Buyagift Aston Driving Experience - Complete Crap!!!
Discussion
I've done two experience days, one at Prestwold driving 5 different super-cars, very enjoyable bu not really anything to set the world alight, though I did get to drive a Lambo and a Noble which were great and I enjoyed the day for what it was.
The other day I did was the Exige 1-to-1 day experience at Thurxton which was brilliant, no limits and the instructor wanted me to push the car and get better through the laps I did.
I'd do the Exige experience again in a heart-beat, but wouldn't be too fussed about the Prestwold one again.
Now I track my car anyway, which is far more fun and for only slightly more money for a hold day of track time.
The other day I did was the Exige 1-to-1 day experience at Thurxton which was brilliant, no limits and the instructor wanted me to push the car and get better through the laps I did.
I'd do the Exige experience again in a heart-beat, but wouldn't be too fussed about the Prestwold one again.
Now I track my car anyway, which is far more fun and for only slightly more money for a hold day of track time.
They're not all bad.
I did one a couple of years ago at Rockingham with the racing school in a F360 and was positively encouraged to use all the revs, power out of corners and brake later and harder than I thought possible.
The instructors made it abundantly clear at the briefing and on getting in the car that the more trust they gained in the punters ability to listen and absorb what was being said, the faster we could go.
A year or two later my missus did the same thing in a Lotus Elise at the Rock and had the same experience.
I did one a couple of years ago at Rockingham with the racing school in a F360 and was positively encouraged to use all the revs, power out of corners and brake later and harder than I thought possible.
The instructors made it abundantly clear at the briefing and on getting in the car that the more trust they gained in the punters ability to listen and absorb what was being said, the faster we could go.
A year or two later my missus did the same thing in a Lotus Elise at the Rock and had the same experience.
Agree with the above post. I recently did a Lambo and Ariel Atom at brands hatch and it ws fantastic. By the end of my alloted laps the instructor was ecouraging me to go so hard it was bordering on being beyod my comfort zone, But not quite, and I have a high comfort zone!
I can highly, highly recommend the Brands one and I see that a two car day is now only £99 on the buyagift site!
I would do it again tomorrow. in fact i might book another this year if they are available before the winter sets in.
As mentioned above the breifing chap asked us to imagine what it must be like for the instructor to have someone they have never met sat next to them in a ~500 bhps supercar about to drive them round a track.
I did this and it worked a treat they just pushed me to go faster all the way and I had a great time. The Ariel chap even gave me a sneaky extra lap! top bloke.
I get the impression the OP failed this first impressions stage perhaps?
No offence meant. No affiliation with the guys who run the days at Brands, but go everyone I highly recommend it!
I can highly, highly recommend the Brands one and I see that a two car day is now only £99 on the buyagift site!
I would do it again tomorrow. in fact i might book another this year if they are available before the winter sets in.
As mentioned above the breifing chap asked us to imagine what it must be like for the instructor to have someone they have never met sat next to them in a ~500 bhps supercar about to drive them round a track.
I did this and it worked a treat they just pushed me to go faster all the way and I had a great time. The Ariel chap even gave me a sneaky extra lap! top bloke.
I get the impression the OP failed this first impressions stage perhaps?
No offence meant. No affiliation with the guys who run the days at Brands, but go everyone I highly recommend it!
Edited by mini me on Wednesday 20th August 16:44
I did the Exige day at Thruxton as my first experience on track. While they won't let you drive flat out, it was fast enough for me to learn a lot about driving.
Soov535 said:
No need to be like that. Take it as people offering advice so that you know what to do/ not to do next time perhaps. So you have a better time. I tend to find it best to go into these things claiming to know nothing even if that's not true. Let them show you and generally they will want to. Always worked for me.
On the other hand I have heard many people complaining about not being allowed to push hard on these experience days so I know it can be a very real disappointment. And perhaps this is one of the places which isn't so good, I dunno never been to that one? Try the brands hatch one and if you let them show you the way I bet you won't be disappointed. Again. No offence intended so please don't take it that way.
On the other hand I have heard many people complaining about not being allowed to push hard on these experience days so I know it can be a very real disappointment. And perhaps this is one of the places which isn't so good, I dunno never been to that one? Try the brands hatch one and if you let them show you the way I bet you won't be disappointed. Again. No offence intended so please don't take it that way.
ratbag851 said:
As I said, Get off my case. I posted this in the hope that it would save some of you wasting your money as I did, I don't expect abuse. logging out for good.
We're just wondering what you expected if you were going to start asking about tyre breakaway points and trying to convince the instructor you are the stig? There seem to be far more stories of "I listened and took everything the instructor said on board and had a thoroughly good time" which is exactly what I've had every time I've been on for example Ferrari experiences, Rally days, skid pan days, Air strip based track experiences.
That or you just got an instructor who was having a really really bad day?
I've done two of these. First was an Exige on the International circuit at Silverstone before I started racing, coached by an ex-F1 driver I won't name but his basic advice was "just go for it"! The second I did recently was also an Exige this time at Thruxton because I couldn't get a track day. Once I'd learned the circuit, I was as flat out as I dare go. I've had friends do several experiences at Silverstone and they've raved about it.
did one of these days at thruxton in the R8, my wife bought me the driving experience! (not the R8)
totally different from what the OP experienced. The instructor was constantly giving tips and pushing me to go faster and round the outside of the single seaters and porsche's, i had an absolute hoot even though it was only 3 laps.
totally different from what the OP experienced. The instructor was constantly giving tips and pushing me to go faster and round the outside of the single seaters and porsche's, i had an absolute hoot even though it was only 3 laps.
Edited by orangeknight on Wednesday 20th August 20:53
Soov535 said:
That's bloody funny, even better that it reminds me of someone at work who is a serial bulls
tter , just the most incredible stories
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qemU_bcw98
Maybe he was worried about stuff like the above!
Book a VXR Power Event next year if you can, fantastic hour on track.
Maybe he was worried about stuff like the above!
Book a VXR Power Event next year if you can, fantastic hour on track.
Edited by Jon999 on Wednesday 20th August 21:15
Jon999 said:
That's amazing, the instructor is the master of understatement at the end!Gassing Station | Track Days | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff