I have an early Locost, all home built sort of as per book, and on the road for less than £1,000, under £500 if you knock of the end of build rash purchase of a set of new instruments and seats. Most of the bits were straight off the donor(s), a 1979 Cortina for the running gear and a 1986 Sierra for the engine (yep it’s a pinto) and gearbox. After the build and running around to a few shows etc it has been sat in the garage for the last 2 years due to the lousy summer weather etc.

Anyway, just thinking that for the £350 - £400 for MOT, tax and insurance to use it on the road for the odd sunny day I could have 3 or 4 trackdays. Not too worried if I break it as I can fix it, might give me something to do, and after all it doesn’t really owe me much given what it cost, but I need to give it a fighting chance.

No experience of trackdays but for you guys that do, what’s going to suffer and potentially break? My main concerns are cooling and brakes and I suspect a cam belt change might be wise given I’ve no knowledge of the history of the engine.

Any advice would be appreciated.

I'd go for an airfield for the first outing in your car (not what I did!). They generally have lots of room if you overstep the mark, and nothing really to hit.

As for your car, check all the usuals (brakes, fluids, servicing etc), and check all your bolts are tight! Take a few tools/spares with you (plus fuel, water, oil etc) and have yourself a good day!

Everything takes a pounding on a trackday, but as long as it is a generally well built car then it should be up to the job.

If you are thinking ten tenths type driving then you might be disapointed, as there will likely be quicker cars, better brakes, better handling etc. But persoanlly I'd enjoy a track day on a moped.

Brakes might go spongy after four or five laps, but either take it easy for a few laps or come in for a bit to let them cool off, se with the engine, but with good airflow the rad should keep it cool enough.

Elvington at York would be a good place to try out for you - fairly forgiving straight forward circuit - other than brakes fading cant see much else going wrong

Why has the shoddy summer weather stopped you taking it out?

Do you have a windscreen? If so, make up or buy some wet weather gear. If not maybe consider it?

Whether it's better to not insure and tax it and just use it as a track day car is up to you. I enjoy using mine too much to save it just for the track.

Go for a sessioned day for you're first track day. That way you'll be put in a group with other less experienced drivers and won't be having to get out of the way of the fast guy's as often. Also look out for beginner days if you're nervous of being the novice/first timer.

As said above, make sure everything is sound before you go. Check over it after every session and you should be OK. Even the best looked after cars can have problems on track though. Cooling wise, you'll not know untill you try. If you've not changed the timing belt since it came out of the donor then I'd do that anyway (track day or not).

adrian

You shouldn't be doing a lot of braking in a Locost... I know it sounds like silly bravado but there is quite a lot of truth in it.

As has been said, Elvington's good for starters.. the only downside being, it's getting a bit tight on noise. (98db) You shouldn't have any problems if you have a well silenced standard Pinto though.

A little further for you to travel, but there's the trackdays at Teesside. £99 for brekkie, lunch, trackday and a kart race. It's not so open, but the speeds tend to be lower than Elvington.

Deffo go for Elvington , I have done 2 there this year, its nice & open so no worries if it goes wrong.

teesside is very small but could be fun in the right car