Menu toggle

Track days

Alpine

Alpine

New member
I'm thinking about doing a track day in my 944. There is one coming up in June at Croft in North Yorkshire through PCGB.

I've never been on a track day before and therefore know very little about them.

Is there any special equipment i need such as a race helmet?

Am I best getting insurance and roughly how much will it be?

Does anyone know Croft and what it is like as a curcuit?

obviously I don't want to prang my car; I assume there is only a small risk of that provied I am sensible about it?

cheers
 
never tracked my car but I should think your biggest problem will be braking. You'll be using them almost continuously and hard. I would imagine they are likely to get hot quickly and stop working if they are road pads and fluid .

It looks great fun on the TV but I would throw my toys out of the pram if I pranged my baby.[&o]
 
Some insurance companies (classic line being one) provide track cover in their policies, though generaly it is limited to the specific marque, i.e Porsche.
I've never done a track day myself (apart from a trip to the ring)because I'm far too concerned about the wear and tear on the car. I know too little about the 944 to be able to carry out work myself, hence it would be costly to pay a specialist to carry out work such as replacement head gaskets etc. Then you have tyre wear, brake pad/disc wear and the like.
Don't let me put you off but I bet a typical day would cost you close on £400 with fuel etc.
I've done loads of passenger rides in my mates Lotus and have almost as much fun doing that - and it costs me nowt! [:D] Actualy it usualy costs you a tenner. May be best to have a few pax rides first to see what its all about. And yes you need a helmet. Gloves and long sleeves for a soft top.
I'll have a go one day!
 
Go for it - these cars are great on the track [:D]

Insurance - most people don't, but it's worth doing IMO. A single day can easily cost you £100 in insurance. (I get unlimited trackdays with my HIC policy for just £100 extra pa)

I've been there once, from what I remember, Croft is flat, but still fun - a couple of heavy braking points after long straights & a great high speed bend through the Jim Clark esses.

On a wet day you'll have no problem with wear on pads or tyres - if it's dry you will see some wear,but it's well worth it [:D]

I'd really recommend getting some tuition on the day - it will get you round faster & safer, and will reduce the wear on your tyres & brakes. On your first track day you're highly likely to be going into corners too fast & scrubbing the outer edge of your tyre as you understeer through the corner. Porsche OE pads are actually pretty good compared with most - as long as you don't stay out too long you may find they last OK. If you find you get the taste for it we can start spending your money for you on improved brakes, suspension, wheels & tyres...[;)]

It does cost - I can get through £100 of fuel in the turbo on a dry trackday [:(] - the S2 isn't going to eat fuel at quite the same rate.
 
I'm looking to get my 944 on track in the next couple of months too. I've done a couple of trackdays before but not in my 944, so time to change that I think[:D]
 
Do folk use a secondary set of tyres for track days or just blast round on their day to day wheels ? I have visions of tyres getting worn out pdq on track day and can't contemplate coughing up for a new set after each one say..
 
Tyres with decent treads will last but they can get scrubbed, Road legal trackday tyres like the toyos R888 are a good way to go if your mainly going to be using the car on a track but also want to drive there without the hassle of having to carry a set of 4 wheels with slicks on !
 
Most of the regulars have a second set of wheels, 4 x wheeels and tyres fit in the boot (be carefull of the wiper motor when shutting the hatch), even if you start with worn road rubber it will be better than a set of new rubber with big tread blocks, which will overheat on a dry day. Sticky rubber will make you much quicker though. I have some sticky tyres for the dry (bought cheap off a 911 owner they are only just road legal and they cant fit 4 in the boot) and use my road tyres in the wet.
Tony
 
You will need a helmet (though PCGB have some you can hire)

Some insurance companies that advertise in PP will include PCGB track days free of charge, others may charge you a small fee per day and increase your excess by a lot. One off insurance is available from companies like 'Competition Car Insurance' but will cost roughly £100 per day depending on the value of your car and the excess you want to pay.

Porsche brakes in good condition on a standard car with fresh fluid will easily cope with a track day on normal road tyres especially if you stick to a maximum of 15 minute sessions.

Some people have spare wheels with track tyres once they get hooked and this does save money in the long run because the tyres are designed to take that abuse. Road tyres will get very hot very quickly and you can literally melt 1000's of miles of road use in a day. Brand new tyres are even worse as the tread blocks move around even more, geerating more heat. Older tyres will actually be much better on a trackday.

Try it, take instruction and enjoy it. It's easy to get hooked [:)]

 
Croft IS a fast circuit. So can be hard on brakes....
Make sure the fluid is up to scratch...
ATE Blue or BETTER.. I swear by Castrol SRF, But it aint cheap....Then again our cars / lives dont come cheap....No point scrimping on brakes.....

