08:00	-	08:30	Arrival signing in, indemnity forms, driving licence check.
08:30	-	08:50	Mandatory drivers briefing. All drivers must attend this briefing, or they will not be permitted on the track.
09:00	-	09:20	Three 5 minute warm-up/familiarisation sessions with roughly 10 cars in each group
09:20	-	13:00	Open pit session / OR Other format
13:00	-	14:00	Pies!
14:00	-	17:00	Open pit session / OR Other format

 

 

Please use your mirrors frequently, and let faster drivers pass on the straight sections by pulling over to the right. You will learn far more from following faster drivers than by forcing them to wait behind you. Please also pull over to let them pass as early as possible - do not wait until a faster car is right on your bumper, or entering the braking zone before you (indicate and) pull over to let them pass.

Please start off slowly in your first few sessions, until you learn the track, and how your car handles (especially if it is wet) then build up gradually. Do not feel obliged to drive at a pace which you are not comfortable with. it will most likely end with an expensive mistake!

Make sure that there are no loose items in the car before going out onto the track. Items like mobile phones, cameras and soft drinks can have a knack of finding their way into the drivers footwell and lodging themselves under the brake pedal!

 

Three 5 minute warm-up sessions will be held at the start of the event. These allow you to familiarise yourself with the track, and to make sure your car is properly warmed up and in good working order. Each short session will end formally with a chequered flag. Please leave a few seconds between cars when leaving the pit lane to avoid a "winding snake" of nose to tail cars for these few laps.

It is essential that during this first session, you drive very carefully and learn the layout of the track, the corners, braking and turning points. Teesside Autodrome have kindly agreed to leave out the braking boards and marker cones (turn in, apex and exit point) used by the racing school. The idea is to use them as a guide, and not to clip the on your way past.

Open Pit Lane Session

After these initial sessions, the track will operate a roll-on roll-off system. This means a limit is placed on the number of cars on the track at any time (usually 12), and drivers are free to spend as much or as little time on the track as they wish. Marshall's will only permit cars to join the track when it is safe to do so, by waving you out. Only enter the track once you have been told, do so promptly, and keep to the left of the white line.

For cars with the standard braking systems, we advise that sessions are limited to around 8 - 10 laps maximum, as continuing beyond this can lead rapidly to braked fade and seriously reduced braking performance. Cars with poor brakes are a serious hazard to the driver as well as other participants! Overheated brakes can take in excess of 40 minutes to cool down sufficiently for braking performance to return to near normal levels. You will get much more track time and have more fun by completing many short sessions, in comparison to several longer sessions with extensive waiting time in the pits for brakes to cool.

On a hot day, road tyres will start to go "off" after about 10 laps (depending on how aggressive you are) and start to slide under hard cornering and braking. You should take this as a strong hint to return to the pits after performing a cool down lap.

THIS EVENT IS NOT A RACE - There must be no timing of cars on the track or "competitive" driving.

You are encouraged to take passengers/fellow participants around the circuit in your own car. The following rules apply to passenger laps:

• Passengers must wear a long sleeved top to go out on the track
• Passengers cannot use a hand held camera or mobile phone to record images whilst on the track.
• Recommended minimum age of 16 years old. Passengers must be adequately secured by the adult seatbelt. If you are unsure, hen please talk to one of the marshall's who will advise. Younger children are generally OK to go out in cars with full harnesses.
• Safety is paramount please drive well within your own and the cars limits!!! Do not try to show off, and have the car on its limits around corners, or locking up under braking. Driving around the track at 80% will be more than adequate for most passengers. Remember that flat out driving can induce fear and nausea in passengers unaccustomed to the experience, and believe us you don't want anyone being sick in your car!
• If your passenger asks you to slow down and/or return to the pits please do so.

 

Overtaking

The rule is that faster cars must pass on the left, which requires the co-operation of the car in front. If a faster car is approaching from behind, please indicate and pull over to the right to let it pass safely. However, do not wait until the faster car is sitting on your rear bumper, or you are approaching a braking zone before indicating or moving across, as this increases the risks involved considerably.

The only overtaking points (also pointed out in the driver brief) are:

1. The back straight
2. The short straight approaching the pits

Etiquette

Please use your mirrors frequently, and try to anticipate the behaviour of all other cars on the track at all times. Where possible, use your indicators to inform the following driver in plenty of time that you are going to let them pass on the next straight. With most cars having a similar straight line performance, it may be necessary for you to lift off momentarily (preferably near the start of the straight, and not just before the braking zone) to let faster drivers pass safely. There is nothing more frustrating and potentially dangerous than a driver who refuses to let faster cars pass. Ignorance of their presence is no excuse!

Likewise if you catch up with a slower driver whilst out on the track, please DO NOT drive aggressively or very close to them, especially under braking. This intimidation does annoy the driver in front and make them much more likely to make a mistake. Please leave several car lengths between cars when cornering and braking. Switch your headlamps on if necessary (but don't flash them) to alert the driver in front of your presence, and that you wish to pass.

Please acknowledge any slower cars that move over to let you pass.

Please take extra care and be more forgiving of others mistakes during the first sessions, when others may be learning the track and their car.

If at any time you spin or crash your vehicle, it may be necessary to stop the circuit activity. This causes unnecessary loss of track time to both yourself and your colleagues, and it is therefore suggested that you take every care to ensure that your car is driven to the conditions (track, driver and car's capabilities), and not beyond. Drive slowly off-line around the track if you do go off, to minimise the mud dragged on to the track, and/or throwing stones on to other vehicles.

When returning to the pit lane, indicate to the left as you leave the hairpin, and keep hard left until you have entered the pit lane(slowly!!). This is the only tie that cars should pass you on the right whilst out on the track.

IMPORTANT: If you see anyone driving dangerously, aggressively, or who refuses to pull over to let faster cars pass, then please report them immediately to the chief marshal on the pit lane. We will talk to the driver(s) involved regarding their behaviour, with any further infringement resulting in them being sent home immediately with no refund. Please don't say nothing on the day, and then complain afterwards, as it is too late for the organisers to do anything about it.

 

Helmets

No one (including passengers) will be permitted on the circuit without a helmet. Teesside Autodrome have a limited number available.

Clothing

You must wear a long sleeved top, fleece or jacket whilst out on the track. This includes passengers!

Fuel

There is no fuel available at the track, so please ensure you have sufficient fuel prior to arriving at the circuit. We would recommend a full tank, as fuel consumption on a track is very high e.g. 10mpg or less, and you can easily use a whole tank in three hours. There are two petrol stations within a mile of the circuit.