Driving Experience Days
Discussion
Hey, new joiner here after some advice from those in the know.
I’d like to get my partner a race / track day and always thought Palmer’s was the best. But the more I research the more I find. Thruxton’s has a great supercar line up:
Mclaren 570s
Lambo huracan
Ferrari 458 spider
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
Porsche Cayman
Formula Renault
And my partner is a big Porsche fan but Silverstone is home of the GP…. I know nothing about cars personally hence my post.
Am I missing other experience days? I don't think Red Letter quite cuts it.
We are in the South East, don’t mind travelling a bit and budget is £1000
Any advice would be great.
Thanks!
I’d like to get my partner a race / track day and always thought Palmer’s was the best. But the more I research the more I find. Thruxton’s has a great supercar line up:
Mclaren 570s
Lambo huracan
Ferrari 458 spider
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
Porsche Cayman
Formula Renault
And my partner is a big Porsche fan but Silverstone is home of the GP…. I know nothing about cars personally hence my post.
Am I missing other experience days? I don't think Red Letter quite cuts it.
We are in the South East, don’t mind travelling a bit and budget is £1000
Any advice would be great.
Thanks!
It is not that you cannot drive faster its just the instructors at Palmer are there to encourage you to drive as fast as you can.
Other experiences are more about protecting the car. If you have never driven on track then the normal experience days are fine.
the Palmer experience is just miles better.
The difference is the instructors and the encouragement.
Other experiences are more about protecting the car. If you have never driven on track then the normal experience days are fine.
the Palmer experience is just miles better.
The difference is the instructors and the encouragement.
I've done a few, most recently one with Everyman Motor Racing (gift from work), got to drive a 12C, 458, and a huracan. I had different instructors for each and they all capped the revs I was allowed to do to well under the red line. Even with that I was still massively faster than the same cars driven by other people (as I kept having to over take) so there is some scope for a better driver to drive faster.
I'd consider the official McLaren experiences if you want to drive a supercar and get the most from it. It is more expensive but tons of time in the car and time analysing your performance with the data logging and the instructor.
I'd consider the official McLaren experiences if you want to drive a supercar and get the most from it. It is more expensive but tons of time in the car and time analysing your performance with the data logging and the instructor.
I'll second what's said above.
Have done a couple of experience days and the instructors do try and get you to coax the cars round the track for a very limited amount of time. If never driven a car as fast as those though, it'll still feel exhilarating, plus you get bragging rights of having 'experienced' them, if you're into that.
One example – I was in Lambo LP640 and he kept telling me off for changing down too many gears to find the power, as felt natural. Still bloody fast though. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to say I knew more than the qualified instructor at all, just I got the feeling that where he was telling me to keep the car wasn't where you would have it to get performance from it.
I've never done Palmer's days but from what everyone that has done one has told me, it's the complete opposite. The focus is on getting you as adept as possible at driving these things at speed.
Have done a couple of experience days and the instructors do try and get you to coax the cars round the track for a very limited amount of time. If never driven a car as fast as those though, it'll still feel exhilarating, plus you get bragging rights of having 'experienced' them, if you're into that.
One example – I was in Lambo LP640 and he kept telling me off for changing down too many gears to find the power, as felt natural. Still bloody fast though. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to say I knew more than the qualified instructor at all, just I got the feeling that where he was telling me to keep the car wasn't where you would have it to get performance from it.
I've never done Palmer's days but from what everyone that has done one has told me, it's the complete opposite. The focus is on getting you as adept as possible at driving these things at speed.
Thruxton is good for this kind of thing. It's a fast track, the instructors I've had there have always encouraged me and their instruction on racing lines and basic track driving is excellent. They have to balance encouragement to go faster with looking after very expensive cars driven by track novices so you can understand the fine line they have to tread.
So on that basis I guess it depends on how experienced your partner already is. If he/she is a complete novice then I would personally recommend Thruxton, but if not then as others have said Palmers might be better. I've not done one of theirs so can't speak for it I'm afraid.
So on that basis I guess it depends on how experienced your partner already is. If he/she is a complete novice then I would personally recommend Thruxton, but if not then as others have said Palmers might be better. I've not done one of theirs so can't speak for it I'm afraid.
I did Palmersport with Dad and Brother a few years ago and it was epic. No limits, loads of different cars. Forget rev limited exotica days, they suck. Unless you're 13 and the first car you get to drive is a Lamborghini Gallardo Roadster (yes I did that for my partners son last Christmas!)
FMD2017 said:
Partner is ex military and has done extensive advance driving courses over the years so feel he may be disappointed with the rev limits and what not with the supercars. I’m erring towards Palmers.
Yep, if he's already a keen driver (and if you can afford it) then this sounds like the best option. I'm getting tempted to book myself now!Gassing Station | Track Days | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff