Other drivers driving your pride and joy?
Discussion
Bit of an odd question, but just thinking ahead to owning my first 7.... who here allows other people to drive their pride and joy in anger? I'm obviously fully expecting many a request for a blat, or even a few laps round a track, but I have to say I am reluctant at the thought of it at the moment.
I would of course be happy for the girlfriend to drive it as I'm fairly certain the car will scare her before she scares me!
That's if she can reach the pedals!
I would of course be happy for the girlfriend to drive it as I'm fairly certain the car will scare her before she scares me!
That's if she can reach the pedals!Edited by Smiffy7 on Tuesday 18th March 13:15
Insurance was always an issue for my mates because of our ages but I did let a pal share a trackday with me. He'd done a novice session in a Fiesta ST previously. I spent most of the day trying to persuade him to push harder!
Fast forward 18 months or so, I had race prepped my car and competed for a season and he'd bought his own racing Caterham and had even taken to trying to beat me in races the cheeky so and so (and not entirely unsuccessfuly I might add!)
Fast forward 18 months or so, I had race prepped my car and competed for a season and he'd bought his own racing Caterham and had even taken to trying to beat me in races the cheeky so and so (and not entirely unsuccessfuly I might add!)
I wouldn't let any of my friends drive the 7. None of them are petrolheads, and I don't think any of them would know how to handle a car like a 7.
My other half drives it though. She's not hit full throttle in it many times but we shared all the driving on our Scotland tour last year and she loved it. I'm the only one driving on trackdays at the moment though.
My other half drives it though. She's not hit full throttle in it many times but we shared all the driving on our Scotland tour last year and she loved it. I'm the only one driving on trackdays at the moment though.
Indeed it does. Trust is fine, but if something were to happen, how would it be sorted? Is it your friend's fault? Or your fault? It's a question I'd rather avoid in the first place! Remember anyone you let drive would be uninsured, or insured 3rd party at best.
My dad drove mine when I first got it, but only on the road. He's used to his Impreza on track and I think he'd find a Caterham a bit of a handful in comparison! Again, I'd hate to put him in the position of damaging my car, so I'll just avoid it!
My dad drove mine when I first got it, but only on the road. He's used to his Impreza on track and I think he'd find a Caterham a bit of a handful in comparison! Again, I'd hate to put him in the position of damaging my car, so I'll just avoid it!
I have driven quite a few cars on track that have not been mine and go with the unsaid rule of "bend it, mend it, own it " rule , I borrowed a pals kart to do a race and of all people my son spun in front of me in my kart causing me to hit him hard and damage to both and no question I footed the bill for both, sh*t happens.
FWIW I would expect anyone driving my car /bike whatever to do the honourable thing should anything happen.
FWIW I would expect anyone driving my car /bike whatever to do the honourable thing should anything happen.
Edited by JeffC on Tuesday 18th March 15:56
I wouldn't let just anyone drive my cars. I need to know they can handle it. I've let quite a few drive the blue car, usually we might swap cars for an hour or two because I enjoy experiencing other cars. I remember one time driving behind my Tuscan and thinking how gorgeous it is from that point of view.
In the HPC, there's a lot of car sharing events, dawn raids, tours etc., and all cars are either covered under club insurance or named drivers for the duration, so there's no risk. Also, there's an emphasis on being sympathetic with other member's cars, so you don't rag it while nobody's around, besides, there's usually another driver sat with you. With the 7, things will be a little different, not least because of the size. Some of my friends and acquaintances just wouldn't fit. Time will tell though.
In the HPC, there's a lot of car sharing events, dawn raids, tours etc., and all cars are either covered under club insurance or named drivers for the duration, so there's no risk. Also, there's an emphasis on being sympathetic with other member's cars, so you don't rag it while nobody's around, besides, there's usually another driver sat with you. With the 7, things will be a little different, not least because of the size. Some of my friends and acquaintances just wouldn't fit. Time will tell though.
ghibbett said:
@JeffC - You'd let other people drive your beast!?!
yeh couple of lads that I know that Ive done trackdays with for over 10 years have driven it on track and I have driven their cars, was funny my pal drove mine for a few laps last year at Croft, he races tintops and is a good hand behind the wheel, was strangely alarming how slow he was in it pretty sure he was lapping quicker in his tintop ! saying that was exactly the same story when I drove his tintop race car at a test day I was shockingly slow in it 
I think its good to drive different cars on track gives you a feel for what is good and suits you and what doesnt with different set ups.
Never.
I also don´t expect to drive anyone else's. In fact I recently turned down a drive of a friends Atom 3.5 300. I wouldn´t be able to afford the repairs if I crashed it. He was actually a bit confused as to why I wouldn´t want to drive his pride and joy.
As said above, it´s like lending your wife to a Mate!
Although I did jump at the chance of thrashing a Gallardo in South of France a couple of years ago (with the owner sitting next to me, telling me to put my foot down!), and I´ve been promised a drive in a Tesla in September. I just can´t say no to that now can I?
(Actually, the Atom doesn´t appeal to me one bit...)
I also don´t expect to drive anyone else's. In fact I recently turned down a drive of a friends Atom 3.5 300. I wouldn´t be able to afford the repairs if I crashed it. He was actually a bit confused as to why I wouldn´t want to drive his pride and joy.
As said above, it´s like lending your wife to a Mate!
Although I did jump at the chance of thrashing a Gallardo in South of France a couple of years ago (with the owner sitting next to me, telling me to put my foot down!), and I´ve been promised a drive in a Tesla in September. I just can´t say no to that now can I?
(Actually, the Atom doesn´t appeal to me one bit...)
After years of refusing to let anyone drive my car - I gave in and let a mate drive at Spa with me as a passenger - without a doubt one of the worse 10 mins of my life. 'Thankfully' someone crashed and the session was stopped. Mind you, it's a memory neither of us will forget (not to mention the poor bloke who wrote off his uninsured GTR - ouch! - that's another story!!!)
The Girlfriend drives it regularly. I've happily insured friends to drive it on weekends away/ Le Mans etc. I plan to do a week in Europe this summer and I'm insuring a friend on it. The Nurburgring will be one place visited, I may let him have a lap. I need it in one piece so that it can go on a boat come November, so hopefully all ends well!
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