Caterham Driving 'Experience' - Brands Hatch

[Lordbenny]

I posted this in General Gassing but though I should let you lot know about it too!

So, back last June 2008 (Father's Day) I was delighted to receive a Catarham Driving Experience as a present from my kids. A few weeks later I tried to book a day at Brands and was told that the next available date was April 2009! So, today I called Caterham and was informed that if I wanted Brands Hatch the next available date was December (1 and a half years after the original booking date!)

It seems that because Caterham don't book the whole circuit exclusively for the day (a cost of approx £30,000) they have to do it through a track day company who sub-out the available places. Because the Caterham Cicuit Experience is a 'novices' day the track day company don't like giving them places because the other 'experienced' drivers complain.

So, today I called buy-a-gift and explained my predicament and was told that I could swap it for a different experience. So, It's a balloon ride for me & the Mrs then.

Just to add, I have owned 3 7'esque vehicles & driven The Hungaroring, Estoril, Brands Hatch, Cicuit de Catalonia & Imola amongst other so to be honest the 'experience' was a little wasted on me. This is just a warning to others who think they might get a present for someone in the future expecting dates within 10 months of the original booking!

[atom-ick]

Surely there would have been other events available if you were to spread your wings from Brands Hatch?

I helped book an experience for my Wife's friend (for her husband), and he had a large choice of dates and venues to choose from (and had a brilliant time - he's now thinking of buying his own Seven!)

cheers,

Mick

[Lordbenny]

I live 45 minutes from Brands. Any other circuit would require at least a 3 hour round trip. The real problem was that they were quite willing to take my relatives £250 a sit on it for a year without letting me know that a place at Brands just wasn't available.

[atom-ick]

Hmm, that doesn't sound very fair of them. That being said, if you bought a gift voucher like me they are non specific about venue (redeemable against any of their events) so Caterham would have had to mind-read you to know that you were hoping to go to Brands.

[taffyracer]

Silverstone is only 1hr from Surrey isn't it and not much further than brands really

Edited by taffyracer on Saturday 28th February 14:12

[Lordbenny]

taffyracer said:

Silverstone is only 1hr from Surrey isn't it?

No!

[taffyracer]

yeah like it's the other side of the UK to you, the point is Silverstone could have been an option instead of a pointless moan

Edited by taffyracer on Saturday 28th February 22:17

[RobM77]

I'm not sure that's a moan - it's just pointing out a misleading gift. Thanks LB

[taffyracer]

but it's not misleading if it wasn't a Brands specific date, that's my point, there are/were other options

[RobM77]

taffyracer said:

but it's not misleading if it wasn't a Brands specific date, that's my point, there are/were other options

True, but for Brands to be mentioned in the same breath as another circuit there should be an indication of the differing availability.

[taffyracer]

aah but was it mentioned?.....I doubt not, but if it was me, knowing that the availability was that bad, i would have booked back in June 08 for the circuit of my choice or taken the next best option, not waited a further 9 months and then try and book again, the conversation back in June '08 should have been a clear enough indication that phoning up in late feb/early march would not get the date or circuit of choice,

I think the OP does have some reason to be a bit miffed, clearly they should be more open if they have availability issues, i just don't see why someone would moan about it 9 months after knowing there was a problem, seems pointless to me

[Lordbenny]

taffyracer said:

aah but was it mentioned?.....I doubt not, but if it was me, knowing that the availability was that bad, i would have booked back in June 08 for the circuit of my choice or taken the next best option, not waited a further 9 months and then try and book again, the conversation back in June '08 should have been a clear enough indication that phoning up in late feb/early march would not get the date or circuit of choice,

I think the OP does have some reason to be a bit miffed, clearly they should be more open if they have availability issues, i just don't see why someone would moan about it 9 months after knowing there was a problem, seems pointless to me

Firstly, the whole point of my 'moan' was that NO indication was made that availability for Brands Hatch was so bad.

Brands Hatch WAS mentioned in the sdvertising alongside other tracks the nearest of which was Silverstone which is a 3 hour round trip and a circuit I had no real want to drive. I was told when I originally tried to book that there would be availability in April but there wasnt. I have since looked into cancelling the booking with Buy-a-Gift for something else (probably a balloon ride with the Mrs) and they are looking into altering their advertising to warn of the problem with Brands.