Where to test a non road legal car

[tri_longer]

At the moment my 205 remains a compromise between a fully dedicated car like Ralph Pinders by remaining in road legal guise, tax'd MOT'd and with all the lighting, dash, petrol tank etc.

I would really like to go down the route of making this a fully commited sprint and hillclimb car but one thing still eludes me and this must be something that others in the community whose cars are non road legal struggle with.

This being, if you make any changes to the car how do you go about testing them. Even simlple stuff like bedding in a set of new brake pads for example.

Track days I guess are an option, but not that cheap and if I go the whole hog and fit a 1 gallon fuel tank probably quite frustrating having to pit every couple of laps.

I'm particulary interested if anyone from the North West has access to somewhere where you can go along and drive your non raod legal car in safety and without breaking the law.

I may be looking for something that doesn't exist but no harm in asking I guess.

Cheers
Chris.

[novarally]

'North West' is a bit vague, you'd be best off to say exactly where you are and you never know, someone kind might offer you the use of a farm access road, disused airfield or the like.

But generally you have to pay for these things........round our way (for example) you can hire Manby, an old WW2 airfield for around £50-£75 for the morning or a full day.

I was speaking to someone the other day in Cumbria who has an abandoned airfield near them where they turn a blind eye to a bit of testing.

Also worth asking at Karting tracks/oval race tracks/private airstrips you might be able to sweet talk them into letting you use those.

[Adam]

Find test days etc. Llandow charge £80 per half day to go out on the track any day that it isnt booked up. Not close to you but a good example, and is where we took the Locost.

[tri_longer]

Based in Warrington, but don't mid travelling some distance.

I'm aware of the Manby hire just a shame it's so far away and I certainly don't mind paying that kind of money to do a bit of running/testing.


Loton isn't that far from me either so not that big a problem.

[siany1997]

Wouldn't 3 sisters be the most convenient? More expensive though, so a few chipping in for the test would make it economical. There has been a thread with 3 sisters testing mentioned last year, so a search of the forum might shed some light on costs etc.

[siany1997]

Link to thread.

[Ian Johnson]

There is always Curborough if you get a few together,

[redturner37]

You dont need to get a 'few' together to hire Curborough. You can have the track on your own for £54 ish an hour. I have done it several times without a problem, though I do find it a bit more reassuring if some one else is there, just in case.

[Edmundo2]

Try Teeside Autodrome, ( Middlesborough - so not too bad across country ). We had had half day unlimited use for £50. Its a cart track first and foremost but do run car events also + surface is pretty good. We tested the Jedi on same day as a couple of bikes being tested + a Mitsubushi Evo.

[redturner37]

I have done a couple of events at the Teeside circuit and found it to be an incredible venue.............