Rally driving experience...
Discussion
I have been searching the net for one and I have realised a half day sets you back roughly £150 and a full day costs roughly £300.
Included in this is probably only an hours worth of driving in the full day. The rest of the time in tuition. This does not seem enough and on the face of it seems a waste of money.
I would like some comments from people who have attended these experience days...
Is it fun?
Enough driving time?
Worth the cash and time spent?
Also can anyone recommend any in particular? I'm willing to travel but closer to midlands the better.
Much appreciate the replies!
Included in this is probably only an hours worth of driving in the full day. The rest of the time in tuition. This does not seem enough and on the face of it seems a waste of money.
I would like some comments from people who have attended these experience days...
Is it fun?
Enough driving time?
Worth the cash and time spent?
Also can anyone recommend any in particular? I'm willing to travel but closer to midlands the better.
Much appreciate the replies!
I had a half day as a birthday prezzie at Brands Hatch a few years ago. Well worth researching before you fork out as I thought my experience was pretty poor and certainly won't spend my own beer tokens for another one.
Briefly amounted to a awful lot of talking in the classroom and 10 laps round two different muddy fields in a Escort Cosworth with an instructor. A stupidly powerful car - never though I'd say that on PH - for a complete beginner which had the most obstructive gearbox I've ever used. It took two people to heave it into second gear and then it overheated half way through the session, cut out and wouldn't restart.
After a good moan it was replaced with a even more stupidly powerful Cossie they normally used for their fast lap experiences. Sounds like fun? Err, nope not on the inappropriate tyres it had fitted in what now resembled a muddy swamp. It was almost impossible to keep it off boost to get any traction at all so I ended up driving round the course very gently and my lap times were risible.
Honestly say I've had more fun on wet grass in a 50 BHP Eurohatch for free than that.
Briefly amounted to a awful lot of talking in the classroom and 10 laps round two different muddy fields in a Escort Cosworth with an instructor. A stupidly powerful car - never though I'd say that on PH - for a complete beginner which had the most obstructive gearbox I've ever used. It took two people to heave it into second gear and then it overheated half way through the session, cut out and wouldn't restart.
After a good moan it was replaced with a even more stupidly powerful Cossie they normally used for their fast lap experiences. Sounds like fun? Err, nope not on the inappropriate tyres it had fitted in what now resembled a muddy swamp. It was almost impossible to keep it off boost to get any traction at all so I ended up driving round the course very gently and my lap times were risible.
Honestly say I've had more fun on wet grass in a 50 BHP Eurohatch for free than that.
I've done this one:
http://www.subarurallyexperience.co.uk/
Now I'm not convinced it was at that Rushmoor venue, but they're certainly the same cars, and hopefully the same people involved, although it looks a bit more 'polished' now.
I only found out about it through a car club member knowing one of the instructors etc. etc.
I had probably the most fun I've ever had in a car (ahem). They had a little troop of RWD converted Imprezas with ~ 170-200 bhp and welded diffs. They also had a 300+bhp 4WD Impreza, but I wasn't interested in that to be honest as the power wasn't going to impress me and I was more interested in slinging the RWD cars around.
Best of all, you were strapped in, shown the track, and then effectively just let loose! The various instructors did little more than tell you where to turn for the first lap or so, once you knew the track, it was fast as you dared, with a bit of encouragement / advice when you could have gone faster!
All the bumpers were cable tied on, if you ripped one off it didn't matter, hit the limiter, use the handbrake, punctures, you name it, the cars were there to be abused, and it was such a relaxed environment I had a fantastic time
As I said, it looks a little bit better presented now, I'm not sure they even had a website at the time, so things may have changed and there's probably more 'red tape' involved now, such is the way of things.
At the time I went, about half of the people there went at least once a month!
EDIT:
I'm sure some of you are wondering why hitting the limiter, ripping off bumpers etc. is relevant, but for me, it meant you were comfortable to actually push the limits of the car, and that is where the fun was to be had for me
http://www.subarurallyexperience.co.uk/
Now I'm not convinced it was at that Rushmoor venue, but they're certainly the same cars, and hopefully the same people involved, although it looks a bit more 'polished' now.
I only found out about it through a car club member knowing one of the instructors etc. etc.
I had probably the most fun I've ever had in a car (ahem). They had a little troop of RWD converted Imprezas with ~ 170-200 bhp and welded diffs. They also had a 300+bhp 4WD Impreza, but I wasn't interested in that to be honest as the power wasn't going to impress me and I was more interested in slinging the RWD cars around.
