Drive Day - What Can I Expect?

[F6 Grandad]

I've just received my drive day confirmation for Sept 29th at Sandown! Interestingly and apart from ensuring that all the fluid levels are OK, I noted that it's recommended that I inflate the tyres to 45 PSI (I run mine at 40 PSI now) which seems a bit high, but maybe someone has a view on this. Also, this will be my first time, so what can I expect?

Cheers......

[Full Monty]

I would say 42psi minimum.

I did an advanced/performance drive day at sandown last year, with John Bowe Driving.

Its a blast you will have an awesome day, and come away a better driver, with a better understanding of your car and your combined limits.

as the car is almost new ( I assume) you wont need to do Brakes etc. just make sure you have a nice firm brake pedal, fluids are all checked and top up the tires.

Do a search for my previous posts on the topic, where I shared some of my experiences from the day.

The course you will be doing is a combination of defensive driving, with a few advanced concepts introduced later in the day.

• Braking from various speeds, possibly wet and dry.

• braking and avoidance

• understanding ABS and its impact on stopping distances (how to maximise its potential).

• some slalom work, between witches hats, learning throttle control, getting the car to flow.

• after lunch you will get to do a few sections of the track - a few corners at a time.

• at the end of the day you will get to put it all together, doing some controlled laps (no full length straights (witches hats chicaine midway to control top speeds).

If you are with John Bowe driving, say g'day to my mate Dean Sammut, who will likely be one of your instructors.

Gav

Gav

Edited 30/06/08 07:50 AM by Full Monty

[F6 Grandad]

Cheers Gav and tks for the info. From all that I've read and researched it should be a magic day. I'm a beginner when it involves any type of track work so this is going to be a lifelong wish come true. My car is new (1,800 klms atm), but will have had the 3 - 5k check out of the way before the drive day. I'll take your advice re the tips above. Tks again.

Dave

[Will]

G'day all. I am going this Thursday 3rd July at Sandown for the FPV day. Is any one else going on Thursday ??

[teebone]

I've just received my drive day confirmation for Sept 29th at Sandown! Interestingly and apart from ensuring that all the fluid levels are OK, I noted that it's recommended that I inflate the tyres to 45 PSI (I run mine at 40 PSI now) which seems a bit high, but maybe someone has a view on this. Also, this will be my first time, so what can I expect?

Cheers......

Did mine a few weeks back - it is an excellent experience, particularly if you havent done any circuit stuff before. The morning is defensive driving type training but a bit more racy than what I have done before and then the afternoon is split between a gymkana and circuit laps.

Be prepared to take a few K's off your tyre life, particularly on the gymkana which is done on a rough surface at sandown away from the circuit, so my advice would be to not thrash around to avoid cutting up the tyres - you shouldnt need to anyway to get a good time (as I learnt later).

The circuit laps are speed restricted on the longer straights by putting in chicanes with plastic bollards and you have to go thru the pits each lap so things dont get out of control, so if you have done circuit racing before it might be a bit restrictive. However, for the rest of us its fantastic and I didnt realise just how hard these cars can accelerate, brake and corner.

I was bit apprehensive before going but always felt safe on the day by a combination of the car itself and following the instructors advice. Get one of the instructors to take you around the circuit - I thought I was going hard after a few laps but was probably only doing 6/10ths!

Enjoy!