Track Day Advice
- Thread starter Marco
- Start date
Liverpool
See if any of your local tracks offer 'Novice' sessions/days, as these tend to be slower/less aggressive than full-fat days, and will ease you into it.
- GET INSTRUCTION - some tracks offer a couple of sessions free, so take advantage of it as it will make you more relaxed and will let you drive more quickly whilst being more sympathetic to the car.
- Take regular breaks - both you and the car need it, every 15-20 minutes (only applies to open pitlane days of course as sessioned days are usually 15-20 minutes long).
- Take insurance out for your first event - even if you only pay for 50% coverage, as it will help YOU if there's an accident, whoever caused it.
- When you think you know the track, come back into the pits for a while. You don't want to be over-confident on your first day.
i try to stick to sprint courses as your doing timed 2-3 laps..... this way no-one else is on the circuit at any given time, the car gets lots of cool down time and i only have to concentrate on my own driving, in 2-3 full bore laps im amazed how hot the tyres/brakes get, in 25+deg C heat the car and components are really working hard....
even on the relatively short sprint courses im amazed much work the car/motor is doing..... i prefer more technical circuits than out of out top speed ones.... maybe you should start on a sprint circuit to get a feel for your car.
even on the relatively short sprint courses im amazed much work the car/motor is doing..... i prefer more technical circuits than out of out top speed ones.... maybe you should start on a sprint circuit to get a feel for your car.
Choose your track-day organiser with care.
Some like Lotus-on-Track (highly recommended by me) are very strict about overtaking on the left & only on the straights & having respect for fellow drivers - they'll wave blue flags if people aren't letting you pass.
Others (usually at the cheap end of the market) allow a free-for-all, & you dont want to get taken-off by some lad overdoing it in his £500 shed.
LOT do novices-only days - which takes some of the pressure off the need to be as fast as everyone else.
Totally agree about the instruction - get it in early, but try to get a half-dozen laps in 1st just so you know where the track goes & can concentrate on the instruction. Just take it easy - no-one should mind.
Allow yourself a cooling-down lap when completing a session.
Dont drive like a dork, being slow in the corners & fast on the straights & not letting anyone pass - is the easiest way to upset folk. If they've caught you - they are faster - let them pass.
If you catch someone that wont let you pass - then dont get excited & try & take them at all costs. Just ease off for a bit & then go back to your own pace. On an all-day session half the field leave mid-afternoon - so there is all the time to enjoy the track to yourself at the end of the day.
Ensure oil is full - not overfull, that there is plenty of pad left on your brakes & tread on your tyres - you dont want to be driving home on baldies.
Enjoy it - you may become addicted.
Some like Lotus-on-Track (highly recommended by me) are very strict about overtaking on the left & only on the straights & having respect for fellow drivers - they'll wave blue flags if people aren't letting you pass.
Others (usually at the cheap end of the market) allow a free-for-all, & you dont want to get taken-off by some lad overdoing it in his £500 shed.
LOT do novices-only days - which takes some of the pressure off the need to be as fast as everyone else.
Totally agree about the instruction - get it in early, but try to get a half-dozen laps in 1st just so you know where the track goes & can concentrate on the instruction. Just take it easy - no-one should mind.
Allow yourself a cooling-down lap when completing a session.
Dont drive like a dork, being slow in the corners & fast on the straights & not letting anyone pass - is the easiest way to upset folk. If they've caught you - they are faster - let them pass.
If you catch someone that wont let you pass - then dont get excited & try & take them at all costs. Just ease off for a bit & then go back to your own pace. On an all-day session half the field leave mid-afternoon - so there is all the time to enjoy the track to yourself at the end of the day.
Ensure oil is full - not overfull, that there is plenty of pad left on your brakes & tread on your tyres - you dont want to be driving home on baldies.
Enjoy it - you may become addicted.
Would definitely recommend the BMW Car Club trackdays...
http://www.bmwcarclubgb.co.uk/bmw-club-trackdays.php
They're run in the same vein as the Lotus ones... 95% of cars are Beemers & they're hot on 'overtaking on the straight' etc. Give Nick Wright a call & he may do you a deal on your first year's membership if you book a trackday.
For my first trackday I did last year's opening day on a streaming wet infield track at Silverstone and learnt loads about the Coupe... particularly after 30mins with an instructor (for free!)
As geepee says you may well become addicted... I'm already signed up for this year's Silverstone GP Circuit day in September - see you there!!
Enjoy,
GP
http://www.bmwcarclubgb.co.uk/bmw-club-trackdays.php
They're run in the same vein as the Lotus ones... 95% of cars are Beemers & they're hot on 'overtaking on the straight' etc. Give Nick Wright a call & he may do you a deal on your first year's membership if you book a trackday.
For my first trackday I did last year's opening day on a streaming wet infield track at Silverstone and learnt loads about the Coupe... particularly after 30mins with an instructor (for free!)
As geepee says you may well become addicted... I'm already signed up for this year's Silverstone GP Circuit day in September - see you there!!
Enjoy,
GP
Looking to do the same with mine, I have been on a few track days with my brother who is a massive petrol head.
I would reccommend (if you don't mind a little bit of travel) Bedford Aerodrome, they do regular track days at reasonable prices. Also you can do an evening session (which is great now the clocks have gone back), the benefit of these being that they are slightly cheaper and last for three hours, which is plenty of time for a first outing.
I have been to this track a number of times in my brothers cars, and the atmosphere is great, very friendly and open staff and the track is great too. With a mix of technical courners and great straights to boot the Z on!
Check out this link for the track:
http://www.clubmsv.com/car-home/calendar.aspx?venID=Bedford&duration=&gclid=CJTQhtqem68CFcEPfAodHQ_jdw
Good luck! I'd also be interested in a Z4 owners track day...perhaps if you get enough interest we could get something sorted out....
I would reccommend (if you don't mind a little bit of travel) Bedford Aerodrome, they do regular track days at reasonable prices. Also you can do an evening session (which is great now the clocks have gone back), the benefit of these being that they are slightly cheaper and last for three hours, which is plenty of time for a first outing.
I have been to this track a number of times in my brothers cars, and the atmosphere is great, very friendly and open staff and the track is great too. With a mix of technical courners and great straights to boot the Z on!
Check out this link for the track:
http://www.clubmsv.com/car-home/calendar.aspx?venID=Bedford&duration=&gclid=CJTQhtqem68CFcEPfAodHQ_jdw
Good luck! I'd also be interested in a Z4 owners track day...perhaps if you get enough interest we could get something sorted out....