Dr Pepper
Member
Registered: 21st Sep 02
Location: oxford Drives Renault Clio RS200
User status: Offline
|
Looking at doing this sometime soon - have no experiance at all and im looking for a bit of advice.
1- Insurance - Is it worth getting cover? Roughly how much does it cost? I am lloking at doing individual timed runs/free runs so I wont be racing against other cars.
2- Brakes/Rubber - Should I be looking at fitting different rims/rubber and what sort of brake wear could I expect? - obviously this is hard to say but Im just wondering what others have done.
3- Where? - any recommendations of where to look at going? Idealy I would like a mix of slow and fast corners with limited amounts of long straights. I like the idea of a marked out track on an airfield because the run off areas are nice and big- any body know anywhere good?
Any advice appreciated- I need to get this car on a track to see what it can do.
|
barter
Member
Registered: 27th Oct 07
Location: essex
User status: Offline
|
lovly a thread exactly what i need to no as well.lol com'on people give us some info
|
Rob B
Member
Registered: 8th Jan 04
Location: Area Motorsport Drives: Race EP3
User status: Offline
|
1. Cover costs around 70 pounds and thats just for one trackday.
2. Advisable to get some rims with some old tyres on as youll end up scrubbing yours a fair amount.. Brakes all depends on your standard setup but may be worth upgrading to some higher temp pads, mintex 1144's or something along those lines.
3. Cant really help you, personal preference.
[Edited on 06-11-2007 by Rob B]
|
Daimo B
Member
Registered: 20th Mar 00
User status: Offline
|
I've not before, maybe im an arse, but its a racetrack, you take chances. I've not had any issues, but i guess it depends on the track you go to.
I didn't on the astra, pushed it hard all day, it did suffer with brake fade a bit, but i regulary stopped to allow everything to cool off. It depends on the car, but if your taking the Clio on, i think they have 4 pots, they should be fine.
Tyres, again, i ragged the hell out of the astra all day, then continued to use the tyres for another 10,000+ miles.
Tracks, best going to a close one. I don't like "airfield" tracks, the concrete and layouts are usually pants. Best place really is a proper race track. Bedford Autodrome, Snetterton, Brands, Silverstone, Castle Coombe, Mallory Park, Oulten Park, Pembrury (wales), Donnington etc.
Depends what tracks closest.
|
Daimo B
Member
Registered: 20th Mar 00
User status: Offline
|
Oh, don't foget fuel costs. We done £150 in one day in fuel alone. Thats just on track, not to mention the drive to and from the circuit.
|
Dr Pepper
Member
Registered: 21st Sep 02
Location: oxford Drives Renault Clio RS200
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by Rob B
1. Cover costs around 70 pounds and thats just for one trackday.
2. Advisable to get some rims with some old tyres on as youll end up scrubbing yours a fair amount.. Brakes all depends on your standard setup but may be worth upgrading to some higher temp pads, mintex 1144's or something along those lines.
3. Cant really help you, personal preference.
[Edited on 06-11-2007 by Rob B]
£70 is pretty good- is it fully comp for track days - does the excess change?
My brakes should be adaquate -
will look at how much a new set of pads will be cos im guessing their not cheap.
[Edited on 06-11-2007 by Dr Pepper]
|
barter
Member
Registered: 27th Oct 07
Location: essex
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by VXR
Oh, don't foget fuel costs. We done £150 in one day in fuel alone. Thats just on track, not to mention the drive to and from the circuit.
if its in a vxr as your user name no wonder.lol
|
Rob B
Member
Registered: 8th Jan 04
Location: Area Motorsport Drives: Race EP3
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by Dr Pepper
quote:
Originally posted by Rob B
1. Cover costs around 70 pounds and thats just for one trackday.
2. Advisable to get some rims with some old tyres on as youll end up scrubbing yours a fair amount.. Brakes all depends on your standard setup but may be worth upgrading to some higher temp pads, mintex 1144's or something along those lines.
3. Cant really help you, personal preference.
[Edited on 06-11-2007 by Rob B]
£70 is pretty good- is it fully comp for track days - does the excess change?
My brakes should be adaquate -
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa301/theredeyejedi1/alloybrakeps.jpg
will look at how much a new set of pads will be cos im guessing their not cheap.
[Edited on 06-11-2007 by Dr Pepper]
Fraid so, your looking at a 700 pound excess, and that only covers your car so if you wipe out three other cars in the process, they cant claim off you its only your car that would be repaired.
In the clio dependant on where you go i wouldnt personally take the risk.
|
jr
Member
Registered: 20th May 02
Location: Kent
User status: Offline
|
Would look into the french only trackdays at brands etc, or the renault sport days
|
nik
Member
Registered: 19th Jun 00
User status: Offline
|
If you can afford a new car should the worst happen don't bother with insurance. For the sake of £70 I'd buy some 
|
Butler
Member
Registered: 2nd Jun 05
Location: London
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by jr
Would look into the french only trackdays at brands etc, or the renault sport days
Full up 
Track days are usually £100+, you will probably ruin a set of pads and maybe tyres in a whole day. Not to mention other things that can always go wrong.
|
Dr Pepper
Member
Registered: 21st Sep 02
Location: oxford Drives Renault Clio RS200
User status: Offline
|
so if I had insurance and sombody else hits me -- im covered?
Definately going to get insurance.
As I said im going to look into where I go carefully - I dont want to be on a track with other cars if I can help it - or if I am I want it to be a club day where peiople should hopefully drive with a bit more care
|
Rob B
Member
Registered: 8th Jan 04
Location: Area Motorsport Drives: Race EP3
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by Dr Pepper
so if I had insurance and sombody else hits me -- im covered?
