On the Subject of Good Track Day Organisation

Feedback we frequently get from new customers on our track days (all open pit lane) is how nice it is to attend a properly run event with realistic numbers of cars.  They say they have been to other days when the numbers of cars booked meant endless pit lane queuing for track access.  Well I’m sure you know the old saying “If it looks too good to be true it’s because it generally is too good to be true”.  So here’s my take on the business.

Track day organisation for a good open pit lane day revolves largely around numbers.  Basically the trick is to balance numbers booked against the numbers permitted on track at any time.  The rule of thumb is 2:1 but that can vary a bit from circuit to circuit, and the optimum really can only be determined by experience.  Our aim is to run with minimal pit lane queuing.  This means there will often be no queue at all but if there is one, customers will only have to wait for a very few minutes to get out on circuit.  We think that if a customer has to queue for longer than about 5 minutes at any time then they may as well have gone to a sessioned event because they will effectively be getting the same quality of day.

Stoppages can of course be an issue and lead to an unavoidable queue while the track action gets under way again.  Repeated stoppages caused by the same car or driver would need to be addressed promptly by the organiser (ie us!).  Track time is expensive to hire so inconsiderate driving or a repeatedly unreliable car can’t really be tolerated.  It’s often a fine line between allowing for a bit of exuberance and the odd breakdown and us taking action.

Also the half hour period immediately after lunch often has a temporary queue in the pits because everyone is ready to go straight after the break.  If customers are sensible about staggering their lunch break a bit then this can be minimised and is generally over and done with in about 30 minutes.

So back to the topic “If it looks too good to be true etc”.  It’s obviously the maximum entry size that drives the track day price the customer has to pay.  Here are a couple of examples on pricing in broadly accurate terms.  Of course exact numbers will vary from company to company depending on their overheads, quality and quantity of support staff etc.

Donington GP Circuit – high season pricing:

Maximum number of cars on an open pit lane day and still achieve the target of minimal pit lane queuing is 60 – 65 cars.

Approximate break even pricing for the TDO would be around £240 per car and one driver if full at 65 cars.  On top of that needs to be added the TDOs margin and an allowance for risk.  So a realistic price for the day (not allowing for a proportion of extra drivers, passengers, garage hire or tuition) would be around say between £265 and £290.

I have seen Donington advertised mid year at as little as £140 or thereabouts – you do the maths!

Castle Combe Circuit – high season pricing:

Maximum number of cars on an open pit lane day and still achieve the target of minimal pit lane queuing is 34 - 38 cars.

Approximate break even pricing for the TDO would be around £175 per car and one driver if full at 34 cars.  On top of that needs to be added the TDOs margin and an allowance for risk.  So a realistic price for the day (not allowing for a proportion of extra drivers, passengers, or tuition) would be around say between £195 and £210.

I have seen Castle Combe advertised mid year at as little as £150 or thereabouts – again, you do the maths!

BHP TrackDays Ltd Driver Training Courses at Castle Combe Circuit

We've introduced a series of driver training courses at Castle Combe.  They are just being advertised over the next couple of days on the website, but they will be available at all of our Castle Combe track days.  Note that you can just do the course - no additional track day fee is needed, but if you also want to do both the course and the track day then that's ok but there will be a proportionate supplementary charge.

If you are looking to take your ARDS test at some point during the year, we will also be running some pre-ARDS courses as well.

Here's the text that will also be on the bookings pages on the website at www.bhptrackdays.co.uk .

 

BHP TrackDays Ltd – Compact Training Course at Castle Combe - £155 including VAT

Note that although this course runs alongside a BHP TrackDays scheduled track day, no additional track day entry fee is required. If you would like to also include the track day, then a supplementary fee is required - call for details.

Tuition is tailor-made to suit individual requirements, but typically your instructor would cover your driving technique, track lines, car control, and both physical and mental preparation.  Where you are now and where you would like to be is all taken into account.   Time is balanced between theory discussion off-track and practical sessions in the car on-circuit.   This course would typically provide approximately 20 minutes of theory and 40 minutes of track time under instruction divided into sessions.  A one hour allocation of track time on your own is also included so you can practise.

At the end of each course you will receive a written assessment of where you are now and what to work on next.

If you would like to sign up for a series of courses spread out across the season, then we would ensure continuity across the tuition sessions.  Please give us a call on 01342 837957, or email enquiries@bhptrackdays.co.uk if you would like to explore this further.  A combination of half days and compactcourses works well in our experience.

Our instructors are all very experienced ARDS grade A or S.

Fees assume you are driving your own car which must be fitted with a full passenger seat.

