Track Days

graham harvey · Apr 2, 2009

Hi, I thought i'd ask you guys as I presume you'd have the most experience in this department. I want to do a few track days this year and have looked through the calendars of some of the companies. I did a GoldTrack day 3 years ago at Snetterton - loved it and thought it was very well managed. However what is your view of some of the other companies and is there any that you would recommend. Are the like of EasyTrack and trackdays.co.uk any good?

Laurence Gibbs · Apr 2, 2009

just imho but nearly all the track day organisers end up using the staff at the track to actually run the day save for collecting monies and filling in forms that is. Some may exhalt some influence at the pit exit and entry but that's about it. What is left is the "type" of people and cars on the day that a particular orgasniser attracts . PCGB only Porsches etc. Cheaper days attract cheaper cars but that does not always mean poorer driving. Perhaps i have been lucky but my only bad experience was with a day organised by Evo magazine. I have had genarally good experience with all the others i have been on, goldtrack, easytrack, autotrack,MSV and pcgb and willie green's day at donnington etc etc.

graham harvey · Apr 2, 2009

thanks Laurence, it just seemed strange that prices between some of the companies can be so varied for the same track.

Steve Brookes · Apr 3, 2009

ORIGINAL: graham harvey

thanks Laurence, it just seemed strange that prices between some of the companies can be so varied for the same track.

It often depends on their policy of how a day should be run which usually means how many they allow on the day. e.g. a new(ish) company called focussed events recently ran a day at Oulton Park for 80 cars at £149. Reportedly, there was lots of queuing to get on track and lots of red flags which meant lots of wasted time. Those charging £200+ for a day usually restrict the entry to 60 cars and it ends up being a more relaxed day with hardly any queuing and less red flags.

tscaptain · Apr 3, 2009

ORIGINAL: Steve Brookes
Those charging £200+ for a day usually restrict the entry to 60 cars and it ends up being a more relaxed day with hardly any queuing and less red flags.

Which brings us back to this fairly recent, lengthy thread.
http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=430834

It seems to be a fairly clear choice of you get what you pay for. The quality of marshalling etc. remains the same (although it must be more troublesome the greater the number of cars), the standards of driving is an unknown variable, so PCGB £240 at Combe = 35 cars (all Porsches, nearly!) versus their own run day £170 = 60 cars (anyone can turn up). If the club days are overpriced then demand will fall off and they will be no more?
I am a relative novice at this so I prefer days where the cars have similar performance and you are not constantly overtaking or being overtaken and I can concentrate mostly on staying on the black stuff[

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h_____ · Apr 3, 2009

I try to only use bookatrack and goldtrack now, after finding variable service from the rest. Bookatrack have a no queuing guarentee. But both have the best managed days in that if someone steps out of line, they get dealt with. I've missed off 2 other goods thought PCGB, as a beginner, I did these, well worth the money for the confidence that you are with like minded people. And RMA, very expensive, but exclusive, great track time, great cars, just too "other world" for me.

oldtimer · Apr 3, 2009

I'd reinforce what has already been pointed out that there is an inverse relationship ( steady on vicar!) between the numbers attending and the quality of the track day . However by that reckoning its not a good idea to be booked into the 'sport' section of the PCF days at Spa - no longer bookable because of numbers already booked [&:]

Bookatrack are a longstanding operator who do enforce the policing of poor driving , that's down to Jonny Leroux's leadership I guess.

PCGB days are more expensive than others and last year's attendances were a bit disappointing , however I would encourage you to support their programme where possible , accepting that trackdays are an expensive item anyway when all the costs are rolled in.

I'd put in a good word for MSE who do a number of affordable and well run airfield days west of London plus the occasional trackday eg Castle Combe , at reasonable prices.

And not to forget our good friends at Easytrack who provide the Oulton Park RS day which is a not to be missed meeting of the clans [

] ....not yer average trackday and usually a big enough 'off' included to remind you that Oulton takes no prisoners even if you a driving a Porsche [

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Stewart H · Apr 8, 2009

Opentrack have an open pitlane day at Snetterton on Friday May 8th. They have just posted the price at £169. Having done one of their days, I can say they are fantastic value for money.

Included in the price are coffee and snacks and free tuition-on a first come-first served basis. The instructors for the day are top class and include Malcolm Edison and Mike Wildes (yes the ex F1 driver) Snap it up now and when booking say "Seagull" from Open Pit Lane (another forum I post on) suggested it.

Stewart H · Apr 8, 2009

Forgot to mention - the professional photography is also free.

oldtimer · Apr 8, 2009

Do they also pay for the petrol used to get to Snetterton ?[

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timarnold · Apr 8, 2009

ORIGINAL: graham harvey

Hi, I thought i'd ask you guys as I presume you'd have the most experience in this department. I want to do a few track days this year and have looked through the calendars of some of the companies. I did a GoldTrack day 3 years ago at Snetterton - loved it and thought it was very well managed. However what is your view of some of the other companies and is there any that you would recommend. Are the like of EasyTrack and trackdays.co.uk any good?

Trackdays.co.uk isn't a track day organiser it's just a sales agency site, all the days advertised (and bookable) via that site are from various other operators.

A good indication of whether a track day company is a responsible. professional organisaton is whether they are members of The ATDO (The Association of Track Day Organisers) - Car Members List - I believe that financial status is one of the criteria taken into account for membership. There are some not on that list who are OK of course.

Easytrack are good but aren't members of the ATDO (I don't know why!).