Supercar/ Rally/ Track experience day advice needed!
Discussion
Looking through previous posts but none the wiser. One of my brothers has a big birthday coming up and we want to buy him a ‘car experience’ day.
Open minded about as to whether that be; a Rally day, circuit or autotest type set up. The supercar experience is also an option but I am hugely sceptical about this. I know the instructors on these days have to deal with some novices but he won’t appreciate being told when to change gear or being rev restricted.
I was once given a Ferrari day experience, my review- could take or leave straight lining a 348+355 on an empty runway (so dull) but loved the autotest activity, drifting a Dax Rush with a locked diff and handbraking a ropey old astra in between cones was bliss.
This is a secondary present so ideally would like to keep it sub £200...
Ideas/ recommendation of a non-sarky nature would be hugely appreciated- I have left this till the last minute as per usual.
Some previous postings seem to have been hijacked by those running the track days (eg,” I had the best day of my life at XXXX still weeping now as I write this review” etc).
Location wise- the South, Surrey/ Sussex/ Kent/ Bucks/ Berks is ideal or West, but open minded...
Gracias.
Open minded about as to whether that be; a Rally day, circuit or autotest type set up. The supercar experience is also an option but I am hugely sceptical about this. I know the instructors on these days have to deal with some novices but he won’t appreciate being told when to change gear or being rev restricted.
I was once given a Ferrari day experience, my review- could take or leave straight lining a 348+355 on an empty runway (so dull) but loved the autotest activity, drifting a Dax Rush with a locked diff and handbraking a ropey old astra in between cones was bliss.
This is a secondary present so ideally would like to keep it sub £200...
Ideas/ recommendation of a non-sarky nature would be hugely appreciated- I have left this till the last minute as per usual.
Some previous postings seem to have been hijacked by those running the track days (eg,” I had the best day of my life at XXXX still weeping now as I write this review” etc).
Location wise- the South, Surrey/ Sussex/ Kent/ Bucks/ Berks is ideal or West, but open minded...
Gracias.
TORQ said:
Looking through previous posts but none the wiser. One of my brothers has a big birthday coming up and we want to buy him a ‘car experience’ day.
Open minded about as to whether that be; a Rally day, circuit or autotest type set up. The supercar experience is also an option but I am hugely sceptical about this. I know the instructors on these days have to deal with some novices but he won’t appreciate being told when to change gear or being rev restricted.
I was once given a Ferrari day experience, my review- could take or leave straight lining a 348+355 on an empty runway (so dull) but loved the autotest activity, drifting a Dax Rush with a locked diff and handbraking a ropey old astra in between cones was bliss.
This is a secondary present so ideally would like to keep it sub £200...
Ideas/ recommendation of a non-sarky nature would be hugely appreciated- I have left this till the last minute as per usual.
Some previous postings seem to have been hijacked by those running the track days (eg,” I had the best day of my life at XXXX still weeping now as I write this review” etc).
Location wise- the South, Surrey/ Sussex/ Kent/ Bucks/ Berks is ideal or West, but open minded...
Gracias.
Bump, anyone stumbled across this?Open minded about as to whether that be; a Rally day, circuit or autotest type set up. The supercar experience is also an option but I am hugely sceptical about this. I know the instructors on these days have to deal with some novices but he won’t appreciate being told when to change gear or being rev restricted.
I was once given a Ferrari day experience, my review- could take or leave straight lining a 348+355 on an empty runway (so dull) but loved the autotest activity, drifting a Dax Rush with a locked diff and handbraking a ropey old astra in between cones was bliss.
This is a secondary present so ideally would like to keep it sub £200...
Ideas/ recommendation of a non-sarky nature would be hugely appreciated- I have left this till the last minute as per usual.
Some previous postings seem to have been hijacked by those running the track days (eg,” I had the best day of my life at XXXX still weeping now as I write this review” etc).
Location wise- the South, Surrey/ Sussex/ Kent/ Bucks/ Berks is ideal or West, but open minded...
Gracias.
I did one at prestwold hall, it was a combination supercar + rally experience thing.
It was good fun but what annoyed and disappointed me about the 'supercar' bit was they aggressively sold extra insurance for their 'excess' (at £20 IIRC). Frankly I'm of the opinion that should have been part of the cost. Overall it was fun (and I came away with the lasting memory of the absolutely hatstand nature of the gallardo) but disappointing too. Only 3 laps and due to the numbers of cars and the 'no overtaking unless indicated' frequently 'stuck' behind someone far slower for best part of a lap (although the instructor did give me an extra lap in the gallardo because the instructor in the car in front didn't give way).
Far better was the rally driving experience I bought my wife, a choice of 2wd (Ford Puma) or 4wd (Scooby) rallying, either a full or half day. Still not that much time but no traffic (unless you're really quick) due to the single file nature and length of the track and pretty much free to drive it as you want.
It was good fun but what annoyed and disappointed me about the 'supercar' bit was they aggressively sold extra insurance for their 'excess' (at £20 IIRC). Frankly I'm of the opinion that should have been part of the cost. Overall it was fun (and I came away with the lasting memory of the absolutely hatstand nature of the gallardo) but disappointing too. Only 3 laps and due to the numbers of cars and the 'no overtaking unless indicated' frequently 'stuck' behind someone far slower for best part of a lap (although the instructor did give me an extra lap in the gallardo because the instructor in the car in front didn't give way).
Far better was the rally driving experience I bought my wife, a choice of 2wd (Ford Puma) or 4wd (Scooby) rallying, either a full or half day. Still not that much time but no traffic (unless you're really quick) due to the single file nature and length of the track and pretty much free to drive it as you want.
