Why just power hungry cars for track experiences?

[MrH]

Why is it that most track experiences, I.e. Pay £xxxx to drive supercar x, supercar y etc, when to appreciate what these cars can really do, you need to go a lot faster and harder than you could ever do at one of these events! Don't get me wrong, I know what the appeal is with driving someone's dream car, but there's a whole heap of people out there who want a bit more.

I've done an event driving an r8 and 360 and whilst it was good, can't say it was much fun and didn't last long enough.

Why don't we see more "fun" cars for track experiences? I for one would jump at the chance to hop into a Clio cup, abarth 500, civic type r etc, I guess 'hot hatches' which we're so used to hearing are fantastic on track, but we've no way of finding out!!

I think watching tonights top gear reignited these thoughts, with me thinking how great would a few hours on a track be with those 3 cars, plus someone in the passenger seat who can guide you!

I've searched many times for experiences that offer this, and there's pretty much nothing. Palmersport has a Clio, granted, but that's quite a pricey day.

Anyone any thoughts on this?

Cheers, Mark

[mike9009]

Toatlly agree.

I did one of these track day things about 18 months ago. I drove an elise and cooper s. On the same day i had the option of various exotica but tbh i was more interested in the track experienc ethan the car experience.

The day i went it was pissing it down. I was keeping up with the exotica in the cooper s, which felt brilliant! Admitably i would have felt pretty itimidated driving a fezza in those conditions for the first time.....

Mike

[EDLT]

You can rent track day cars from a few places. Not sure if anyone has a hot hatch though.

[Grey Ghost]

Take your own car on a track day with a decent organiser (Circuit Days are a good outfit) and you can book tuition before the day with a qualified instructor. I did this a few times many years ago and learnt a lot more in 30 minutes with a professional pointing out my mistakes (there were loads) and explaining lines, braking points and emphasising smoothness.

The guys at Circuit Days offer 20 minutes free tuition from memory and you can pay for more if you want to. As you will be in your own car they won't be limiting your rev range and your speed, unless they feel worried by your driving style of course .

[ewenm]

Because they are cars that Joe Public is unlikely to ever afford themselves, so sell well as an "experience" - remember most people aren't petrolheads, so driving a supercar is more appealing than a well-sorted cheap(ish) car.

For a proper track driving experience I don't reckon you can get much better than hiring one of Bookatrack's Caterhams for one of their trackdays (with tuition). Not cheap but you do get all day.

[MrH]

True this is available, but this isn't really an option for many people including me. Unless I had a dedicated track day car, I wouldn't want to if I'm honest. Plus I'd want t experience other cars, not mine.

Car hire again is available by a select few companies, but again can get expensive.

[MrH]

ewenm said:

Because they are cars that Joe Public is unlikely to ever afford themselves, so sell well as an "experience" - remember most people aren't petrolheads, so driving a supercar is more appealing than a well-sorted cheap(ish) car.
.

Agree, there will always be this element without doubt, but over the past few years there's been a huge shift in cars that are well sorted performance wise, but aren't in the super league, and are desirable. Plus i don't think you have to be a petrolhead to want a good laugh on track in something like a hot hatch. This type of car is talked about so much nowadays it seems odd we can't experience them!

[Grey Ghost]

MrH said:

True this is available, but this isn't really an option for many people including me. Unless I had a dedicated track day car, I wouldn't want to if I'm honest.

Given the cars showing in your garage list at least 3 would be fine for a track day. On the days I have been on it is almost always the well driven cars that outperform the supercars regardless of BHP under your right foot.

MrH said:

Plus I'd want to experience other cars, not mine. Car hire again is available by a select few companies, but again can get expensive.

Ah, this is where it does get expensive unfortunately and you tend to have to drive by other peoples rules regarding rev limits, speeds etc.

[Toyowner]

Either hire a Caterham through Bookatrack and have the full day caning the asre off it or do it through Caterham cars direct.

Way better value than any of the supercar driving days IMO.

[RobM77]

I agree with Ewen's response. I've lost count of the number of times someone's heard that I like cars and I've then had to sit through a story or photo album of 'the day they drove a Ferrari'. The equivalent for me would be perhaps flying a plane, or driving a speed boat. Would I want to push the thing to its limits? No, just the experience would be enough thanks. I wouldn't know when a plane or boat was at its limits, and I wouldn't have the skill to control it anyway.

Anyone wanting to drive fast on a track and enjoy it should perhaps take a racing license and test some quick cars. Even a Formula Ford would run rings round a GTR/R8/Gallardo etc, and be far more of an experience for someone really into cars. Or maybe go to Bedford Autodrome? The trouble with most circuits is that they need to protect spectators on race days, so there are big solid things to hit... Bedford's one of the few places where that isn't the case. Sadly I don't think they operate outside the lucrative corporate day market.

[nickythesaint]

I sort of a agree.

But then its abit like saying, why do you go to strip clubs and find slim fit girls instead of average munters. Errrrr......

[Steve H]

MSV used to use Clio 197s for their track experiences at Oulton and Megane 225s at Brands, now it's V8 M3s and sales are up

By my reckoning though (I'm one of the guys in the passenger seat) about half of the punters were just as quick in the Clios as the M3s, probably even more than half in the wet!

The M3s are great but also pretty heavy and 400 BHP takes a bit of getting the hang of whereas the Clios just felt like a normal shopping trolley but quicker and were much easier to drive for first-timers.

Anyway, to the OPs question, big powerful cars sell, Clios don't.

[Herman Toothrot]

EDLT said:

You can rent track day cars from a few places. Not sure if anyone has a hot hatch though.

I found myself thinking I'd be without a car for a trackday i'd booked (turned out I wasn't) and spoke to the organiser asking if they could hire out a car for me if needed or suggest anyone and they recommended a company that supply Clio Cup race car for £450 a day I think it was (forget who). Themselves they could Supply an Elise 111R for £700 a day.

It was MSE who told me this incase you want to find the Clio Cup hire company.

[anonymous-user]

Its because they provide lots of noise and straightline performance in a 'statement' car i.e. perceived value for money. It would probably be far more dangerous taking people out and pushing their corner speeds up. If you want to do that sort of thing it is likely that you will be looking at a race licence or track days.