Supercar Terrible experience at Dunsfold Park
Discussion
I bought a thrill ride in a Mclaren 12c MP4. for 120.00 pounds with one of the many companies there are selling this supercar thrill day experience.
When you arrive they ask you to pay 25 pounds more for insurance or you will have to pay for any damage to their car.
I arrived on time and was told only one driver was available. I had to wait one hour past my time slot as everyone else waiting went for their drive before me and by now another 10 people had arrived for their drive. No one checked in what order people were going for their drive. If I had not approached the driver in the car I would have been there for another hour.
Their rules are if you are late you loose your drive and your money.
When I got in the car I went to check my mirrors, my instructor said "they are not for you to use, they are for me to use", so they are positioned for the instructor in the passenger seat. He said "the car cost 350,000 pounds and he worked for Mclaren", so knows how to drive. He then told me to pull out at the same time as their mini bus was overtaking. Luckily I saw the mini bus.
When I got to the end of the pick up area I was driving at 20mph I touched the brakes a little and the brakes slammed on for no reason. I thought it was very strange that the brakes were really sensitive. I found out after that the instructor was braking with his dual controls.
They do not tell you their cars have dual controls.
I booked the Mclaren and paid extra because I wanted to feel the power of the Mclaren.
What a waste of money as the instructor does not allow you to drive over 50mph or 4500 rpm and made me drive the whole way round in sixth gear. All the instructor kept saying was "change up a gear" even going round a tight bend with the steering wheel upside down at 25 mph he said "change up" until I was in sixth gear. Then at 30mph in sixth gear he said "floor it".
I only found out about the dual controls when I was on the wide straight bit of the course and he said start to brake now, the end of the straight was so far away I could not see it yet. I just covered my brakes and did not apply brakes. All of a sudden the bonnet went down as the he braked hard.
I booked this day as a supercar thrill experience day and read that I would get 4 exhilarating driving laps in a Mclaren.
My friend who I booked this day with came away thinking Mclarens are slower than his diesel Jaguar, as his Jag felt faster on the way home.
When you arrive they ask you to pay 25 pounds more for insurance or you will have to pay for any damage to their car.
I arrived on time and was told only one driver was available. I had to wait one hour past my time slot as everyone else waiting went for their drive before me and by now another 10 people had arrived for their drive. No one checked in what order people were going for their drive. If I had not approached the driver in the car I would have been there for another hour.
Their rules are if you are late you loose your drive and your money.
When I got in the car I went to check my mirrors, my instructor said "they are not for you to use, they are for me to use", so they are positioned for the instructor in the passenger seat. He said "the car cost 350,000 pounds and he worked for Mclaren", so knows how to drive. He then told me to pull out at the same time as their mini bus was overtaking. Luckily I saw the mini bus.
When I got to the end of the pick up area I was driving at 20mph I touched the brakes a little and the brakes slammed on for no reason. I thought it was very strange that the brakes were really sensitive. I found out after that the instructor was braking with his dual controls.
They do not tell you their cars have dual controls.
I booked the Mclaren and paid extra because I wanted to feel the power of the Mclaren.
What a waste of money as the instructor does not allow you to drive over 50mph or 4500 rpm and made me drive the whole way round in sixth gear. All the instructor kept saying was "change up a gear" even going round a tight bend with the steering wheel upside down at 25 mph he said "change up" until I was in sixth gear. Then at 30mph in sixth gear he said "floor it".
I only found out about the dual controls when I was on the wide straight bit of the course and he said start to brake now, the end of the straight was so far away I could not see it yet. I just covered my brakes and did not apply brakes. All of a sudden the bonnet went down as the he braked hard.
I booked this day as a supercar thrill experience day and read that I would get 4 exhilarating driving laps in a Mclaren.
My friend who I booked this day with came away thinking Mclarens are slower than his diesel Jaguar, as his Jag felt faster on the way home.
I've got a three car blast at Dunsfold, I booked it last week and they don't have any availability until early November!
