Supercar drive at a young age....
Supercar drive at a young age....
Author
Discussion

Olie Baxter

Original Poster:

654 posts

226 months

Monday 28th April 2008
quotequote all
Hi guys,

Thinking of doing a track day. Im thinking of either a Ferrari or Lamborghini. To drive an LP640 at 17 would be great!

I have a passion for cars and would love to drive something special. I only passed my test last Friday (April 18th) but crave to drive something special....

Any ideas on what track days would allow a 17 year old near a fast car?

Olie

sniff petrol

13,124 posts

236 months

Monday 28th April 2008
quotequote all
Think you have to be 25 for most experience days. Sorry.

deviant

4,316 posts

234 months

Monday 28th April 2008
quotequote all
Yeah most of the ones I have seen are 21+

Some of the experiences with things like Evo's and Caterhams' will let you drive at 18+

Do a carefull search of this forum and the advanced driving forum for some opinions on experience days and if they are worth the money.

jleroux

1,511 posts

284 months

Monday 28th April 2008
quotequote all
Ollie,

You can drive one of our caterham superlights at 17 with a full license, albeit with a higher excess (£2500 instead of £1500) and a mandatory instructor alongside. Drop me a mail if you're interested (jonny at bookatrack dot com).

Jonny
BaT

Gizmo535

18,150 posts

233 months

Monday 28th April 2008
quotequote all
That Caterham thing sounds like a great idea. Seriously - until you have a bit of experience, driving a proper supercar will probably scare the bejesus out of you (I know that's partially the idea) and if you crash it... frown

I don't mean to be patronising, but that's the way it is wink

Craig!

349 posts

221 months

Monday 28th April 2008
quotequote all
No offence, and I ain't someone who usually preaches but having only just had your license under a week a 640bhp RWD car is not a good idea. Hell even a Caterham is excessive, i'd get used to driving in general first. If you do manage to get on a 'Supercar' day chances are you won't be allowed over x-amount of rev's etc.

This is something to watch out for in general not just age related. A day in an Elise, Caterham, Exige or even in a hatchback like a 182 Clio would be more beneficial than driving a supercar. Of course unless it's for bragging rights.

I've driven a 500bhp Porsche 911 (when I was looking into buying one) and ended up getting a Lotus Exige S as I got more enjoyment out of it. Sometimes less is more, and if its for experience / thrills I'd look into the caterham offer.

jleroux

1,511 posts

284 months

Monday 28th April 2008
quotequote all
we've actually had quite a few teenagers in our caterhams - mainly as a result of nervous parents who know their kids will invariably end up in quick cars anyway (one chap hired a caterham off us for 2 days as a pre-curser to letting his son out in his 911 GT3). Having some tuition at a young age makes a lot of sense - if the government insisted on more formal training in high powered cars for 17 year olds i'm 100% confident the death rate for teenage drivers would plummet.

With hindsight, I know I certainly couldn't drive for sh!t at 17.

Jonny

PeterA

97 posts

216 months

Monday 28th April 2008
quotequote all
I am also a teenager. I turned 18 mid-April, and, as my present, I am off to Croft in June (middle of A-levels...but, we all need a break). It was recommended to me by a family friend, and it looks set to be a very enjoyable experience.

As far as I understand, £175 gives me 3 laps being driven round the track in Mazda 3 MPS, then I drive 3 laps in a Porsche Cayman, then 5 laps in a Formula Renault, then a 'high speed passenger ride' in a Caterham. So, I think that is quite a good buy (yeah, yeah, from Lancashire, tight with money etc etc).

When the day finally arrives, I shall, no doubt, be unbelievably nervous. But, I read a review somewhere from a few years ago that the emphasis in the briefing is on cornering, braking points, changing gear etc. so there's not so much pressure for me to drive as fast as I can and set a lap record (although, I can assure you that once I'm comfortable I won't waste the experience by farting around in second gear).

While I'm rambling on, could anyone tell me about the format of the day, and also tell about the cars I'll be driving? I've read lots about the Porshce, and have read that the Renault is sensitive, especially on the steering, but could someone tell me what else to expect?

Thanks,
Peter (new member)

ginettajoe

2,106 posts

242 months

Monday 28th April 2008
quotequote all
PeterA said:
I am also a teenager. I turned 18 mid-April, and, as my present, I am off to Croft in June (middle of A-levels...but, we all need a break). It was recommended to me by a family friend, and it looks set to be a very enjoyable experience.

As far as I understand, £175 gives me 3 laps being driven round the track in Mazda 3 MPS, then I drive 3 laps in a Porsche Cayman, then 5 laps in a Formula Renault, then a 'high speed passenger ride' in a Caterham. So, I think that is quite a good buy (yeah, yeah, from Lancashire, tight with money etc etc).

When the day finally arrives, I shall, no doubt, be unbelievably nervous. But, I read a review somewhere from a few years ago that the emphasis in the briefing is on cornering, braking points, changing gear etc. so there's not so much pressure for me to drive as fast as I can and set a lap record (although, I can assure you that once I'm comfortable I won't waste the experience by farting around in second gear).

While I'm rambling on, could anyone tell me about the format of the day, and also tell about the cars I'll be driving? I've read lots about the Porshce, and have read that the Renault is sensitive, especially on the steering, but could someone tell me what else to expect?

Thanks,
Peter (new member)
............ a bking if you drive beyond your ability!!! biglaugh biglaugh

PeterA

97 posts

216 months

Monday 28th April 2008
quotequote all
Don't worry, I shall not be driving beyond my ability. All I want to do is enjoy the drive and the experience. I don't see the need to push the proverbial boundaries, there is no point. Would rather drive neatly around the track at a speed I feel comfortable with, and know I can control, than embarrass myself by skidding off.
Any other advice on what to expect?

