About the Founder & The Story Behind Find A Track Day
If you've ever tried organizing a track day with a group of mates, you'll understand the pain that led to Find A Track Day being built. From ditching a Golf R for a fire-prone French hot hatch to endless WhatsApp group coordination nightmares - this is the story of how one software developer's track day obsession led to building a platform that makes group planning actually possible.
The Journey Begins
Hi, I'm Ollie, the founder of Find A Track Day. Like many of you reading this, my love affair with track days started with wanting to see what my car could really do beyond the confines of public roads. My first track day was at Donington Park behind the wheel of a MK7 Golf R.
The Golf R Years
The Golf R was a brilliant everyday car - comfortable, practical, and properly quick. Over the years, I took it to some incredible circuits: Donington Park for that first nerve-wracking experience, the legendary Spa-Francorchamps, the intimidating Nürburgring, and the flowing corners of Oulton Park.
But here's the thing - while the Golf was undeniably capable, it almost felt too easy on track. The all-wheel drive system and electronic aids made it incredibly forgiving, but it lacked a bit of character. Don't get me wrong, it was fast and confidence-inspiring, but I found myself wanting something that demanded more from me as a driver.
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The Baguette
When COVID hit, I started thinking about what I really wanted from my track day experiences. The Golf, being my daily driver, always had me holding back just a little. The thought of potentially having an expensive off was always there in the back of my mind.
So I made the decision to get something dedicated for track use - enter my current ride: a Renault Clio 197 with some serious modifications.
This little French machine has been transformed with an R26 Megane engine conversion, Megane 250 hybrid turbo, R26R clutch and LSD, Gaz Gold coilovers, Scorpion exhaust, half cage, and it's been tuned to 300+ bhp. It's a proper little weapon now.
Of course, owning a French car isn't without its issues - I've dealt with plenty of electrical gremlins, oil leaks, and yes, even a few flames. But that's all part of the character, right? The car demands attention and respect, which makes every clean lap feel like a proper achievement.
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Want the Full Build Details?
I've shared the complete story of the Clio build in our Discord community - including the full mod list, photos, and all the ups and downs of owning a modified French track car! Jump into the thread to ask questions about the build or share your own track car adventures.
Racing Dreams Take Shape
By day, I work as a self-employed software developer, but my real passion lies in motorsport. When I'm not coding or on track, you'll find me honing my racecraft in sim racing - it's amazing how much the virtual world can teach you about racing lines and car control. I got my race license in 2024, and now I'm looking to put it to proper use in 2025.
The plan is to do an arrive-and-drive experience this year to get a proper taste of wheel-to-wheel racing, with the ultimate aim of competing in a race series. There's something about the idea of proper competition that really appeals to me - not just chasing lap times, but actually racing other drivers.
The Problem That Sparked a Solution
But here's where Find A Track Day was really born - from pure frustration with trying to organize group track days.
Anyone who's attempted this knows the pain. You end up dropping loads of links into various group chats, trying to coordinate between different organizers, different dates, different prices. One mate wants Brands Hatch, another's found a deal at Silverstone, someone else is pushing for Cadwell Park.
No matter how hard you try, you just can't please everyone. People have different budgets, different schedule constraints, and different circuit preferences. Before you know it, you're spending more time organising than actually driving.
Building the Solution
As a software developer, I knew there had to be a better way to solve this coordination nightmare. The first step was simple: get all the track day information from major UK organisers into one place. No more hunting across multiple websites, no more missed opportunities.
That's how Find A Track Day started - initially just to solve my own problem, but I quickly realised every track day enthusiast faces the same headaches.
The current site pulls together events from all the major organisers - MSVT, OpenTrack, Javelin Track Days, Circuit Days, RMA Track Days, and more - updating regularly so you're always seeing current availability and pricing.
But this is just the beginning. I'm working on group planning tools that will make coordinating with mates so much easier. Imagine being able to create a group, have everyone indicate their preferences, and see which events work best for the most people. No more endless group chat debates.
What's Next
Find A Track Day is currently in beta, and I'm constantly working to improve it. The goal isn't to create another booking platform - it's to build a community where track day enthusiasts can easily find and coordinate their perfect day on circuit.
Whether you're planning your first track day or you're a seasoned regular, I want this to be your go-to resource.
And who knows? Maybe I'll see you out there when I finally get that race license sorted.
Happy track days,
Ollie
P.S. - Got feedback or ideas for features that would make your track day planning easier? Jump into our Discord community or drop us a message through the contact form on the site. This platform is built by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts.
