.jpg

 

[fewie_172]

Im coming anyway mike, if only for a passenger lap in the V6 ive been stairing at in evo for the last 2 months

Was just looking forward to having a great day out with my mates as well, now there all wimping out!!

 

[steamywindows]

i really want to go on one but dont have a clue how much it costs.will you need new brake pads ?will your disks warp?new tyres?new engine?what do you have to wear?how long do you get?

 

[fewie_172]

all good questions mate, think thats whats putting some of my mates off, im @ 12k miles now in mine so im ready for tyres and nearly ready for pads anyway, might as well have fun killing the off

 

[steamywindows]

good questions but nobody likes answering them

 

[johnnyb]

I do airfield days as I like lots of run off space

I dont use the Clio though but use my mk1 Escort, lots of sideways fun.

http://www.evoposters.net/carpics/Johnny-g-bs-FRP-and-Escort/IMG_6079.sized.jpg

 

[Karen]

Quote: Originally posted by steamywindows on 14 May 2005


i really want to go on one but dont have a clue how much it costs.will you need new brake pads ?will your disks warp?new tyres?new engine?what do you have to wear?how long do you get?

Sure someone more experienced will be along soon, but they can vary from £99 to £200 ish. Airfield days are cheaper, more run off on the whole but more abrasive on tyres.

You might want to take out track insurance - on my 182 it varies from £85 with my own ins co to £130 with Competition Car Ins. Excess is much higher than road driving though.

Dont know what area you are in but there is a novice afternoon day at Brands at the end of the month where they will also give advice on starting doing trackdays, few of us are doing that.

Ill let someone else answer the tyres, brakes etc bit!

You can wear what you want, but must cover arms and legs, so jeans, combats and long sleeved t-shirt for eg.

Some are open pit lane so you can go out on track as you please but for novices it may be better to go to one where it is in sessions by ability. Usually 9-5 ish with an hour off for lunch. Some are half days only.

 

[steamywindows]

i thought you had to hire out a fireproof suit and stuff.anyone know about tyres and brakes?

 

[Nik]

Dont use tyres that are nearly new with lots of tread on them. Better to use ones with a few mm of tread. Youll get better grip and they wont wear as quickly. Wear depends on how hard you drive and the pressures you run. You can raise the pressures over what you normally run on the road which will help protect the sidewalls a bit but i tend to prefer them a bit softer.

Standard 172/182 brakes will be fine on the track, but you will probably find they start to fade if you use them hard for more than 10-15 mins at a time. My OEM Renualt pads lasted ok with a couple of track days, but some cheaper pads will not stand the temperatures and will wear very quickly.

 

[aaronc]

Lots of fun:

http://members.lycos.co.uk/aaronchap/brands2005/clio_front2.JPG


http://members.lycos.co.uk/aaronchap/brands2005/clio_rear2.JPG

 

[y0z2a]

You will get addicted...



oh dear ;-)

/y0z

 

[telford_mike]

Quote: Originally posted by steamywindows on 14 May 2005


i really want to go on one but dont have a clue how much it costs.will you need new brake pads ?will your disks warp?new tyres?new engine?what do you have to wear?how long do you get?

OK. The Renaultsport trackday costs £150 for the day. This is an incredible bargain - Renault are footing part of the bill for you.

Myths:

1. Ill wear out my tyres. No you wont, assuming you drive with a modicum of control. If you spend all day drifting sideways (and therefore getting passed by everyone else) youll wear them out, but otherwise theyll be ok.

2. Ill wear my brakes out. No you wont. The brakes on a 172/182 are fantastic. I did at least 10 trackdays on a set of pads in my 172.

3. I need specialised clothing. No you dont. You need a crash helmet (£50 from Demon Tweeks, or rent one at the circuit for about a tenner). Jeans, trainers and a long-sleeved top are all you need to wear.

Tracktime. On Renaultsport events you can go out whenever you like. At Brands Hatch last week we had completely unlimited tracktime all day apart from an hour for lunch. Bear in mind that Oulton Park is twice as long as Brands, and you can see that youll get as much tracktime as you could ever want. There are only 50 cars - it sounds a lot but it isnt - only about 1 in 3 will be on the track at any one time.

 

[telford_mike]

Quote: Originally posted by fewie_172 on 14 May 2005


Im coming anyway mike, if only for a passenger lap in the V6 ive been stairing at in evo for the last 2 months

just ask on the day mate - no problem at all.

 

[fewie_172]

Cheers mike

Hopefully you gone a long way to convincing a few of my mates with regards tyres and brakes etc.

 

[fewie_172]

Any more comments, tales of track day woe?

 

[fmp_]

i have been doing track days in my saxo VTS for the last few years. i am addicted!!!

they are the best and safest place to get the most of your car. Track days have allowed me to learn to control the car under heavy braking, when the back end gets light, its taught me how to control lift off over steer, and so much more!

also when you get a bit more experience, there is nothing quite like out pacing Elises, Scoobies, Beemer etc, especially when they come over and talk to you after the session!!!

as for issue like insurance, i dont ever hav any, asa it double the price of the day, and touch wood, am yet to have any accidents or incidents that would require it.

also, most track day organisers are very reasonable, and if need be, will help tow you out onto the road, so then you can claim you had a ding out there, and claim off regular insurance!!

get involved! you wont regret it!!

http://maxeduk.com/hosted/gw090405/20.jpg

http://maxeduk.com/hosted/gw090405/21.jpg

http://maxeduk.com/hosted/gw090405/22.jpg

http://maxeduk.com/hosted/gw090405/23.jpg

yeee haaa!!!

 

[Nik]

Ahh, you were at the Redline trackday that I went to at Bedford last year .

Nice car, seemed pretty rapid .

http://crowspeed.net/photos/redline/album/slides/DSC00008.JPG

 

[Matt@Stealthsport]

Quote: Originally posted by y0z2a on 14 May 2005

You will get addicted...



oh dear ;-)

/y0z



Just like the Nurburgring...

 

[fmp_]

cool!!

yeah she goes ok for a 1.6!!! the Reyland boys where impressed with it on that day too!

will be at FCS and trax this year too!!

 

[edde]

What are they worried about I tracked my little dci and that definatly wasnt designed for track work the 172 will be much better.
The only time it possibly gets expensive is if you either nail it like mad and spend all day on the track and kill the front tyres or if you hit a wall etc and havnt paid insurance (about £80).

I dont see then point in taking some other car on the track. Taking your own car is half the fun. You can spend as long as you like out. Most psopel do 10 laps then come in for a bit to let the tyres and brakes cool down. I just stay out till somehting breaks the flags come out.

 

[Mondial172]

What do you guys do for insurance out of interest? Tell youre current company and pay the extra? or take out special insurance for the day?

 

[edde]

Quote: Originally posted by Adamf on 14 May 2005
What do you guys do for insurance out of interest? Tell youre current company and pay the extra? or take out special insurance for the day?

I used to pay its about 1% the value of the car plus a £500 excess. To be honest you dont need to bother at many track at proper track days if its your only car Id get insurance otherwise you can usually drive the car home or get the organiser etc to drag your car outside and ring the RAC etc.
Ive never seen a crash when the cars been unable to drive home and in most cases its because they pushed it beyone what they had the skills to do or pushed it to hard. On your first track day so long as you go with an instructor and go slow (no one minds so long as you let them past) youll be fine.
Im not bothering insuring my car just getting good RAC cover and a strong tow rope.

 

[TheCake]

Good things about track days: The Grin.

Bad things about track days: Your bank manager becomes your sworn enemy.