Practicing

[littlened]

I've raced once in 14 year, and that was 3 month ago.

There is no racing now for 2 weeks, and even when it's back on I won't be able to attend every week because it's on a Sunday, and its the only day me and the wife get off together.

What do people do when they want to practice in between races, especially for people like me that need to get a feel for the car or learn how to drive the car.

I could take it on tarmac, but it kills tyres and doesn't really give me a feel of how the car will drive in a sports hall with bits of carpet.

I know a lad who works in a leisure centre, and I'm starting to wonder whether I should ask him if I can nip in and use one of their halls one day. They have a hall that they hardly use, but they might want to charge me the full hourly rate for it.

What do other people do, or are you all crazy about racing that you travel around your region racing at every possible opportunity?

It's doing my nut in that I can't really use the car for a fortnight, not without killing a set of tyres anyway.

[Captain-Codpiece-The-2nd]

I bought some harder compound hack about tyres, and some cones from sportsdirect for a tenner. Ill go down the fottie pitch or idustrial estate of an evening. Car wont handle the same as on carpet but it is better than nothing. To be fair though most clubs race weekly, and for the club racers out there I'm sure thats enough.
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Kawasaki zr750k

[MALLET]

Have a look around for a mid week race around your region. They usually start between 6/7pm and finish between 9/10pm

[Big G]

there's an area of decent grass near me which is quite bumpy so gives a good view of how the car handles on the bumpys

[littlened]

Originally Posted by MALLET

Have a look around for a mid week race around your region. They usually start between 6/7pm and finish between 9/10pm

I'd already looked and I don't think we have any mid-week racing in the North East.

There's Teeside which is on a Saturday night, and then there's the old Jarrow Club which is now at Seaham on a Sunday (the one I'll be going to).

There is a club in Bishop, but I can't find any information on it.

[littlened]

Originally Posted by Big G

there's an area of decent grass near me which is quite bumpy so gives a good view of how the car handles on the bumpys

Grass is no problem, simply walk out of our front door and there's a really big area of grass, but it's always pretty long.

Over the road we have 5 footy pitches, but again the grass can get a bit long after a few weeks.

[littlened]

I've been out today and bought 24 footy cones for £12, I bought all the shop had left

I'll try and get some more next week, and then I'll be able to find a car park and build a mini course to practice on.

[Chris Doughty]

24 is more than enough.

even setting out just a couple of points to aim to negociate as corners will improve your driving no end.

there is a lot can be gained from running worn tires on a car park navigating cones/objects

[littlened]

Originally Posted by DoughtyUK.net

24 is more than enough.

even setting out just a couple of points to aim to negociate as corners will improve your driving no end.

there is a lot can be gained from running worn tires on a car park navigating cones/objects

I've still got the original tyres and wheels that came with the car, they're fairly worn and as soft at hell, but they'll do.

[MALLET]

Can you not get on a school yard as their tarmac will be very smooth from all of the kids throughout the years being on it, or a B'n'Q car park they'll even be lit at night

[sosidge]

"When I were a lad" we used to live in a cul-de-sac. I dumped many battery packs lapping the courtyard with the manhole covers as corner markers. Definitely helps with the basic car control.

Last time I did some running on a car park was to break in a nitro nuisance at the Metro Centre coach park (when I was living up there). Security guard scooted up out of nowhere in his golf cart and told me it was banned!

[mole2k]

The more time at the sticks the better (if it's spent driving accurately and not just blasting about in open space). Even though it's not a precise simulation of the surface your running on it will all help and can also help improve your adaptability too.

Setting up some cones to basically give a rough circuit and points to aim at will help your driving a lot. Building chicanes which are only the width of the car between points is good as then if you get the line right you should be fit to go straight through instead of driving through. Try driving it standing in different locations too so you get a more wider range of corner types.

I have to admit I dont do any running now outside of actual racing but I used to do quite a lot. I quite often get running 2~4 times a week now so I get my fill at race meets!