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Cheap Donington Track Day - Fri 31st Oct

Hmm... the price is attractive.

Could someone post an honest opinion of the suitability of either the Donnington or Oulton trackdays, mentioned on this thread, for a rank beginner (never done one before) such as myself?

I don't like the sound of gravel and tyre barriers very much I have to admit. Just from a bodywork damage point of view you understand...

Cheers

James
 
There's much more to hit at Oulton - the barriers are closer. Donington has lots of run off in most places.

It's really important to get some good instruction - that will help you get round much more quickly & safely. I don't know if there will be instructors around at Donington, although there usually are 1 or 2.

I know they are a bit more pricy, but it might be worth looking at a Goldtrack day first off - you'll get good instruction, & the other drivers are usually pretty well behaved. That's not always the case on some of the cheaper days.
 
Hi James,
My first ever trackday was Donington, so I think it's a great place to start. There is quite a bit of space so it's pretty safe. I once spun coming out of Coppice - a real beginners mistake, was watching the line of a well driven 993T, I missed my apex and ran wide onto the wet grass. No harm done, a lesson learned and all of that. If you drive within your limits and pay attention to traffic around you then you'll be fine.
 
ORIGINAL: Peter Empson

My first ever trackday was Donington, so I think it's a great place to start.
Click to expand...

Mine too [:)]

It's as good a place as any to start with lots of run off (though Bedford Autodrome is probably the best as it's almost impossible to hit anything). The main thing is to get instruction, leave any ego at home and always keep an eye on your mirrors for faster drivers even if they are in a VW Passat diesel like the one that consistently lapped me every 10 minutes on my first day :ROFLMAO:
 
ORIGINAL: Diver944
The main thing is to get instruction, leave any ego at home and always keep an eye on your mirrors for faster drivers even if they are in a VW Passat diesel like the one that consistently lapped me every 10 minutes on my first day :ROFLMAO:
Click to expand...

A local did this to me in a standard looking square shape escort estate on my first couple of visits. Oh the shame... He upped it the following year by getting an XR3i, but by then I'd worked out which way round the circuit went [:D]
 
Hmm so you mean just turning up without any instruction and charging off at full chat is not a good idea?! [:D]

Thanks for the advice guys. I too had heard that Bedford was good for newbies. I can't make the Donnington date now and it sounds like Oulton Park might not be such a good idea.

Many thanks for all the advice.

James
 
was it a silver / grey one Peter? - I remember seeing one there a few times, went quite well I seem to remember. AFAIK it was an escort estate with XR3i running gear

ORIGINAL: Peter Empson

ORIGINAL: Diver944
The main thing is to get instruction, leave any ego at home and always keep an eye on your mirrors for faster drivers even if they are in a VW Passat diesel like the one that consistently lapped me every 10 minutes on my first day :ROFLMAO:
Click to expand...

A local did this to me in a standard looking square shape escort estate on my first couple of visits. Oh the shame... He upped it the following year by getting an XR3i, but by then I'd worked out which way round the circuit went [:D]
Click to expand...
 
If I remember correctly (it was quite a few years back) it was a tatty red colour, but it's quite possible the replacment XR3i was this colour. However in my mind it is now that car, it makes the memory slightly less painful!

Nice old guy driving, used to go to every crashzone trackday so had done a lot of trackdays there.
 
Bump!

So who's going on Friday to Donny?!

I'll be there and it'll be the first time my 944 has been on track...[:D]

Can't wait!
 
I'm in deepest darkest West Wales and won't be able to make it (sneaked on to my parents dialup pc [;)] )
 
I really wanted to, but when I added the cost of the day up it was going to be £500ish and I decided that was a bit much for me at the moment (for this sort of use my car needs new front discs/pads and fluid etc). [:(]
 
You missed a good day Peter - no rain, very few reds (none in my group). I was in advanced with a load of racers, who were unusually well behaved, mainly driving low power saloons so I had a bit of an edge on the straights [:D]

Those PF97 pads are ace! - immense power once I'd stopped braking like a girl [:D] (Sabine & a few others excepted) - who needs big blacks? [;)]

We had 3 red 944's on the track - 2 turbos and a cab. Chris proved that even 944 cabs can go well on the track & I think Nick's got a new obsession....he'll be on for some new trackday bits later[;)]

I also had a quick drive in Scott's car at lunchtime - on the roads. I was impressed by the KW - it certainly makes the car feel more modern & there's less crashing than with the Ledas. 26/6 & DPW meant the boost came in nice & early as well. I wouldn't swap though [:D]
 
Yep, looked like a good day. Would have loved to have been joining in. Ed looked like he was doing the 944 crowd proud. Good to meet Nick and his dad. Shame I didn't get a chance to meet Chris. I've not been on a trackday all year so am looking forward to get out there again.

 
I've been thinking about you guys off and on all day as I drove back from Pembrokeshire. Gorgeous crisp, sunny weather with dry roads - you must have had a blast. I imagine it will be few more hours before Nick gets home to log on and report but it sounds like he had a good day too [:)]
 
Thanks for rubbing it in Ed [:(] It was lucky I didn't book it as I couldn't have gone in the end thanks to being short staffed at the shop.
Glad to hear you had such a good day, any pics or vids?
 
Think of all that money you saved [:D]

..and it's extra incentive to get your car finished!

I hope one of the others will have a link to the official crashzone photos - i didn't see who was doing them. Nick's dad was taking pics I think.

I think I've confirmed my oil cooler is next to useless - barely any difference in before & after temps, & oil temps up to 130 deg. (Isn't it great when you get some new dials - even more to worry about [:D] ) I think it's time for a new Setrab cooler once I've worked out how it's going to fit....
 
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