Best driving experience day for under £1000
Discussion
I have a significant birthday coming up and am planning to treat myself to a decent driving experience.
I have done a few in the past..
Formula ford (x2) - at Aintree - excellent
Rally at Oulton Park - excellent
Supercar (R8) at Three sisters - Good but crowded on a small circuit. I was lucky in that I didn't get held up.
Supercar (Lambo Gallardo & Huracan) at Anglesey - Much better circuit, but short changed on laps.
I've read lots about Palmersport and am interested, but not keen that some of it is in Karts and Landrover.
I also can't find anything that outlines how much in-car time you get.
I'm considering:
Palmersport
Porsche Experience day.
M4/single seater @ Outlon ( perhaps x 2)
Lotus instruction day at Anglesey
Anything else that anyone can attest to and recommend?
Other ideas greatfuly received.
I have done a few in the past..
Formula ford (x2) - at Aintree - excellent
Rally at Oulton Park - excellent
Supercar (R8) at Three sisters - Good but crowded on a small circuit. I was lucky in that I didn't get held up.
Supercar (Lambo Gallardo & Huracan) at Anglesey - Much better circuit, but short changed on laps.
I've read lots about Palmersport and am interested, but not keen that some of it is in Karts and Landrover.
I also can't find anything that outlines how much in-car time you get.
I'm considering:
Palmersport
Porsche Experience day.
M4/single seater @ Outlon ( perhaps x 2)
Lotus instruction day at Anglesey
Anything else that anyone can attest to and recommend?
Other ideas greatfuly received.
Does it need to be:
- track
- in a fancy car
if not - then consider a training day of some type - one of the high end car coaches out there etc.?
alternatively - also inc. MB World - have done a day there and it is a lot of fun!
They have to change the tyres on the cars every day - that is how much they let you do to them...
- track
- in a fancy car
if not - then consider a training day of some type - one of the high end car coaches out there etc.?
alternatively - also inc. MB World - have done a day there and it is a lot of fun!
They have to change the tyres on the cars every day - that is how much they let you do to them...
The GT experience at the PEC was £500 upgrade on my PEC day the last time I enquired, and included the following:
30 minutes in a core 911 model
40 minutes in a 997 GT model
40 minutes in a 997 RS model
40 minutes in a 991 GT or RS model
It was a few years ago, but they’ll no doubt do something similar. Not sure on what the straight up price would have been, but presumably less than £1000.
30 minutes in a core 911 model
40 minutes in a 997 GT model
40 minutes in a 997 RS model
40 minutes in a 991 GT or RS model
It was a few years ago, but they’ll no doubt do something similar. Not sure on what the straight up price would have been, but presumably less than £1000.
We just did a day at the Phil Price Rally school, was genuinely exceptional. Almost too much driving, all sideways. Topped off with demo runs and a timed competition. Stunning location.
Palmersport day is also first class. Timed / competitive. Huge variance of cars, quite corporate.
Nothing compares to either of the above in my experience.
mrfunex said:
Porsche experience day. Hands down.
I had 3 hours of one-on-one tuition in a Cayman for about £600 and it was the best money I’ve spent on car stuff in a long time. Utterly brilliant.
Thanks for this input. It looks like they do a 90 minutes session for £300. Did you do a double session?I had 3 hours of one-on-one tuition in a Cayman for about £600 and it was the best money I’ve spent on car stuff in a long time. Utterly brilliant.
Might be interesting to mix Cayman morning and 911 afternoon.
akirk said:
Does it need to be:
- track
- in a fancy car
if not - then consider a training day of some type - one of the high end car coaches out there etc.?
alternatively - also inc. MB World - have done a day there and it is a lot of fun!
They have to change the tyres on the cars every day - that is how much they let you do to them...
I didn't realise they did such a thing. The AMG GT look interesting. How good is the track?- track
- in a fancy car
if not - then consider a training day of some type - one of the high end car coaches out there etc.?
alternatively - also inc. MB World - have done a day there and it is a lot of fun!
They have to change the tyres on the cars every day - that is how much they let you do to them...
krisdelta said:
I’m fortunate enough to have done Palmersport twice and also a Porsche experience day, if you’re happy to focus on one or two cars, for longer then Porsche is great, if you want to drive a bit of everything, I’d struggle to find anything with the breadth of Palmersport.
How much driving the me do you get with the palmersport?Palmersport gets you circa 20 mins in each of 6 cars.
Palmersport is great, outside of that of all the others there is genuinely no comparison of several I'd done with to Phil Price Rally.
They just give keys and you initially go out by yourself, then with instructor, then by yourself and repeat, culminating in a group competition based on two timed runs.
You also get to drive a rally stage in and be taken around at full chat in a group A rally car.
Palmersport is great, outside of that of all the others there is genuinely no comparison of several I'd done with to Phil Price Rally.
They just give keys and you initially go out by yourself, then with instructor, then by yourself and repeat, culminating in a group competition based on two timed runs.
You also get to drive a rally stage in and be taken around at full chat in a group A rally car.
911hope said:
I didn't realise they did such a thing. The AMG GT look interesting. How good is the track?
The MB World track is quite short and tight (think outdoor kart track...) but is good fun although you never really get a chance to stretch the quicker cars acceleration wise, although there is a separate acceleration straight as well.I can recommend both the Performance Drives at Goodwood (in BMW M cars including M8) or the Thruxton experiences, although they tend to only be a few laps. I've driven Cayman, A110 and Focus ST there but also a 720s.
