SiT

Just got an early birthday present and I am off to Castle Combe next Sat for a Book A Track Open Pit Lane Day!

Very excited and nervous too, just spent sometime reading through the Trackday FAQ which has gone some way to settling my nerves. Going to have a few sessions of 30min instruction I think as it's my first day there as a driver.

In the event of bad weather how do these things run normally and if it's not nice do you think soft top or hard top??

Si

LTB

You'll have a lot of fun at Castle Combe.

If it's wet just take it a little easier into Camp corner as if you get that wrong at speed you'll be picking metal out of the wall.

MB

It has to be really bad for them to cancel. If it's raining, no reason not to just stick with the softop - it's less weight to lug around.

I've got some footage of Combe here from the first time i'd been (bit slippy - and no, I couldn not heel toe with those pedals!)

http://vimeo.com/2453431

Great track though, but take it easy. Say hello to Jonny from BaT for me

MB

Other tips are get your car sorted when you get there in the morning (tyre pressures / remove spare wheel and crap from the cabin / fit towing eyes) then get out on the sighting laps straight away after the briefing. It's a track where i'd also look to book some instruction early on.

There's a cafe / breakfast place there, but no garages to store things either.

zzkamikazezz

Warning, be prepared to get hooked

Thats what happened to me.

Advice would be upgrade you brake fluid and pads if you want to go hard on the brakes. Also could be worth getting your tyres nitrogen filled for stable pressures, but its still cold this time of year so they won't get too hot I expect. Its only a few quid per tyre from quick fit and the like.

BirdShot

This is very true.

Yankee here, thought I would chime in.

Just listen to your instructor and take it easy, don't try to set the world on fire your first day out. Looks like a fun track but be very mindful of those walls!

Mad Mart

It's a great track (my local). Once you've done one track day you'll be hooked.

I have several vids on you tube. Search for Mad Mart Dolly Sprint.

m1bjr

My local too.

It's February, so it is going to be slippery.

If it rains it's going to be VERY slippery.

Get an instructor who knows the WET LINE around Combe if this happens.
The route is very different in the wet - try driving the normal line as a novice and you'll be off backwards fairly quickly.
Heavy cars fare better in the rain, dont try to keep up.

The white lines at the starting grid a lethal in the wet, and having an off here as MB says is 70mph plus.
At the end of the fastest part (by the pits) and up the hill is a big depression in your braking area.
This is AVON RISE.
Keep the car straight at the top here, or you will spin into Quarry.
You could be doing 120mph here if you are confident, so it WILL get tricky...

Combe demands a LOT of respect, there is no runoff anywhere and a simple mistake will see you home on a low loader.
Check out videos on Youtube, search for Quarry Corner.
There is a local gang called the Quarry Massive who will cpature your folly

Take it very easy. I have never been there and not seen at least one wreck on every event.
Please do NOT be that guy.

The briefing is good, listen to the wise words.
There are normally a lot of regulars, dont try to keep up with the local in the w@nk Clio. You probably won't.
Old local boy 'Dave' is good fun as an instructor (he will take the piss a lot though regarding hair products)

Its as safe as YOU make it.
Drive like you do on the road for a couple of goes and all will be well.

MOST ACCIDENTS HAPPEN AFTER LUNCH and later in the day. You will find out why.

Steve

MB

Once when I was there, there was an old bloke with a beard, in a stripped out DC2, destroying everything. GT3s, Caterhams. Very impressive.

I had several people give me a bit of stick for not going 100% balls out on track there, but there really is little point if you aren't winning medals.

Go and enjoy

Hoobahole

I did a track day in my Westfield a couple of years back. They were salting the track in the morning to try and get it ready!!!!

Weather would have to be terrible for them to stop it :-)