Single Seater Experience Days - Where to go....?

[T2R31]

Hello All,

My better half is 'surprising me' me with a single seater track day......

Looking for some advice on recommended days - good instruction, cars and overall experience really....

Not too bothered on location, although Scotland may be a bit far...!

Any suggestions appreciated...


Cheers,

Scott

[woof]

Palmer Audi - no brainer
Unless you can go for a F1 experience drive down at Paul Ricard

[teamHOLDENracing]

T2R31 said:

Hello All,

My better half is 'surprising me' me with a single seater track day......

Looking for some advice on recommended days - good instruction, cars and overall experience really....

Not too bothered on location, although Scotland may be a bit far...!

Any suggestions appreciated...


Cheers,

Scott

Topcats Tuscan experience. Not a single seater, but as quick. No rev limits. A proper RACE experience

[woof]

It has to be said you'll probably have more fun in another type of car
A few years back i was driving on the Minardi F1 passenger days - unfortunately not the Minardi - but a Caterham R500

Everyone without exception had more fun in the R500 !

[pete21]

Hi Have you tried the new single seater experiences at EVERYMAN . They have anew fleet of formula ford zetecs / Vauxhall lotus cars & a selection of Tyrell F1 cars. On all of there experiences you get tuition in a hot hatch / gt car & in some cases you also drive caterhams aswell. New for 2009 is the Race Academy & 1-2-1 tuition courses give them a try on 01455 841670 or WWW.EVERYMANRACING.CO.UK. worth a try.

[paulg390]

Palmersport and Topcats are awesome experiences, not "cheap" but value ! Thye really do give you a proper full on experience in some awesome cars. The only limit is you !

My experience of an Everyman event was somewhat different, but each to their own

[rsturbo]

the silverstone one is very good , and can be had cheap if you keep an eye on the special offers section

[redbarron84]

Why don't you join us on the Pistonheads PalmerSport experiance in March?

Link here:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

I personally can't wait!

[Wanta996Gotta]

Knockhill hill use single seaters with the worst pushbutton gear selectors known to man so avoid that one, there cars are a joke. I have also heard the Palmer experience is the best BUT also one of the more expensive.

[BenElliottRacing]

From having worked on a lot of these days here's my view.

Silverstone: Not the newest cars - rebodied formula firsts I beleive but a good amount of track time. 20 minutes in paced groups behind an instructor car before 20 minutes on your own. you are on the stowe circuit with no other cars other than single seaters out at the same time. Best value IMO

Rockingham: Tend to do the oval so you'll be buzzing round at 120 mph (but no more for insurance reasons) in paced groups. about 20 minutes in the car iirc.

Everyman: Circuit full of cars and you're made to go slow by the instructors (I always got in trouble for teaching people to drive the cars quickly) The circuit is full of other cars so tend to end up in big traffic jams. Only get a few laps in each car as well.

Goodwood: you're out with other cars but on a much bigger track with a 10 car limit so traffic is rarely a problem. More laps than mallory on a bigger track.

Thruxton: Not worked there but my brother in law does. would say a similar experience to goodwood. On both of these days the customers are rarely disapointed.

[williamp]

BenElliottRacing said:

From having worked on a lot of these days here's my view.

Silverstone: Not the newest cars - rebodied formula firsts I beleive but a good amount of track time. 20 minutes in paced groups behind an instructor car before 20 minutes on your own. you are on the stowe circuit with no other cars other than single seaters out at the same time. Best value IMO

Rockingham: Tend to do the oval so you'll be buzzing round at 120 mph (but no more for insurance reasons) in paced groups. about 20 minutes in the car iirc.

Everyman: Circuit full of cars and you're made to go slow by the instructors (I always got in trouble for teaching people to drive the cars quickly) The circuit is full of other cars so tend to end up in big traffic jams. Only get a few laps in each car as well.

Goodwood: you're out with other cars but on a much bigger track with a 10 car limit so traffic is rarely a problem. More laps than mallory on a bigger track.

Thruxton: Not worked there but my brother in law does. would say a similar experience to goodwood. On both of these days the customers are rarely disapointed.

I've driven a Formula renault at Thruxton. Enjoyed it, but it had a rev limit so you could'nt go for it on the straights, and i didnt have big enough you-know-whats to believe the car would grip in the corners, and not enough time to up my pace each lap...

Lots of clear track, however

[Hughesie]

I used to instruct at Castle Coombe, the SS cars are well set up and maintained (and were never rev limited back then)

Great bunch of instructors and a super circuit !

[fastcaterham]

Did a one to one tuition course at thruxton a while back using tesco clubcard vouchers! Was on track with the FR's in an exige and not once did we see one being driven quickly. My instructor admitted its very rare to see any being driven even midly enthusiastically and you get hardly any instruction prior to driving one so its not as though you are really getting near the potential of the car anyway.
If I were you I'd forget single seaters and go get some proper instruction or at least a one to one driving type experience like I did at thruxton in a saloon car with an instructor. You'll drive quicker, you'll learn something and I'm sure you'd enjoy it more too!