Can you recommend a track day or driving experience please?

[comatosetoast]

Hi All -

I have a friend who has asked for advice as she is looking to purchase a driving experience for her husband for Christmas.

The only one I know has a good reputation is the Palmer Motorsport one but thats about £700! At a guess she will be looking to spend closer to £100.

I know that they vary a lot (I have heard some very bad feedback in the past) so was wondering if any of you could recommend something?

They are based in Berkshire but some travel probably wont be an issue.

Thanks in advance!

[casbar]

Try Thruxton Circuit(Near Andover). They do experience days, where you drive a variety of cars and end up in a Formula Renault or Vauxhal. Think from memory they are half days. Did it a while ago and also bought one for my partner. It used to be a very good introduction.

[A.Wang]

Does she want to buy her husband an experience day, or a track-driving experience? Are multiple cars required, or will he be thrilled with just one car?

100 quid won't get you very far, and for that kind of money it'll be a few laps with all sorts of limitations like restricted revs, an instructor screaming at you to slow down etc.

[comatosetoast]

I think the budgets £150 and having a rubbish time thats a waste of money is exactly what I'm trying to avoid recommending to her!

The Palmer motorsport day they make a point of screaming at you to keep your foot to the floor!!! But obviously they can afford to do that due to the maintenance regime and the huge runn off areas they have there.

I think maybe rallying might be an option too...

[A.Wang]

For 150-200 quid, I'm happy to offer you a number of laps in one of our Porsche 944 race cars at a major UK circuit with one of our drivers (don't worry, not me - someone with actual experience in winning championships) instructing in the passenger seat.

Drop me a mail if interested?

[Chessers]

I did the M3 master at Brands Hatch recently and that was ok. My instructor was a nice guy and on the second session (it was raining) the M button was engaged and I was allowed to give it a bit of stick.

No full on back end out was allowed but we he was happy for me to take it up to 110/120 on the straight and a small amount of opposite lock through the bends which I thought was more than fair enough.

Think that was £149

[Munter]

How about a caterham around some cones? Bit of doing donuts etc

http://www.caterham.co.uk/assets/html/experience/s...

(don't bounce it off the rev limiter though...they get a bit funny about it....)

[don4l]

I've done the experience at Thruxton, and it is a good day out.
Everybody had huge grins all morning.


Don
--

[bromers2]

Check this link out - cracking deal:

http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/511121/audi-r8-driv...

[arabian]

the caterham days are supposed to be awesome. i had to cancel mine this year but hope to do the drift day in the spring. the videos on their website look pretty cool.

[Stubby Pete]

Munter said:

How about a caterham around some cones? Bit of doing donuts etc

http://www.caterham.co.uk/assets/html/experience/s...

(don't bounce it off the rev limiter though...they get a bit funny about it....)

That's where my PH name comes from. I broke two stub axles on different cars on one of those days, good fun though.

As far as recommendations go this

A.Wang said:

For 150-200 quid, I'm happy to offer you a number of laps in one of our Porsche 944 race cars at a major UK circuit with one of our drivers (don't worry, not me - someone with actual experience in winning championships) instructing in the passenger seat.

Drop me a mail if interested?

sounds like a good idea!

From what I've heard and my own experience, the driving experience days are just that a driving experience, not a racing experience. If you want to go racing, I'm afraid you may be disappointed.

[comatosetoast]

Thanksfor your input all! I shall pass it all on.... and am now sorely tempted myself!!!

[TF240Cup]

Check out:- www.TrackFocused.co.uk

£150 will get you a full 20 min session at most circuits around the UK, include a DVD of your driving session and Hot Laps at the end.

[sjc]

arabian said:

the caterham days are supposed to be awesome. i had to cancel mine this year but hope to do the drift day in the spring. the videos on their website look pretty cool.

I did the full day slalom 3 weeks ago.
Frankly it's a rip off.8.30a.m til 4pm ish,for eight 30 second efforts in the car. Works out at £50 per minute.And I came second,so no axe to grind.

[davebrown555]

Hi i found a site that does money off track days when i was looking at their hotel deals: http://www.two4oneonline.com/redletteroffers.html they do discount on red letter days which do track days, they also do golf, hotel accomodation etc. Hope this helps

[anonymous-user]

A.Wang said:

For 150-200 quid, I'm happy to offer you a number of laps in one of our Porsche 944 race cars at a major UK circuit with one of our drivers (don't worry, not me - someone with actual experience in winning championships) instructing in the passenger seat.

Drop me a mail if interested?

This sounds like good value to me...