Recomend me motorsport experiences in November/ December

[HBFS]

So its my Birthday next Month and I'm going to have some spare money floating around, but whenever I spend a little load I like to be assured by other peoples reviews/ experiences.

Now I've already done a pro-drive experience day, which was verging on poor. Not enough time in the cars and a lot of waiting around.
Also more recently I did a Westfield full experience day, which was more fun and felt like better value. However it was frustrating not getting out of 1st gear (60mph, but still...) and running around cones, not a proper circuit.

What I'm after is a decent amount of time in the car, not too much waiting around and good tuition.
Light cars such as sevens and Elise's are of particular interest to me. Drifting looks like fun, and I wouldn't mind being scared stless by a pro driver.

I'm not really too bothered about experiencing Ferrari's, Lambos, Astons etc right now as I won't be able to touch the sides and it seems with those days you don't get very much time in the cars.

£500 budget, may stretch if there is something truly fantastic to be had.

Any ideas?

[Toyless]

Caterham circuit day ?

http://experience.caterham.co.uk/category.php?id_c...

[HBFS]

I like the look of this a lot, any experiences?

[rottie102]

Palmersport - the best there is.

[car crazy]

Try 6thgearexperience owner (simon george) is a pher and you will get good discount, I did 5 laps in a murcielago lp640 and 5 laps in a ferarri 360 challenge stradale. They don't tell you to change up early like other experiences either. Not sure if they run all year round though.

[sjg]

rottie102 said:

Palmersport - the best there is.

This. They do half days now for £355+vat, either in the JP1/FJ plus the more pedestrian stuff (karting, defender, etc) or instead the Caterhams, 911, Clio Cup racers, M3s.

Time in cars is fairly limited (20 mins or so each?) but used to the full with instructors who want you going as fast as possible.

Otherwise I'd book a trackday with bookatrack including use of one of their Caterhams. Hire rates are lower out of the summer season.

[seefarr]

My missus is getting me a day in a Mk II Escort for my birthday:
http://www.rally-school.com/rally-driving-courses/...

Has anyone else done one of these?

[HBFS]

Thanks for all the tips so far.

Interesting suggestion with bookatrack, unfortunately I can't manage the £1500 car insurance excess if things go wrong.

Re: Palmersport, I know four people who've done it and they all said it was great.
I've had a look at this deal you mention, and I think it could be the one! I like that they capture on-board footage and you can take it home!

[Toyless]

HBFS said:

I like the look of this a lot, any experiences?

Ive only done the drift day with them, but very nice helpfull people.

Having said that, if you have Palmersport cash, then thats deffo the thing to do.

[Chris71]

I know this isn't strictly an answer to your question, but what about a track day? £500 will get you a whole day at any circuit with money for a full service and some tuition left over. You don't have to be driving anything particularly exotic to make it fun either - any warm hatch or sports saloon will be fun.

The thing that always gets me about 'experience' days is the track time, or rather the lack of. Even the better ones seem to involve more time standing around than driving.

[CDP]

HBFS said:

Thanks for all the tips so far.

Interesting suggestion with bookatrack, unfortunately I can't manage the £1500 car insurance excess if things go wrong.

Re: Palmersport, I know four people who've done it and they all said it was great.
I've had a look at this deal you mention, and I think it could be the one! I like that they capture on-board footage and you can take it home!

Cheap track day chariot:

Go down to the auctions.
Buy a cheap hot hatch or BMW
Rag it on a trackday or ten
Polish up and clean to look smart.
Dump back in another auction.

[Chris71]

HBFS said:

Interesting suggestion with bookatrack, unfortunately I can't manage the £1500 car insurance excess if things go wrong.

Neither can most people! Most private cars on UK track days aren't insured for track use I wouldn't say.

If you have specialist insurance on a kit or classic it's quite easy to find a policy with track cover (either included or at extra cost) but I've not heard of a regular mainstream insurer that does it, so I suspect most mainstream cars you see on track are uninsured.

Accidents are reassuringly rare on track days. I didn't even think to look into insurance on the first couple I did and I'd probably go back to "just don't crash" if I didn't have them covered on the road policy.

[CDP]

Chris71 said:

HBFS said:

Interesting suggestion with bookatrack, unfortunately I can't manage the £1500 car insurance excess if things go wrong.

Neither can most people! Most private cars on UK track days aren't insured for track use I wouldn't say.

If you have specialist insurance on a kit or classic it's quite easy to find a policy with track cover (either included or at extra cost) but I've not heard of a regular mainstream insurer that does it, so I suspect most mainstream cars you see on track are uninsured.

Accidents are reassuringly rare on track days. I didn't even think to look into insurance on the first couple I did and I'd probably go back to "just don't crash" if I didn't have them covered on the road policy.

With the higher speeds of trackdays and the rudimentary protection of road cars "just don't crash" is a very good option. Having said that car to car accidents are almost unheard of; most accidents involve tyre-walls or runway lamps. Normally by the time you've hit the object you should have spun some speed off and tyre-walls are relatively soft.