First Track Day - Brands Hatch And How It Started So Badly!

[kevip6]

So today was the big day! My first track day and a trip to Brands Hatch with my day for a Novice sessioned event I'd booked a few months ago to tie in with his 60th birthday yesterday.

I've been planning since I booked it, sorting out very generous loans of a trailer from Bernie (Soot1e) to get it there and a Helmet from Pete (Pistol) as well as a list of items/tools to take with me.

Well this morning finally came and despite being promised rain and even snow, it was dry and even sunny when I got up at 6 to load the car on the trailer.

This is where it started going wrong!

The trailer was a slightly tighter fit than I was expecting and getting the car on I caught the bottom tip of the rear near side wheel arch on the metal light unit on the trailer. So backing up slightly to correct my line I heard the slight scrape then followed by a massive crack! On the way back the arch had managed to twist with the bracket breaking the plastic bolts holding the detachable arch in place and putting a big crack in the arch itself. Bernie, the trailer is absolutely fine and won the battle hands down.

So I loaded the car again and got some M6 bolts, big washers, and Nylocs to repair the wing at the circuit.

The journey there was great, not too much traffic and made it there with time to grab a garage and start fixing the arch before the driver briefing.

So I jacked up the car and removed the wheel, bolted the arch back on and was ready to put the wheel back on when I noticed a massive screw in the tyre. Removing the screw lead to and instantly flat tyre! This was not going well!!

Luckily, I'd brought a spare set of wheels with me, my original 15" wheels with the standard Westfield Avons on. It was now time for the briefing though so

I had to leave it and head up. We were the first session out on track so I had to run down and start changing the wheels as the other headed out for their sighting laps. The two rears were fine but I'd had to 'modify' the front cycle wing brackets to fit the Toyo 888's under them and this would have been a total loss to try and sort that out now and so I had to continue with 13" Toyo 888's on the front and 15" Avons on the rear!

This was a touch tricky in the greasy conditions of the first couple of sessions and maybe contributed (although it was actually down to waaaay too much speed and lifting off in the corner) to my Dad spinning the car on his second lap of driving!!!

Luckily this didn't put him off and we had a fantastic day on track getting better and better as the day went on and thankfully without any other incidents!!!

What a great track Brands Hatch is as well, some really tricky corners to play with and loads of elevation change.

And the car was faultless all day.

[matt nossiter]

Once you've done one trackday you get hooked , whens your next day ?

[kevip6]

Nothing booked yet, but itching to get back out!! Was great fun doing it with my dad as well, think he really enjoyed it.

I'll do an open pit lane next time and grab some tuition sessions whilst I'm there, funnily enough, I was really fast on the straights compared to the other cars but loosing time in the corners which I'm sure shouldn't be the case with a Westfield!! I think the mix match of tyres didn't help matters though, certainly wasn't confidence inspiring but also helped me learn a little about balancing the car.

[Young Pretender]

Thinking of Brands for my first track day as it's very local. Really wanted something with plenty of run off areas for my miscalculations but I think convenience will win!

[Mark (smokey mow)]

Sounds like you've had quite an eventful day but lots of fun

[Cleggy the Spyder Man]

ahh occasionally these little mishaps come along - yours can easily be sorted and your Dad has a great memory of the day too

car looks great in the photos

must try BH at some point this year

[kevip6]

Sounds like you've had quite an eventful day but lots of fun

Ha Ha, you could say that!! Was gutted about the wheel arch but I think I'll repair it and then fit atone guards which will cover the damaged area anyway if I get the larger carbon effect ones (or actual carbon ones )

[kevip6]

ahh occasionally these little mishaps come along - yours can easily be sorted and your Dad has a great memory of the day too

car looks great in the photos

must try BH at some point this year

Yes, I'm not going to beat myself up over it, the fact the car did a great job all day on the track despite the hicups was more than enough for me to come home with a big smile on my face. That's why we get the detachable wheel arches in the first place I guess!

[Pistol Pete]

^{Well done, wow what a first track day.}

^{I have plans for another track day at brands with my pa tagging along. Also there's a WSCC in Suffolk somewhere that we should all look at doing and there are quite cheap evening sessions at Snetterton.}

^{Just be please you haven't got a narrow and have to replace the whole tub when you get a crack in the arche, oh for detachable arches.}

^{Already commented on the other thread but great helment - must be worth aleast three seconds around brands!}

[Cleggy the Spyder Man]

yup - and a lot of people use plastic bolts/nuts to secure them too so less damage to the tub if you decide to rip one off

[Mark (smokey mow)]

^{Also there's a WSCC in Suffolk somewhere that we should all look at doing and there are quite cheap evening sessions at Snetterton.}

8th September, Woodbridge Hopefully we can get a few of us to go along

[kevip6]

yup - and a lot of people use plastic bolts/nuts to secure them too so less damage to the tub if you decide to rip one off

That's exactly what I did, sheered the plastic bolts but the tubs in tact!

[kevip6]

8th September, Woodbridge Hopefully we can get a few of us to go along

Was just about to mention that, I'm definitely up for that one

[Pistol Pete]

Thats the one. :t-up:

[pete g]

if you can get the same colour match from westfield you should be able to do a good repair.

i have a pair of carbon effect arches you can test to see if it will cover the damage.