"Advanced Track Day Drivers"

[carreraboy]

Gold Track are rightly in my mind offering advanced driver only track days (which I would not qualify) this is I think the future of track days, other than sessions, where you ALWAYS get different levels, despite the organisers trying to grade the track time ...... with Insurance getting an issue and ever decreasing crashes (gentle running into kitty litter accepted) I can see some kind of licence being asked for OR a full Race Licence. Obviously Novice/Intermediate days will still happen.

So how do Gold Track tell an "Advanced Driver"?

 

[h_____]

This one is simple. Go get an ARDS licence, this means you can do test days. Driving standards are far superior, and you dont have the queue to overtake (on the left, not under braking, or cornering etc etc.). I always get more scared on trackdays than test days. Its the way forward.

 

[tscaptain]

ORIGINAL: carreraboy

So how do Gold Track tell an "Advanced Driver"?

Good question, Des. The whole Novice/Intermediate/Advanced thing is very subjective and usually decided by the driver him/herself, is it not? I guess this is normally done by the number of track days completed rather than the ability reached. One way to make it objective would be to have a system whereby you could do a few laps with an instructor/examiner and let them assess your ability and grade you accordingly. I dare say any system which required the production of an "ability" card/licence or whatever would be open to abuse anyway.

 

[carreraboy]

I would think that a Grading System will come in force as you describe tscaptain ... may take a couple of years to do, BUT Health and Safety warriors will enforce this with Insurance Companies.

 

[h_____]

But what is the benefit of grading system unless it gives you more flexibility in getting past people? Test days, when sessioned by slow - fast (ignoring closed/open wheel). Is someone in a historic racer but experienced, best off in the advanced catagory along with people in GT3RSs?

Would advanced certification (in trackdays) mean cheaper on track insurance?

 

[carreraboy]

You would be put in your own ability groups or Track Days.

PCF Weekends sort of do this BUT you chose, this way the organisers put out like with like and in theory you will not have a GT3 Race Driver blowing the doors of a Novice[&:]

 

[Lancerlot]

ORIGINAL: tscaptain

ORIGINAL: carreraboy

So how do Gold Track tell an "Advanced Driver"?

Good question, Des.  The whole Novice/Intermediate/Advanced thing is very subjective and usually decided by the driver him/herself, is it not?  I guess this is normally done by the number of track days completed rather than the ability reached.  One way to make it objective would be to have a system whereby you could do a few laps with an instructor/examiner and let them assess your ability and grade you accordingly.  I dare say any system which required the production of an "ability" card/licence or whatever would be open to abuse anyway.

MSA competition licences have a sensible upgrading system. The licence holder is able to collect signatures from the organisers of events in which he has successfully competed. Once the requistite number of signatures has been obtained, he can then apply for an upgrade.

Regards,

Clive

 

[ChrisW]

I think the other thing is that the organising companies wish to offer maximum track time potential.

There is a strategy to being one of the first out with a nice clear lap in front of you (if you are so inclined) --- and also avoiding the busiest times ?

But, traffic is also fun with reasonable trackday behaviour.

There is NO excuse for not letting a car that has caught you up, overtake. IMHO.

 

[Stewart H]

I hate sessioned trackdays. I would definitely put myself as an intermediate but on sessioned days, this is the most popular category - in this category you get the genuine intermediates, novices who won't admit it and more experienced drivers who either can't get into the advanced session because it is fully booked or want to be the fastest in the session. I think on sessioned days they should send everybody out with an instructor rather than the sighting laps and then you go into whatever session they put you in.

 

[Hacki]

ORIGINAL: Stewart H

I hate sessioned trackdays. I would definitely put myself as an intermediate but on sessioned days, this is the most popular category - in this category you get the genuine intermediates, novices who won't admit it and more experienced drivers who either can't get into the advanced session because it is fully booked or want to be the fastest in the session.

That´s why Charles recommended to join the "Fun" session in Spa and he was absolutely right. Track was not as busy as in "Sport" = intermediate ("Racing" = advanced only on slicks), driving was less agressive and it was easy to pass 90% of the cars, because the speed difference was quite big.
Having passed a bunch of slow cars in 1/3 of a lap you´ll have a clear lap in front of you. The few other fast cars are either no problem or just fun! (Only trouble can be caused by turbocharged cars on the straights.[])

So, on road legal tyres I would do exactly the same again.

I think on sessioned days they should send everybody out with an instructor rather than the sighting laps and then you go into whatever session they put you in.

That will be difficult to organize. Maybe marshalls who wave out the "wrong cars" and a marshall on track could be a solution.

Rgds,

Hacki