Frequently Asked Questions

Track and Airfield days give you the opportunity to drive your own car away from the open road with no oncoming traffic or speed cameras. Our days are sociable and low pressure events where the emphasis is on fun, there are no laps that are timed and there should be no element of competition. 

There is an ever-growing army of enthusiasts who have caught the trackday bug and use these events to test and improve themselves, their cars and, their driving skills.

Yes, you need either a full driving licence or a national B or above MSA/FIA car race licence to take part in a trackday. See the Driving Licence section of the FAQ for more information.

Most likely yes as almost all cars are welcome on trackdays just so long as they meet safety and noise emission requirements. As a general rule your car needs be of at least MOT standard (although one is not required to take part) and the car should be mechanically sound in all areas. Single seaters, open wheeled vehicles and 4x4’s are not permitted to take part in trackdays.

Trackdays do not have speed restrictions which is part of the appeal so you can drive as fast as you wish providing it is safe to do so and you obey the rules of the event.

Yes all occupants of a vehicle need to wear a helmet out on track and certain types of vehicles have restrictions on what type of helmets can be worn, see the Helmets & Safety information page for more details.

Insurance is not a requirement to take part in a track and it is very unlikely that your normal road insurance will cover you for a trackday but you can find companies that will provide you with cover for an event. A trackday insurance policy will only cover damage to your own vehicle which is why it is optional.

Although a trackday is generally a very safe time and place to try the limits of driving, in reality accidents can and sadly do happen. It would be dishonest for us to say otherwise. We endeavour to do absolutely everything possible to ensure the safety of drivers, passengers and spectators alike. Part of this is staffing our events to meet ATDO rules and only using trained and experienced people. Should the unfortunate happen, rest assured that the attending marshals and medical cover will be fully able to cope and that full and proper procedures would be followed.

Although trackday accidents are rare, if you decide to take your car on to a track you must be aware that you are accepting the risk. By booking to take part you have already agreed to this and you will also be required to sign a further declaration at each event. This is usual on any trackday. The owners of the venue, Javelin Trackdays Ltd or any other person or company cannot be held responsible, even if an accident is not your fault. Although vehicles do sometimes come into contact with each other on trackdays it is extremely rare and the risks are incredibly small when compared with simply driving on the road as normal.

We make every effort to make all drivers feel relaxed and make sure they are alert and enjoy the day. We run NON-competitive track days so you will sometimes need to be patient. Anyone caught getting aggressive / competitive / dangerous behind the wheel will be removed from the circuit. The same rules apply to everyone equally.

Speed is not necessarily an issue but of course an overly slow or inconsiderate driver can cause a nuisance and in some extreme cases be a safety concern. We strive to provide a comfortable situation for newcomers and experienced drivers alike, as long as drivers keep an eye on their mirrors and move over when they are supposed to it is never really an issue. No need to be nervous!

The only weather that would really cause a trackday to be cancelled would be persistent fog, ice or snow and in these situations we have created our Winter Weather Policy to answer any concerns you might have. Some events may have a delayed start due to fog or ice but this is usually luck of the draw over the winter months. We get a lot of questions concerning rain but that will not stop an event usually, torrential rain might cause a temporary stoppage on a trackday for safety reasons but it rarely lasts for long. Trackdays in the wet are an excellent opportunity to practice your wet weather driving and many drivers actually prefer them.

In most cases yes it would however we always advise that if you're going to get someone a trackday as a present you get a gift voucher instead of booking an actual event. A gift voucher is valid for 12 months so it allows more flexibility in it’s use and it also means the vehicle owner can make a more informed choice of where to go without you having to find a way of borrowing the keys to perform a noise test without them knowing.

All events generally follow the same basic schedule but times may vary, an example event is listed below.

Lunch is usually 12:30-13:30 but can change due to operational requirements.

Events are run under one of 2 different formats :

Open Pit Lane : Cars can come and go from the track as they please, the overwhelming majority of our days run under this format as it allows more freedom. This will mean that there will be a range of speeds and abilities on track at the same time so drivers need to be aware of their surroundings.

Sessions: Drivers are split into groups based on speed & ability and will have access to the track on a schedule, usually 20 minutes per hour. Very rarely used but can be the ideal day for novices.

All drivers should be present at the morning briefing and for the sighting laps, they are run for your own safety. If you have participated in a trackday before and at that venue then we may be able to arrange a later briefing although we certainly do not encourage you to be late, in the case of additional drivers we strongly advise that they go out as a passenger first before getting behind the wheel. In some cases you must cross the circuit to gain access which is not possible if the event is underway i.e. Mallory Park.

Yes all occupants of a vehicle need to wear a helmet out on track and certain types of vehicles have restrictions on what type of helmets can be worn, see the Helmets & Safety information page for more details.

Yes, see the Additional Items FAQ for more information on this.

Yes spectators can come along to watch free of charge. Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times and they are not permitted in the pit lane or on the pit wall. Nobody under the age of 16 is permitted at Bedford Autodrome at all. Some military venues may have restrictions on attendance or entry which will be noted on the venue page.

These will vary between venues so look at the venue page for the specific levels that apply, failing a noise test will usually result in the vehicle in question being denied further access to the trackday. Most venues will have a static noise test in place which must be passed before being permitted on track along with a driveby reading used to measure levels on track. Please see the Noise Testing & Limits information page for detailed information.

Instructors are available to give you informal guidance into track driving technique, and how it varies from road driving. That said your road driving can benefit a great deal from the skills discovered in your trackday experience. The aim is ultimately to improve how safely and smoothly you drive your car around a track and that will inevitably help with awareness and control on the road.

Ultimately it’s only going to be you with feet on the pedals, and any accidents at trackdays (thankfully rare) are always the fault of the driver and the driver alone. Instructors cannot stop you from having an accident but they can make you think twice about driving beyond your limits. We HIGHLY recommend all beginners make use of them. Advice can be booked when you sign into any event. Instruction is available to book in 20 minute sessions at a cost of £25.

No drifting is not permitted on a trackday, there are other activities on the market that you can attend to practice that. There will be occasions where traction is broken at the rear of the vehicle but those thought to be inciting it and deliberately attempting to drift can be removed from the track.

We've no objection to teams / individuals using trackdays for a test or shakedown of a new car for example, as long as they understand they have to operate under the same rules as everyone else. Competition or practicing though is strictly forbidden, including the use of timing equipment and doing so can see you banned from that venue.

Yes, but they must be in good condition and the track conditions must be suitable. Before using slicks you should seriously consider whether your cars specification is suitable. It is strongly recommended that any car using slicks should have roll over protection fitted. Please note that some venues only allow road tyres.

We don’t look at half day places unless it is the day before the event and there are clearly going to be places left over. You would need to book the full event in advance to secure the place on the event normally.

On the day of the event you need to produce either a full DVLA or international equivalent driving licence for that class of vehicle (photocard or old style paper only licence) or a national B or higher MSA//FIA race competition licence.

If you don't have a driving licence then you can't take part in a trackday.

Providing your licence is still valid you can still take part but you will need to provide evidence of your licence in advance of the event, see the Licence Checks page.

If you have an MSA/FIA race competition licence then that can be used in place of a road licence. Trackdays are a non-competitive event and will have no effect on your licence status.

A photocopy is not accepted as proof, please see the Driving Licence information page on how to verify your licence online.

Providing the licence has a photocard and clearly indicates the holder can drive the class of vehicle in question then it is not an issue. The only problems are when the licence uses a different alphabet i.e. cyrillic in which case you will need to call us for clarification. There is no way to verify a licence from an international body if it is not physically produced on the day.