Track days in a 1.0?

[qwerty]

Place local to me is doing track evenings for £35. Always wanted to have a go.

Only problem is the Polo is only a 1.0 with a snorting 45hp(when new!)

It's had a few handling mods and I can strip some weight out of it, but do you think I'd be a liability on track? Don't want to be a mobile speed hump, especially as I've never been on track before.

Tom

[820]

I would say go down and watch a couple of the track days, see the cars and take in the atmosphere, I am sure you will be fine in a 1.0 Polo, it is not a race and as long as you watch your mirrors it will be good fun.
The only thing I must warn you about is getting a taste for it, it can get you hooked.

[BT]

Brands hatch do them for the same price.

The rules are pretty defined. Down here they are anyway. On these nights there is no overtaking in the corners, only on the straights and other such rules.

I think you'd be fine, if in doubt phone up and ask, they'll be able to give you far better advice than us, but I doubt there will be a problem.

[820]

Feb 17, 2017 13:21:48 GMT BT said:

Brands hatch do them for the same price.

The rules are pretty defined. Down here they are anyway. On these nights there is no overtaking in the corners, only on the straights and other such rules.

I think you'd be fine, if in doubt phone up and ask, they'll be able to give you far better advice than us, but I doubt there will be a problem.

I have been paying almost 4 times that for Brands Hatch track evenings, tell me more about the £35 evenings.

[qwerty]

Good advice.

The next one is in March so I'll head down and see what it's like.

If an addiction to track days gives me more motivation to get the Polo done it can only be a good thing!

Not sure SWMBO will see it that way though.

Tom

[Rich]

Watch this. low capacity and power doesn't always equal low fun. This looks like it was immense.

[VW]

Fun is all about the ratio between power and grip

[theheap]

£35 for brands hatch!?

[BT]

820

looking back I thought it was last year, it wasn't it was the year before.

They weren't track days, but track sessions that I paid £35 a go for, think it was either Wednesday or Thursday evenings. I'm sure I have the emails saved with details saved. I'll try and fit one out.

[jimspolicev8sd1]

Feb 17, 2017 13:43:05 GMT Rich said:

Watch this. low capacity and power doesn't always equal low fun. This looks like it was immense.

Still one of my favourite videos on youtube. I used to do a newspaper round in a Peugeot 106 diesel van. No turbo and no power steering, but lots of fun. Never brake, just scrub off speed sideways. I'm off to the Nurburgring in April, but I'm taking a Nissan and a turbo!

[jaykay]

Feb 17, 2017 13:35:08 GMT 820 said:

Feb 17, 2017 13:21:48 GMT BT said:

Brands hatch do them for the same price.

The rules are pretty defined. Down here they are anyway. On these nights there is no overtaking in the corners, only on the straights and other such rules.

I think you'd be fine, if in doubt phone up and ask, they'll be able to give you far better advice than us, but I doubt there will be a problem.

I have been paying almost 4 times that for Brands Hatch track evenings, tell me more about the £35 evenings.

I just thought the same. At the price i would take the car round to learn it a bit better for the bike..

[darrenh]

i did a track day at blyton park with 57bhp diesel astra estate, i think yours will be positively sporting

must admit i spent the entire day getting out of peoples way, but still had a blast. plus ive done many many track days in stuff way more powerful and agile, so i felt a bit like tiff needel on 5th gear chucking this about

[MkX]

Feb 17, 2017 12:51:13 GMT qwerty said:

Place local to me is doing track evenings for £35. Always wanted to have a go.

Only problem is the Polo is only a 1.0 with a snorting 45hp(when new!)

It's had a few handling mods and I can strip some weight out of it, but do you think I'd be a liability on track? Don't want to be a mobile speed hump, especially as I've never been on track before.

Tom

Here's a clip of people enjoying their 500cc cars at a Castle Combe track day. Mostly Coopers with 500cc 38hp J.A.P. engines.
With the possible exception of a Reliant Robin, you can have fun in anything with an engine regardless of how big or small that engine is. 

[MkX]

Political correctness gone technologically mad:-
The engines I mentioned above were made by J A Prestwich Industries. They were sold as J.A.P. but without the full stops / periods I've had to put in.
This website won't let me type in the 3 letter name without punctuation as it's obviously been programmed to block that unpunctuated 3 letter word because someone hasn't realised that this 3 letter word can be used correctly without intending a casual racial slur.

[slater]

I actually thing slower cars are better for track days. You can just get on and drive and let people find their way past you. You don't need to let them past.

[taurus]

What lunacy is this?

A track day in a 1.0 Polo!

You are barking mad. I salute you sir.





(Currently driving a 1.0 Yaris with only half an exhaust and desperately trying to blow it up so I can buy something else.)

[astranaut]

I was debating doing one in my 59bhp 1.4 Astra and had the same concerns but I was told it's better to go in a car like that with no experience, as the lack of power is less likely to kill me thinking I'm a racing driver. I think the gist of what the guy was saying was if something did happen, it wouldn't be as dramatic as a car with more power. Still need to get out and do it though.

[qwerty]

Thanks for all the input guys.

Plan is to go down and check it out first and then book myself on one.

Hopefully will be a good time!

Tom

[froggy]

when I do track days occasionally there's something that's just in a league of its own just ridiculously fast and I wonder how much fun it is when everything else is just getting in the way . Last track day I did both my cars were broke so used a 1.6mx5 and had a brilliant day even though I couldn't get past anything else just enjoyed trying to maintain max speed everywhere

[nomad]

Just noticed this - now bookmarked

I'm curious which track, I can't think of anything local can you PM me if it's a secret    
Could also be interested in a run down (co-pilot?) if the dates work for me
That sounds too cheap to pass up.

I've done a couple of bike days at Croft a few years ago ( 1 days training, and 1 trackday)   and they were very strict about noise.

Check for any local rules or limits at your place.