Track Days

[Sean Smallman]

To help us plan for future track days,it would be useful to understand the barriers so that we can address the concerns and encourage more people to participate.

Our cars are built to be driven and I am certain that a well maintained car benefits from having a good workout.

[Paul Mabley]

A couple of others for me:

Not sure if the car is suitable or up to the job?

Not sure if it's exciting enough going round and round the same bit of tarmac all day?


For me the previous track day taster type event with instruction and support was a great idea. Not sure I'd ever get into it on a regular basis though and become an expert track driver!

[Sean Smallman]

Paul you are right, the majority at Blyton were novices and its a shame that you could not make it.

What made the day for me was the socialising in the pits and the opportunity to sling the car around in relative safety.

One or two track days a year in this kind of format will be more than enough for me.

[Paul Mabley]

Paul you are right, the majority at Blyton were novices and its a shame that you could not make it.

What made the day for me was the socialising in the pits and the opportunity to sling the car around in relative safety.

One or two track days a year in this kind of format will be more than enough for me.

I think on the whole you've hit the nail on the head with that format.

If someone more experienced could organise a more advanced session on a different then you'd cover the bases, senseless going for an all things to all men in one day approach I feel.

Was gutted to miss out as the social side as you say would have been nice, always next time! Although not sure my machinery is suited to the track but willing to try!

[WazzerM]

I'm a novice and drove 180 miles to spectate - it's just good to: a) get outta the house lol b) fraternise c) hitch a ride and d) learn something about Porsches and tracks - thoroughly enjoyed it and want to do it again tomorrow!!! (WITH a car this time).

[AML911]

Excluding the Porsche Experience Centre, Blyton was my first track day. My intention was to attend as a spectator, take photographs and chat to fellow members I had "met" on the forum.

When I arrived on this glorious warm and sunny day, I had a look at the track (which had huge run off areas), I had a look at the cars (all Porsches precious to my fellow members), I had a look at the attendees ( a normal looking bunch ) and I attended the briefing session (which made it very obvious that this was to be a controlled track day with the emphasis on safety)

Despite not having any specific track insurance for the 991, I decided, 1) There was less risk involved than that on my return journey home and 2) I would have been miserable watching everyone else having so much fun.

I had a brilliant day absolutely thrashing my car (which is what it is designed for) and exploring its limits (to extents I would never be prepared to risk on the public highways). On track, I never felt threatened by others and I hope the reciprocal was also true.

All in all, a day I will remember for all the right reasons. I would recommend others to share the experience should the club organise a similar follow up event

[Brett928S2]

Hi

Another item could have been added to the Poll...

"My car is (possibly) too noisy for normal track days...."

My 928 at around 130db is obviously too loud for any track that does Noise testing, but I also hear that some GT3`s and other later 911`s are failing noise tests at tracks now

If anyone needs noise testing near me in Bournemouth, I have a Decibel meter, which they can use for free...

All the best Brett

[RichardKS]

My opinion, for what it's worth, is that the recent Blyton day got it 100% right for a CLUB event.

By definition, as a club member I would expect a fair degree of fellowship, understanding or empathy from my fellow members, even if I don't know them personally before an event.

I think Blyton proved that our members DO have a strong sense of empathy, good manners and understanding towards each other as proved by excellent on-track manners, something which Mrs RKS was just talking to me about. As the only female driver (I think) she reports no nervousness caused by aggresive male drivers. There just WASN'T any.

Trackaction online seemed to have the perfect attitude too - sensible briefing, sensible attitude, sensible tuition, nice guys blah, blah, blah.

If anyone is perusing this thread who enjoys driving their Porsche - ANY model (apart maybe from a tractor) rather than polishing it in a field, I see no reason why you shouldn't come along for a pootle around the track. The speeds aren't that big (at Blyton), and there's no reason why you should destroy your car. Blyton is a bit less scary than the Nurburgring methinks!

