**TRACKDAY** Brands Hatch Indy, 24 June

[James B]

Easily ........... and you will especially need to fill up if you have fuel starvation issues under half a tank like me.

The run to the shell station is not too bad ............ will they have any fuel though ?

There is a Texaco station nearby and I found their higher octane fuel pretty good.

I shall be down there the tonight and will check out the Shell station.

J.

[clive]

Have fun out there tomorrow,

We are going to pop out and see you "socialy" in the course of the morning/

[iaint]

Not very likely in a half-day event.  Last time we were there I managed ~70 miles on track and had no major issues BUT I would reccomend starting with ~3/4 of a tank in there.

[mpk490p]

Don\'t worry, you won\'t be a "noob" anymore this time next week (and I\'ll wager you\'ll want to go again!).

These events are well organised - just don\'t be late for the start!

Timetable
 
 07:30  Signing on  
 08:30  Safety briefing  
 09:00  Open lane begins  
 12:00  Track time ends

When you get to the main circuit entrance (off the main road by hotel), proceed through the circuit barriers. Someone might ask you why you are there, just say "trackday". Proceed on that road until you see the main grandstand to your left (you can\'t miss it, shops underneath). At the end of the Grandstand, to your left you will see the Octagon Restaurant, where the briefing normally takes place. Suggest we all gather in the car park near there - just look for other georgeous cars that look just like yours (unless you\'re first:))

The first hour involves signing to say you realise that driving a car at over 100mph can be dangerous and it\'s not the organiser\'s fault if you do something silly .

Seriously, you\'ll be told to get your car noise checked and a sticker will go on your windscreen to confirm you\'ve passed. The safety briefing is very thorough and will tell you about track "etiquette" for the event. Before the track opens there is normally a "follow me" session behind an instructor to show you the track and the "accepted" cornering lines. All the "recommended" braking points and corner apexes are marked with coloured cones and these will be explained during the briefing.

For the "noobs", with aplogies to the "vets"; some "pearls of wisdom" from previous trackdayers (not my own work!)

Make sure you have plenty of petrol when you arrive - there is a Texaco garage 0.5 mile from the circuit on the main road. You don\'t want to be going out to fill up halfway through the morning session! Expect 10-15mpg whilst ontrack. Remember RX-8 fuel pickup can get tricky on long right-handers like "Clearways/Clark Curve" on less than a quarter tank! A lap is 1.2miles.

Take it easy until tyres are warmed up and until you are familiar with the circuit.

Do not be tempted to do too many consecutive laps. It\'s about a minute a lap on the indy circuit, you\'ll find 10-15 laps is probably about right. By then your tyres, brakes and engine will need cooling down. Beware you may experience brake fade if you stay out too long, and your road tyres will literally start to melt.

It\'s suggested you do a "cooling down lap" before coming back into the pits (light braking, easy cornering, get some air across the brakes).

Come in and let everything cool down  - do NOT apply hand brake (use reverse gear if parking on the downward sloping pit lane, or park on the level in  agarage), open bonnet. RX-8\'ers may wish to remove the plastic engine cover for the event (leave it in the garage).

Check oil before, during and after the event.

Make sure tyre pressures are correct. Most people recommend  2-4 psi extra for the track, to stiffen up the sidewalls.

(RX-8\'s) Do not switch off DSC unless you are supremely confident.

Do not have anything loose laying around in the passenger compartment or boot. Use the garage to store any stuff.

Above all enjoy yourself and lets all have a good natter whilst the cars are cooling down.

After the event finishes we may wish to grab a bite at the "Octagon" reaturant (usaually the signing on anf briefing takes place here).[/COLOR]

Quote from Tom Chilton (BTCC driver);

"Paddock Hill is a real buzz. On TV it looks like any other corner but because there is such a hill, you actually hold your breath the first time you go down it! "

Anything anyone wants to add?

great advice just a couple of silly ones from me,
do you have to have acsess to a towing eye (one or both?)
do you need a skid lid for all track days? (not a problem i have one but its good to know the rules)

thanks
Mark

[iaint]

Helmet needed definately.

[RedRummy]

do you have to have acsess to a towing eye (one or both?)

There is no mention of towing eyes on the webiste T&Cs... however, if you go off and need to be \'recovered\' they\'ll prolly just wrap something round the chassis and yank it out...  wrecking the bumper(s)!!!

not sure if there are any gravel traps?

[James B]

There is no mention of towing eyes on the webiste T&Cs... however, if you go off and need to be \'recovered\' they\'ll prolly just wrap something round the chassis and yank it out...  wrecking the bumper(s)!!!

not sure if there are any gravel traps?

............. oh yes ......... big one at Paddock Hill bend.

J.

[Casey]

Towing eyes - good question!!

For RX-8 owners - you WILL be required to fit your FRONT towing eye in position before you go out on track (the marshalls will look the first time you try to exit the pit lane). For those of you who\'ve never fitted it, dead simple; there should (!) be two eyes in the boot. Snap out the "captive" plastic cover, top right of your "smile" grille at the front. Screw in eye and tighten usising standard wheelnut spanner. Job done in a few minutes. They\'ve never bothered to "request" fitting the one at the rear.

Not sure what the towing eye situation is with the 7\'s?

Helmets - compulsory at all trackdays I know. Not required for events such as the "North Weald" activity days with Andy Walsh of Car Limits.

Fuel. Good advice above. You\'ll be lucky if you get to 90 miles distance in a 3 hour session (70 more likely). At say 9mpg, that\'s potentially 8-10 gallons, so the fuller the tank at the start the batter, especially as the 8\'s (and 7\'s?)suffer from fuel starvation on less than a quarter tank on long right-hand bends! We\'ve experienced that problem MANY times at various circuits with long right handers!!

OK, less than 24 hours to go :mmmm:mmmm

[TRex]

Towing eye or a safe decent point for towing/pulling you is needed, but not mandatory!

  A couple years back with one of my FD\'s at Brands while cueing to get onto the track, the guys at the holding point to the track normally gives your car a quick once over and he noticed my car had absoutly no safe means of attachment for me to get pulled out of traps without wrecking my bumpers etc.
 He give me a stern warning and said it will be at my own risk if I need recovering, to which I agreed and made certain to stay on the track for my own good... :bandit

 So you should be fine, just stay on the track.... :chat

[RedRummy]

Looks like its going to be a hot day - all arms and legs need to be covered up right?

got get a bit steamy in there!

[Casey]

^^^^^Oddly enough, I thought the "arms and legs covered up" was generally a rule at these events, but I can\'t see anything on the MSV website that says this (but I might have missed it!).

Suggest come prepared to cover up, but might be worth bringing change of clothes in case it\'s OK?

[iaint]

Will be wearing a long-sleeved top and trousers - not been on a trackday where it wasn\'t a rule.

[maz13b]

I cant wait till tomorrow.  Sad thing I have to wake up at 6am.
Might go to sleep now to get some sort of sleep.

See you all tomorrow. Dont forget your driving licence.

Maz

[TRex]

See you girls in the morning.... :3gears-rh

 Oh, \'Baggsie\' on Pit #7.....:p

[RedRummy]

why pit 7?

and the \'covered legs and arms\' is on the T&Cs somewhere, i read on the website.