Definately going to get insurance.
As I said im going to look into where I go carefully - I dont want to be on a track with other cars if I can help it - or if I am I want it to be a club day where peiople should hopefully drive with a bit more care
Yeah if someone hit you, you would be covered. I would only do one like you say with other enthusiast.
|
Steve
Premium Member
Registered: 30th Mar 02
Location: Worcestershire Drives: Defender
User status: Offline
|
i wouldnt take a car as new as that on a track day, a lot of people do though, just something i wouldnt
like JR try and find a specialist event otherwise you will get idiots on shitters not caring for anyone elses car just trying to drift
[Edited on 06-11-2007 by Steve]
|
AK
Member
Registered: 5th Jul 00
Location: Aberdeen City
User status: Offline
|
if you want to maximiise your fun...
Fit decent pads - Ferrodo DS 2500 or Mintex 1155
Get decent sticky tyres - Yoko A048R or Toyo 888
OR buy some used slicks and some tatty rims.
Fresh oil and top off all fluid before setting off. Try not to go under half a tank (fuel surge)
Not wanting to be on track with others cars it quite an ask  . You've really narrowed it down to sprint/hillclimbs or hiring out a venue for yourself.
|
AK
Member
Registered: 5th Jul 00
Location: Aberdeen City
User status: Offline
|
ps... having big brakes or ' 4 pots' doesnt mean they are not subject to fade/fuild boil etc. If you feel them getting worse, ease off
|
AK
Member
Registered: 5th Jul 00
Location: Aberdeen City
User status: Offline
|
Beginners Trackday Guide
http://www.trackscotland.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=14
|
Dr Pepper
Member
Registered: 21st Sep 02
Location: oxford Drives Renault Clio RS200
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by AK
if you want to maximiise your fun...
Fit decent pads - Ferrodo DS 2500 or Mintex 1155
Get decent sticky tyres - Yoko A048R or Toyo 888
OR buy some used slicks and some tatty rims.
Fresh oil and top off all fluid before setting off. Try not to go under half a tank (fuel surge)
Not wanting to be on track with others cars it quite an ask . You've really narrowed it down to sprint/hillclimbs or hiring out a venue for yourself.
I realise that on any of the bigger more popular tracks there are going to be lots of others on the track .... I have seen a few short circuits that you can hire out for the day ... 20 car maximum and you take it in turns to have short timed runs with free runs at the beginning and end of the day.... cliosport use a few of these.
|
Dr Pepper
Member
Registered: 21st Sep 02
Location: oxford Drives Renault Clio RS200
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by AK
Beginners Trackday Guide
http://www.trackscotland.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=14
Cheers - I will have a look through that
|
Daimo B
Member
Registered: 20th Mar 00
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by AK
ps... having big brakes or ' 4 pots' doesnt mean they are not subject to fade/fuild boil etc. If you feel them getting worse, ease off
Yeah take note of this. Always good to tap the brakes before coming into a big breaking zone to get the bite from the pedal. If you feel the pedal going down, cool off for a couple of laps (best to carry on at a slower pace rather than stopping as its feeding cool air to the brakes still). Its literally a tap or two on the brakes to make sure the pressures there.
tbh, i'd go on a novice track day if you've not done one. Also good to get an instructor for one session. U'd be suprise how many people think they are fast, but actually on track, don't understand racing lines at all and are all over the place. A £20 instructor will point out what to do, thus actaully saving your brakes and tyres slightly as they won't be under so much pressure.
As said, check the oil and fluids. But tbh, on a brand new car, they should be fine. Being a new car I wouldn't worry, in fact, i'd feel safer as that Clio will handle infinatly better than any older hot hatches. It'll be a more direct precise drive and under much more control. It should work all day, no problems, and happily drive home.
|
Steve
Premium Member
Registered: 30th Mar 02
Location: Worcestershire Drives: Defender
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by VXR
Being a new car I wouldn't worry, in fact, i'd feel safer as that Clio will handle infinatly better than any older hot hatches.
that doesnt stop the other idiots spinning into you
|
Daimo B
Member
Registered: 20th Mar 00
User status: Offline
|
You use your eyes at drive according to the situation at the time.
I.e If you see a loon coming up behined you driving wreckless, pull over, let them past.
Same way that you shouldn't be trying to outbrake anyone in front of you, its a track day, not a race.
Your going on track, you have to be prepared to accept that the car may break/you may have an accident. If you can't accept the risks, you don't go on a racetrack. End of the day, a new car will handle and drive better than an older one (in standard trim). Driver levels will be different, you drive accordingly.
[Edited on 06-11-2007 by VXR]
|
Butler
Member
Registered: 2nd Jun 05
Location: London
User status: Offline
|
I wouldnt bother with insurance myself, but then again I dont use my car day to day.
|
AK
Member
Registered: 5th Jul 00
Location: Aberdeen City
User status: Offline
|
new car or not... oil is oil and its a vital part of a working engine Trackdays aren't quite the same on engine wear as 100 town miles or motorway at 3k rpm.
Not saying it wont be fine, but preventative maintenance is the better than fixing a real problem.
Dont recommend prodding the brakes a few times before corners either, will unsettle your rhythm, the car etc. If the brakes are getting worse and worse and you are getting fade dont let the red mist take over and think one more lap.
|
Butler
Member
Registered: 2nd Jun 05
Location: London
User status: Offline
|
Wouldnt fitting 888s or a048s put excessive wear on the suspension, maybe not suitable for standard?
|
