Menu toggle

tracks near us

K

kennyboy

New member
Having never been to a race track in the UK before - can anyone recommend one near me in Leeds? after a quick look on the internet it looks like Croft and Donnington?

I'd like to take my 996 out to stretch it's legs (I'm a complete novice) along with some non-porsche friends...

Thanks
 
Donington, my second favourite UK track, and well worth the two hour drive from sunny Surrey.

Really seems to suit all 911's, no silly second gear corners........some nice changes in elevation, unlike Croft. Which is another airfield circuit, bit flat, but some lovely fast challenging bits.

Stretch those legs!!

Mel
 
From Leeds the choice is either Donnington or Oulton Park--Donnington is much easier to learn of the two circuits and feels alot safer as there are long run outs and the armco is some distance from the track--the problem is always insurance on the circuits and you may find yourself paying as much for insurance--or more--as the day on the circuit.

Steve H
 
I love Donnington, its an excellent track with plenty of run-off should you get things a little wrong! Beware though, the trade off is that you loose the feeling of speed, not in itself a problem, until you come to the corner! Take it easy, warm the tyres, and build the speed up and you'll be fine.
Melv, what's the secret of the entrance to the Old Hairpin? I always end up too far over to the right comming out of the Craner curves which really messes up the Old Hairpin!!! I got it right a couples of times on my last track day there and it felt fantastic, however, I couldn't pin it together two laps in a row! It sounds daft, but thinking about it afterwards I could never work out what I'd done differently! I guess I'll just have to go back and practice[:)]
 
It's no secret Phil, I think it depends how much speed you've taken thru Craner.

The 'bible' Circuit Guide, shows two options, B.) to hug the kerb on the left to 'allow more room on entry , but is hard to execute'. A.), my favoured, by letting the car drift to the middle of the track from exit of Craner 'allows (a) straight brake'.

Perhaps your entry speed is too high? I quote again from the book: 'Entry -Still slightly downhill, the turn crosses the slope and in effect creates adverse camber, which can carry the driver who enters too quickly wide of the mark.....it is easy to be erratic and over drive'

Rgds
Mel
 
Melv, I think it might be a combination of entry speed and the wrong line through the craner curves. I think I might have taken the apex into the start of the craners too early which is puuting me wide for the exit corner and hence way too wide for the hairpin. I was trying to get on the brakes whilst trying to pull the car over to the left for turn in...it was all getting a little messy. Unfortunately it was a cheap track day so there was nobody around for advise, just get on track, drive and learn for yourself...or not as the case maybe! I certainly found the camber it mentions before the tyres really warmed up, nearly had a backwards moment into the gravel trap!!

I think that this is clearly an advert for a club track-day with fellow enthuasiasts and advise from people that know!
 
"...I was trying to get on the brakes whilst trying to pull the car over to the left for turn in......."

Aha -there's the problem! Don't try and pull the car to the left, straight line it from a midpoint between the end of Craner and the turn in to Old Hairpin, and heavy brake before the turn in....there ya go!!

Mel
 
I know all 3 well.......

Donington......fast smooth circuit, good run off, nice & wide
Croft.........much more challenging, more variety with tight hairpin, camber changes & very fast Esses / Barcroft section
Oulton....... Quite technical & time comes from nowhere. Full circuit a good challenge, not the same since Knickerbrook was reprofiled, hard on brakes.

Book all three if you can't decide



 
"........Book all three if you can't decide..............."

Absolutley!!

Keep us posted on Croft, haven't driven there for four or five years.......so need an excuse.

Barcroft...Esses.........oooooooh yes!!!!!![:D]

Mel
 
Kenny,

Did croft for my first track day with specialist cars this year. Loved every minute of it. Planned to do Donnington this year with PCGB but felt it was a little late in the year to go bombing around what was more than likely going to be rain!

To echo what every body else is saying Donnington, croft and Oulton are the nearest.

when are you planning to do one?
 
I'm surprised there's no mention of Cadwell park. This is a great track and not that far from Leeds (2 hours maybe) and definately not an airfield (plenty of ups and downs)
 
Its a bit of a narrow circuit in my opinion. My friends race bikes there and they have seen caterhams there. They find it tight so i recon porsches would find it really entertaining!!
There is a new chicane before mountain and that generally catches people who havent been for a while with there pants down [:mad:]

Regards,

Neil Eldred
 
Cadwell in the wet has been my only track day experience in a 911 to date and I have to say the run off areas are not very big (not that you are supposed to use them) - it can be a little unsettling if you are trying to find the limits in your pride and joy... but great fun nonetheless.
 
If you have never driven on a track before and want to test the limits of your car in a relatively safe environment try Elvington near York. This old airfield is used by a number of track day companies - check out www.bookatrack.com

Last winter I took my Boxster there and found that the "circuit" was covered in about two inches of snow. Although we were offered a refund by BaT most of us asked for the day to go ahead. We then had about three hours (before the snow melted) of possibly the slowest speeds ever driven on a track day. However car control was the name of the game and we all learned loads about just how far we could push our cars.
 
Alex,

i bet you took to pushing your car like a duck to water after having the Elise!!!! Aren't german cars heavy though [&:]- i bet you were sweating pure Turkey, stuffing and fine cognac if if was the xmasy snowy track day i saw there[X(]
 
I'd agree with Neil about Cadwell, having been around it on a bike many times in the past, there is not much run-off and it can be as tight as a knats chuff, so I wouldn't reccomend it to newcomers

Jeff
 
Wayne

The Boxster IS heavy after the Elise - although I miss the immediacy and directness of the Elise I don't think I could now go back to one.

The Boxster is fantastic on track on on that day at Elvington, given the amount of snow the Boxster was rather "light" for a change.

The best fun I had that day was in Andrew S's Astra van (white diesel of course). He let me drive the course whilst instructing me all about left foot braking.

 
I hope you were on the phone and reading the daily mirror as well just for that extra bit of authenticity!

 
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