Trackdays - Vans?

[wonderpupp]

Does anyone here do a lot of track days?
I've really enjoyed taking my ZX6R to the circuit, but hiring a van between 3 of us and driving it all the way to brands hatch (from Bournemouth) and back again was a hell of a mission.

None of us came off and we were thinking about just riding our bikes to the track next time and taping the lights? Anyone reccomend this?

Is it worth me getting a van just for the occasional track day?

Also, what van would be good? Bear in mind I'm a lady driver, and don't drive car THAT often (I think I managed 800 miles in my civic last year, compared to the 8500odd miles on my bikes) so if the van footprint could stick within Civic size, I'd be happy. (Who am I kidding, I used to drive Tractors on my dad's farm Lol)

I like the look of transporters T4s, but I don't want to spend an awful lot for 800 miles a year.

[masterofinsanity]

get a cheap short wheelbase tranny

[wonderpupp]

Like this one

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FORD-TRANSIT-VAN- ... 2|294%3A50

but I think £800 is too much for a rustbucket? I like the design down the side though...

It it like when you buy your first car, you pay £200 for a fiesta sport off ebay, and then it dies about 2 months later?

[masterofinsanity]

they are pretty bullet proof apart from the rear arches and back doors. always fancied one meself.

[cargo]

I wouldn't buy a van for 800 miles of use per year better off with a good trailer and hitch it to your car There's no tax test or insurance on a trailer. A box trailer will keep your bike warm and dry and it make for usefull storage space when your not using it.

Vans can be costly to keep on the road especiall older ones that need lots of weilding I've just spent £400 weilding up all the holes in mine.
Getting a van insured for the type of use you have in mind is not easy and expensive i'm paying about £500 a year
Tax is £185 for a small SWB van
A half decent Transit SWB with power steering (cos your a girl) will set you back at least £1000 and thats a 1997/98/99

I can get 3 bikes in the back of my SWB but its a tight squeeze so shareing a van might help on cost but then if you were to hire a van for each weekend and get a good big one then you could share the hire cost between more people................

I justify having my van cos I use it most days ....................my wife uses my car

[wonderpupp]

I thought about a trailer, but my civic doesn't have a tow-hitch-bitch, and it's only a 1.4 16v civic, so no grunt at all to pull one if I got a tow hitch fitted?

I don't care about power steering, like I said, ,I used to drive tractors. Oh, and welding is not a problem. I can weld stuff too. Got a certificate and everything. Again, a result of growing up on a farm and my dad encouraging us to use tools and help him out for £2 a day!! I liked feeding the animals and litter picking from the campsite mostly.

Maybe I could MAKE a trailer...

SCRAP THAT - I passed my car test in Jan 2003, so I can't tow a trailer. No licence.

[Davw]

Really depends how often you are going to use it. I have a towed trailer but only because I am at the track fairly frequently. (went for a trailer for all the reasons given by Cargo) When I was only trackdaying I hired a van - if 3 of you are sharing then no real problem as the cost of van plus fuel cant be more than £50 a head (if that)

Dont drive to/from the track - spoils the fun on the track worrying about the possible lack of transport home!!!

[masterofinsanity]

SCRAP THAT - I passed my car test in Jan 2003, so I can't tow a trailer. No licence.

do you not get trailer entitlement when you pass your motorcycle test??