Rally Experience

[tpa22]

Just had a day's "rally" experience at Driveme's Stafford Centre. It consisted of 2 laps round an oval tarmac track as a passenger in a Focus. This was followed by 6 laps driving a standard Clio round a tarmac course with speed bumps and pulling on the handbrake at each end, then 6 laps driving an Evo round the tarmac oval, which had 2 chicanes in it. I was not allowed to accelerate between the chicanes and the braking point for the corners, nor select any gear but 3rd to accelerate out of the corners. (This rule was in place for all cars to prevent people spinning the rwd Ferrari (which had to be push started). I may be a rubbish driver, (you get scored by the instructors,) but as a rally experiences go this was a pretty rubbish experience even for a 64 year old. The only off road experience was as a passenger in a Landrover round a short muddy track and dropped off in the middle of the mud at the end.
Glad it wasn't raining as the accomodation would have struggled to cope. Avoid until their new facilities come on line, though I could not see any timescale attached to the plans. Amazed at how busy it was, but most were there for 6 laps round the oval in a one or more supercars.
Don't like it that my first post is a negative one, but even my son who bought me the experience had to agree that the venue I'd chosen was a little less than ideal.

[PhillipM]

Tbh, you hear a lot of this about most of these 'experience' days, I can't say there's many I'd want to go on or give as a gift after all the feedback on various companies running them...

[TAHodgson]

I've done some work with a few of the experience companies, and i'm not here to advertise or put any particular company down. But I've worked with a few instructors that have done days with drive me, and even they don't like the facilities or the "track". IMO none of them offer a proper rally experience except dedicated rally schools etc. But there are much better circuit driving companies out there...

[tpa22]

Yes, I've been to Donnington and Silverstone. At Silverstone at least you could let the car go, albeit with an instructor alongside; Donnington was fun but only because being last in the queue on the circuit I could create a gap to have a go in, otherwise driving a single seater behind a saloon car is a bit like F1 behind the safety car!
It is little wonder the is so little information on the websites of the experience companies as to the exact nature of the experience. Probably why they don't seem to be short of business.

[clarki]

It does seem to be your donald duck with these places.

My misses did the silverstone rally day and although it was in an old banger escort she was pushed hard and really got to throw the thing about - she wants to have another go, so that's good.

I did the 6th gear experience at Longcross recently - drove 3 cars and even on the day it was chalk and cheese.
The R8 "instructor" was hopeless and as a result I really didnt enjoy the car. Its a car potential I could purchase - Put me on a right downer.
However when in the lambo merci (the evo mag one) I was given some great tips, left to push on and encouraged to overtake slower cars - I loved it and the car. I had been looking forward to driving a lambo forever (my favourite car) and if you'd seen the smile on my face afterwards then you'd know the instructor had just made my year!! BTW if anyone reading owns a merci - I am very jealous, a most amazing experience.

[zeb]

My brother wants to do the rally experience at oulton (mainly because its cosworths)

Has anyone any experience of this particular one?

[JB!]

clarki said:

It does seem to be your donald duck with these places.

My misses did the silverstone rally day and although it was in an old banger escort she was pushed hard and really got to throw the thing about - she wants to have another go, so that's good.

I did the 6th gear experience at Longcross recently - drove 3 cars and even on the day it was chalk and cheese.
The R8 "instructor" was hopeless and as a result I really didnt enjoy the car. Its a car potential I could purchase - Put me on a right downer.
However when in the lambo merci (the evo mag one) I was given some great tips, left to push on and encouraged to overtake slower cars - I loved it and the car. I had been looking forward to driving a lambo forever (my favourite car) and if you'd seen the smile on my face afterwards then you'd know the instructor had just made my year!! BTW if anyone reading owns a merci - I am very jealous, a most amazing experience.

my dad did the silverstone rally school thing with the escorts, and loved it, got to give them total death and get it nice an sideways.

[Steve H]

zeb said:

My brother wants to do the rally experience at oulton (mainly because its cosworths)

Has anyone any experience of this particular one?

It's good, rwd cars on a low grip surface and you are encouraged to get it properly sideways.

[rallycross]

I'd recommend these guys if you want to try a rally experience, their new venue is superb gravel tracks / through some woodland, they really encourage you to push on and slide the cars (Rally preped RWD impreza 2.0).

http://www.subarurallyexperience.co.uk/comments/

We went as a group and they did us a really good deal on half day courses.

Planning to go again in 2012.

[mad4amanda]

The Pug 206 rally expearience at Brands Hatch is very good , proper rally stage through woods on gravel for one and tarmac snake up and down for the second all the while being pushed on to go quicker great fun!