Track Details

Address: Rye House Stadium, Rye Road, Hoddesdon, Herts, EN11 0EH
Phone Number: 01992 460895 / 461698 / 451170
Web Site: www.rye-house.co.uk
Track Length: 1000 metres (approx.)
Facilities: Showers, hospitality suite, changing rooms, cafeteria, kart shop.
Weather Forecast: Click here for next 10 days

An Introduction to Rye House

This web page is intended as a guide to the Rye House circuit that is used by CLUB100 for test days, Sprint race days and Endurance race days. Rye House has been established for a long time and has been holding Kart races since the seventies.

The circuit favours the lighter drivers due to two very tight hairpins, the second of which precedes the back straight. The key to a quick lap time lies in getting a good exit from these hairpins and the last corner prior to the main straight. The highlight of the circuit is the first corner, stadium, a legend in its own lifetime and still a truly testing corner that sorts the men from the boys. The first hairpin is the scene of many a first lap incident and (as described below) you really need to take care when approaching and turning into this corner in case the 'do or die' drivers end up 'dying' whilst attempting late braking overtaking manoeuvres!

One traditional problem over the years has been a problem with flooding at the circuit. This is being addressed by the introduction of earth banks that now help prevent the local canal from flooding onto the circuit. However (and especially in the winter and spring months) the circuit can still get quite water logged, so don't fall off the circuit because even when its dry on the track, there are a few unpleasant puddles just off the circuit that will mean a trip to the washing machine for your overalls!

It is worth pointing out that entrance to the pits is at turn 7 and you exit the pits just before the start finish line. Drivers should make sure that they glance to the right when exiting the pits (more relevant in the Endurance) to ensure there is no oncoming traffic. Drivers should also keep to the left-hand side of the circuit when exiting the pits in order that those at full speed on the circuit can drive around them.

On the rolling ups (formation laps) CLUB 100 uses the cut-through at the end of Stadium. This enables the drivers to miss the two hairpins and takes you from Stadium onto the back straight. This in effect makes the circuit an oval shape, which is ideal for formation laps.

In conjunction with the excellent report written below by Marc Craddock, we suggest that you attend the track walks that take place before each Endurance event and in the morning of the Sprint events. This will enable you to get an even more detailed analysis of where to position the Kart on the circuit, brake and accelerate as well as understanding the key overtaking places on the circuit. As Marc points out below, a few of the corners have some strange lines that enable you to gain advantage over the others, so understanding is key if you want to be on the pace at this particular circuit.

Track Layout

A Lap Around Rye House (by Marc Craddock)

The following is a corner by corner account of the correct way to tackle the demanding Rye House circuit in the eyes of multiple CLUB100 champion (many classes), Marc Craddock

"Into turn 1 'Stadium', if you're brave and the grip is good then it's completely flat into this corner sweeping in from the left hand side of the circuit. The key to entry is to get in early on a nice sweep towards the first apex, half way round the bend (this bend has 2 apexes). The grip is on the inside, get off line and you will be likely to spin, or at least lose a couple of seconds. Just after entering the bend and as you near the apex you will be lifting off the throttle, letting the momentum slow you down. Once at the apex hug the kerb on a balanced throttle as it tightens up to the right. Don't be jerky, let the kart do the work and use a nice arc as it tightens, touching the inner kerb as you reach the 2nd apex and then start accelerating again. If you get Stadium right you won't even need to brake, letting the kart do all the work for you.

Out of Stadium, into turn 2 which is a sweeping flat out left hander taken from just right of the middle of the track. Get close to the apex of the kerb on the left (but don't use the kerb) and let the kart drift wide using all the track on the exit. Now into the infield, up to turn 3, the 1st hairpin.

Don't outbrake yourself here, which is easily done. If you make a 'pigs ear' of turn 2 then the other drivers will be up the inside of you here, so watch out, this hairpin is an accident black spot. There is more room on the exit of this bend than on entry making the apex of the bend just before the middle of the kerb on the inside. Let the kart drift wide to the outside on the exit using the entire track and clipping the outer kerb keeping as smooth as possible. Don't run too wide though, as there is a horrible hole in the circuit just by the kerb.

Up to turn 4 now. Good drivers will overtake on the exit of this corner when you least expect it. It has a very wide exit and a lot of drivers tend not to use the entire track available. Again don't outbrake yourself, enter the bend and get back on the throttle early once you've clipped the apex and use all the road on the exit. If you don't use all the road, quicker drivers who are close behind you will enter the bend later and slingshot you on exit. Look for drivers that make this mistake in front of you and capitalise on it!

Onto the 2nd longest straight now and up to the new complex in turn’s 5 and 6. It’s a quick left hand kink first and then a tight right hand bend. It’s easy to make some time up here by going in fast, but also easy to out brake yourself once again. From the middle to right hand side of the circuit go into the left hand kink with a slight lift - if the track is grippy then you can go in flat, but that then leaves a lot of braking in a short distance. Get as close to the kerb as possible on the left and then start braking for the right hand part of the bend. Some drivers enter this right hand bend from the left, I prefer the middle of the track. If you do use the left hand side of the track, you could easily get overtaken. Keep off the kerb on the inside of the right hander and the kerb on the exit isn’t very nice either.

Turns 6, 7 and 8 should be driven as one. It is the most important part of the circuit as it determines your straight-line speed down to Stadium on the main straight. Once out of turn 6 enter 7 from the outside of the circuit, clipping and then hugging the kerb on the left, straight lining as you enter turn 8 late giving the kart as much momentum as possible for straight line speed on the exit.

If you make a mistake at turn 6, it can be made up in 7, but make a mistake at 8 and you will be punished down the straight. Use all the track possible on the left clipping the kerb as you exit turn 8. You can also now drive the other side of the kerb here now, but it isn’t necessary for a quick lap. Once on the straight it's head down and deep breath into Stadium once again."

Thanks to Marc Craddock for putting this 'lap around Rye' together.

Directions

The Rye House Kart circuit is on the eastern side of Hoddesdon, just off the A10. Hoddesdon itself is signposted as a turning off the A10. Follow the signs for Hoddesdon when leaving the roundabout at the top of the slip round off the A10. At the next roundabout, turn left followed by the right at the next roundabout. Turn left at the T-junction and follow the road up to a mini roundabout. Turn right and proceed down this road and over the Canal Bridge. Go past the Rye House Public House and then turn right into the Rye House complex, driving past the stock car circuit and greyhound track.