track day - any good ones about?

[Tamworthbay]

Looking for a 'driving experience' day as a prezzie for a mate. He drives a big soft Roader so it will need to be one of the experience type days rather than a run what u brung track day.

 

Looking to spend no more than £150, Midlands would be best and I think single seater seems more fun to me.

 

Has anyone got any suggestions for good ones? Ideally by personal experience as I dont want to fork out a wodge of cash and find he only gets ten minutes on track.

[gm]

As you say, the key is to check exactly what track time you get for your money. Years back, I was bought a single seater track experience up at knockhill, cost around £100 at the time, they currently offer a similar package for £150. The format was pretty good I thought - three laps driving an mgf with an instructor, two demonstration laps as a passenger in a mgzs then 7 laps in a single seater. The single seater was great fun, so different to anything I'd driven before, I did manage to spin it 360o at the hairpin but no harm done. That was enough to to get me hooked, I must have driven over 1000 laps of knockhill since in my own car

 

I would recommend going to a proper circuit for whatever package you choose, there is a company offering supercar experiences at the highland showground here in Edinburgh - the majority of stories I've heard have been of disappointed customers, lots of hanging around waiting then a small number of laps where the instructor is restrictive of how you drive. Obviously they have to look after the cars but what's the point in driving a Ferrari if you can't give it the beans ?

 

Or you could pick up a cheap mx5 off gumtree for £500, book the two of you on a proper trackday, have a load of fun then flog it when the sun comes out in spring (although by that time, you will want to keep it)

[Tamworthbay]

Oddly enough I have just sold my mx5.........

[Stanky]

How about a rally experience? I got one for christmas a few years back, half a day on a purpose built track in ford pumas near Bicester. It was a bit cheaper but currently £149

 

 

http://www.rally-driving-days.co.uk/half-day-rally-driving-puma/

 

 

I was really good, the instructors really encourage you, to the point I managed to rip a wheel, hub, stub axle - the works - off the poor thing and they just laughed and brought another one out. I hadn't bothered to sign the damage waiver earlier in the day "because there's no point is there? I won't do any major damage" but they didn't bother trying to charge me for the destruction, so I was vindicated

 

anyway, they are really good.

[Taff]

Thruxton (Near Andover) is a good one (well, my dad enjoyed it!) and apparently Castle Combe (Chippenham) do a good one as well

[sierraman]

Say you took your car on, and got a bit over exuberant and stacked it into a new BMW M3 eg. Id imagine they would have no recourse towards you financially?

[Tamworthbay]

Say you took your car on, and got a bit over exuberant and stacked it into a new BMW M3 eg. Id imagine they would have no recourse towards you financially?

on a run what you brung day that is true and I have seen a couple of idiots smash up nice cars. One trashed a 350z by side swiping it. The driver wasn't very pleased! But I am looking for one where they supply the car. My mate has done me a lot of favours recently and want to get him a nice thank you but he can't use his own car. Thanks for all the suggestions guys I will look into them.

[Taff]

Say you took your car on, and got a bit over exuberant and stacked it into a new BMW M3 eg. Id imagine they would have no recourse towards you financially?

 

I've only got experience of the two I mentioned and neither were open to personal vehicles. In both cases they had a dozen or so pupils but even then, they weren't racing as such, more sent off with times gaps between them, to keep them from hitting each other I suppose.

 

Don't lknow if it has changed but my last bike insurance made a point of excluding track days.

[gm]

trackday insurance covers your own car only - if I stack my Mazda into a Porsche and he has no cover, he's in trouble. I generally don't bother with insurance as there is a high excess on a claim, almost half the value of the car in my case.

 

the only damage I've done in many trackdays has been my own fault - I took a corner wide and ran over a cone which cracked the aircon radiator (which didn't work anyway), I bashed the front wing against the tyres causing a few scuffs, a new wing will just bolt on when I find one in the right colour. in the meantime, I took it off and bashed it roughly back into shape from inside.

 

the important thing to consider is who else will be out there on track, I only do events organised by clubs that I trust and have never had any issues with bad driving. the marshals are strict and if anyone is being silly / reckless, they are quickly pulled in for a chat, if nothing changes, they get kicked out.

[J-Rod]

 

 

I would recommend going to a proper circuit for whatever package you choose, there is a company offering supercar experiences at the highland showground here in Edinburgh - the majority of stories I've heard have been of disappointed customers, lots of hanging around waiting then a small number of laps where the instructor is restrictive of how you drive. Obviously they have to look after the cars but what's the point in driving a Ferrari if you can't give it the beans ? 

Did one in a Ferrari a few years ago. Was just getting used to the thing (and finding out just how much grip there was) when it was time to go in. Was fun if you simply want to say 'hey, I drove a Ferrari once!' but if you're actually interested in cars, a bit pointless. You don't really get to experience much at all. 

[Matt]

I did one with Racing-School.co.uk last year at it was great but that was four cars so probably double your budget. My main conclusion from it was that when going on these things you need to get as many laps as you can realistically afford. I would have hated to go along, do five two minute laps then go home. Considering that he drives a soft roader I would worry less about the vehicle(s) and look into what gets you maximum seat time for your money. That's what it's all about at the end of the day after all. Racing-School offered the choice of paying for more laps while you were there so keep a look out for providers with that option so he can always buy himself more time if he so desires.