Friday 5th March 2004

CPA Track Day Hire

At last - you can get behind the wheel of a GT3/Noble/TVR and give it some stick on track!

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When it comes to trying out performance machinery on track the options have been pretty limited until now.

Many companies rent out serious cars for use on track, complete with instructors, but more often than not, they're ex race cars. That's no bad thing of course as a stripped our race car is going to be faster than any road going equivalent. The downside is that driving a full on race car is a very different - and potentially intimidating - experience compared to getting into road going sports cars.

For people who want to sample a regular 911, M3 or TVR on track with foot firmly planted the options have been limited until now.

Coulson Pritchard Associates also recognised this gap in the market and they've assembled a fantastic fleet of exotica for use on track. You can choose from a Porsche GT3, Noble M12 GTO-3R, BMW M3 CSL, TVR T350c, Caterham R300, or the new V6 Renaultsport Clio and Lotus Exige. The beauty of their proposition is that there are no nannying 4000rpm rev limits or restrictions on mileage.

The cars are available on either a full or half day basis to individuals or small groups (up to 3 people is recommended). Prices start at £250 per person (based on a group of three sharing).

CPA can be contacted on 01480 470220 or visit their website .

[m-five]

Sounds good, but I noticed a little clause on their booking form which states that if the car becomes a non-runner (for whatever reason) then they do not refund you (nor I assume supply a replacement).

So if you turn up and the car breaks down on the 1st lap you are screwed.

I would think some sort of pro-rated refund would be in order.

Wouldn't mind getting my hands on a GT3 though -

[domster]

I have used CPA before (twice) and in practice they let you take a session ot two at a later trackday to make up for it. I suppose they have to cover their legal behinds, but in reality they are real gents about it with good customer service.

[PAUL THORPE]

m-five said:

Sounds good, but I noticed a little clause on their booking form which states that if the car becomes a non-runner (for whatever reason) then they do not refund you (nor I assume supply a replacement). So if you turn up and the car breaks down on the 1st lap you are screwed. I would think some sort of pro-rated refund would be in order. Wouldn't mind getting my hands on a GT3 though -

[PAUL THORPE]

Hi,

We run both 'experience days' where you get to sample all the fleet at one circuit track event (2 of these a month around UK circuits) and pure trackday hire of the cars at a circuit of choice.

The terms on the booking form conditions you mention relate to the former experience day. In practice if one car breaks down we have a equal/lesser back-up vehicle to ensure the day goes ahead without loss of drives/fun. If one of the crown jewels lets us down (it happened once with GT3 last year, believe it or not! - Thanks Dom for the kind explanation of how we recompense) we invite our guests along for a steer at a later event.

If its hire of a particular car eg Noble for one day and it 'fails' we will provide an alternative/same car at an alternative date...no quibble!

Really hope you can attend a day and enjoy the buggies where they work best...i.e. a race circuit.

Paul Thorpe
CPA TRACKDAYS

[carl_w]

I've got professional indemnity/employer's liability/public liability insurance with CPA -- do I get a discount on the prices?

[Broccers]

These days are the business, I cant recommend Dom, Paul and the nutty instructors enough.

I really enjoyed today at Donington and so did my ever patient other half. The duck shooting did keep her happy though

Cheers

Simon.

[AdamS]

Yesterday was fantastic, shame the Caterhams couldn't keep themselves on the black stuff!