marshals track days

[Stuart H]

Planning to be at Brands Hatch this time. No passanger seat; if any one wants me to drive there car and be the frightened passenger just ask me.


Stig - bring the car to brands you know you want to.

[The STIG]

Brands is a right pig for us to get to with the car [Lydden more so], so I'll have to turn you down on that offer Stuart.

[Stuart H]

Thats a shame kev.

[Stephen Green]

Lydden isn't an MSV circuit though so no track day there.

[The Hat]

That's great news,
Very many thanks for your efforts Stephen & to JP & MSV

[Bezzers1986]

Originally Posted by Stephen Green

Borrow a car from who?

MSV will not have cars available; the idea is you bring your own car and experience what it is like to drive some of the best racing circuits in the world.

Anyone who is willing to donate, unfotunately I don't really have race track car...


p.s it was only a joke

[The STIG]

Originally Posted by Stephen Green

Lydden isn't an MSV circuit though so no track day there.

I was referring to the round of our championship, [getting to Brands and Lydden in particular is a nightmare for us with the car in tow and we don't like to do it too often]

[Mark Smith]

Originally Posted by The STIG

I'll vouch for that. I did one at Donington and it was good to get a driver's eye view of proceedings. If I had a slightly better performing car, I'd join you on the track at Oulton or somewhere.

I could borrow 4-10's stock hatch racer I suppose, although I'd have to let Paul drive a bit too [considering it's his car] and he hasn't marshalled for ages!

You don't need a high performance car to do a track day. Especially if you've not much track experience, you're more likely to get yourself into trouble if you've got a high performance car on a track you don't know. Just go and have some fun, just make sure the tyres are up to it, and the brakes are sorted.

[Bezzers1986]

Hi

So what is it you need to do one of these track days? I don't think my car is much of a track car (its more a box on wheels) but I do like the idea of taking it out on a track.

What do I need to have on the car?
Do I need to have gear (helmet etc)?
Is it something you can do in a bog standard road car (mine is a Mitsubishi Colt if it helps)?

Bez

p.s even if these are stupid questions, please keep the answers at least semi serious...

[fazza]

Ok heres the format from last year.

You car - any road car will do we have seen everything from nissan micras to nobles you drive it on the road you can drive it on the track.

you - Full driving licence checked at sign on and a helmet is required, last year you were and to hire them on the day.

Everyone get a drivers breifing then away you go and have fun.

[HairyDJ]

Worth reading the track day info from MSV's own pages
http://www.motorsportvision.co.uk/tr...ckdays-car.asp

A few things to consider beforehand and on the day, especially if novice and hoping to drive home in the car afterwards. Basically it's all about preparation of the car and yourself :-

Oil - some advocate slightly overfilling to help cope with the extra stress, but a good general service or fresh oil change is good prep anyway
Brakes - can get pretty rapid wear, plus beware of brake fade after too many vigorous laps
Tyres - get too carried away and they might not be road legal to get home
Weight - minimum extra clobber in the boot and door pockets / storage boxes. you don't want little bits bouncing around inside!
Fuel - track days are thirsty work! mine is a little prone to cut out if a low tank slops all the fuel over to one side on long corners
Insurance - most road going insurance will not cover you for track days. It's worth asking yours if the do (or will extend for a small fee), or consider specialist one-off cover. This can be quite costly and have a big excess.
Damage - be aware that damage to the circuit may well be billed to you, and that if you are hit by another driver you carry your own losses.
Clothing - as well as the helmet, most require arms to be fully covered, so T shirts are no good (but it is winter!). I also recall from a previous year that drivers shouldn't wear their oranges as that would cause great confusion at an incident
Cameras - some will allow passenger hand-held, but most are restricted to fixed mount devices
Timing - any form of timing will usually invalidate the venue's insurance (as track days are not races) and lead to you being slung out pronto

Other drivers - we've all seen the innocent being taken out by someone else. Don't be the plonker and always be aware that the guy in front or behind may be the one to take you out.

Not sure how marshaling track days have been run before, but if instructors are available then use them, and don't try too hard to copy the professionals that we see on track (unless you've got their budget to put things right).


Finally - remember that there will be marshals out there on duty whilst we drive, so treat them how we wish the drivers would. Watch the flags and give them a wave at the end.


don't be put off by these warnings - make the most of a great offer and come along to enjoy yourself!

[Justin Moran]

Originally Posted by fazza

Ok heres the format from last year.


you - Full driving licence checked at sign on and a helmet is required, last year you were and to hire them on the day..

The circuits helmets are not too bad and they will ask for a deposit or at very least your driving license as insurance that you will return it at the end of the day!

Hope someone will let me have a ride in their car as my Hilux isnt really suitable for track days!!!!

[Hepatic]

Oh i don't know

My 106 is not likely to do this one, its got a few issues i'd rather not make any worse but depending on details i might still go in support, + if anyone is willing to let me drive their motor i'd wouldn't mind sampling the Skyline that was offered the other year but i never got to take up

[Bezzers1986]

Thanks for the info hairydj. I don't think I will be doing it this year, but maybe in the future when I have a car that won't roll over on the corners.

[HairyDJ]

Hi Bez,

wifey's car is a colt auto, so I know what you mean about the rolly stuff. Why not come along to one anyway? You'll get to know the circuit ready for the future as well as getting to know more about the way things happen.

Take a look at last year's thread and you'll see all sorts of people & cars went out to play. some good piccies linked from there too.

http://tentenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=101604

[The STIG]

Originally Posted by Bezzers1986

Thanks for the info hairydj. I don't think I will be doing it this year, but maybe in the future when I have a car that won't roll over on the corners.

This is the precise reason why I don't want to take my 106 out there... body roooooooolll!! [and it refuses to go around corners faster than 45mph!]

[speedy jon]

can any marshal do the track day?
or have you had to do ex number of events at a msv circuit?

would love to take my kit car on track again

[The STIG]

Thought you said it was in Pieces, Jon?

[Darren Holmes]

I did the Oulton park track day with my diesel Astra, with 155k on the clock its well past its best, despite a few hairy moments going through druids it was great to plod around (and be overtaken by everyone )

[Don`t mention the war!]

It`d be interesting to see how my escort estate does on a track, but i really don`t think it would be up to the job....or me for that matter! I once did a day with the Jim Russell school at Donington, great fun but as for my driving...... !!!!!

[Red_08]

Originally Posted by Darren Holmes

I did the Oulton park track day with my diesel Astra, with 155k on the clock its well past its best, despite a few hairy moments going through druids it was great to plod around (and be overtaken by everyone )

Hey Darren, you did as well as the rest of us. We all had a great day, even better when the track dried out more. My twitchy Nissan was a bit tail happy in the morning.
Fingers crossed for the next one. It'll make me get them brakes sorted.

[mmm_five]

I'm hoping to actually get to do one of these events as I've had to pull out of the last two I've put my name down for - I'm surprised they still offer these days as the turnout tends to be poor.

I don't care if it's foggy, icy, snowy, or wet. Nor do I care if my car is misfiring and only revving to 3000rpm - I'm still going this time (probably)

[Hepatic]

my 106 was fine as gravel monkey will testify

[speedy jon]

Originally Posted by The STIG

Thought you said it was in Pieces, Jon?

depending on the date i can rebuild it by then

[Alan.F]

I would love to take my MGZS around Oulton faster than going to post I wouldn't go stupid as its my only form of transport