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Donington Park - Trakzone day

Boxsey

Well-known member
Joined
28 Jan 2007
Messages
2,237
After a few aerodrome days I did my first proper circuit yesterday at Donington and had an absolute blast :D .

It was only after booking with a few friends that I discovered that Trakzone (Doningtons trackday company), was often referred to as 'Chavzone' :? . As it turned out it was no worse than any other public trackday I've been on and getting to drive donny on a summer sunday for £120 was a bargain IMO.

The day was run as 3 x 20 minute sessions per hour (total of 7 sessions); novices, experienced and corporate. I and most of the buddies I'd booked with were in the novices and we had no issues with any of the other cars on track. Even though some of them turned into mobile chicanes as we learned the track and got faster 8) .

The sessions seem to work really well. From what I saw there were no more than 20 cars on the track at a time (often less). In the afternoon myself and two 997s got out at the front of the field and were never caught 8) and only got held up when we lapped some of the back markers. At the end we were easily getting an out lap, 8 fast laps and a full cooling down lap in each session.

As a track, Donny is brilliant even for a beginner like me. Apart from Goddards there didn't appear to be any parts of the track that you could hit something solid if you lost it. Getting to drive a track with elevation changes aswell as bends was a real eye opener about what my 964 can do. Craner curves is a real adrenaline rush when you keep on the gas, Coppice can be a heartstopper if you brake too late for what is essentially a blind right angle in the first part of the double apex bend and Redgate is so difficult to get right because it seems to tighten just when you think you're coming out of it. It was here that I had my only little oversteer moment of the day :eek: but managed to get her back in shape with a little throttle and opposite lock :wink:

I would thoroughly recommend Donnington as the next step to a proper race circuit after doing airfield days.

Donnington_010707_035.jpg


Footnote - the corporate session was booked by the Audi TT owners club. There were about 100 cars in the car park (I think it was a combined meet and trackday) but only about 10 ventured on the track :p . I guess it's possible to block book one session for as few as 20 cars.
 
Actually saw an evening session at Donnington that I was thinking of doing - I think it is Mick's local track.
 
What was the noise limit? Heard they are very strict on cars but lenient on the jet aircraft........
 
batman said:
What was the noise limit? Heard they are very strict on cars but lenient on the jet aircraft........

It's 98 db drive-by. (No static testing is done).

My 964 has a stock exhaust (now) and had no problems. There were only two cars that were black flagged a highly modded supra and an evo. I have to say that when standing on the pit wall, these two were VERY loud so it was no surprise they got their wrists slapped and were told to carry on but keep the revs down.
 
nice write up fella
 
Just caught up with this, nice one Steve your getting some sessions in mate.
:) You will be lapping me at Brunters. :oops:
 
I went to a Donny track day at the end of last year and it was a complete Chav/muppet day.

The weather wasn't great but the main problem was the GTI and RS bridgade were more interested in drifting and grass tracking during the event.
Alot of unhappy people and cars suffering damage through others behaviour.. sticking it in the kitty litter and spinning the wheels so the litter makes rooster tails may look good but does not help other passing on the track :evil: :evil:

Great track and I enjoyed the driving that I got to do.. in fact never more than two laps before someone stuffed it and the red flag indicated the end of session.

One rear ended M5, one smashed Caterham(after the Escort flew out of the garage without looking) and numerous smashed windscreens at the end of the day..

People complained to the organisers but they did nothing... :?

garyw
 
Bad news that Gary :evil: . As I said in the first post, I'd heard after I'd booked it could be 'chavzone' but it turned out to be a really good day. I guess it's therefore down to the luck of the draw.
 
Boxsey said:
Bad news that Gary :evil: . As I said in the first post, I'd heard after I'd booked it could be 'chavzone' but it turned out to be a really good day. I guess it's therefore down to the luck of the draw.

Boxsey, you were lucky, was booked on such a day 2 years back, it was max power central, which put me right off
 
Donington Park is only 6-10 mins drive for me but, i have neverbeen on the track.

would be interested in the future if this forum ever organised a session there which wasn't going to cost me a futune.
 
helen Goff said:
Donington Park is only 6-10 mins drive for me but, i have neverbeen on the track.

would be interested in the future if this forum ever organised a session there which wasn't going to cost me a futune.

The corporate session on the day was booked out by the TT owners club. AFAIK you can book up a complete session if you can get 20 cars @ £140 per car (gives you 7 x 20 min sessions as mentioned above). This way it means you don't have to mix with the max powers on track but of course we would have novices and very experienced on track at the same time. The garages are free too (first come first served). I'll happily organise next year if there is any interest.

Meanwhile, here's me starting to get the hang of Goddard's :D

dts23.jpg


dts24.jpg
 
Boxsey said:
helen Goff said:
Donington Park is only 6-10 mins drive for me but, i have neverbeen on the track.

would be interested in the future if this forum ever organised a session there which wasn't going to cost me a futune.

The corporate session on the day was booked out by the TT owners club. AFAIK you can book up a complete session if you can get 20 cars @ £140 per car (gives you 7 x 20 min sessions as mentioned above). This way it means you don't have to mix with the max powers on track but of course we would have novices and very experienced on track at the same time. The garages are free too (first come first served). I'll happily organise next year if there is any interest.

Meanwhile, here's me starting to get the hang of Goddard's :D

dts23.jpg


dts24.jpg

put me down for a place... its abou time i got the 914 out on track :p
 

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