EC raceway driver training

[Duffman]

Just wondering if anyone has done the driver training/track day thing at eastern creek raceway. If so, was it worthwhile?

I ask as i'm considering either that or going down to waikfield park for a day. The EC option is more expensive but offers tuition for beginners such as myself. The idea of going down to WP fo $100 was pretty enticing however i'm thinking that it's probably not the smartest thing for someone with my limited expirience to jump straight into the deep end. WP also mention something about a $50 annual license?

Any info would be greatly appreciated
cheers, Tom

[BOMI]

Mate, EC rocks, its so fast and well, fast, I love it. Have never done proper DT there but did get 3 laps for free from a DT that was there.


Do it, you will NOT regret it.


Troy :)

[Duffman]

Thanks Troy. So you did a couple of laps on your own then? On the website for eastern creek it says you cannot drive there without doing their $300 tuition/track day package unless you hire out the whole track. Is that a load of BS?

[lautray]

Imo Wakefield would be much better suited for a beginner even though there may not be any tuition on hand... speeds are slower & much less to hit i.e. plenty of run-off if things go awry. When you have a handle on the car a bit more, then venture to EC. Like Troy said, EC is a fantastic circuit, but it can bite you :yep: . Very, very fast down the straight... try 230+km/h :shock:. I did an EC track day recently & did have one of their instructors jump in the car for a few laps... he just pointed out some better entry/exit lines for turns. That's about it.

[NickS]

As lautray said ... the EC "driver training" is pretty basic. We spent Monday this week with Luffy down at Wakefield and he teaches you a hell of a lot more than the guys at EC. The fact that he has been doing it for 25+ years probably helps there.

The guys at EC will teach you the track, but they don't really teach you how to drive. Head down to Wakefield and take your time, it's pretty safe down there and it's not real likely that things will go wrong if you keep your head.

:cheers:

[Duffman]

Waikfield it is then! If eastern creek really is that fast then it probably wouldn't be a good idea to go there for my first trackday. Inexpirience is a concern, but my main reasoning is that i don't thing i'd trust the standard holden brakes for long after a couple of high speed stops.

So whats the deal with this Australian Motorsport Alliance License that waikfield requires? Can you get it at the venue?

[NickS]

So whats the deal with this Australian Motorsport Alliance License that waikfield requires? Can you get it at the venue?

Wakefield has an annual licence ... not sure what the whole deal with it is, I assume it's just a way of raising money for the track ???

Anyway ... you can pick one up for $50 at the track, they take your photo on the spot and issue the licence, don't need to pay that $50 again for another year.

[DaveHAT]

:jumps on the band wagon:

Another vote for Wakefield Park as a circuit better suited to beginners.

I've ridden around EC on a road bike and driven it once in a car & whilst it's a great circuit I presonally wouldn't recommend it for someone doing their 1st circuit day. Much faster and much more to hit if the pear shaped thing happens.

Last weekend was my first track day with this car ... and whilst I essentially sucked at it ... it was great fun. I had a monumental off on the back straight and carried a slide tha felt like it went for friggen ages :shock: . I hit nothing and got nothing worse than an interior full of gravel/rocks/grass and a bruised ego. Pretty happy about that.

WP gets my vote.

[lautray]

I had a monumental off on the back straight and carried a slide tha felt like it went for friggen ages :shock: .
I saw Dave's "monumental off" from the pitwall & it looked to go for ages too :yep: :bravo: :lol: :waving: .

[MY Racing 221]

Yep, definitely go to Wakefield. The Creek is an awesome circuit, but not really recommended for a rookie. Get a bit of a taste and some instruction at WP, then move up to EC.

Why don't you try and find a day that a few people from here can come along with you and perhaps give you some pointers. I'm keen to perhaps do a test day there later this year, so I'd be happy to jump in for a few laps too.

If you want an EC fix, there are a couple of in car vids here: http://www.trackchat.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=1546

[Duffman]

Why don't you try and find a day that a few people from here can come along with you and perhaps give you some pointers. I'm keen to perhaps do a test day there later this year, so I'd be happy to jump in for a few laps too.

Sounds like a good plan. I read Tiger ss' thread on tips for beginners and found that to be pretty informative, so going with some more expirienced drivers can only be a good thing. Things like not using your handbrake after a few hot laps would have never occured to me.

Sadly, i joined after the session you guys had down there the other day :(
Although when i do go it will only be for a little fun and to learn a bit about my car in a safe environment, not to get competetive or anything.

[lautray]

Tom, if/when you do decide to go down to a Wakefield open day, post up... I'm sure a couple of us will be interested in going down :).

[Duffman]

Tom, if/when you do decide to go down to a Wakefield open day, post up... I'm sure a couple of us will be interested in going down :).

No probs :)

[MY Racing 221]

Although when i do go it will only be for a little fun and to learn a bit about my car in a safe environment, not to get competetive or anything.

Hehe... that's what we all said... :yep: :up2sum:

[BOMI]

Yeah EC is probably not good for a beginner but I did my very first everested Track day there :D Yeah, and it was a effing great, I love that Track, just ask the guys here that saw all 4 of my brake rotors glowing at the end of the straight!!!

AWESOME track!!

And as NickS said, their driver training is really not that good, no offence EC :)

Im keen to try my new brakes out and Wakey is 2 hours closer to me then Sydney so Im up for a weeken WEEKEND<--------------- Sometime soon.


Troy :)

[MY Racing 221]

Sounds good Bomi... let me know when. Provided its not too close to the time when my wife is due to pop, I'll be there.