What’s Really Killing Trackdays? A Theory….

Now in garage 8.

 

What sort of costs are you looking at for a euro trip. i am doing my first track day with James Whitham at Cadwell Park in september and i hear a lot about Euro Days

 

Promoted

 

It’s a bit of a different animal to a UK track day. Like most have commented, I too prefer Euro gigs. You set up your bike in pit garage and that’s it for 3+ days. There’s very much a social scene on the Euro gigs, usually loads of bars and restaurants. Weather always better. You don’t have to squeeze every session as you’re there for a few days. Generally speaking much more laid back. If you enjoy your track day with Whitham and co look into the Euro stuff.

 

Found the forms for a Focused Events EU TD I did in 2008. They were probably building their EU TD business back then and doing it cheap. Bike shipping, 3 days on track at Cartagena, shared accommodation (at a golf course), shared car hire (4 people to a car) and rtn flight = £399. Repatriation insurance was an extra £39.

Tyres were ~ £280'ish a pair for something decent.

Trivia - my car share was with Peter Wallner, who later became infamous for being the "Wheelie bin murder"
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10165395


Remember one of the other riders remarking to be wary of Peter, as he will crash on the first day. The prediction ran true, first morning he wrote off his scruffy ZX10.

12 years later and TDs are more expensive now of course with inflation, but not by as much as you think. (2008 tyre prices)



Them was the days

 

Plus flights, airport parking, fuel to drop off and collection either side of the trip, food, drink and compulsory repatriation insurance.

 

I always budgeted £1000 for a 3 day track event. Incl flights, shared car hire, tyres (old monster was no tyres, last gixer 1000 was £450!), few beers and some food. Normally pretty cheap, unless your mates have expensive tastes! My advice is choose the right mates to go for dinner with and avoid the posh nosh and €80 bottles of wine that blows the 4 day budget in one night…

 

Blimey.. lucky you lived to tell this tale! I had no idea of this grisly event until you posted.

"12 years later and TDs are more expensive now of course with inflation, but not by as much as you think. (2008 tyre prices)"


.. i see what you did there.

 

For me, Euro trackdays are the thick end of £2k all in. For 4 days. It could be done cheaper, but I'm with mates and we treat it as a holiday too. So, good food etc. Dont forget to factor in single room suppliment. I aint sharing with no-one. Esp not my mates. So far Ive used FE several times and frankly Ive never had any issues and its always been run very well, but Im a pragmatic kind of guy. I get on well with Kevin.

I understand that NL get very good reviews too so I will try these out.

I do TD to chase minutes, not tenths. Im in late 50's and never going to be super quick on track. I just do them for fun, the times are irrelevent. Im an inters paced person, but prefer the slower group. I'm polite and patient. I dont mind being held up. Slower peeps paid their monies and are as entitled to be there as I am.

I really like the friends you make whilst there. Like a bunch of lunatic Scots guys who are frankly comedy central. They could have their own TV show.

 

Great post. Good on you

 

Blimey, it is really 2024 now heavens that's 16 years ago not 12. Boomin Bidenmentia strikes again that makes me 4 years older than I thought Has the pandemic happened yet? I'm getting confused transversing all these multiverses

Tyre price comparison:
2008 pair of slicks = £280 (ish)
2024 pair of slicks = £380 -> £450

Using the Bank of England inflation calculator here, £280 in 2008 = £443 in June 2024. Tyres at least are in line with inflation and no more expensive in real terms today than in 2008.

 

I do 2 to 3 euros a year, last couple of years the major uncontrollable variable has been flights, the days of 100 returns to Faro etc are done, my last 6 euros have averaged 1400 quid each, shared room , extra night hotel and usually 2 or 3 of us in a car. That excludes tyres, I usually get 1.5 euros out of each set.

All my euros are done with NL.

 

Slightly off topic, but just got back from Doni Classic Bike TD and learnt that CRMC now has races for 748/916 era bikes as of 2024…..
Let’s get it on…..

 

I'm waiting for classic track days to let my old k4 gsxr in.

 

Shame classic track days are bikes, should be classic rider track days for you lot

 

I might have a chance then in the over 60s race…..

 

I’ve always budgeted £20k. But I like coke, whores and Ferrari’s.

Hang on, wrong site…. Bugger

 

Is there an over 70s race?