Thinking of booking my 1st trackday at Oulton Park but they only seem to have 2 novice sessioned days, one in July (next week) and one in September.

There seem to be plenty of open lane days but they advise against these for novices for obvious reasons.

I've done the usual single seater days & rally days no problem but don't want to find an Ultima up my end.

Do you think I would be OK on an Open Lane day. Gives much more choice.

Did my first one on an open pit day and it was OK. Just keep well to the right on the straight bits and you should be OK.

You'll be fine!

Get there early and go out for a couple of feeler laps then come in for a bit, check your car, whilst everyone swarms the track then pick and choose quieter times if you need to.

Within a couple of laps you'll be going just as fast as most others anyway so don't worry about it!!!

Steve

Come on the 15th July to the open pit day, should be loads of spaces free. Its my first time and a mates second!

you wont be the only one there for the first time, take note of the briefing and build up speed steadily. if you can its worth doing out with an instructer as you will come on fasted with confidance, the first hour or so most people try and go out on track, after that its works out quite steady with some good gaps between cars,

I've just actually read all of your first post!!!

You've been on track before in single eaters and rally days? Well then you will never find an Ultima up your bum!!! More than likely the other way around!!!

Steve

ive not been on a track day before i always find a decent excuse
once ive got mine mapped i think ill do a novice day some where then go straight to cadwell as its only 5 mins from my house
im going to try and get a passenger ride around a few circuits before hand so ive some idea as to what the circuits are like

Thanks for the advice guys I feel alot happier now about an open pit lane day.

16th would be good but were going to Goodwood FOS the weekend before and that day is also my eldest's 21st so might not be able to make it. Real shame as it'd be great to meet up. Might give it some serious thought to see if I can swing it though.

Otherwise I'm going to try for a day in August and hope there will be others there too.

Did Formula 1st at Cadwell in 1986 and Subaru's at Whitchurch Rally School in 2003. Got black flagged at Cadwell for driving too fast in the wet and was voted best driver of the day in the Subaru but in 27 years of driving I've not had a RWD car until the locost so a bit nervous about it still.

Still some really good advice above will help greatly.

I think sessioned days are often counter productive. It takes a while at the start of each session for the faster cars to work through the queue. It's at least as distracting for a novice as it is on an open pit lane, maybe more. The benefits of OPL far outweighs any perceived safety on a sessioned day. Remember, they don't session by speed (of either car or driver), they session by experience.