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Trackday Advice Guide & Preparation for Beginners Novice

Thanks to you all,
Great advice which I will follow up on. Tips like this are very helpful for novices like me.
As for tyre pressures I normally run at 30 front & 40 rear cold which increases about 4 psi when warm. What would you recommend as a starting point.
I have Tpms so can keep an eye on it.
I also have two sets of wheels, my old Turbos with Bridgestones and plenty of tread and my new HRE with Michelin pilot super sports which are brand new.
The Michelin feel far superior but I don't want to ruin them just yet.
Which would you use?
I presume I should also put the pasm into sport mode.
Thanks once again all I'll report back early in March.
Dave
 
copmots said:
Thanks to you all,
Great advice which I will follow up on. Tips like this are very helpful for novices like me.
As for tyre pressures I normally run at 30 front & 40 rear cold which increases about 4 psi when warm. What would you recommend as a starting point.
I have Tpms so can keep an eye on it.
I also have two sets of wheels, my old Turbos with Bridgestones and plenty of tread and my new HRE with Michelin pilot super sports which are brand new.
The Michelin feel far superior but I don't want to ruin them just yet.
Which would you use?
I presume I should also put the pasm into sport mode.
Thanks once again all I'll report back early in March.
Dave
Something for you to think about.... Why did you buy super sports ? I think you get my drift :lol:
 
I see what you mean super sports are a top notch track tyre right?
I bought them because been in the motor trade I got a really good deal on the Michelins compared to the other brands.
Maybe because they aren't N rated or maybe because I spend thousands of ££ with my supplier. Doubt whether I would get the same price again hence would like them to last a little while.
Your point has drawn me to using them though thank you for that.
:thumb:
 
Regarding Insurance I have found it more cost effective to cancel my existing policy and buy a new specialist policy which includes trackway rather than buying Insurance for just one day. You could also cancel the policy and claim a prorated refund after the event.

I use A Manning who are not cheap but I feel well covered.
 
Big thing...try and relax, you will drive better/faster.

Re the tyres. Leave them be for the sighting laps and first one or two sessions/outings.
When you get back into the car park, check them. If you've been going quite well you will be shocked at how high the pressures have risen. Whilst they are hot, immediately drop them to within a couple of PSI than they should be cold, not under but over.

If you are going well, then drop them to the cold pressures.

If you have got a feel for the car in the first couple of sessions, you will notice the positive effect this has :thumb:
The instructor should have similar advice on this.

Cadwell is my favourite Uk track, Enjoy, keep your eyes open, relax, keep it smooth, brake in a straight line and see what your Porsche is capable of...I think you will be impressed. :thumb:
 
Rawhide said:
Regarding Insurance I have found it more cost effective to cancel my existing policy and buy a new specialist policy which includes trackway rather than buying Insurance for just one day. You could also cancel the policy and claim a prorated refund after the event.

I use A Manning who are not cheap but I feel well covered.

Gave A Manning a call and can get fully comp Insurance inc unlimited track days for £342.
I thought this was a good deal.
Only advantage about getting old is cheaper car Insurance!
Thanks for the tip think I'll take them up on this price.
 
Some good points so far. I'm especially interested in an Insurance quote from A Manning now.
Something else you might want to consider is removing the centre caps from your wheels before you start.
As the wheels get hot it can soften the plastic which deforms the clips that keep them in the centre hole.
I have wrecked or lost 2 sets so far, one on an evo and one on the 997.
 
rallyrob said:
Some good points so far. I'm especially interested in an Insurance quote from A Manning now.
Something else you might want to consider is removing the centre caps from your wheels before you start.
As the wheels get hot it can soften the plastic which deforms the clips that keep them in the centre hole.
I have wrecked or lost 2 sets so far, one on an evo and one on the 997.

The trick is to drill a tiny hole in the middle of each cap.... :wink:
 
Thank you everyone,
loads of great advice and tips just what I needed.
Got a couple of pm messages and a phone call, really much appreciated advice.
As I said to the very nice chap who phoned me I'am a great (average) road driver because I use forward thinking and vision plus incidence avoidance.
There again I just drive at normal speeds etc because I don't need any points or accidents. I could be driving my 911 or my old Focus most of the time..
Track days will open up a new slant on driving....hopefully.
Anyway the car is sorted, Insurance is sorted, the only thing I would like is my own Helmet.
Having used supplied ones at karting events I really would like my own but not costing a fortune.
Say £100 for a open face one....anyone got any recommendations ?

Cheers all will report back in a couple of weeks.
Dave
 
On the helmet advice, I use a bell open face when I ride my harley on sunny days. Vey comfortable and look good. M and p motorcycles have a good range of helmets ( price wise) and they are local to me so trust worthy.
www.mandpdirect.co.uk
 
copmots said:
Anyway the car is sorted, Insurance is sorted, the only thing I would like is my own Helmet. Having used supplied ones at karting events I really would like my own but not costing a fortune.
Say £100 for a open face one....anyone got any recommendations ?

Helmets are available for c£100 but for around £200 you can get a really good one. I bought one of these. It comes with a free padded carrybag and a bottle of polish if you buy from here.

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorsport/helmets/bell-mag-1-helmet
 
Hi all,
here is my follow up on my first track day at Cadwell.
Firstly thanks for all your input and advice all very useful.

The day was great... and dry which was a bonus.
Lots of good tips I got from you the main one's being :

Get Instruction.
Relax ( hard to do but do it )
Brake in a straight line
Forget all the hot hatchbacks charging past
Drive to your capabilities ( don't try keep up with the faster guys )
Lower your tyre pressures as you get faster.
Use all the track sounds simple but after road driving might not come naturally.

Any novice thinking like me wether to have a go at track days is yes have a go go with some mates for company and enjoy.
Don't expect to be the fastest car there just cos you have a "Porsche"
Enjoy, start steady get some instruction and work on the corners that give you trouble one at a time.

I found Cadwell a great technical track you can't come unstuck too much unless it's wet!!

There are some great corners which are hard to master at speed.
My day there was fantastic unfortunately due to an admin error I didn't get my instructor till 3.00 pm.
This was a shame because in a short while with him everything was so much easier and faster.

I tended to go at everything with brute force, 10 minutes with a bit of tuition I was ten times better.
I enjoyed it immensely booking myself in now for another date next month.

After the track day trying to drive fast on the road and picking up points etc becomes pointless.
Get on the track enjoy your car and it's capabilities without getting done for speeding or hitting someone else .......you also learn what you and the car are capable of.
Win win.

Thanks to you all for advice on the forum, viia email and phone calls.
Dave
 
This is a great thread Dave.Thanks for the update. :thumb:
 
track day advice for newbie

I am considering a track day for myself in my own car and one or two friends, I've never done this before and don't want to go in at the deep end and make too much of a tit of myself.

Are there any good circuits in the south east, preferably Essex but not crucial?
How fast would I expect to go in my car?
Would it be better if we share a car as passenger driver then swap over - my friend is able to bring a car himself if required?

Any other general advice would be appreciated.
 
book a silverstone track day , look in the track days section of this forum for group meets at silverstone , then youd be meeting with fellow porsche drivers most or all of whom would be happy to co pilot round with you and take you round in there cars ect ,
great experience , go for it :thumb: :thumb:
 

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