I guessed that they won't let you drive too fast but 50mph is ridiculous. I'm having a go in an R8, Gallardo and a GTR so will see what happens I guess. I drove a friends R8 around an industrial estate area (on roads) at more than 50mph and that was slow so dread to think what 50mph on the track is like.
Had to pay an extra £20 for the "premium" dunsfold track, then they tried to sell me insurance for £15 PER CAR.
All a bit of a scam, but it was a birthday present so I'll give it a go and see what it's like!
I guessed that they won't let you drive too fast but 50mph is ridiculous. I'm having a go in an R8, Gallardo and a GTR so will see what happens I guess. I drove a friends R8 around an industrial estate area (on roads) at more than 50mph and that was slow so dread to think what 50mph on the track is like.
Had to pay an extra £20 for the "premium" dunsfold track, then they tried to sell me insurance for £15 PER CAR.
All a bit of a scam, but it was a birthday present so I'll give it a go and see what it's like!
I've always avoided these types of experiences, despite many family members/friends suggesting them as birthday presents, simply for this reason.
I recall around 10 years ago, going for a rally experience day at Silverstone (which, incidentally, was really good)
On the day, we saw the race circuit was open and a Ferrari 355 experience was on - I could have driven my Audi A3 around that circuit faster than they were going. It was pretty sad really.
I guess you can't blame them being careful - it's (invariably) an expensive car and one dreads to think of the morons they get turning up wanting to give it the beans and potentially crash.
However, what's the point of driving a car like that if you can't experience it properly?
I recall around 10 years ago, going for a rally experience day at Silverstone (which, incidentally, was really good)
On the day, we saw the race circuit was open and a Ferrari 355 experience was on - I could have driven my Audi A3 around that circuit faster than they were going. It was pretty sad really.
I guess you can't blame them being careful - it's (invariably) an expensive car and one dreads to think of the morons they get turning up wanting to give it the beans and potentially crash.
However, what's the point of driving a car like that if you can't experience it properly?
I had a driving experience day a couple of years ago at Prestwold circuit in an MP4-12C and Ferrari 458. No dual controls there and the instructors actually let you push the car to your limit. I also went a month or so before in an R8 with the track wet, even then the instructor still allowed me to push. They do tell you when to start braking, but you are already thinking you should have been braking earlier anyway!
They do ask for an additional 20 odd quid for insurance, but its voluntary so I didnt bother. Kept the cars on the track and did quite a bit over 100mph in the R8 according to the instructor, even in the wet, but boy can that R8 corner well.
So I guess it depends which company you do these things with.
They do ask for an additional 20 odd quid for insurance, but its voluntary so I didnt bother. Kept the cars on the track and did quite a bit over 100mph in the R8 according to the instructor, even in the wet, but boy can that R8 corner well.
So I guess it depends which company you do these things with.
I think the way the experience is advertised is very misleading.
Like many others I had always wondered what these #trackdays are really like.
Wish some one had posted their experience and saved me a wasted day and money.
Hope this post helps or saves someone from having a disappointing day.
Like many others I had always wondered what these #trackdays are really like.
Wish some one had posted their experience and saved me a wasted day and money.
Hope this post helps or saves someone from having a disappointing day.
My wife bought me one of these for xmas. First go was in a F360 and from the start it was terrible. Heater was on full and when I went to turn it down the instructor stopped me in a dismissive manner. He would not let me overtake and spent the whole time telling me to brake even though we were at a snails pace. The final straw was when he grabbed the wheel for no apparent reason to make a point about cutting a corner. Next car was Gallardo Spider but this time I told the driver how miserable my previous experience had been and that if I was in for more of the same I would rather not bother. I also explained that I was used to high performance cars and was not going to crash the car. He responded by asking me to take the racing line through the first corner after which he allowed me to get on with it overtaking when required. Much better and I had a good time and he seemed to enjoy it as well.
I drove a Lamborghini Gallardo at a small track in New Jersey. The Russian instructor told me I had to leave it in auto but could drive it like I stole it. He also told me he had a gun so don't try and steal the car.
