I've never been out on a race track and I'm trying to save up a little money to have a go, whats the best way to go about it? I can't go in my current car (Mostly because I think it would fall over but also because it's on HP and I specifically agreed not to) but I'm looking into swapping it with in the next 12 months, hopefully for an Mx5. I've read alot of there club stuff, and wonder would it be better to go out with a club to the track?

Would I be better to wait till I've got a suitable road car/borrow one from a mate, or would it be better to rent a specific track type car? I can't drive a manual on the road for legal/disability reasons, but I can actually do it (Not well as I've not done it for a long time) so I'd prefer to do it in something without a clutch pedal.

Whats the best track to go to for a first timer in the south east?

Finally, what would be the best car to learn track driving in? I'm intrested in knowing engine plaement/drive wheel type stuff as well as just specific cars.

Thanks in advance for your help.

I'd say your best bet is to look into tuition. Maybe do a bit of karting to brush up a bit on the fundimentals. Maybe even ask if you can get a ride out with someone one here if they're going on a track day so you can see what someone who is experienced/confident can do and then ask questions!

brands hatch close enough?

the indy circuit is quite easy to remember, has some fun corners too. mx5's make a nice track car. as for learning you could probebly just pick a day that is focused for beginners.

thats as much info i can give having not had first hand experience,

Im going to try my first track day in Germany apparently 70 plus twisty bits gulp

get up to brooklands onto the Mercedes test track all their amg models are auto and flappy paddle thingies

Mazda on Track do well organised days and I'd imagine would have some events at Brands. Nick, the organiser, races in the Max5 championship and offers tuition at modest cost. They usually get a healthy turnout of MX5s so you won't be swamped by full on racers.

Sessioned trackdays will often be split into novice, intermediate and advanced groups, but I'd try for an open pit lane day if you can. It means you can come and go as you please and if you overcook a corner, you can come straight into the pits, cool off, have a think about why you went wrong, then go back out.

If it's sessioned, if you have a bit of a spill, you'll want to stay out for your full 20 minutes otherwise you're wasting your day. Similarly, If you've had enough at 15 minutes, you'll try stay out for the full 20 minutes. Neither are good.

I've had more fun in an Mx5 at trackdays than we did in Avoneer's Bitsablade, though I think that's more down to experience than anything. They're super practical and all weather too, with a corking heater.

The slushbox might dull the experience a bit but there's a guy in Greece that runs a 200+bhp auto and has plenty of track time under his belt.

Thanks for the advice so far and keep it coming.

Brands hatch was my first though of where to go as I know how to get there and it's not particularly far but I wasn't sure how difficult it was or anything like that so I'll have a look into it. I'd like to have a go on track with in something with a robotised box like the one in my panda, but a better one in a more sporty car. Would it be worth trying to have a go in a manual? Because a mate at work suggested something about going up with someone else and both driving. It would be nice to go with a friend.

I'd love to get some tutition, what kind of money should I expect to pay?

What other cost are there to bare in mind? would I need anything apart from a car, I'm guessing I'd want a helmet.

Again thanks for the advice, my first time driving on a track for real is probably still a long way away, but I'd like to know as much before hand as is possible.

Also, I'm useless at racing games, how does actually being on track compare?

I'd recommend the local tracks to you, so lydden or brands.

Costs to bear in mind:
Helmet
Car Wear, Tyres etc...
Track Cost
Getting to and from the cost
Petrol during the day
Food

Thats about it for a track day providing nothing goes wrong like a broken car.

To learn the basic layout of the track, racing games are fine which is all you would really want on your first time out. Fine tuning you cant really do on the games.

Anyway U2U sent

Tuition is free at Lydden

Borrow a helmet, get a £200 car and thrash it around as a taster, then flog afterwards, any road car will wobble around as you will not have the brakes or suspension so get something small and light and strip out the interior if you can be bothered.

Plenty of old stuff trundles around Lydden as they are all about having fun and its local to you.

Regards Mark

[Edited on 14/6/11 by mark chandler]

Hi Marcus

As Mark says Lyddens close to you and tuition by Bill Richards is free. I have sent you a u2u. Barry

I'm a member of Lotus on track. On their trackdays, a tuition session is about £20 IIRC, and hire of a helmet £10-15. If you only intend doing the odd track day, then it may not be worth buying a helmet.

I can't comment on whether it would be better for you personally to drive a manual or an auto, though I would have though all other things being equal an auto might be a bit slow out of corners?

As to tracks, I've been on several, and Brands is about my favourite (not just because it is only 20 minutes from home!). Particularly if you've got a car that hasn't got huge power, the Indy circuit is great as lots of it is corners so you can build your skill and improve your line on each lap, even if other cars hoon past on the straight. Also, the Indy is only about a mile long so you quickly get to learn the corners.

The only thing about Brands is it is a bit tight and certain parts don't have much runoff, but LoT (and I guess other trackday organisers) do run trackdays for beginners, or sessioned days which split up beginners, intermediates and experienced drives so you should be able to go out with drivers of similar (i.e. none or limited) track experience for your first time.

oh, and I hate/am useless at video games, but I found being on a track is different as you are actually connected to the bits that go/stop/turn

(I've also been to Lydden to watch, and it looks like fun too)

[Edited on 14.06.2011 by Humbug]

As above, Lydden Hill is perfect for a beginner. Cheap, easy to get to (I see you're in Kent), free tuition and well managed. The circuit is small and easy to learn but very difficult to master.

I did my first tackday at Lydden.

[Edited on 14-6-2011 by Worzey]