Track Days - a beginners guide

[timmydamini]

Hi All,

A few weeks ago we had our Minis on Track day at Watergrasshill, as I stood watching everybody hooning round having fun, I thought about my first track day and realized that it was over ten years ago, (It was the summer of 2003 after I had bought my Mini Cooper S). I found myself wondering; in all that time what had I learnt from the track days? What kind of experience has it been? What could I say that would be helpful to anyone considering doing a track day now?

My background had been rallying, circuit driving was new to me, but boy did I enjoy it. I could drive as fast as I wished without the pressure (or expense) of competition. You could go out and do a few laps, come in, have a cup of coffee, chat to other participants and look at their cars, and then go out again do a few more laps. It was performance driving heaven, so much so, that I never felt the need to drive fast on the road to get my kicks, I could do so legally and safely on a race circuit with all the benefits of run offs, marshals, supervision, coaching, etc., and the Mini proved to be the perfect tool, precise sharp handling, plenty poke, good brakes, reliable and safe.


The Background to Track Days
There was a time, not that long ago, when the only way to drive your car on a closed road, was to compete in some form of motorsport, for example, rallying. The upside of this was that you had the opportunity to legally drive your car at the limit on a road or track that was closed to the general public, meaning there was a reasonable chance that no vehicle would approach you from the opposite direction whilst you did so. The downside was that this endeavor proved rather expensive, and as if to confirm this reality, you could frequently find yourself hanging upside down on the seat harnesses wondering where it all went wrong. But the prohibitive cost presented a problem because there was a view shared by many, including myself, that if you wanted to enjoy motorsport, you had to participate in it, being a spectator just wasn’t good enough.

Then in 1996, a significant event occurred in the automotive world, the Lotus Elise was launched in the UK. This affordable and competent sports car was snapped up by a new breed of car owner who was eager to find a way to exploit the limits of its handling prowess in a safe and legal setting – the ‘Track Day’ was born. There had been track events previously, but they tended to be corporate affairs organised by manufacturers for the benefit of their employees or customers. Suddenly, there was much more public access to race circuits. On the one hand there was the car enthusiasts with their desire to enjoy their car on track, and on the other, the circuit owner who saw an opportunity to utilize their facility in the off season, it was a match made in heaven. At a typical track day you had all the trappings of a race meeting; a proper organised race track, marshals, medics, rules of participation, pit facilities, catering, etc. but without the competitive element and therefore, no requirement for competition licence, FIA approval or any other associated expense. The concept proved immensely popular, as one journalist put it, “the days of driving your car at the limit on the public road are gone, long live track days”.

A Typical Track Day
Sign on usually begins at 9.00am with drivers briefing at 9.30 and track sessions beginning at 10.00am. There would be a break for lunch with the track sessions ending at 5.30pm. Personally, I find the 'half-day morning' option desirable in that it is cheaper, provides sufficient time to hoon around without subjecting yourself and your car to an overdose of full on driving, and it also means that you get to see the afternoon cars in action and possibly bag a few passenger laps with a fellow enthusiast. It also means that you can get home at a reasonable time, if your living some distance from the circuit.
At the briefing you will be given instructions regarding what the different flags mean, overtaking etiquette, entrance and exit of the pits, and a general ‘what to do if…’guide. The day may be arranged in sessions with the cars grouped and let out for a specific periods of about 20-30 minutes, or an ‘open pit’ format whereby you may go out and come in as you please. Obviously the latter option is more desirable as it allows you to choose when and how long to stay out for. Discipline is required here though as you can easily stay out too long on one run and not allow yourself of your car time to cool down. Twenty minutes is regarded as being full race distance for most races, touring cars etc., I would recommend no more than fifteen minutes per run, taking a full slow ‘in lap’ to allow the car to cool.

Costs
Currently, a full day at Mondello Park costs about €185 with the half-day (morning or afternoon) costing €125. Budget a full tank of fuel for the event plus what it takes to get there and back. Tyres and brakes will take a hammering so budget a quarter the cost of replacing both.

Preparing your car
How far you go with car adaptation later on is up to you but start with the basics:
• All fluids at correct level. Fill up with petrol at a nearby station before arriving as there is no petrol available at circuits.
• Tyre pressures set, (I usually put in a few psi above normal at the front).
• Nothing loose around the car, take out unnecessary items.
• Put in the towing eye, if you go in a gravel trap it will avoid having the marshals tie on to what ever is convenient in the interests of expediency.
• Bring and use windscreen cleaner.


Preparing yourself
• Avoid alcohol the night before, bring plenty water and food in case there is none available at the circuit.
• Bring a helmet, though there are no regulations on specification, bring a decent one.
• You’ll need a valid driving license at sign on.
• Wear comfortable clothing with long sleeves.
• Bring some spare clothing, performance driving is a workout, you can get sweaty.

Driving tips
Driving on a track is a different discipline to that of driving on the road and many a book has been written on the subject so I’m not going to go into all that, but again, a few basics:
• Take it easy, a car that seems sharp and agile on the road can suddenly feel like a shopping trolley at track speeds. A common mistake is to arrive at the end of the main straight thinking you’re doing 100kph when you’re actually doing about 150kph, (typical for a Cooper S). Brakes, already hot from the lap, may suddenly seem insufficient as the corner looms.
• Concentrate on what you are doing, do not be distracted by cars behind or conversation in the car, (I had a nice little off track excursion this way myself).
• When braking, do so in a straight line, i.e. whilst the steering wheel is straight, before you turn in.
• Do short stints, typically 5 laps then 1 cool down.
• Take instruction whenever you can get it, it’s free at some circuits and it will prove to be the most beneficial ‘upgrade’ you can obtain. Being shown the right line, braking point, entry point, apex and exit makes the world of a difference to your performance, safety and enjoyment. It’s all about getting the exit right so easy on the way in and take a late apex.
• When caught by faster cars, indicate before the corner, go through the corner, and then keep in, (usually to the right), and lift off a little to let them by. This way everybody gets to enjoy relatively traffic free track time.
• If you do go off, keep the car going in as straight a line as possible, do not try to rejoin the circuit until almost stopped. When rejoining easy on the throttle, don’t just ‘light it up’.
• When you come into the pits keep the parking brake off to prevent pads sticking to hot discs.

Circuits within reach
The obvious one is Mondello Park, it’s technical, (a high corner to straight ration which suits Minis), has a nice surface and is nearly 4km long in International configuration. Mondello do a well run track day with plenty marshals, instructors, medical staff, etc. on hand.

Kirkistown near Strangford Lough is smaller but also provides a good value well run track day.

Anglesey Circuit in North Wales is just 5 minutes from the Holyhead Ferry and is a new and beautifully laid out coastal circuit. It also boasts the fastest corner in the UK, (Church).


When ex motor sport buddies ask me about track days, I say that it’s not so much Motor Sport, it’s more Motor Fun. If you do decide to do track days, remember that’s the key word - Fun. Take it easy, take time to learn about your car, enjoy exploring both its limits and yours in a legal and relatively safe environment, so that you can have a fun day and get to drive it home again in one piece.

Tim

[MiniMpi]

Great post Timmy, Thank you very much for posting it.

[AdyP]

Very interesting Timmy, especially for the loonies who "paraded" around Mondello a few weeks ago

[Paulie]

Excellent write up Timmy. Thanks for the info.

[timmydamini]

Ta folks

[Masterbiker]

Very interesting Timmy, especially for the loonies who "paraded" around Mondello a few weeks ago

I don't know who you could be talking about there....

[Fluoxetine]

*Watch out for sideyways Escorts...