Other than that just take it easy + DONT let the red mist decend... Otherwise youl find yourself "exiting stage left"....
Most of all enjoy yourself....[:D][:D][:D][:D]
 
Do it.

BUT decide what you are there for. The fun of it, to improve your driving, or to hound out the quickest possible lap in your car?

Go with a friend who has done some track days before - the aim of the day SHOULD be to improve your fast driving and to enjoy yourself. Aforementioned friend will help massively with both ... bear in mind that your car was designed to be driven hard, and should cope with the rigours of a moderate track day without problem. Aim for smoothness in all things (I was told to imagine the Queen Mum in the back seat sipping pink gin, and to get her 'round the circuit as quick as pos without spilling the gin ... ) and you will have more fun, go quicker AND inflict less wear and tear on your car.

If it's your first track day then check the car beforehand (much as you would for a service), make sure that the brake fluid has been changed within the last year (but standard stuff is OK) and that the pads and disks aren't on their last legs, check tyre pressures carefully, take anything unnecessary out of the car (empty the glove box, leave the compressor/spare wheel/toolkit in another car when you get to the track) and go and see if you enjoy it.

If you DO enjoy it (very likely), start thinking about better brake fluid/pads/disks/dedicated track day tyres etc etc etc as you get more and more hooked.

Cost? Price of the day (~£150 ish?), plus a tank of juice, plus hire of a helmet, plus lunch, plus the usual cost of doing a couple of thousand road miles in the car.


Oli.
 
I've got a set of trackday tyres that my car came on, just waiting for a corresponding set of 18" rims to put them on, at the right price[8|]

I think my first one will be Oulton Park in April/May
 
Hi Phil,

I have just returned from the PCGB track day at Castle Combe. Awesome day!
  • Choose your days carefully; PCGB days are well organised and relatively safe.
  • Your car needs to be in good shape (brakes, tyres and suspension in particular)
  • Risk is minimal if you drive within the cars limits and your own
  • Croft is fast and technical - not the easiest circuit to start with (Bedford Autodrome is lowest risk)
  • You will use a lot of fuel and if your car uses oil at 1litre/500 miles - expect to use oil as well
  • You will need a crash helmet, driving licence (obvious, but most now ask to see it) and insurance is not mandatory (very few will now cover track days - but some cover PCGB days, such as ClassicLine)
  • Track days are addictive - but great fun
The 944 is a very capable trackday car. A well driven 944 Turbo has little trouble outpacing all the modern stuff including the 997 GT3 RS - providing you are running on track orientated rubber and the car is making good power. [;)]

Regards,
Andrew
 
ORIGINAL: AndrewS
[FONT=arial"]A well driven 944 Turbo [FONT=verdana,geneva"]
Click to expand...
[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

Ahhhhh .... the mysterious black art of "Driving Well".

The driver is far and away the most critical part of any track day - a good driver in a poor car will outpace a bad driver in an excellent machine ... anyone remember Sabine Schmidt very nearly getting a diesel transit 'round the 'ring as quickly as Clarkson in a new Jag?


Oli.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Posts made and opinions expressed are those of the individual forum members

Use of the Forum is subject to the Terms and Conditions

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed on this site are not necessarily those of the Club, who shall have no liability in respect of them or the accuracy of the content. The Club assumes no responsibility for any effects arising from errors or omissions.

Porsche Club Great Britain gives no warranties, guarantees or assurances and makes no representations or recommendations regarding any goods or services advertised on this site. It is the responsibility of visitors to satisfy themselves that goods and/or services supplied by any advertiser are bona fide and in no instance can the Porsche Club Great Britain be held responsible.

When responding to advertisements please ensure that you satisfy yourself of any applicable call charges on numbers not prefixed by usual "landline" STD Codes. Information can be obtained from the operator or the white pages. Before giving out ANY information regarding cars, or any other items for sale, please satisfy yourself that any potential purchaser is bona fide.

Directors of the Board of Porsche Club GB, Club Office Staff, Register Secretaries and Regional Organisers are often requested by Club members to provide information on matters connected with their cars and other matters referred to in the Club Rules. Such information, advice and assistance provided by such persons is given in good faith and is based on the personal experience and knowledge of the individual concerned.

Neither Porsche Club GB, nor any of the aforementioned, shall be under any liability in respect of any such information, advice or assistance given to members. Members are advised to consult qualified specialists for information, advice and assistance on matters connected with their cars at all times.

Porsche
Lockton
Pirelli
Officially approved
Oracle Finance
WEX Esso
Collecting Cars
Archant Dialogue
Back
Top