Seb27

82 posts

217 months

Monday 28th April 2008
quotequote all
Track driving at a young age, I think, is a great idea for teaching car control and is brilliant fun! I am 17 and share a track day car with my dad (a stripped out mazda 323GT), it has only got about 150bhp but is obviously so much faster than my road car. I have just done my fourth track day and am getting quicker all the time, I would reccomend it to anyone - I love it.

Therefore, you don't neccesarily need to hire out a supercar to have a great track experience, I would reccomend something such as the 'MX experience' which have a fleet of Mazda MX5s which are all track prepared and can be hired out for whole or half days at the track. They have been at all the Javelin Track day events I have been to and if you don't have your own car, hiring one of their 5's out would be a great introduction to track driving.

Whatever you choose to do you should have a great time!

Edited by Seb27 on Monday 28th April 21:03

sniff petrol

13,124 posts

236 months

Monday 28th April 2008
quotequote all
Craig! said:
... a 640bhp RWD car is not a good idea.
Thought all Murcialagos are 4WD - apart from the GT racers.

Stedman

7,385 posts

216 months

Monday 28th April 2008
quotequote all
Im 18 and had the same idea. Its not such a track day, but i did a red letter day i got given. Was only 3 laps but still wasnt bad fun.

Had the choice of a few ferrari's. i chose a 355 f1. The instructor told me to get up for 5th or 6th as quickly as poss then 'use the torque' to drive around...so of course comming out of a hairpin i took 3rd and floored it smile Instructor didnt say anything!

Why not try out things like the mini cooper s's at goodwood.

Stedman

7,385 posts

216 months

Tuesday 29th April 2008
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And yes my grammer is terrible in my above post smile I blame it on to much revision!

deviant

4,316 posts

234 months

Tuesday 29th April 2008
quotequote all
Seb27 said:
Track driving at a young age, I think, is a great idea for teaching car control and is brilliant fun! I am 17 and share a track day car with my dad (a stripped out mazda 323GT), it has only got about 150bhp but is obviously so much faster than my road car. I have just done my fourth track day and am getting quicker all the time, I would reccomend it to anyone - I love it.

Therefore, you don't neccesarily need to hire out a supercar to have a great track experience, I would reccomend something such as the 'MX experience' which have a fleet of Mazda MX5s which are all track prepared and can be hired out for whole or half days at the track. They have been at all the Javelin Track day events I have been to and if you don't have your own car, hiring one of their 5's out would be a great introduction to track driving.

Whatever you choose to do you should have a great time!

Edited by Seb27 on Monday 28th April 21:03
Good on ya!

I bet you find that driving quickly on the road pales in comparison to driving quickly on track and as such you have slowed down?

Seb27

82 posts

217 months

Tuesday 29th April 2008
quotequote all
deviant said:
Seb27 said:
Track driving at a young age, I think, is a great idea for teaching car control and is brilliant fun! I am 17 and share a track day car with my dad (a stripped out mazda 323GT), it has only got about 150bhp but is obviously so much faster than my road car. I have just done my fourth track day and am getting quicker all the time, I would reccomend it to anyone - I love it.

Therefore, you don't neccesarily need to hire out a supercar to have a great track experience, I would reccomend something such as the 'MX experience' which have a fleet of Mazda MX5s which are all track prepared and can be hired out for whole or half days at the track. They have been at all the Javelin Track day events I have been to and if you don't have your own car, hiring one of their 5's out would be a great introduction to track driving.

Whatever you choose to do you should have a great time!

Edited by Seb27 on Monday 28th April 21:03
Good on ya!

I bet you find that driving quickly on the road pales in comparison to driving quickly on track and as such you have slowed down?
thats true there is no comparison, although my little 1.1 fiesta road car doesn't know what 'fast' means!

LamboAndy

81 posts

222 months

Wednesday 30th April 2008
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Hi Ollie,

You can come and drive our LP640 at 17 yrs old if you have a full licence. Check out our new website at www.6thgearexperience.com

Thanks

Andy.

Olie Baxter

Original Poster:

654 posts

226 months

Thursday 1st May 2008
quotequote all
LamboAndy said:
Hi Ollie,

You can come and drive our LP640 at 17 yrs old if you have a full licence. Check out our new website at www.6thgearexperience.com

Thanks

Andy.
Oooooh.... Sounds very interesting!

I will message you further questions before I book and head up all the way from Bournemouth. lol.

Olie

Youngster

1 posts

214 months

Wednesday 4th June 2008
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Sorry for bringing up such an old topic, but is there a possibility to get a drive in a somewhat fast car when you're 17, but do not have a drivers license yet?
I am from Latvia, and here the requirement to get a license is 18 years, so I can't really get a license for another year or so, but would really like to give myself a "present" in the form of a driving experience for my 17th birthday which is coming up in a few weeks.
I do have a learners permit for quite a while now, and have had a lot of experience (for my age, I mean) behind the wheel, and would really, absolutely love to go to a track and drive a nice, fast car.
Probably won't get in a supercar, but something relatively close would be awesome. Left-hand drive would be a huge plus, as I haven't driven a left-hand drive car at all. No problems with manual transmissions, absolutely love those.
And I'd love it to be cheaper than 500 pounds.
Sorry about the long post, hopefully someone will be able to help me out here smile

SMcP114

2,916 posts

216 months

Friday 6th June 2008
quotequote all
Is that a serious question? rolleyes