Fastdruid said:
I did one at prestwold hall, it was a combination supercar + rally experience thing.
It was good fun but what annoyed and disappointed me about the 'supercar' bit was they aggressively sold extra insurance for their 'excess' (at £20 IIRC). Frankly I'm of the opinion that should have been part of the cost. Overall it was fun (and I came away with the lasting memory of the absolutely hatstand nature of the gallardo) but disappointing too. Only 3 laps and due to the numbers of cars and the 'no overtaking unless indicated' frequently 'stuck' behind someone far slower for best part of a lap (although the instructor did give me an extra lap in the gallardo because the instructor in the car in front didn't give way).
Far better was the rally driving experience I bought my wife, a choice of 2wd (Ford Puma) or 4wd (Scooby) rallying, either a full or half day. Still not that much time but no traffic (unless you're really quick) due to the single file nature and length of the track and pretty much free to drive it as you want.
Many thanks for that. I have called around this morning and there always seems to be a hitch as you mentioned. Rally school is probably going to be the best bang for buck, will report back.It was good fun but what annoyed and disappointed me about the 'supercar' bit was they aggressively sold extra insurance for their 'excess' (at £20 IIRC). Frankly I'm of the opinion that should have been part of the cost. Overall it was fun (and I came away with the lasting memory of the absolutely hatstand nature of the gallardo) but disappointing too. Only 3 laps and due to the numbers of cars and the 'no overtaking unless indicated' frequently 'stuck' behind someone far slower for best part of a lap (although the instructor did give me an extra lap in the gallardo because the instructor in the car in front didn't give way).
Far better was the rally driving experience I bought my wife, a choice of 2wd (Ford Puma) or 4wd (Scooby) rallying, either a full or half day. Still not that much time but no traffic (unless you're really quick) due to the single file nature and length of the track and pretty much free to drive it as you want.
Drift day?
There was a Santa Pod-based company that let you rent a drift car for the day, I can't find the website now though. This one is similar:
http://www.driftracing.co.uk/?p=Drift-Gift-Days
There was a Santa Pod-based company that let you rent a drift car for the day, I can't find the website now though. This one is similar:
http://www.driftracing.co.uk/?p=Drift-Gift-Days
For anyone wanting to try proper Rally driving there is a great rally driving course/school only 45 minutes from London (near Basingstoke).
You really get to drive with these guys (just watch the clip!) more so than with the larger places.
Half day course only £160.
(or full day £250, intro course £99).
In car clip from last weekend
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSeyoUtPCRk&fea...
website
http://www.subarurally.net/#!gallery
We went down with a group of 8 people and had a fantastic day - driving 4 different cars. They also did us a deal for having large group so its worth asking what they can offer you.
The half day course takes 3 hours and everyone gets a timed run at the end of the day so you can see who really was quickest.
Run for all levels of experience and you get to drive RWD and 4wd turbo Rally cars on gravel/lose surfaces. They also have FWD rally cars.
You really get to drive with these guys (just watch the clip!) more so than with the larger places.
Half day course only £160.
(or full day £250, intro course £99).
In car clip from last weekend
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSeyoUtPCRk&fea...
website
http://www.subarurally.net/#!gallery
We went down with a group of 8 people and had a fantastic day - driving 4 different cars. They also did us a deal for having large group so its worth asking what they can offer you.
The half day course takes 3 hours and everyone gets a timed run at the end of the day so you can see who really was quickest.
Run for all levels of experience and you get to drive RWD and 4wd turbo Rally cars on gravel/lose surfaces. They also have FWD rally cars.
Edited by rallycross on Friday 2nd March 11:22
TORQ said:
Good pointers, cheers.
Prestwold is a wee bit far to travel, drift good but rally I think will be preffered. Will book the Subaru experience, thanks rallycross
no problem I am sure he will enjoy the day as its great fun and not too far from London (which always seems to be the problem with these things being miles away).Prestwold is a wee bit far to travel, drift good but rally I think will be preffered. Will book the Subaru experience, thanks rallycross
I know you said Prestwold is a bit far but just thought I'd add I did a rally day there last year. Great fun learning to slide FWD, RWD and 4WD folled by a high speed (no nagging) run in an Evo on a coned out stage set out on a concrete/tarmac runway. Thoroughly recommend it.
As a bonus the rally track is next to the high speed 'supercar' circuit so you can watch some of action there and book laps in a car of your choice on spec. To be honest three laps round a simple circuit isn't really of much interest to me. Not enough time to really get a feel for what the car is capable of and if you do start to push you either get caught by traffic (it gets pretty busy out there) or told to slow down.
An alternative experience I've also done is F2 stock cars on a small oval. Again great fun, possibly enhanced by the weather (wet, very) on the day I went which made for some interesting racing as braking in anything other than a straight line (or giving it too much gas) was suicidal. Again probably a bit far for you at Northampton but thought I'd throw it in as an option.
Have a great time wherever you go and whatever you do.
As a bonus the rally track is next to the high speed 'supercar' circuit so you can watch some of action there and book laps in a car of your choice on spec. To be honest three laps round a simple circuit isn't really of much interest to me. Not enough time to really get a feel for what the car is capable of and if you do start to push you either get caught by traffic (it gets pretty busy out there) or told to slow down.
An alternative experience I've also done is F2 stock cars on a small oval. Again great fun, possibly enhanced by the weather (wet, very) on the day I went which made for some interesting racing as braking in anything other than a straight line (or giving it too much gas) was suicidal. Again probably a bit far for you at Northampton but thought I'd throw it in as an option.
Have a great time wherever you go and whatever you do.
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