Alternative to a red letter day?

[dr bob]

Hi all,
A friend of mine is looking to get his son a red letter day experience for his 18th.

I said, pah, you don't actually get a whole lot of driving time on them, I know a Website where I'll be able to find a much better value day out...

so there you go, in the kent area would be best, any suggestions from the PH Massive? Looked at the PH car control days, but they were over budget.

Thanks in Advance,
CH

PS: the 18 year old does drive already, and isn't a total boy racer; max budget is £200

[GarrettMacD]

I wouldn't bother with Red Letter days, or any of those, they are simply brokers. You're far better off doing the days that the circuits themselves run. Being in Kent, Brands Hatch is the obvious one, but if your bloke can shake his booty up to Hampshire he'll find a very large variety at Thruxton. They seem to get the best reviews of the lot, for £200 there will be quite a range of types of experience, and from what I have heard, more track time and less restriction on the revs

[AJI]

You'd get most track time from putting your own car onto an open sessioned trackday. An airfield circuit would be best place to start.
Trackday entry costs around the £90 and the rest of your budget will go towards new set of tyres.

[dr bob]

Cheers both, using his own car isn't really a good idea... he's on his second car since passing less than a year ago with a very valuable (and expensive!) lesson in mechanical sympathy

I've looked on a couple of the circuit sites and they want you to have held your licence for a year - I expect this is also in the red letter days T&C... Got me thinking and I might suggest a Karting day as an alternative, much fun as getting a shot in a supercar is, getting to race against your dad could even more satisfying!

Cheers, CH



>> Edited by dr bob on Monday 22 May 14:55

[rmac]

depending on where you are based- Bookatrack do 20 minute sessions in their caterhams for fifty or sixty quid at Elvington once a month.

You could probably have the car for as long as your budget would allow - worth dropping them an e-mail.

[raceface]

I booked my Son a Lamborghini experience at Bruntingthorpe with this outfit www.driversdreamdays.co.uk/product.asp?id=22

They quote 4 to 6 laps in a Mini Cooper S or Subaru, followed by the Lambo, then a fast lap. OK, not a lot of driving, but an 18th birthday present he'll remember! Should also be able to boot it safely at Brunters.

They were fine that he's only 18 & passed his test last October; most seem to want 21 years & 1 or 3 years post-test experience.

Mark.

>> Edited by raceface on Tuesday 23 May 07:03

[dr bob]

Cheers Mark, I came across driversdreamdays last night, but hadn't heard of them and was going to ask for any recommendations from people that thad used them!!

So cheers, that looks favourite at the moment.

[raceface]

We haven't been yet though Bob. Going on 11th June, but looks a decent deal compared to others out there. They seem to book up for a weekend slot, so if you want a particular date you may need to ask early.

I went to Silverstone 18 months ago & did the Ferrari experience: 3 laps in an Audi TT, 3 in an Elise & 3 in a Ferrari 355. It was a present, good fun & a "tick in the box", so to speak, but maybe not the best value at £199.

If you're not in a hurry to book, I can let you know how we get on in 3 weeks or so?