Both the Goodwood and Thruxton use the full circuit with instructors who are there to help you get the best from the cars in my experience. Thruxton do have some cones on circuit but they are more for guidance and to limit overtaking on the pit straight as the pit exit is unsighted.
timbo999 said:
The MB World track is quite short and tight (think outdoor kart track...) but is good fun although you never really get a chance to stretch the quicker cars acceleration wise, although there is a separate acceleration straight as well.
I can recommend both the Performance Drives at Goodwood (in BMW M cars including M8) or the Thruxton experiences, although they tend to only be a few laps. I've driven Cayman, A110 and Focus ST there but also a 720s.
Both the Goodwood and Thruxton use the full circuit with instructors who are there to help you get the best from the cars in my experience. Thruxton do have some cones on circuit but they are more for guidance and to limit overtaking on the pit straight as the pit exit is unsighted.
I did a racing car experience at Thruxton a few weeks ago and wouldn't recommend it. I can recommend both the Performance Drives at Goodwood (in BMW M cars including M8) or the Thruxton experiences, although they tend to only be a few laps. I've driven Cayman, A110 and Focus ST there but also a 720s.
Both the Goodwood and Thruxton use the full circuit with instructors who are there to help you get the best from the cars in my experience. Thruxton do have some cones on circuit but they are more for guidance and to limit overtaking on the pit straight as the pit exit is unsighted.
The cars I drove were properly knackered, a lot of the circuit is coned off and the formula Renault's are rev limited to 4.5k and running on wets.
It felt like a stack them high event for the masses and not special.
The instructor I had was good as was the demo lap in an ST but not enough to warrant a return.
I have done Palmersport several times and it is really first rate.
Yes the karting is a bit of a side show, but I enjoyed it and the Land Rover bit (get to talk to instructors).
Other than that, you get to drive cars like you stole them, 121 instruction when in them (bar single seater obvs) and a real sense of competition.
Great day
Yes the karting is a bit of a side show, but I enjoyed it and the Land Rover bit (get to talk to instructors).
Other than that, you get to drive cars like you stole them, 121 instruction when in them (bar single seater obvs) and a real sense of competition.
Great day
Friend and I recently did the Palmersport GT event (afternoon 12 to 5pm) as neither of us interested in single seaters just under £600
-Caterham 2.4l (their own spec)
-Clio Cup racer
-M4 GTP based on Competition 510bhp
Each is on a circuit that suits the car, so need learn new track, new car each time and in 3 groups which gave about 10 laps or so in each one.
You can also buy a flying couple of laps in an LM or the M4 if you wanted.
Nice lunch, great instructors with you at all times to help you improve. We had a curry in Sharnbrook before heading home.
-Caterham 2.4l (their own spec)
-Clio Cup racer
-M4 GTP based on Competition 510bhp
Each is on a circuit that suits the car, so need learn new track, new car each time and in 3 groups which gave about 10 laps or so in each one.
You can also buy a flying couple of laps in an LM or the M4 if you wanted.
Nice lunch, great instructors with you at all times to help you improve. We had a curry in Sharnbrook before heading home.
Venisonpie said:
I did a racing car experience at Thruxton a few weeks ago and wouldn't recommend it.
The cars I drove were properly knackered, a lot of the circuit is coned off and the formula Renault's are rev limited to 4.5k and running on wets.
It felt like a stack them high event for the masses and not special.
The instructor I had was good as was the demo lap in an ST but not enough to warrant a return.
You're right, I should have said, don't do the single seaters, they are garbage judging by the number you overtake when in the normal cars! I will agree that Thruxton is at the budget end, but it is priced accordingly. I can recommend the 'one-2-one' sessions where you drive the same car in two sessions (I've done Focus ST and A110/A110s) rather than the supercar sessions which tend to be short.The cars I drove were properly knackered, a lot of the circuit is coned off and the formula Renault's are rev limited to 4.5k and running on wets.
It felt like a stack them high event for the masses and not special.
The instructor I had was good as was the demo lap in an ST but not enough to warrant a return.
mrfunex said:
Porsche experience day. Hands down.
I had 3 hours of one-on-one tuition in a Cayman for about £600 and it was the best money I’ve spent on car stuff in a long time. Utterly brilliant.
+1I had 3 hours of one-on-one tuition in a Cayman for about £600 and it was the best money I’ve spent on car stuff in a long time. Utterly brilliant.
Recently did 2 (a 90 minute and a 2.5 hour), thoroughly enjoyed every second.
The instructor I had recommended PalmerSport.
The GT experience day sounds like a perfect Christmas gift (For a Porsche fan..)
Cheers T1b
Another vote for Palmersport, very professionally run.
Expensive but worth it.
The element of competition is very strong and you REALLY are encouraged to drive like you stole it. The smell of burning rubber and hot brakes just follows you around all day.
Those Renault Clio competition cars are just nuts and by far my favourite on rhe day, way more fun than the M4 and other stuff.
Expensive but worth it.
The element of competition is very strong and you REALLY are encouraged to drive like you stole it. The smell of burning rubber and hot brakes just follows you around all day.
Those Renault Clio competition cars are just nuts and by far my favourite on rhe day, way more fun than the M4 and other stuff.
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