[MarkW19]

Well, the time may have come for me to take my MINI on the track, to see if I like it and think I can get into it.

I've not been on a racetrack before in my life, so I've no idea how to go about it

Obviously my normal insurance doesn't cover me for trackdays - when you pay for use of the track, does this also include track insurance for the day?

Also, tyres...after a couple of hours on the track will they be ok?? I've got Toyo T1S 215/40/17. I don't want to be shaving 1000 driving miles off their life just for the sake of a bit of fun on the track.

Any tips for a good (cheap) place to start? I'm in Leeds btw...

[Root Ginger]

Obviously my normal insurance doesn't cover me for trackdays - when you pay for use of the track, does this also include track insurance for the day?

No, most people don't bother as it's normally pretty expensive with hefty excess, but I must admit I did take out a policy for my first track day.

Also, tyres...after a couple of hours on the track will they be ok?? I've got Toyo T1S 215/40/17. I don't want to be shaving 1000 driving miles off their life just for the sake of a bit of fun on the track.

Yes they will wear more but TBH I've never found the wear to be exceptional. Even when I ran semi slicks on my Cooper Works

[MarkW19]

I don't fancy doing a track day uninsured in my £18k car to be honest!!

[GR33NIE]

Same here! My car isnt worth that much though! Does this mean most people dont bother with insurance on Track Days

Ive heard of someone stuffin there car round the track and getting it tow'd down the road to claim they crashed it there lol!

[MarkW19]

Wouldn't suprise me!!

For a bit of fun, not worth the risk IMO

[GR33NIE]

Ditto! Why not pay for a track day in a faster car

[MarkW19]

You have a point...

But seeing as I'm getting eibach coilovers fitted in the summer, and I've just had the MTH Tuner remap done (along with Milltek catback and K&N Typhoon), I want to push my car to the max!!

[Tonyt3]

Track days are mostly safer than normal road driving in my opinion. To be sure, your more liekly to stuff your car on a Mini run.

I dont bother with track day insurance as theres usually some pretty bad clauses. If your not insured you wont push the limits too far and cause the incedent in the first place.

If someone else hits you on the track their insurance wont cover your damage.

most track damage I have seen would cost less to fix than the excess levied on the policy.

Track days are the best fun but usually work out about £400 a go (150-200 for the track, tyre wear, new pads, petrol, travel to event)

Best place for a beginer has to be Bedford Autodrome. Virtually nothing to hit as its been designed for track days, not spectator friendly racing.

[Tonyt3]

Quote: Originally Posted by GR33NIE

Ditto! Why not pay for a track day in a faster car

You mean like a track experience car (lets say in a ferrari etc)?

Main reason to avoid this and run your own car is that by comparison track experince days are crap, were as a track day in your own mini is the best fun you'll have in your car.

[GR33NIE]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tonyt3

You mean like a track experience car (lets say in a ferrari etc)?

Main reason to avoid this and run your own car is that by comparison track experince days are crap, were as a track day in your own mini is the best fun you'll have in your car.

Good point prob more fun in your own car, and yes there is a risk trashing your car on a normal road. Least it's insured though Sayin that id still probably take the risk round the track

[dino_smith]

Quote: Originally Posted by MarkW19

I don't fancy doing a track day uninsured in my £18k car to be honest!!

last year I did 2 trackdays, my very first being Bruntingthorpe back in Jan. At the time our MCS was only 3 months only and like you we didn't want to wreck the car so we decided to get insurance. To help you make up your mind(it's your car in the end) this is what it cost :-

Insurance company was recommended by Motorsport Events
- Insurance for 1 day - £180 - 1% of car value
- Excess - £1800 - 10% of car value
- Mechanical damage not covered i.e blowing the engine is not covered.

At the time we did think it was a bit expensive, but it did give piece of mind if anything really bad happened. On the next trackday we do (Keevil in April) we shall skip the insurance and cough up if anything happens.

On the bit about your tyres I can't comment on Toyo's(many other have them & are would better to comment) but on the standard tyres, we did 2 trackdays and 16k miles before they all needed changing.

Brakes and everything else were fine.

I would definately recommend doing a trackday as you get to see how your car really handles without getting caught speeding or getting stuck behind Volvo drivers

[MarkW19]

I may pluck up the courage sometime soon, maybe for a "beginner" one with limited cars on it or something

Especially when I get the Eibach coilovers fitted in July

[nonsequitur]

Trackdays are great fun in the MINI. The personal learning and experience are even reasons to give it try. The car clubs offer good instruction and reasonable pricing.

An event for those in the US Northwest who may be interesting:
http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthread.php?t=110483

[rsott59]

I did my first track event last October and it took a month to wipe the grin from my face! The Performance Drivers Association runs High speed driver education events at tracks in the Northeast. Insurance or no insurance, this is something you have got to do. It is simply the most you can ever have in your Mini.

[minigolf]

I've done 2 track days in my MINI now. Both times running my OEM 16" runflats and for what they are they hold on reasonably well. But they don't wear too great. This one was on the right front at Eastern Creek last Friday. If you remember when the 500s used to race there, there is a long sweeping corner at the end of the main straight. V-max on the straight is 180-190km/h exit speed from turn 1 was just under 160km/h.





But seeing as these are not my everyday wheels/tyres I didn't really drive with too much consideration for tyre life.

Get out there, have a go and you will love it.

[s_and_m]

Quote: Originally Posted by minigolf

But they don't wear too great.

That looks pretty extreme!
I had side wall wear issues on my first set of Toyo T1-Rs that I tracked. Not quite as bad as yours - didn't get to the canvas but did destroy the side wall in one afternoon

I solved this by running much higher pressures to prevent shoulder wear -.........oh and actually slowing down for the corners

S