Beginners Track day

sliu82 · Post by **sliu82** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:46 am

Hi folks

Has anybody done the "newcomers track day" at Knockhill?

if i get time off work, i was thinking about signing up. I think there is an instructor there to teach you the basics, which is exactly what i need as i have never been on a track before and not to sure what the rules and regulations are

i guess with other beginners on the track i won't look as bad!

Thanks

simon

tuscan_thunder · Post by **tuscan_thunder** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:49 am

I don't know about this track day but as an alternative, consider one of John Stewart's SIDC days.

They're super well organised, the driving standard is very good and John usually arranges an instructor to be on hand free of charge.

I'd be tempted to go for that option as, once you've spent time with an instructor you can get experienced track day folk to sit with you and you can also follow experienced folk.

Also, as long as you keep out of folks' way (by moving off line on the straights) no-one will care how fast or otherwise you are.

On a beginners day, whilst you'd all be at the same level, you've no-one to follow and learn from. Sure some of the track day regulars on here would easily sit with you

StiflerMR2 · Post by **StiflerMR2** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:50 am

DaveG and i tried to book on the upcoming one but it was fully booked, but this is the sort of thing i am looking to do, to pop the cherry as well

Altho i was thinking more n00bs on track = higher risk of collisions?

But like Simon says, i'd like to know the format of this if anyone has been on one as well

Post by **simon** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:53 am

Never done one so I don't really know but I'm sure I heard of one last year or maybe the year before where someone rolled a Focus.
Good way to start

I can't see it being much different from one of the SIDC days apart from the lack of the faster and more experienced drivers, who are generally the ones you wouldn't need to worry about.

thinfourth · Post by **thinfourth** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 10:06 am

There is a thread running on piston heads about this

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topi ... &f=118&h=0

DaveG · Post by **DaveG** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 10:32 am

StiflerMR2 wrote:DaveG and i tried to book on the upcoming one but it was fully booked, but this is the sort of thing i am looking to do, to pop the cherry as well

Well actually, Knockhill never actually replied to my enquiry about it. T'was 3rd hand info that the April date was fully booked.

Never followed it up, and by the looks of it (according to that PH thread ), there are plenty of places left.

D

Andy G · Post by **Andy G** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 10:34 am

Hi Guys

Bought this for my cousin - was okay, but they didn't get much track time.

Personally, i think you'd be miles better going to do the high performance driving at KH with the instructor. 25 laps with an instructor and you, in your car, and on a very quiet track. You'll learn way more.

Then go do something like the SIDC. If its your first time let John know when you sign on and stick a yellow sign in your rear window, so other drives know - they won't bully you, just give you more room

The other option is to join us for Teeside which should be quite a friendly Lotus environment!

sliu82 · Post by **sliu82** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 10:35 am

i did previously e-mail them, but got no reply as well.

I phoned them up yesterday and they said there were loads of spaces left.

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 10:50 am

Did the hy-performance day a while back, it was a very good start (Not that I have folllowed up and got an track elsewhere mind!) as it gave me more confidence on track and would have allowed me to predict what was coming up next. Hopefully this would allow me to concentrate more on the traffic on a proper track day.

Instruction was topnotch with the instructor only pushing you to get the corners right, the speed was up to me. Very impressed with the quick results too. for example to begin with I was braking way in front of the first Brake! board for the hairpin, but by the end of the day it was at the last board. Boiled my brake fluid though, but never mind.

Really it was an introduction to KnockHill not trackdays but it was a good place to start to assure yourself that you a) won't make a complete hash of your first proper day and b) you and your car won't instantly keel over and die on track.

HTH
Rich
/trackday virgin faction

StiflerMR2 · Post by **StiflerMR2** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 10:59 am

The Hi- perfomance day thing sounds good - cheers

GregR · Post by **GregR** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:31 am

Teeside should be given serious consideration IMO

Serious value for money, and there's nowt to hit!

I did my first trackday at East Fortune last year, and it was a very open and pretty level track. You get great confidence from knowing there's very little to hit, and there are wide run-off areas - lets be honest, to a novice those tyre-walls at KH can be daunting!

Either way, do what you feel is necessary to get your confidence up on track, be it a KH beginner's day, or a SIDC day with trackday cover from THB Egger Lawson (Competition Car Insurance) - that should take most of the 'worry' out of it

best of luck

ryallm · Post by **ryallm** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:38 am

I did the high performance course a few years back when I got my Elise. It was just 20 laps of KH, but the instructor was excellent and we had the track entirely to ourselves - recommended! After that, as has been said above, an SIDC day is the way to go - very well organised and generally high standards of driving. Further afield Croft circuit is worth a look. All Croft days are run in sessions which is definitely not to everyone's taste, but for the beginner this has the advantage that there are never many cars on track at once and you will probably be in a group going at a similar pace. Personally I much prefer the track to KH too - longer, faster and more flowing.

Mark

tenkfeet · Post by **tenkfeet** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:41 am

I also did the hi-performance course at knockhill the day before my first track day and I think it hit the spot in easing my fears and showing me the line round the track . Quite expensive in hindsight but what the hell .

In hindsight an alternative I think would be to go out for a few pax laps and ask everybody any questions you may have then just do it .

Erik · Post by **Erik** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 12:02 pm

Personally, I'd just opt for a Hot Marques night and teach yourself.

More track time, less cost.

I'd considered the Beginners track nights when I had the Clio - but it was gonna work out at about twice the cost of a hot marques night.

I've been on various courses at knockhill before, so didnt feel that sitting listening to an instructor would be of much benefit to me.

Best way to teach yourself is to learn by following someone competent through the correct line and just pushing yourself a bit more each lap. In my experience anyway....

Andy G · Post by **Andy G** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 12:11 pm

tenkfeet wrote: In hindsight an alternative I think would be to go out for a few pax laps and ask everybody any questions you may have then just do it .

I would still recommend that you get an instructor just to check you aren't doing anything too silly pedals and controls wise for the corners.

If you are going to be driving your pride and joy round a track whats £130 making sure you are reasonable safe before you start