Driver's Experience Gift Pack..... WHICH CIRCUIT??

[foster3jd]

The g/f has just given me a driver's experience gift for my birthday and I'm looking for some advice on which circuit to choose for my single seater racing experience.

The choice is from; Aintree, Castle Coombe, Goodwood, Knockhill, Mallory Park, Pembrey, Rockingham, Silverstone or Thruxton.

Living in Kent and having read the trackday reviews, unless someone gives me a damned good reason to change my mind, I'm excluding; Aintree, Knockhill, Mallory Park, Pembrey and Silverstone from my selection.

So from the remaining four circuits, which would my fellow PHers recommend... and why?
Castle Coombe
Goodwood
Rockingham (offers something different to the others!)
Thruxton

[GarrettMacD]

Most of the 'experince' days are, unfortunately, crap. Too little time in the car, not being allowed to give it full welly, poor standard of instructor, plus many other factors.

For some reason you have ruled out Silverstone, which is far and away the best. I haven't done any experience day there, or anywhere else, but I have had race coaching from Simon Mason, one of the senior instructors there. The standard of instruction is very high, and if you behave yourself they'll let you go full pelt around the track.

What would you rather...

3 laps in a Lamborghini around a racetrack most people have never heard of, at some stupid rev limit of 4500rpm... OR

Full pelt around Silverstone GP in a 355 or 911 ???


Remember that most 'experience' days are for corporate bods, as a reward for meeting sales targets etc, so for them, it's the car they drive that's important, not the track or the speed.

[foster3jd]

Way to go for putting a downer on my birthday gift...... next time, before you rain on someone's parade, try reading the post!!!!!!

foster3jd said:

I'm looking for some advice on which circuit to choose for my single seater racing experience...... Living in Kent and having read the trackday reviews, unless someone gives me a damned good reason to change my mind, I'm excluding; Aintree, Knockhill, Mallory Park, Pembrey and Silverstone from my selection.

>> Edited by foster3jd on Wednesday 20th July 01:15

[F1sh]

You rule out Silverstone, yet still have Castle Coombe in there... Strange!

I would pick either Silverstone or Castle C.

But you'r the one that will be driving, so make of it what you can.

Fish

[Mark_H]

For me:

1. Silverstone
2. Castle Combe
3. Goodwood
...

Hope you enjoy the day!

[Don]

For a single seater thing...

Go hit the websites. Work out how many laps you get at each "racing school".

Its the number of laps that's important. The more laps, the more familiar you get with the car, the more you start to push, the more you enjoy it.

I've done this sort of thing at Thruxton and at Silverstone. At Silverstone you must realise they'll use the "Southern Circuit" - the bottom half of the track - which doesn't include Bridge, Luffield, Woodcote, the pit straight, Copse etc which you will be familiar with from the TV. It does include the Hangar Straight, Stowe and Club though - fairly epic.

But personally I'd choose Thruxton. Its very, very fast and if you're not that familiar with circuit driving will afford you the opportunity to get your foot down and enjoy some real speed...

I've driven Elises there a couple of times now. Based on the "most laps for the money" principle.

[Ian964]

I did one of these with my brother at Thruxton, which was a great day out (Christmas pressie from our other halves). We started in MGFs for circuit familiarisation, then progressed on to Formula Ford 1600s and Formula Renault single seaters. There were also a couple of F360s you could try at extra cost (I think it was about £20 for five laps). One of the instructors even took us out for some fast laps in my brothers Scoob!

The whole thing was well organised, and I liked Thruxton. A good day in all.

[kickstart]

Personally I would go for Mallory Park out of the circuits you list. The reason for this is that it is very easy to learn, quick and Gerards is the best corner except Paddock in the country. If you go to a real power circuit eg Goodwood or Thruxton, with the rev limit imposed I think it will not be as much of a thrill.
Back in 1987 I did a similar single seater experience (at Brands) and I am still racing them now...Have fun

[GarrettMacD]

foster3jd said:

Way to go for putting a downer on my birthday gift...... next time, before you rain on someone's parade, try reading the post!!!!!! foster3jd said: I'm looking for some advice on which circuit to choose for my single seater racing experience...... Living in Kent and having read the trackday reviews, unless someone gives me a damned good reason to change my mind, I'm excluding; Aintree, Knockhill, Mallory Park, Pembrey and Silverstone from my selection. >> Edited by foster3jd on Wednesday 20th July 01:15

I used the road cars as AN EXAMPLE. The same situation will apply to most single seater experiences, as you will no doubt find out. If you didn't want opinions or advice, then don't send up a post asking for them.

Sure, go for a single seater experience where you get to 'drive' a fast car, under artificially imposed rev limits, but why don't you read some of the back posts to see how many people were thoroughly disappointed with it all???

[foster3jd]

Geographically the easiest for me to get to would be Goodwood or Thruxton, and after reading the informative posts from Don and Ian964 it has definitely got me leaning towards Thruxton, which just happens to be fast, is familiar to me from watching on tv and has some decent left hand corners.

I'm really keen to hear some more opinions about the other circuits available to me... and yes, GarrettMacD, that includes Silverstone.

