Going to a track day

humps

A2OC Donor
I know Ian is the experienced A2 tracker here. I'm taking my 1.4 econo-box to Snetterton for a day. Will my OEM brakes be ok for 7 x 20min sessions? The rest of the running gears will stand up to the punishment? I have everything else covered like helmet + clothing, new set of rubber, 105db static test (ha!).

Brakes and cooling are my main concern, should I consider replacing the pads for something better?
 
I'm willing to bet your tyres will take the biggest hammering being a UK track.. you'll probably be fine with your brakes etc as my Arosa's still on standard discs and they're still OK after an open pit lane track day at Oulton Park, a 20 minute session on the GP circuit at the Nurburgring and 62 laps of the 14 mile Nordschleife!
 
Assuming you have not told your insurer about your plans, I would also take some gaffer / black tape to cover up your registration plates whilst on the track. It is amazing how many accidents occur 'just outside' track venue gates and as a result insurance companies have been known to send along someone with a long lens camera....

Enjoy the day!
 
Snetterton from where you live thats a long drive do they use the full circuit for track dayS
as i think that has some long straights with some fast corners and a chicane nice circuit
but i reckon if you hammer it round your tyres will be melting on the edges ...LOL !!!!
 
Last edited:
thanks ian, good to know the brakes should be fine. Otherwise I'll get better brakes/pads for it. Besides, I'm planning a 'ring trip next year!

Just as well I didn't get a set of R888 (like I was ever going to...) when I replaced all 4 corners last month. I hope the T1-Rs will stand up to the test. Most of the fast metals on the day are on MPSCs...

I've never been to Snett and it is a novice day, so I don't know if it is full circuit. There are two long boring straights which will see me being passed by colleagues in their 996GT3, track 993, S2 exige(s).

As for insurance, I'm getting single day track cover somewhere. It should be cheap if an E39 M5 is only £97. Anyway, company subsidised track day for £60, it is all worth it!
 
track day insurance is very wise. i remember a guy on the golf mkiv forum who wrecked his R32 on the track but luckily had taken out track day insurance
 
There was a video posted on here a while ago, think it was in an M3, on the Nurburgring. A couple of English guys. Put their card into the gate, barrier lifts, they accelerate and crash there and then.

Apparently most insurance policies, breakdown & recovery cover, medical insurance etc. will not cover Nurburgring driving and if they have to close it down for your car to be recovered, there is a massive per minute charge so crashing on the 'ring is a massive expense.

I have driven briefly on the Nurburgring when I went to the Rock am Ring festival in 1998 I had to cross the track in a hired Ford Escort to get to the parking area. All of about 5m
 
I have done quite a few trackdays in various specialist machinery over the years and having just bought my A2, it is quite possibly the last car I would consider taking on track!
If you want to get into trackdays, it may make sense to hire the Bookatrack caterhams for the day, you will definitely have more fun and when you work out the wear and tear and potential damage, it appears to be quite a bargain.
Most insurance companies will not permit you to track a car under a normal policy and the speciaist one of track day insurers will literaaly make your eyes water with their quote.
 
Hi Clubsport, that avatar picture of yours, is it the infamous 'banana'?

anyway, it is a company sponsor event for the motorcar club, so I'm tagging along for a bit of fun and meet the people. Not to mention blagging some pax rides in the more serious machines like the gt3 and exige. Indeed the A2 would not be high on my list of track cars! When I get to the 'ring, I'll get something from rent-racecar.de
 
I noted with interest that Avis at Frankfurt Hahn stated clearly "racetrack use not permitted" - I wonder if they included the public toll road that is the 'ring in that?

Bret
 
Humps, not sure if it is the banana?......I think that is Martyn O'D from Yorkshire, he has a 500+bhp 993TT...nice chap with a cracking car!........mine, in the avatar is more akin to the A2 in that it is the RS CS, lightweight track version,stripped out at the factory, it even has some ali panels, having said that the factory fitted full cage probably negates the benefit derived!

This lightweight thing is what instinctively led me to purchase an A2 :)

That would make sense hiring from a specialist at the ring, the regular Avis/hertz type rental companies tend to have agents with cameras turn up on busier days to see if any of their cars are taking part....:eek:
 
Hi Humps.

I'm sure this goes without saying but is often an area over looked. Check your brake fluid and when was it last changed? It is an item that could cost you a day of fun, or at worst a new front end. But cost you very little if you get it checked out before hitting the track. Boiling the brake fluid can come on quickly with out much warning:eek:

You'll have great fun mate and surprise many cars in the corners.;) even a Porsche 'Maybe'
 
Thanks Malcolm, car serviced recently with new fluid so I should be fine. But if you and Ian can run around the 'ring fine, then I'm not worried about the 20min sessions.

I doubt I'll even see the tail lights of the 911s ;-) One of them a heavily tracked 993, the other 996 GT3 having been to Brands GP, Silverstone and the 'Ring. Anyway, the main point is to enjoy the day and find out how much I can extract from the A2. I have a feeling there is a lot of capabilities in the car I haven't utilised yet!
 
What a cracking day!

Wow, what a day! Even it was only a day, I am totally convinced track day is the only way to really enjoy a good car! The A2 desparately lacks power in those long long straights. However, it really shows in the corners. I had plenty of complements, and I'm sure the FSD helped alot in those sweeping bands.

The car still rolls a fair bit in the tighter corners and I'm thinking some weitec springs will help. Apart from the lack of grunt. I also find the car unstable under hard braking such as the end of the long back straight, stopping from 95mph to roughly 65, I had to fight the steering wheel on a straight line. Needless to say, braking in mid corner is not desirable in any car, but braking in corners at 50mph+ is definitely dangerous with the A2.

The A2 isn't shabby at all if you can ignore the lack of power. The brake pads, engine held up for a hot day. So if you do track the A2, I should think the running cost is not that high.

Some photos

http://www.phatphoto.com/phatgallery/details.php?image_id=14501 <--- some say I have potential to ride a motorbike! ;-)

http://www.phatphoto.com/phatgallery/details.php?image_id=14459

http://www.phatphoto.com/phatgallery/details.php?image_id=14563 <--- the only other car I could pass on the strights.

Don't be afraid, do take your A2 to the tracks! (except they don't sell diesel at the onsite pumps)
 
Hi Humps
Not sure if this applies to the rigours of circuit driving but a friend who complained of instability under braking found it was due to low power steering fluid level.

Cheers Spike
 
Hi Spike, thanks for the tip. However, I've since not driven at 95mph and brake as hard so I've not had that instability on the road. But the A2 isn't the first non-sport FWD car I've driven that suffers instability under braking. I think it is something to do with geometry/camber setup not optimised for track.
 
I have done some track driving at castle coombe in the a2 and despite tire wear which is going to happen in any car, the brakes never faded and fluid levels did not drop, dont be to worried about it as i was!

Chris
 
Hi Spike, thanks for the tip. However, I've since not driven at 95mph and brake as hard so I've not had that instability on the road. But the A2 isn't the first non-sport FWD car I've driven that suffers instability under braking. I think it is something to do with geometry/camber setup not optimised for track.

I've seen on other cars with low castor angle that are very manoeuvrable at low speed, but then under braking the castor angle is reduced, making the car more twitchy.
 
Back
Top