Track day questions

[satancom]

I have never been on a track day but a few friends and I would like to have a go I was looking at airfield tracks as they have a bigger run off in case we get it wrong. I have done a lot of driving in my life but obviously not to near the limit.

Anyhow a few questions that I can't find easy answers to are

1. DO I need a race license? If so how do I get one?
2. DO I need a helmet?
3. Are race harnesses needed?
4. Who do you recommend for day cover for insurance?

Its probably something we would look at doing two or three times a year so don't really wnat to have a great outlay. These are all our daily drivers so roll cages and stuff are not going on. I have other cars so not to worried about blowing a gasket or something

 

[xenon]

1. No
2. Yes
3. No
4. Google "track day insurance" to get some options; your current insurer is worth asking - some allow limited track visits of (say) two a year.

 

[edh]

I'd add

At most (all?) trackdays you can get instruction - you really ought to do this, as it will get you round faster, safer, and with far less wear on your tyres...

I started at Cadwell - I wouldn't advise that... Donington isn't a bad place to start though - not much to hit there []

 

[satancom]

Ok cool.. Helmets then.. Anything specific or would a Bike helmet that fits my head be ok? Or should it be open faced?

I'll look into the insurance. Cheers

 

[xenon]

Donington is forgiving, as are most of the airfield ones like Bruntingthorpe.

Cadwell is an entirely different kettle of fish - never driven it myself but been many times. Scary....

 

[satancom]

At most (all?) trackdays you can get instruction - you really ought to do this, as it will get you round faster, safer, and with far less wear on your tyres...

Sounds like a good idea

 

[xenon]

ORIGINAL: satancom

At most (all?) trackdays you can get instruction - you really ought to do this, as it will get you round faster, safer, and with far less wear on your tyres...

Sounds like a good idea

It is, but there's something to be said for barrelling into the first corner and finding out, quickly, that you're nowhere near as good as you thought you were...

 

[satancom]

It is, but there's something to be said for barrelling into the first corner and finding out, quickly, that you're nowhere near as good as you thought you were...

I learned this lesson many moons ago, on a country lane, with no crash barriers just trees. You soon realise you are not a driving god when the engine of your vauxhal astra is sharing the drivers seat with you

 

[Pastry]

at most places you can borrow a (smelly) helmet rather than buying one, usually mentions this in the booking

 

[satancom]

ORIGINAL: Pastry

at most places you can borrow a (smelly) helmet rather than buying one, usually mentions this in the booking

As long as it doesn't have to be moulded to the shape of your head I can probably borrow one off my dad/sister etc

 

[edh]

Bike helmet is fine (to BS 6658 Type A, not B) - lots of posts about these here & elsewhere. Make sure it fits properly if you're borrowing one.

Also

Make sure you have decent oil (and some to top up - you will use some), recent brake fluid, plenty of life in the pads (and tyres if you want to drive home on them) - then the 8V 2.5 will hammer round a track all day - far less to go wrong than with its turbo brother.

Drop tyre pressures so that they come up to 32-34 hot

Get some passenger rides with some of the faster drivers (not necessarily faster cars [] ) - many people are happy to offer pax laps.

 

[Pastry]

id also suggest considering the 'racing experience' deals some tracks offer; though not cheap and rather short it makes a world of difference to the confidence when the car has a 4 point harness, full cage and isnt yours you usually get some instruction thrown in too.

 

[944 man]

Id be happy enough using a good condition Type B Ed: a thermoplastic AGV for eg. Next year that may not be possible though. In fact, next year we may all be forced to wear a BS6658 TypeA/Fr or Snell 2005/2010 lid (which is ridiculous)!

To the OP, youll need to wear long sleeves: and as this is a comon sense rule (unlike the Nomex lined helmet rule), Id suggest something relatively thick and sturdy.

Simon

 

[edh]

It would be madness to impose MSA/FIA regs on trackdays when none of the other safety rules apply - or do we need cages & kill switches next?

I have never had my helmet checked on a track day - I'd be suprised if they start next year. It would take them hours! At the moment the rules seem to be "wear a helmet - any helmet"

 

[944 man]

I fully agree. Have you seen my helmet discussions/rants on PH? [] I dont feel that Nomex linings in racing helmets serve any purpose with the current regs as they are. When they force people to wear FIA suits and underwear/balaclavas and boots & gloves then they can worry about helmet linings. I have heard that the MSA are finally removing approval for Proban overalls in every discipline other than speed at the year end, although that wasnt mentioned in this years Blue Book (unless Ive missed it). About time if they are: as a Proban race suit is little more than a brightly coloured welders boilersuit (made to EN533 off the top of my head).

 

[Neil Haughey]

ORIGINAL: 944 man
To the OP, youll need to wear long sleeves: and as this is a comon sense rule (unlike the Nomex lined helmet rule), Id suggest something relatively thick and sturdy.

Simon

IMHO something like a Cotton Traders roll neck jersey is ideal. This is what I have used. If worried about fire avoid normal clothing made of synthetic materials.

Also don't forget to remove any loose odds and ends in the car and if required put them in the glove box.

 

[Flick]

Make a note of where the nearest petrol station is and remember to save enough fuel to get there plus a bit more incase you get lost. The Esso garage 'near' bruntingthorpe never used to sell super unleaded so the nearest super-juice available was in a rats nest of Leicester or at the services on the M1. Similarly Abingdon isn't next door to a petrol station either.

 

[sawood12]

The only thing i'll add is to check you're oil level regularly and top it upto max throughout the day. Your oil consumption will be higher on a trackday and if you let your oil level drop too much then there has been a history of 944's having oil scavange problems that could lead to problems. You'll be fine if you keep you're oil level topped up.

Regarding insurance, specific trackday insurance is rediculously expensive (it was when I researched it) and the few trackday's i've done to date i've not been insured. I now insure my car with AON modern classics which provides cover for upto 5 'approved' trackday's a year. By approved they need to be proplerly marshalled and orgainised by a company they recognise. This can be a bit restrictive but is good fully comprehensive cover if you use it - clearly it doesn't cover your engine blowing up on the back straight, but if you stack it into a tyre wall, or another car, then you're covered.