 

BHP TrackDays Ltd – Half Day Training Course at Castle Combe - £330 including VAT

Note that although this course runs alongside a BHP TrackDays scheduled track day, no additional track day entry fee is required. If you would like to also include the track day, then a supplementary fee is required - call for details.

More intensive than our compact packages, tuition is tailor-made to suit individual requirements, but typically your instructor would cover your driving technique, track lines, car control, and both physical and mental preparation.  Where you are now and where you would like to be is all taken into account.   Time is balanced between theory discussion off-track and practical sessions in the car on-circuit.   Time is also allocated to allow you track time on your own so you can practise what you have covered.  The balance between track, theory, and own time can be adjusted to suit you.  Our instructor is exclusively at your disposal for the full half day, so your programme can be adjusted to suit the circumstances

At the end of the course you will receive a written assessment of where you are now and what to work on next.

If you would like to sign up for a series of courses spread out across the season, then we would ensure continuity across the tuition sessions.  Please give us a call on 01342 837957, or email enquiries@bhptrackdays.co.uk if you would like to explore this further.  A combination of half days and 2 hour courses works well in our experience.

Our instructors are all very experienced ARDS grade A or S.

Fees assume you are driving your own car which must be fitted with a full passenger seat.

 

BHP TrackDays Ltd – Full Day Training Course at Castle Combe - £550 including VAT

Note that although this course runs alongside a BHP TrackDays scheduled track day, no additional track day entry fee is required.

This our most intensive package (see also half day and Compact packages).  Tuition is tailor-made to suit individual requirements, but typically your instructor would cover your driving technique, track lines, car control, and both physical and mental preparation.  Where you are now and where you would like to be is all taken into account.   Time is balanced between theory discussion off-track and practical sessions in the car on-circuit.   Time is also allocated to allow you track time on your own so you can practise what you have covered.  The balance between track, theory, and own time can be adjusted to suit you.  Our instructor is exclusively at your disposal for the full day, so your programme can be adjusted to suit your particular needs on the day.

At the end of the course you will receive a written assessment of where you are now and what to work on next.

If you would like to sign up for a series of courses spread out across the season, then we would ensure continuity across the tuition sessions.  Please give us a call on 01342 837957, or email enquiries@bhptrackdays.co.uk if you would like to explore this further.  A combination of half days and compact courses also works well in our experience.

Our instructors are all very experienced ARDS grade A or S.

 
Fees assume you are driving your own car which must be fitted with a full passenger seat.

BHP TrackDays Ltd - Track Day Season Tickets

We're issuing season tickets again for 2013 and these are available to purchase up 22 February 2013 in guises to suit a variety of track day enthusiasts.  They give very real savings on the cost of our track days if you intend to come to several days with us next year. 

Platinum

A platinum season ticket makes real sense if you plan on being a regular at our events.  It offers a potentially huge discount on the entry fees across our calendar for the year.

In return for your advance payment of £1000, a Platinum season ticket entitles you to attend all published BHP TrackDays Ltd events at no additional cost within the validity of the ticket.

In addition, the Platinum ticket includes one extra driver and passenger, and at Oulton Park or Donington events, a pit garage as well.

Each ticket is valid for 12 months from the date of the first usage.

Your place at a published BHP TrackDay is guaranteed subject to our general cancellation policy that applies to all events eg if insufficient bookings are taken, or for matters outside of our control.

Extra drivers and passengers above those already included above, and track instruction will be charged at the published rates.

The total number of Platinum level season tickets available each year is limited to 5.

Gold

A gold season ticket is ideal for the regular track day enthusiast who perhaps can’t commit to attending all the days on our published calendar.

In return for your advance payment of £350, a Gold season ticket entitles you to a £75 discount on the advertised price at all published BHP TrackDays Ltd full day events within the validity of the ticket. Acceptance of entries at track days is subject to space availability, but we will hold places for all Gold ticket holders until two weeks before the date of each event before releasing them for general purchase. We will also email you to give you advance warning that an event is becoming full.

Each ticket is valid for 12 months from the date of first usage.

Extra drivers, passengers and track instruction will be charged at the published rates.

The total number of Gold level season tickets available each year is limited to 15.

Silver

A silver season ticket is an ideal way of obtaining a discounted entry to any of our track days without having to commit to a large outlay at the start of the season.

In return for your advance payment of £100, a Silver season ticket entitles you to a £35 discount on the advertised price of all published BHP TrackDays Ltd full day events within the validity of the ticket. Acceptance of entries at track days is subject to space availability.

Each ticket is validity for 12 months from the date of first use..

Extra drivers, passengers and track instruction will be charged at the published rates.

The total number of Silver level season tickets available each year is limited to 25.