[Wooly]

I really want to go on a track day soon, but i know as soon as i phone up to ask my insurance company for cover they will either give me a heart attack through the phone or cripple me when i do fork out the money

Can i get a price range on how much insurance you all pay when you go racing. Im 19 and i know this would be a huge factor in the pricing for me

I havent been on a track day ever, and when i go where do you reccommend going first?

When i browse about on NAM i notice a huge percentage take their mini's on track, why is it so different for the uk lot. Quite a few people on here modify their car, aesthetically and mechanically to high heaven but never test it on track. Considering the amount of members mini2 has im surprised at how quiet this section of the forum is , i hope someone sees this post

[Root Ginger]

Quote: Originally Posted by Wooly (original)

I really want to go on a track day soon, but i know as soon as i phone up to ask my insurance company for cover they will either give me a heart attack through the phone or cripple me when i do fork out the money

Can i get a price range on how much insurance you all pay when you go racing. Im 19 and i know this would be a huge factor in the pricing for me

I havent been on a track day ever, and when i go where do you reccommend going first?

When i browse about on NAM i notice a huge percentage take their mini's on track, why is it so different for the uk lot. Quite a few people on here modify their car, aesthetically and mechanically to high heaven but never test it on track. Considering the amount of members mini2 has im surprised at how quiet this section of the forum is , i hope someone sees this post

Most don't bother with insurance. It's kind of a gentlemans agreement that if you damage another persons car you pay for it. If you go off and crash, well it's out of your own pocket. The excess on trackday cover is really high anyway so unless you completely total your car it wont cover much anyway.

This does make you more cautious around the track which is no bad thing. In all honesty I've yet to see a shunt between two cars on a track day and offs that cause serious damage are not too often.

As a first track I'd recommend somewhere open with nothing to hit. Bedford Autodrome has no armco's but is like a proper race track or there are the airfield tracks like Bruntingthorpe but these tend to have a lot of debris on the track surface.

Open pit lane days, although a little more expensive, offer much better value IMO. When you have timed sessions any car going off menas you have to come back to the pitlane while they recover the car but the clock still carries on ticking while your in the pit lane. With the open sessions you can come and go as you please and there is just a limit as to how many cars can be on the track at any one time.

[Wooly]

How many people are roughly on the track, i have an image in my head that you get a ferrari right on your back bumper looking to overtake midway through a bend...tell me this aint true lol.

What do you think of brands hatch for a first time like this EVO Store > Evo Trackdays > Brands Hatch INTRO (AM) , its not too far from me so that is a bonus.

I think i might go along one day just to see what it is like as a spectator.

[Root Ginger]

You can't overtake on bends on a trackday. You would be black flagged if seen.

You have to pull over to let faster drivers through. Strictly speaking other drivers aren't supposed to overtake you unless you pull out of the way to let them past. It does happen though.

Brands Hatch is a reasonably difficult circuit to drive and the day also isn't open pitlane but timed sessions. However, having said that, as you will be divided into groups of equal experience you shouldn't have any Ferraris or the like in your group so it might be quite good as a first time.

Take the instruction too, they will help you to know where you are going wrong on the track.

[Volte]

I bought an old battered MX5 modded for trackdays for £2k. If I smash it up I won't be too gutted. A mate of mine let me drive his Caterhams on an couple of airfield trackdays - one was an R400 and it was really nerve-wracking driving someone elses very fast car. I would definately recommend an airfield as a starter - I went to Elvington which was very good, but when I went to Bruntingthorpe it wasn't as good, as they had to use a different part of the circuit from normal and it was too bumpy. The companies that organise the trackdays also seem to vary in quality. Bedford Autodrome is an amazing place as mentioned above, but I was on a coporate race day and not a trackday there. Only circuit I have been on is Oulton Park which was great.

Never heard about this gentlemans agreement on fixing other peoples cars if you run into them - no way could I afford to fix someone's Enzo, never mind MINI, if it all went wrong - as far as I was aware it's everyman for themself, that's the risk you take - hopefully if there is an idiot on the track not following the rules then the marshals will get rid of them before they cause any major issues.

Why not try one of those racing "experiences" where you have an instructor take you around for so many laps in a Lotus Elise or whatever and then you drive and they advise and rate you. That is what I did first, they may seem expensive for a few hours, but they are great fun and sometimes they do offers. I did an Audi one at Oulton where I drove an Audi TT with an instructor and then an Audi single seater - it was great.

Remember a trackday can put alot of strain on your car like tyres, suspension and brakes, so not only do you risk crashing, but you could break or wear parts out. You need to make sure your car is in tip-top condition and check the oil/water/temps/tyre pressures etc during the sessions. I take oil and petrol and even spare tyres with me as you'll be surprised how much a car can use on the track, and at some tracks the nearest petrol station isn't very near.

I was lucky to have with a mate who's got lots of experience, but everyone on the trackdays was so friendly and willing to offer advice and help.

I've not done too many as it can get quite expensive, but it was worth the fantastic feeling as I went blasting out of the pitlane at Oulton Park for the first time in my own car.

[Robboc]

The old battered MX5 idea is interesting Volte. I am also interested in this, in fact I was thinkiing about selling my Mini and buying an Elise or Caterham for the tracks as the house I move into next week has a 2 bay garage.

Perhaps the MX5 route for 2K would be better to build up experience. I also dont think I could honour the gentlemans agrrement if my 2K mazda got tangled with a Gallardo to be honest

I dont live too far from Brands Wooly and I go there a lot. I dont think it would be the best track to start off with in your own car. There are a lot of uphill and downhill bends which could catch you out. Expensive even if you go into the gravel I would think. A flat track as the others said (airfield) has to be better surely.

[Wooly]

Quote: Originally Posted by Robboc (original)

Perhaps the MX5 route for 2K would be better to build up experience. I also dont think I could honour the gentlemans agrrement if my 2K mazda got tangled with a Gallardo to be honest

Thats a good idea actually. Im thinking an mr2 however can i not insure it for road use (but it would be taken on a trailer so would not touch a public road) and then do what roots ginger suggested and just pay if you casue any damage (hopefully not ). Is this illegal or not??

[Root Ginger]

Quote: Originally Posted by Wooly (original)

Thats a good idea actually. Im thinking an mr2 however can i not insure it for road use (but it would be taken on a trailer so would not touch a public road) and then do what roots ginger suggested and just pay if you casue any damage (hopefully not ). Is this illegal or not??

Perfectly legal. Just make sure you don't put it on a public road at anytime. You can also declare it SORN so wont have to pay tax and get a rebate on any tax left on it

[KostaLot]

Old Max5 championship cars can be found for very little outlay. Worth a look on the usual places - MotorsportAds, Racecarsdirect etc.