Simviation Forum - public tracks

Aug 23^rd, 2003 at 6:11am

Craig. Offline
Colonel
Birmingham

Gender:
Posts: 18590

hey guys, just wondering if anyone knows of any good sites that list some public test tracks or abandoned airfields in the UK i have looked everywhere and cant seem to find anything on this. i would like to get some decent driving practise in as here its nothing but stop start stop start avoiding cars parked on the side of the road.
cheers guys

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #1 - Aug 23^rd, 2003 at 6:21am

Fozzer Offline
Colonel
An elderly FS 2004 addict!
Hereford. England. EGBS.

Posts: 24861

Hi Craig... Grin

...!
You are obviously more into airfield drag-racing than sensible driving instruction and observing the Highway Code, like a good citizen should.... Roll Eyes

...!

Brmmmm....Brmmmm.... 8)...!

LOL...LOL...LOL...!

Cheers me 'ol mate... Wink

...!
Paul.
(England).

Dell Dimension 5000 BTX Tower. Win7 Home Edition, 32 Bit. Intel Pentium 4, dual 2.8 GHz. 2.5GB RAM, nVidia GF 9500GT 1GB. SATA 500GB + 80GB. Philips 17" LCD Monitor. Micronet ADSL Modem only. Saitek Cyborg Evo Force. FS 2004 + FSX. Briggs and Stratton Petrol Lawn Mower...Motor Bikes. Gas Cooker... and lots of musical instruments!.... ...!
Yamaha MO6,MM6,DX7,DX11,DX21,DX100,MK100,EMT10,PSR400,PSS780,Roland GW-8L v2,TR505,Casio MT-205,Korg CX3v2 dual manual,+ Leslie 760,M-Audio Prokeys88,KeyRig,Cubase,Keyfax4,Guitars,Orchestral,Baroque,Renaissance,Medieval Instruments.

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #2 - Aug 23^rd, 2003 at 6:50am

Hagar Offline
Colonel
My Spitfire Girl
Costa Geriatrica

Posts: 33159

Craig. There must be plenty of disused ex-RAF/FAA airfields in your area. I would think you could find all the information you need on a local Ordnance Survey map. Either purchase one or the local library should have something.

All driving instructors will have selected quieter roads where you can practice things like parking & 3-point turns. Unless you're going in for off-road driving or racing it might be best to learn to cope with everyday traffic. This is what driving is like these days. Things ain't going to get any better. Roll Eyes

Founder & Sole Member - Grumpy's Over the Hill Club for Veteran Virtual Aviators
Member of the Fox Four Group

Need help? Try Grumpy's Lair

My photo gallery

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #3 - Aug 23^rd, 2003 at 6:55am

Craig. Offline
Colonel
Birmingham

Gender:
Posts: 18590

thanks guys:) seriously though even the basics of driving are almost impossible where i live you cant move more than 10 feet forward before having to pull in to let others by and its like that everywhere, i am looking for the airfields to just get used to the whole forward motion of driving changing gears properly that sort of thing.
thanks again guys:)

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #4 - Aug 23^rd, 2003 at 7:03am

ozzy72 Offline
Global Moderator
Pretty scary huh?
Madsville

Gender:
Posts: 37122

Hi Craig, well like Hagar said OS maps are a good start, also try contacting any local motor clubs, they're bound to know of some Wink

, look in the Yellow Pages or phone directory.
I have to say I spent most weekends (with my dad in his big bad Renault) while I was learning to drive up at an old airfield near us and I found it really helped me to learn smooth gear changes, and accurately predicting corners, and my emergency stops were spot on Grin

I also lost my worries about speed and once I hit the roads with a driving instructor I made much more rapid progress and quickly passed my test. Still had a lot to learn though, some of it the hard way Roll Eyes

Good luck
Mark

There are two types of aeroplane, Spitfires and everything else that wishes it was a Spitfire!