[sirion]

Just a thought. I hate to admit it and I am not wanting to offend anyone but what put me off going to Blyton in the end was the number of inexperienced track drivers planning on attending. Unfortunately it works both ways. On the one hand I can totally understand (and empathise) why it can be quite a daunting prospect having a track prepared car driven by a faster driver hurtling past you (although in reality it is not as bad as you think it will be), but on the other hand it can be quite frustrating for an experienced driver when you cannot always predict what the guy you are coming up to overtake is going to do and are continually being held up because they are concentrating so hard on just getting around the track that they forget to look in their mirrors. (I have witnessed some very 'interesting' and unpredictable driving in the past). The truth of it is that novices and experienced drivers are on track for different reasons. Novices, out for a track driving experience, can get frustrated at continually having to check their mirrors and move over, and experienced drivers wanting to push their car get frustrated at being held up.

It is a shame, because I too would have really enjoyed meeting some more fellow members. And obviously there is concern that novices have also been put off at the prospect of sharing the track with faster cars / drivers.

So may I make a suggestion? If you think it may be difficult to fill a novice only day, or an experienced only day for that matter, why not combine the two and run it in groups, novice, intermediate and experienced (20 min sessions) or if preferred 30 min sessions, novice / experienced. I know many normally prefer open pit lane as a format (me included as a rule) as you potentially get more track time and are free to come and go as you please. However for a club track day, where the social side is as important as the driving, this could be a good compromise where everyone gets to drive in an environment they are comfortable / happy with.

I have done many bike track days run with this format and it works really well for keeping everyone happy / safe. It can also be very good for socialising as it is more predictable when each individual will be on or off track.

[WazzerM]

That sounds like a good idea to little old novice me!

[AML911]

this poll seems a sensible way to proceed and should provide a "barometer" of members thoughts. To date (although only posted yesterday) there have been only 4 votes registered... does this represent a lack of interest by the membership in this type of event?

I would imagine the costs incurred by the club for the day were significant, and it is important for the membership to inform the organising committee which type of national events they wish to support

[garyw]

I've voted

I fully sympathise with what sirion is saying but feel that the world of regular track day users is more than catered for by other trackday companies.
I'd worry that that those regular guys after having done the likes of Silverstone and Donington would find Blyton a bit under challenging and for that reason wouldn't support it anyhow?

I said on the other thread that having a mixed group on the day can add some extra fun with being overtaken by a faster car as it does give you a sense of your own pace.
I got caught behind slower traffic but was happy to wait the time and concentrate on getting a better line at the slower speed.

For being social I think the open pit lane worked well, people were stood around chatting and having refreshments rather than clock watching and having to make excuses that they needed to go and get ready for their sessions- I'd of suggested that this probably made the novices even more relaxed knowing that a fast car had come in and they could pick the time they went out..
The same went for me, seeing the slower cars come in- I knew I'd have a clearish circuit for a while..

[Paul Mabley]

I voted now.

Not sure whether my current steed, like me, is suited to track work. Willing to give it a try though!

[Sean Smallman]

There was no way anyone could deduce how many novices would be there by reading the forum. The majority of attendees hadn't posted on the forum.

There were a number of issues with our track day which left it under subscribed. The 944 guys organised there own day, the nearest region to Blyton have organised their own track day next month

As a venue Blyton was great, £120 for a Saturday with free instruction limited to 45 cars was cheap.

Bedford on a Saturday limited to 50 cars would be £350, 100 cars would be £175 which sounds ok. Problem is where will the 100 cars come from? This looks a non starter.

Not sure what we do going forward. It would be great to do another track day but the Club should not have to underwrite the event.

[garyw]

Your right Sean, it was a cheap day and I was a little surprise that less people attended.
I think it was very unlucky timings wise with the 944 guys doing there own thing and then the local region date being so close.
Annoying as this one had been advertised way in advance I believe...

I had tried to get some of my group to attend as a weekend event and oddly for the second time it was hard work to get them to go to the area??
It has a rumour of being a bit flat but I have to say I had a great trip to and from (thanks to Mark) the circuit.
As a 20th Anniversary of the club it was great to do something very different in the calendar, however I completely agree that the club should not have ot underwrite the event. if it was to run again in the future.

As a mark in the Birthday celebrations, I think it was a brilliant event

Paul, seeing the 991 and the 997 going around the circuit- I'd say you have the perfect vehicle to do a day at Blyton.