18th Birthday Help Wanted.

[UltraWomble]

Some of you may know that my eldest has autism. 

 

He's doing OK, goes to college and studying vehicle maintenance and seems to be top of his class at the moment. He cant however drive - well he can, in so much as he can pilot a car or motorbike without any real issues but put him on a road with other road users and he panics and cant process the info needed to be able to cope with all the issues of other cars, pedestrians and suicidal blokes in Lycra on carbon bicycles screaming up the inside of him.

 

I would however like to get him something special for his 18th in December, and Im drawn to either an off road day or a sports car experience day - everything I have looked at comes with the caveat that the driver needs to hold a full licence. Which he doesnt.

 

Does anyone know of any off road centres that would cater for someone without a licence?

 

Or should I sack that idea off and give him a line of Columbian Marching powder and pay for an evening with a hooker?

[taxi paul]

What about the military vehicle places, tanks and other big stuff. I think there was one round Hereford way. Or go carting.

[Stanky]

UW, I'm not sure if this is patronising but it isn't intended to be! Thruxton (and probably a lot of other circuits offer a 'junior driving experience' which is aimed at teenagers but will probably also be good for anyone who doesn't have a licence yet - anyone from 12 years old can do one at Thurxton for example. I'd say its definitely worth giving them a bell and explaining the above, they should be receptive to offering something to suit.

 

See: http://www.thruxtonracing.co.uk/experiences/junior-porsche-stage-1

 

There is also a stage 2 one where they let you go faster and have more track time.

 

Or there is this too:

 

https://www.trackdays.co.uk/driving-experience/junior/

 

I'll take the coke and hooker though if they are going spare

[Tickman]

I would however like to get him something special for his 18th in December, and Im drawn to either an off road day or a sports car experience day - everything I have looked at comes with the caveat that the driver needs to hold a full licence. Which he doesnt.

 

Does anyone know of any off road centres that would cater for someone without a licence?

 

I would give a few off road centres a call and explain the situation and see what they say, failing that is there anyone on here who does off roading and you could make a autoshite off road day?

[fraser.innes.3]

What about the military vehicle places, tanks and other big stuff. I think there was one round Hereford way. Or go carting.

Land rover experience at Eastnor castle maybe.

 

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[mrbenn]

What about some sort of off-roading experience where a "professional" drives you round a course? IIRC there used to be something like that at Gaydon, for example. A mate and I were going to go on it as passengers but I was seriously hung over and didn't fancy decorating him, myself, any other passengers and the interior of the vehicle.

[Hertz]

UW, I'm not sure if this is patronising but it isn't intended to be! Thruxton (and probably a lot of other circuits offer a 'junior driving experience' which is aimed at teenagers but will probably also be good for anyone who doesn't have a licence yet - anyone from 12 years old can do one at Thurxton for example. I'd say its definitely worth giving them a bell and explaining the above, they should be receptive to offering something to suit.

 

See: http://www.thruxtonracing.co.uk/experiences/junior-porsche-stage-1

 

There is also a stage 2 one where they let you go faster and have more track time.

 

Or there is this too:

 

https://www.trackdays.co.uk/driving-experience/junior/

 

I'll take the coke and hooker though if they are going spare

 

I did something similar at Oulton Park when I was 15 or 16. It was in an XR3i for extra cool points at the time. Just checked and it's still going:

 

https://www.buyagift.co.uk/driving-experiences/young-driver-experience-at-oulton-park-br-10222085.aspx

 

Bini's now and it states 11 to 17's but might be worth an ask?

[DVee8]

Myself and my 12 year old have a 6th gear driving day on Aug bank holiday weekend at Elvington race way in York.At 12 he gets to drive a Lambo.

 

http://www.6thgearexperience.com/Home-of-Supercar-Driving-Experiences

[hpi_matrix]

Diggerland? You can operate a variety of diggers, drive a car round an oval track (under 16 only IIRC so may have to ring in advance), and get driven round an off road track.

 

Apperently I am a fully fledged adult and I had a brilliant day out there.

[Alfamale]

Not sure where you are in the country but here in Sheffield is an old RAF site where, for a fee, you can take your own car and let young drivers get experience.

 

My grandad took me up there from age 15 to learn the basics so I could pass my test as soon as possible. Might be worth seeing if there is anything like that round your way for your lad to have a try on.