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #5 - Aug 23^rd, 2003 at 7:24am

Hagar Offline
Colonel
My Spitfire Girl
Costa Geriatrica

Posts: 33159

I learned to drive on the perimeter track at Shoreham Airport. Some kind flying club members even let me loose on their Jags. Wink

The peri track was classed as a private road & I didn't need a licence or L-plates. Not sure if this is the case now or what would happen about insurance if I had hit someone. Roll Eyes

Founder & Sole Member - Grumpy's Over the Hill Club for Veteran Virtual Aviators
Member of the Fox Four Group

Need help? Try Grumpy's Lair

My photo gallery

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #6 - Aug 23^rd, 2003 at 8:33am

Fozzer Offline
Colonel
An elderly FS 2004 addict!
Hereford. England. EGBS.

Posts: 24861

I have generally found that every square inch of land in England is private, and owned by some-one or other,
and if found "tresassing" on it, especially with a vehicle, are likely to be met with a man with a very big 12 bore gun...or a park warden with a bear trap...or local residents headed by a very large lady... Shocked

...!

I would stick to a quiet A or B road... 8)...!
..and at least, as Hagar has said, you will be covered by your insurance...(hopefully..)... Wink

...!
LOL...LOL...LOL...!

Cheers... Grin

...!
Paul.
(England).

Dell Dimension 5000 BTX Tower. Win7 Home Edition, 32 Bit. Intel Pentium 4, dual 2.8 GHz. 2.5GB RAM, nVidia GF 9500GT 1GB. SATA 500GB + 80GB. Philips 17" LCD Monitor. Micronet ADSL Modem only. Saitek Cyborg Evo Force. FS 2004 + FSX. Briggs and Stratton Petrol Lawn Mower...Motor Bikes. Gas Cooker... and lots of musical instruments!.... ...!
Yamaha MO6,MM6,DX7,DX11,DX21,DX100,MK100,EMT10,PSR400,PSS780,Roland GW-8L v2,TR505,Casio MT-205,Korg CX3v2 dual manual,+ Leslie 760,M-Audio Prokeys88,KeyRig,Cubase,Keyfax4,Guitars,Orchestral,Baroque,Renaissance,Medieval Instruments.

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #7 - Aug 23^rd, 2003 at 12:36pm

Craig. Offline
Colonel
Birmingham

Gender:
Posts: 18590

cheers again guys:) the only car i can get insurance on right now is my dads, and since i only see he him once a week its rather less practise than i need, my mums probe which is what i want to get my hands on, nobody will insure me on untill i have my license. which we both were surprised at, would have payed whatever cost upto £2000 a year so who knows whats running in their heads. just need to pass test ASAP. but as i have decided i wont be getting a car this year, theres little point paying out a grand for a car then moving to the states 3 months later. just plan to get license this year if i do move, i can then get a car over there alot cheaper with alot less on the insurance, got my eye on a 2004 dodge intrepid but they are only automatics so i would have to pay out and have the transmission changed over to manual

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #8 - Aug 23^rd, 2003 at 12:43pm

Hagar Offline
Colonel
My Spitfire Girl
Costa Geriatrica

Posts: 33159

Quote:

got my eye on a 2004 dodge intrepid but they are only automatics so i would have to pay out and have the transmission changed over to manual

I've heard of people paying extra for automatic transmission but never the reverse. Learn how to drive a manual by all means before changing over. My auto takes all the stress out of driving, especially in the stop-go traffic conditions you were talking about. I would never go back to a manual gearbox.

Founder & Sole Member - Grumpy's Over the Hill Club for Veteran Virtual Aviators
Member of the Fox Four Group

Need help? Try Grumpy's Lair

My photo gallery

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #9 - Aug 23^rd, 2003 at 12:57pm

Craig. Offline
Colonel
Birmingham

Gender:
Posts: 18590

def learning on a manual cant afford to learn in automatic, i just like the added flexibility a manual gives you, although auto is def better in the stop start world these days. me and my dad went out for a test drive in an automatic rover and it just didnt have any power to it.

Back to top

IP Logged

	Search the archive: