I've been asked to put together some notes to help beginners to get started on track days. These notes are based on 2 seasons of trackdays with 96 Club, of which I am member, and 1 or 2 days with the other clubs. I have assumed little or no knowledge. My apologies if they are BGO (Blinding Glimpses of the Obvious). I have caried out a minor update for 2000.
Track days are an opportunity to explore the limits of your car in the relatively safe environment of a race circuit in a way that would be neither sensible nor legal on the road. You need little or no modification to your car, and you do not need a competition licence. The downside is that track use is harder on the car than road use: 1 track mile is the equivalent of 2 or perhaps 3 road miles. Tyres, brakes etc. wear that much quicker.
The subsequent paragraphs are intended to help you to get started. I am very grateful to Adrian Rose for his assistance preparing this article by sharing his experiences of his first season, and for checking and suggesting improvements to the finished product.
Track days are usually organised by clubs, the following are the mainstream clubs: 96 Club, Gold Track Club, and Club 89. Other clubs also provide track days. Club 89 was the subject of a commercial takeover by Brands Hatch Leisure Group during the closed season 1998/9, and is now called 'On Track'. 96 Club is not going to arrange track days at UK tracks for the 2000 season, but will continue to organise trackdays on the Continent. It has recommended the RMA Circuit Club for UK trackdays.
For the absolute beginner, there is much to be said for the Club Lotus Fast Driving Day at Castle Combe. This is more of a taste of circuit driving than anything. There is still a big step from the uncrowded track, cars of similar performance, and short track sessions, to the level of concentration required with up to 30 cars of widely differing performance on track for 30 min sessions that you will get with the mainstream clubs. Most novices find 96 Club a bit daunting. You are rather thrown in at the deep end. I was, and that was a comment by several people I have since introduced to the club. Both of the other 2 clubs are more orientated towards novices. I think Gold Track has a nicer, less commercial feel than Club 89, but in practice there isn't anything much in it. The Official Lotus Club offers concessionary rates for the Lotus driver training days run by the factory at Hethel. Last season they aranged 1 very good day at the Williams test track at Didcot, but nothing since. RMA has the sole concession for arranging trackdays at the Bedford Autodrome. This is a pupose built track with wide run-off areas, no gravel traps and little Armco. This is probably the best bet for a novice.
Once you have progressed beyond the tyro stage, and are reasonably competent and confident on track, then there were positive advantages to 96 Club. The members took it seriously, and, for me, the presence of Lotus factory cars and personnel were a definite plus. The 1999 season with 96 Club disappointed, with some administative difficulties, poor attendance, cancellation of events and no Lotus factory participation. For the 2000 season, I understand that the factory will be running with On Track. The Bedford Autodrome reminds me of a full size kart track, and beyond this the RMA programme isn't very exciting, lacking Castle Combe, Silverstone and Brands Hatch. Gold Track is running a full programme. However, in truth, once you are at this stage there isn't much difference out on track. There is as much variation between different circuits with the same club as there is between different clubs on the same circuit.
The Circuit News, which lists track time with all the major clubs and the Lotus Driver's Club which offers concessionary rates with the Gold Track Club are other options which should be considered.
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