NationStates Jolt Archive

Ever tried it? Ever wanted to?

I went on my first trackday yesterday. It was a lot of fun and definitely money well-spent.

I was a bit scared at first because I was worried about faster cars behind me, and I kept going off-line to let them go past. I never quite shook that off all day, though people told me it was probably the most sensible thing to do for a newbie.

I improved my time from a 1:10 down to a 1:08, though I could have gone faster if it hadn't been for other cars, I had very few traffic-free laps. Still, it was great to see what my car is capable of (and what I'm not) and I had an M3 spin right in front of me (very spectacular). Plus, I broke my top speed record (170km/h+, though I was too busy watching the road to know the exact speed. Might even have been 180km/h).

I think I'm hooked, if I can find the time and money I'll definitely be going again.

Took a few pictures too.
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Leonstein/1-1.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Leonstein/2-1.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Leonstein/3-1.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Leonstein/4-1.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Leonstein/5-1.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Leonstein/6-1.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Leonstein/7-1.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Leonstein/8-1.jpg

So did anyone else ever go racing? What was it like? What sort of car did you use? Did you crash?

The first thing I thought upon seeing the thread title was that CToaN posted in the mafia forum that they don't have internet right now at his house. He would be all over this otherwise, I guess. :p

The first thing I thought upon seeing the thread title was that CToaN posted in the mafia forum that they don't have internet right now at his house.
Are you trying to tell me that you've never even wanted to go racing? Tsk, Tsk. ;)

Oh, and my fuel consumption averaged 16.2l/100km. Broke another recond. :D

Are you trying to tell me that you've never even wanted to go racing? Tsk, Tsk. ;)Actually, I go daily. Have a racetrack in the backyard and all. I just don't like to make a big deal out of it.

Actually, having all these different cars on a racetrack while racing there yourself would indeed scare the hell out of me. Isn't that fucking dangerous? I mean, how is it different from being on the Autobahn on a halfway crowded day except everyone is going over 150km/h and you can pass on the right, too?

Which reminds me: how come you've never gone faster than 170km/h before? Because the car(s) wouldn't go faster or because you only started driving in Australia?

Oh, and my fuel consumption averaged 16.2l/100km. Broke another recond. :D
Niiiiiice. :rolleyes::p

Did anyone else here cry when they watched "Cars"?

Actually, having all these different cars on a racetrack while racing there yourself would indeed scare the hell out of me. Isn't that fucking dangerous?
Well, I did sign a legal waver and give them all my medical info, so yeah. There are rules though that you're only allowed to overtake when the guy in front of you signalled for you to do it, and when something goes wrong it's always the fault of the overtaker.

They've never had a car to car collision, apparently. Always car to wall (one guy crashed his yesterday as well...somehow managed to completely miss the gravel trap). But I had people spin in front of me three times, so you gotta have your wits about you to make sure your reaction is the right one.

Which reminds me: how come you've never gone faster than 170km/h before? Because the car(s) wouldn't go faster or because you only started driving in Australia?
I was 16 when we came over here, and the national speed limit is 110. They used to have no limit zones in the NT outback, but they got rid of them.

I was in fourth gear, the car was still pulling hard and my exit from the last corner was hardly ideal. I would think that if you had enough room it could comfortably go over 200. The specs say 222km/h should be in it.

Wow, I had a post just disappear. That's odd.

Anyway, yeah, I've done a bit of racing in my time, turned out fairly handy at it, too.

Wow, I had a post just disappear. That's odd.
Probably lost in the time warp. It'll turn up in a few months or so.

Anyway, yeah, I've done a bit of racing in my time, turned out fairly handy at it, too.
I've got a feeling I'm not a naturally born racing driver. Some other guy in a Clio182 who was in the newbie group as well did a 1:06 on his first lap. Though he used to race in an open-wheeler category, so maybe that's the reason. :p

Still, I had heaps of fun, and that's the important thing.

But I had people spin in front of me three times, so you gotta have your wits about you to make sure your reaction is the right one.No shit.

I was 16 when we came over here,
Wow, I had no idea. I thought you were about 24 now and had only moved there 3 or 4 years ago. Dunno why, really.

and the national speed limit is 110. They used to have no limit zones in the NT outback, but they got rid of them.