Anyone with experience of Rockingham?...
The trackday reviews suggest that the infield is a bit technical and slow, having noted that, I'm especially keen to hear from anyone with experience of driving this section in a single seater.

[elondon]

Hi I just did an experience day - for my birthday - at Thruxton. I WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND IT!!!!!!!

Depending on which 'experience' you've gpne for yuou drive a variety of cars, I had a mazda ?rx8, a ferrari 355 and a formula renault.

At no time was I told to limit my speed, in fact the opposite was true and with little encouragement I had my foot to the floor along the straights on many occasions. In the ferrari this was AWESOME!!!!!! The man strapping me into the formula renault repeatedly told me to 'thrash it' and give it what for. (Dont get me wrong, they are hot on safety etc too as would be expected)

Thruxton is a pretty fast track with some tricky corners and left me exhilarated and with a maniacal grin on my face all the way home!!! I can still hear the growl of that ferarri :-D

Whereever you end up hope you have a good day

[foster3jd]

Don said:

For a single seater thing... Go hit the websites. Work out how many laps you get at each "racing school". Its the number of laps that's important. The more laps, the more familiar you get with the car, the more you start to push, the more you enjoy it.

The single seater experience at Silverstone uses the Stowe F1 test circuit see here, which is a tiny little thing in the GP infield, but you do get comparatively good car time and so will get to do lots of laps.

The choice now appears to be between:
1. Thruxton - full circuit, formula renault on slicks
2. Silverstone - small circuit, longer sessions, lots of laps
3. Goodwood

I'm no longer considering Castle Combe, as it's actually further away than I first realised and it appears from other threads to be a more difficult circuit to master... especially in an unfamiliar car in a short period of time!!!!..... Maybe next time

As for Rockingham, I can't seem to get any decent info or feedback.


>> Edited by foster3jd on Thursday 21st July 01:58

[number 46]

'Gerards is the best corner except Paddock in the country' really ?? Raced in single seater and track day at The Rock, and it is a bit like two circuits, you have the technical, twisty infield then the fast banking, it doesn't seem to flow very well. Thruxton is an experience, very fast around the long back section and it will feel even faster in a single seater, if you've never been on a circuit before then probably Thruxton is the most exciting. Castle combe is nowhere near as good now it has the chicanes. Silverstone a bit flat and wide, not great. If you are in Kent what about Brands?? Nothing compares to being in a s/seater going into paddock for the first time and seeing just sky ahead of you!!

[foster3jd]

number 46 said:

If you are in Kent what about Brands?? Nothing compares to being in a s/seater going into paddock for the first time and seeing just sky ahead of you!!

I'd love to, but unfortunately that is not one of the options available to me

[Don]

If its the Stowe circuit (which is what they use for the Silverstone Race School 5-day thing) you would get to know it very quickly (few corners) and really get a chance to try and take them as hard as you can...

...but its not exactly scenic or epic in any sense. Good training...not sure about how much fun.

Given the info - I'd try Thruxton if I were you. Save up an extra few bob and when you're there buy some extra laps in some of the other cars as well...you'll have a good, fun, day out.

[foster3jd]

Don said:

Given the info - I'd try Thruxton if I were you. Save up an extra few bob and when you're there buy some extra laps in some of the other cars as well...you'll have a good, fun, day out.

Thanks Don... you've given me some great feedback. I'd already looked at the other options and think that if I do choose Thruxton, I'd like to upgrade my present to the 355 challenge which elondon was referring too... you get all the same package as the single seater challenge, plus 4 extra laps in the 355.


ps. great first post Elaine (elondon)

[elondon]

Thanks! The ferrari is definitely worth it ... single seat renault blinding too

Let us know which one you went for and how it was!

[fozzi]

Went to Thruxton today... had a few drops of rain, but had an absolutely blinding day!!!!

3 laps as passenger with instructor driving an RX-8
3 laps driving an RX-8 with an instructor marking my performance
5 laps in Formula Renault single seater... tight squeeze for my substancial frame!!!!
5 more laps in Formula Renault... actually 4, plus another 3 as I was called back into the pits too early so got sent out again!!..... all recorded "in car" on DVD... and overtaking everyone else on the circuit ... plus cars spinning out in front
3 laps in Ferrari 355 with an instructor marking my performance... also recorded on DVD
1 lap as passenger with instructor driving a race tuned RX-8... "white knuckle ride".... tried to get him to do an "Yvan Muller" in the chicane!!

Can thoroughly recommended the Thruxton driving experience... first class service and instruction, though not cheap when you add on the extras (£35+ for DVD, £15+ for photo etc.) but a thoroughly enjoyable day all the same!!

So need to get behind the wheel of a single seater again!


edited to add:
ps. foster3jd=fozzi
pps. can't wait for DVD to arrive... reckon about 7-10 days!!!

>> Edited by fozzi on Friday 24th March 23:35

[jpivey]

Try the oval experience at rockingham when it reopens in may, you get 30 mins driving time in a single seater on the oval at speeds up to 130 mph if your any good you shouldn't drop below 110.

[fozzi]

jpivey said:

Try the oval experience at rockingham when it reopens in may, you get 30 mins driving time in a single seater on the oval at speeds up to 130 mph if your any good you shouldn't drop below 110.

Sounds like fun, might have to give that a go!