With 2 cars on the track and no over taking people were driving at a slow pace. Instead, I held back until the 430 nearly caught me and floored it until I caught up. Lots of fun
With 2 cars on the track and no over taking people were driving at a slow pace. Instead, I held back until the 430 nearly caught me and floored it until I caught up. Lots of fun
Dave R D said:
I think the way the experience is advertised is very misleading.
Like many others I had always wondered what these #trackdays are really like.
Wish some one had posted their experience and saved me a wasted day and money.
Hope this post helps or saves someone from having a disappointing day.
I wish you had mentioned this to me when we met David, I could have told you all about these guys.Like many others I had always wondered what these #trackdays are really like.
Wish some one had posted their experience and saved me a wasted day and money.
Hope this post helps or saves someone from having a disappointing day.
I know its a different format and a lot more money but the Bedford Autodrome driving day is brilliant. IIRC 6 different cars driven throughout the day and no restriction on how fast you go (unless of course the instructors realised that I'm a driving God…lol) in fact they encourage you to step on it.
Agreed about Bedford Autodrome. I had a very enjoyable day there (although it was a few years ago) and the instructors were excellent. At one point I departed the track backwards at a fair speed (damp conditions + S2000 + modest talent) to much guffawing from the chap in the passenger seat who had been egging me on.
hunter 66 said:
Agree but I know of at least 2 Driving instructors who have died in the passenger seat .......so there are reasons
Sean Edwards?Different situation. And this type of thing has been going on way before that hit the headlines. Precisely why I advise friends to check the small print and ask questions before they sign up.
I'd like to know whether 6th Gear are the same? I think Simon George posts on PH?
This sounds awful. What you need to do is convince McLaren that you are seriously considering buying a car from them and you will get invited to try the cars on track with instructors who are experienced, polite and will let you drive the car properly. I spun a 12c at Dunsfold (with all the aids off) and all the instructor said was "that's OK - it shows you were trying" (however, nice as the McLaren guys are, I stuck with my 458)
MrSparks said:
I've got a three car blast at Dunsfold, I booked it last week and they don't have any availability until early November!
I guessed that they won't let you drive too fast but 50mph is ridiculous. I'm having a go in an R8, Gallardo and a GTR so will see what happens I guess. I drove a friends R8 around an industrial estate area (on roads) at more than 50mph and that was slow so dread to think what 50mph on the track is like.
Had to pay an extra £20 for the "premium" dunsfold track, then they tried to sell me insurance for £15 PER CAR.
All a bit of a scam, but it was a birthday present so I'll give it a go and see what it's like!
My wife bought me one at Dunsfold, I wish she hadn't as I knew it would have been quite expensive and it represented sI guessed that they won't let you drive too fast but 50mph is ridiculous. I'm having a go in an R8, Gallardo and a GTR so will see what happens I guess. I drove a friends R8 around an industrial estate area (on roads) at more than 50mph and that was slow so dread to think what 50mph on the track is like.
Had to pay an extra £20 for the "premium" dunsfold track, then they tried to sell me insurance for £15 PER CAR.
All a bit of a scam, but it was a birthday present so I'll give it a go and see what it's like!
t value for money. I drove an Atom, you wouldn't have thought it had a high revving vtec engine, only allowed to use fifth and sixth gear. But I was allowed to go fast from what I remember.Try 6th Gear
http://www.6thgearexperience.com/supercar-driving-...
I did the Supercar treble at Blyton Park and there were no limits, the instructors kept encouraging me to go faster and faster, brilliant VFM.
http://www.6thgearexperience.com/supercar-driving-...
I did the Supercar treble at Blyton Park and there were no limits, the instructors kept encouraging me to go faster and faster, brilliant VFM.
My girlfriend just bought me this exact experience for my birthday. I've done quite a few before and they have always been fine (albeit with the above mentioned 6th Gear and also another company, the name of which escapes me right now), so I hope you just had an instructor on a bad day. I'll report back once I've done it.
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