I was in fourth gear, the car was still pulling hard and my exit from the last corner was hardly ideal. I would think that if you had enough room it could comfortably go over 200. The specs say 222km/h should be in it.
Okay, I'm all for speed limits, but in the Australian outback? Seriously? Either way, it's surely not like they're actually patrolling it (by cop or by camera) so I say you go drive your fast little car there some day and see how fast it can go. But try not to make any marsupial road kill, if you please.

But try not to make any marsupial road kill, if you please.
Well, most of the road kill is due to the road trains. They have big cow/kangaroo catchers in front and are trained not to brake (you'd never stop in time anyway and just injure rather than kill outright) or go around it (physics won't let you). So you keep seeing dead kangaroos and cows out there on the road. I think sometimes someone drives by to pick them up (and presumably turn them to hot dogs or something).

Probably lost in the time warp. It'll turn up in a few months or so.

Yeah...this thread will get randomly bumped in a few months by that post...


I've got a feeling I'm not a naturally born racing driver. Some other guy in a Clio182 who was in the newbie group as well did a 1:06 on his first lap. Though he used to race in an open-wheeler category, so maybe that's the reason. :p

Still, I had heaps of fun, and that's the important thing.

Yeah, as long as you enjoy it, it doesn't matter how good you are.

I used to do karting, won a few races and held a few lap records in my time, but could never afford/be bothered to take it much further than that. Did a one day rally, once, that was awesome. I've done a few track days in pretty cool machinery, too, my friend's dad had a Caterham and I was 2s faster a lap than him after 2 laps, when he'd been racing it for about 5 years and winning, so that was cool.

Maybe in the future when I can afford to I'll take up club racing.

i haven't yet, but it's definitely something i'd want to get in to. only have a 1.4 vw polo at the mo, hardly the kind of vehicle to be racing in.

Ever tried it? Ever wanted to?

I went on my first trackday yesterday. It was a lot of fun and definitely money well-spent.

I was a bit scared at first because I was worried about faster cars behind me, and I kept going off-line to let them go past. I never quite shook that off all day, though people told me it was probably the most sensible thing to do for a newbie.

I improved my time from a 1:10 down to a 1:08, though I could have gone faster if it hadn't been for other cars, I had very few traffic-free laps. Still, it was great to see what my car is capable of (and what I'm not) and I had an M3 spin right in front of me (very spectacular). Plus, I broke my top speed record (170km/h+, though I was too busy watching the road to know the exact speed. Might even have been 180km/h).

I think I'm hooked, if I can find the time and money I'll definitely be going again.

Took a few pictures too.
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Leonstein/1-1.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Leonstein/2-1.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Leonstein/3-1.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Leonstein/4-1.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Leonstein/5-1.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Leonstein/6-1.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Leonstein/7-1.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Leonstein/8-1.jpg

So did anyone else ever go racing? What was it like? What sort of car did you use? Did you crash?

The only racing I've done is radio control racing.

Wouldn't ever think of doing so.

I did a track day at Sandown a couple of years ago in my 306. I loved it, but wasn't particularly good! I've always intended to do more, but lack of funds & fear of writing off my car has stopped me.

I've not actually driven on a track day myself, but a friend took me round Brands Hatch in his Lotus Esprit Sport 300. It was absolutely fantastic, but I think I'll wait until I have something a bit more powerful than a 1.4 Fiat Punto until I try it for myself. :p

I've not actually driven on a track day myself, but a friend took me round Brands Hatch in his Lotus Esprit Sport 300. It was absolutely fantastic, but I think I'll wait until I have something a bit more powerful than a 1.4 Fiat Punto until I try it for myself. :p
Maybe you could pull out the rear seats, put in a race seat, get a suspension upgrade and bigger brakes and maybe a turbo. Might be cheaper than a different car. ;)

A mate of mine just bought an ancient little Suzuki Swift ('89, I think) with 208 horses at the wheels from a 1.2l engine (it was reduced in size to comply with hillclimb regulations). It's a bit of an all-or-nothing affair with the boost, but no less manic for it.

Oh, and my fuel consumption averaged 16.2l/100km. Broke another recond. :D

lower or upper record?