Menu toggle

Track day locations South East / South West - recommendations?

S

Sandspider

New member
Hi all

I'm after some track day location recommendations please - ideally in the South East or South West. Not for a 944, but for my dad's Jaguar XK120! Ideally a track that is fun but where the old chap won't damage himself or the car! It's a birthday idea, so a track where you can turn up with your own car, have a few laps with an instructor, then be unleashed on your own (or with a passenger - me!) would be ideal.

Can anyone recommend a good track that offers this?

Many thanks.

Giles
 
We've had fun at the Brands Hatch Novice Taster Sessions....very reasonable cost for each 20 min (?) session, book am, pm or all day. Not too taxing for older cars and older drivers! Details on MSV website.
 
To drop down through Paddock is a huge thrill due to the elevation change that no television screen can do justice to, but I don't think Bedford Autodrome can be beaten for obstruction free run off area, although stricly speaking it is not in the South East per se, but easily accessible and obviously in Bedford, actually a bt to the North of the town.
 
The more well known the track, the better the facilities and the cleaner the surface will be. There are track days at airfields but you end up with your paintwork pebble dashed to death. Premier tracks will reflect a premier price in comparison to a dusty old WWII airfield though.

You often don't book the day through the circuit but through a provider. Gold Track are one of my favourites for cost effective, well run, days at "proper" circuits. They also do some evenings which might be the best option from what you are suggesting.

In the South East your only real option is Brands Hatch or Goodwood or Snetterton if you go more East than South East. In the South West, Thruxton or Castle Combe.

I love Brands Hatch. There are opportunities to hit things but, in the most cases, over enthusiasm will only results in a visit the the gravel. Whether you manage to traverse the gravel and visit more unyielding structures is up to you. There isn't much run off before the gravel in most places though so, if you do get it wrong the best you can expect is a session with your bucket and spade.

Goodwood is pretty open but the things to hit are generally harder.

Thruxton and Castle Combe are very open making finding something to hit more of a challenge. There are opportunities but not that many.

Thruxton is a very fast circuit with some quite demanding braking and points where the car can become unsettled when travelling very fast. So perhaps not ideal.

Personally I wouldn't book a track on location rather look at what the track has to offer. Also there is much more satisfaction in being on a track you have seen on the TV. Silverstone is a superb 1st circuit. It ticks all the boxes and has massive tarmac run offs. It can be a bit disorientating though and at times seems like you are driving across a tarmac football pitch until you find the line.
 
It's also worth picking a track which you can "learn" on a video game.....it's what the pros do and the representation of the track becomes more and more accurate as years go by.

Not that we were pro's but years ago everyone in the series I raced in had Codemasters TOCA Touring Cars on their Playstation 1 (that gives you an idea of how long ago it was). Racing simulation games are much better now and even available on your phone. Real Racing 3 has a great Brands Hatch and Silverstone.
 
Thanks chaps. Brands Hatch is closest, but I do have a soft spot for Silverstone & Goodwood.

Thanks John for the detailed track breakdown - will look up Gold Track too. (All I found through Google was various options with MSV).

Does anyone know how tight the noise restrictions are? I've found the figure of 102 / 105db for several tracks, but don't know how that would compare to an XK140 (not a 120, my mistake) at full chat. Probably not as loud as a specificly race-built car...
 
I'm afraid some circuits are extremely tight on noise levels - a test before you're allowed on track is quite common, although some circuits still rely on drive-by meters.

Chris.
 
Bedford is safe with two types of grippy tarmac and tons of grass run off so you dont end up picking cat litter out of your oil cooler and has a marvellous selection of long, short and hairpin turns and a very long straight so you can test all aspects of the car (but its hard on brakes if you`re really trying)

Silverstone is very slippery if its wet (in my view)
 
I don't think you'd regret Bedford. It pretty safe, though you might have noise problems (get a restrictor?). Definitely avoid Silverstone in the wet.
 
Two thoughts.