Best of all, you were strapped in, shown the track, and then effectively just let loose! The various instructors did little more than tell you where to turn for the first lap or so, once you knew the track, it was fast as you dared, with a bit of encouragement / advice when you could have gone faster!
All the bumpers were cable tied on, if you ripped one off it didn't matter, hit the limiter, use the handbrake, punctures, you name it, the cars were there to be abused, and it was such a relaxed environment I had a fantastic time
As I said, it looks a little bit better presented now, I'm not sure they even had a website at the time, so things may have changed and there's probably more 'red tape' involved now, such is the way of things.
At the time I went, about half of the people there went at least once a month!
EDIT:
I'm sure some of you are wondering why hitting the limiter, ripping off bumpers etc. is relevant, but for me, it meant you were comfortable to actually push the limits of the car, and that is where the fun was to be had for me
Edited by SturdyHSV on Thursday 10th July 09:38
SturdyHSV said:
I've done this one:
http://www.subarurallyexperience.co.uk/
Now I'm not convinced it was at that Rushmoor venue, but they're certainly the same cars, and hopefully the same people involved, although it looks a bit more 'polished' now.
I only found out about it through a car club member knowing one of the instructors etc. etc.
I had probably the most fun I've ever had in a car (ahem). They had a little troop of RWD converted Imprezas with ~ 170-200 bhp and welded diffs. They also had a 300+bhp 4WD Impreza, but I wasn't interested in that to be honest as the power wasn't going to impress me and I was more interested in slinging the RWD cars around.
Best of all, you were strapped in, shown the track, and then effectively just let loose! The various instructors did little more than tell you where to turn for the first lap or so, once you knew the track, it was fast as you dared, with a bit of encouragement / advice when you could have gone faster!
All the bumpers were cable tied on, if you ripped one off it didn't matter, hit the limiter, use the handbrake, punctures, you name it, the cars were there to be abused, and it was such a relaxed environment I had a fantastic time
As I said, it looks a little bit better presented now, I'm not sure they even had a website at the time, so things may have changed and there's probably more 'red tape' involved now, such is the way of things.
At the time I went, about half of the people there went at least once a month!
I'd echo this - a great day out (did a full day at each of the venues they had at the time).http://www.subarurallyexperience.co.uk/
Now I'm not convinced it was at that Rushmoor venue, but they're certainly the same cars, and hopefully the same people involved, although it looks a bit more 'polished' now.
I only found out about it through a car club member knowing one of the instructors etc. etc.
I had probably the most fun I've ever had in a car (ahem). They had a little troop of RWD converted Imprezas with ~ 170-200 bhp and welded diffs. They also had a 300+bhp 4WD Impreza, but I wasn't interested in that to be honest as the power wasn't going to impress me and I was more interested in slinging the RWD cars around.
Best of all, you were strapped in, shown the track, and then effectively just let loose! The various instructors did little more than tell you where to turn for the first lap or so, once you knew the track, it was fast as you dared, with a bit of encouragement / advice when you could have gone faster!
All the bumpers were cable tied on, if you ripped one off it didn't matter, hit the limiter, use the handbrake, punctures, you name it, the cars were there to be abused, and it was such a relaxed environment I had a fantastic time
As I said, it looks a little bit better presented now, I'm not sure they even had a website at the time, so things may have changed and there's probably more 'red tape' involved now, such is the way of things.
At the time I went, about half of the people there went at least once a month!
Also did an experience in Great Tew in Ford Pumas, can't remember the company name but also very good fun.
xRIEx said:
I'd echo this - a great day out (did a full day at each of the venues they had at the time).
Also did an experience in Great Tew in Ford Pumas, can't remember the company name but also very good fun.
How recently was yours? If it's still the same sort of set-up, I may well have to go back!Also did an experience in Great Tew in Ford Pumas, can't remember the company name but also very good fun.
GOG440 said:
+1 fantastic day. Forget the circuit ( Brands etc ) organised ones unless you like standing around all day with very little actual drivingGOG440 said:
+1 here tooDid one on my birthday a year or two back, good fun, but not a lot of time in the bigger Scoob. Still, wasnt a problem as the Escorts were an absolute riot. Good balance of car time and rest time, and if you end up with a good group of people then the end of day competition is a good laugh.
If you are driving there yourself, make sure you have a car happy to trudge up a well beaten mountain track. My 1 series did it ok, but there was a pair of lads who came up in a lowered 3 series and the exhaust didnt make the trip up
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