Trackdays

[oli goon]

question for you dedicated track day types:-

is there a rule on how much of the interior you can strip away? I assume no one is going to complain about carpets and roof linings but stuff like rear seats, door trims, passenger side dash? presumably if you leave no sharp edges and the car has an MOT you are ok. And where do you stand removing the rear seat belts if there are no rear seats?

What about air dams (in terms of potential sharp pointy edges)?

Having checked with a number of courses they all seem to accept the use of motorcycle helmets. So i went to my local motorcycle stores and talked to the man. they has a reasonable selection of closed faced helmets all of which were ACU approved as well as being either Type A/B or 22-05 approved. The man seemed to think that the type A/B was better for cars although it was an older stanadrd. Apparently something to do with grasstracking????

Plus there doesn't seem to be a great selection of track days. I would much prefer to go to Thruxton or Castle combe as these are just over an hour from me, yet looking at the diaries of these circuits there isn't much on. I have been looking at all the major players on the web, but am i missing something???

Help i'm a confused track day virgin!!!!:confused:

[MrSprint]

I'm not a track day fan (but have done a few), as no one else is going to answer this I will try to help.

This is not a competition, so there is no scrutineering. By all means strip out your car, seats and everything. Not sure what your talking about with air dams, as long as nothing falls off, no one will ask any questions.

I would suggest getting a good quality helmet and spending a couple of hundred quid. I am guessing, but I think bike helmets have no flame retarding stuff, as your not going to get trapped in a burning bike.

Never had a helmet checked at a trackday, they just make sure your wearing one.

Try hooking onto events like Group B days, they have interesting machinery and do Castle Combe and other tracks. Bookatrack.com has a good selection too, but there are a lot of "Pretend Racers" attending, who don't have the balls for competition.

If you want a good beginners trackday, try Curborough. One car at a time on a sprint track. Few spectators, very relaxed. Only down side is very little run-off. But as it is a sprint track the speed is more restricted.

Hope this helps, everyones a track virgin at some time, just listen at the briefing, don't get concerned over people going faster than you and have fun.

[AndyS]

I'd just like to clarify a couple of MrSprint's points
Originally posted by MrSprint
This is not a competition, so there is no scrutineering.This is true, although some circuits/days DO impose noise limits.

I am guessing, but I think bike helmets have no flame retarding stuff, as your not going to get trapped in a burning bike.As a general rule this is true. However, it just so happens that I have a bike helmet which does have a flame-retardent lining :D
Most important thing to bear in mind when buying a crash helmet : It's intended to protect your head in case of an accident. Buy the best helmet you possibly can - as the old Bell advert said "If you've got a $10, but a $10 helmet". Hopefully, you won't need to find out how good the helmet is, but at the end of the day it's your head that's got to wear it.
I'd suggest that if you're buying a helmet purely for track days, and you're driving a tintop car then go for an open face - you get a slightly better field of vision, and they're generally more comfortable (IMHO) than full-face. If you intend to spend a lot of time in opentop cars or on bikes, then a full face starts to make more sense.

everyones a track virgin at some time, just listen at the briefing, don't get concerned over people going faster than you and have fun.
That's "fun" with a captial F. Remember it's a fun day out, it's not a testosterone contest. Many trackday organisers (such as our own Darin at Trackstar (www.trackstar.uk.com) ) arrange for instructors to be available - make use of them, since that's what they're being paid for!.
Blag passenger rides with anyone who'll take you out (and you'll find that most people at trackdays will be more than happy to take you out) - if they're a good driver, you'll learn something. If they're a bad driver, you'll learn something else :D

BTW, I think Snetterton makes a nice "first time" trackday, since most of it has big run-off areas, there are a couple of good straights, and it has "The Bombhole" - which is a truly fantastic bend :D

[ShinyAndy]

Originally posted by MrSprint
Bookatrack.com has a good selection too, but there are a lot of "Pretend Racers" attending, who don't have the balls for competition.

Not sure what you mean by this.. people that attend our events are doing so because they want to do a "trackday". A high percentage of attendees are first-timers and have no interest in being competitive.

Personally I think that to be properly competitive you need to have lots of money and not care about stuffing your car. For example, imagine you are racing someone into a corner.. If you have to pay for any repairs out of your own small pocket and the guy next to you has an endless supply of cash/support who do you think will give in ?

Andy
BookaTrack.com (www.bookatrack.com)