OldDan

Really wanting to get into Trackdays,

But, I drive a Fiesta Zetec-S...

Now just been looking at a few posts, one listening specific cars and another with a few videos in, and all I can see is Cossies, Evo's, and other fucking fast cars...

Are any cars welcome on track days? and am I gonna get frouned upon?

Anyone got any tips, typical costs? and where's best to start?

REALLY wanna get into this, but it's knowing where to start!

Cheers.

Phil

iTrader: (1)

Any cars are welcome! My 205 only has 120bhp and its still good fun (it only had 109bhp until earlier this week as well and I had done a few trackdays like that )

Costs: A decent open pit lane full day will cost £200+ in summer then you have tyres, brakes, a couple of tanks of fuel etc. You want one of these rather than a group session day where you get put into a group and each group gets a 20min slot every hour.

Some companies run novice only trackdays (have a look at Easytrack and Bookatrack's calender for one) for people just like yourself, I would recommend one of these to get into it but it is not necessary.

My main recommendation is to do your first trackday at Bedford Autodrome, it is perfect for the novice and massive fun (although the long straights favour the more powerful cars) with a nice wide track, great surface and loads of run off space if you have a spin so there is nothing to hit!

Trackdays can be daunting when you are on track with a bunch of supercars and good drivers with masses of experience, just be curteous and check you mirror regularly and no one will mind even if you go round the whole track at 10mph Everyone is there to have fun at the end of the day, some just have fun a little faster than others

Eagle

iTrader: (2)

mate if you want to do track days go for it .. dont be fooled into thinking you need alot of power...
its all about having fun ..
it wont be cheap to do ..

pay for the day ..
fuel...
possibly new brake pads and discs (dependant on how you drive)
cheapest way is to do the airfield days to start with..
you will eat road tyres if you are pushing your car hard...


all depends on how deeply you want to go tho...
different suspension, bigger brakes, harder pads..
it all ads up .. and you will find improving the handling will make you go a bit faster out of corners.. bigger discs and harder pads let you brake later ..its not all about power

just remember tho ... its all for fun ..

Phil

iTrader: (1)

Also, car wise the most important mods are to get some decent high temperature brake fluid in as well as some trackday oriented brake pads. Try and use decent tyres as cheap ones will overheat very quickly. Next I would consider suspension mods and finally engine (it makes much less difference on the track than you would imagine!)

All after safety of course, if you are going to do a lot get a cage and some decent bucket seats fitted!

OldDan

Well, suspension and brakes are pretty much sorted it......

Avo coilovers, front up and lower strut braces, and ST170 brakes...

This is what got me thinking, I might as well put them to good use...


Thanks for the info lads, where can I get one of these days booked?

Cheers..

PT

mate dont need an evo look at this lttle nova with a redtop in it, granted its had some money spent but watch it killing much more powerful caars esp the skyline

http://www.daxtek.co.uk

Eagle

iTrader: (2)

www.bookatrack.com

also a small mod is to fit a basic harness ... its so much better to be held into a seat rather than sliding everywhere

Phil

iTrader: (1)

I use bookatrack, can't fault them!

Make sure you get proper fluid and pads in that ST170 setup before going on track

Zetec Andy

www.javelin-motorsport.co.uk at Elvington, only an hour away, open pitlane, very well organised and only £95 for a days fun. been to loads of there track days in the past

TBH my past experiences of www.bookatrack.co.uk have been very boring and usually left after an hour.

And dont be worried about your car being under powered......

OldDan

Awesome, have you got any booked in the next few months Andy?

Zetec Andy

No mate, i usually spectate

But on the other hand, i shall be attemting to roll i mean race it very soon

OldDan

Good lad, well let us know mate...

Zetec Andy

Will do

Basky

if you can get it to handle its better than power imho
ask sib he was dicking cossies at combe on sat in his 205

RichardPON

Hello Dan mate! Long time no speak!

To be honest, your Fiesta is the perfect little weapon for really having some fun on a trackday.

The best bet would be to do one with a whole bunch of us when we go, so that you know a few familiar faces, and car take some advice and direction from people......

Bedford, as Phil says, is the perfect circuit to begin at - all the benefits of an airfield type day (i.e nothing to hit), but none of the drawbacks of doing a dull trackday on a crappy surface on an airfield.

Palmersport really do know how to keep a circuit - even if it's not the most spectacular or fun, you will have the most fun there, because of the layout/facilities etc

OldDan

Alreet PON

Certainly has been a while..


Well interested in it, I assume you post up the track days you all go to in the Track Days section? I'll keep an eye out for it, deffo interested..

Nice one, thanks for advice...

wildheart

iTrader: (4)

Get the fez booked on

As long as the suspension,brakes and tyres are all good you dont need big power to have fun.