Firstly, noise surely can't be an issue on a standard XK140. can it? [8|]

Secondly, I'd go for as near home as possible. This doesn't sound like a case of a car being thrashed so hard that the run-off is important other than in the event of absolute brake failure. I'd guess this about letting rip, a little bit, on the straights, and enjoying the adreneline. [:)]

The reason to go for near home is just practical. It's a very old car, and if it does suffer any mechanical issues then you don't want to be subject to several relays.

One extra consideration. Do the Jaaag Club do any parade laps at their events? If it was a Porsche owner here asking advice I'd be suggesting the Silverstone 911 laps, the Experience Centre, that sort of thing.
 
Bedford is 105db (I think) static and 87.5 on the three drive-by mikes - but they are highly visible and have traffic light warning indicators if you are near the limit so you can ease off or avoid going through with a clutch of noisy cars.

Demon Thieves sell temporary exhaust exit inserts that do silence things down a bit - you could do no worse than borrow a noise meter or download an app for a very basic one on a smartphone.
 
Thanks for the continued suggestions, all. Lots of options!

Will give it some more thought and see what suits my dad.
 

ORIGINAL: Hilux

Bedford is 105db (I think) static and 87.5 on the three drive-by mikes - but they are highly visible and have traffic light warning indicators if you are near the limit so you can ease off or avoid going through with a clutch of noisy cars.

Demon Thieves sell temporary exhaust exit inserts that do silence things down a bit - you could do no worse than borrow a noise meter or download an app for a very basic one on a smartphone.
Click to expand...

Bedford is 101db as I well know. My 911 with 200 cell cats was exactly 101 db at the May 20th thrash and yes that long straight is hard on the brakes, as you can imagine, trying to turn the potential energy of a 1.5 ton 147 mph missile into kinetic energy via the big reds. Strangely all day I did not get black flagged for exceeding 87.5db on the drive by
 
Goodwood would be appropriately "period" for the car and pictures aren't going to look better than they would there.

Considering the nature of the car (I don't know why, I had assumed it was some nut case special edition based on XKR [&o] Duh!) you would be best on a Classic specialist day. The last thing you want is to get side swiped by some idiot over aged child in a worthless Japanese buzz box reaching into his bag of skill and coming up wanting. Conventional saloons can be very big and unyielding if you are in a low, light open car. And, again, pictures of the car will look so much better if they look like the car in its heyday with similar vehicles.
 
Well, I put the options to my dad, and when we get down to it, he doesn't think he or the car is ready for it! So it might take some prep time, noise tests, checking insurance small print etc. I will return to this thread for future reference as and when/

Again, thanks for all the suggestions & input.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Posts made and opinions expressed are those of the individual forum members

Use of the Forum is subject to the Terms and Conditions

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed on this site are not necessarily those of the Club, who shall have no liability in respect of them or the accuracy of the content. The Club assumes no responsibility for any effects arising from errors or omissions.

Porsche Club Great Britain gives no warranties, guarantees or assurances and makes no representations or recommendations regarding any goods or services advertised on this site. It is the responsibility of visitors to satisfy themselves that goods and/or services supplied by any advertiser are bona fide and in no instance can the Porsche Club Great Britain be held responsible.

When responding to advertisements please ensure that you satisfy yourself of any applicable call charges on numbers not prefixed by usual "landline" STD Codes. Information can be obtained from the operator or the white pages. Before giving out ANY information regarding cars, or any other items for sale, please satisfy yourself that any potential purchaser is bona fide.

Directors of the Board of Porsche Club GB, Club Office Staff, Register Secretaries and Regional Organisers are often requested by Club members to provide information on matters connected with their cars and other matters referred to in the Club Rules. Such information, advice and assistance provided by such persons is given in good faith and is based on the personal experience and knowledge of the individual concerned.

Neither Porsche Club GB, nor any of the aforementioned, shall be under any liability in respect of any such information, advice or assistance given to members. Members are advised to consult qualified specialists for information, advice and assistance on matters connected with their cars at all times.

Porsche
Lockton
Pirelli
Officially approved
Oracle Finance
WEX Esso
Collecting Cars
Back
Top