"Supercar Drivers Days" - Are they worth doing?

[cobblers]

My sister, bless her, got me one of these "Drivers Dream Days" for my birthday, cos she knows I like cars and do track days and stuff so it makes sense. I'm very appreciative but the £100 she spent could have paid for a a day at RAF Blyton in my own car, which definitely appeals to me.

 

Anyway it's for a Porsche Two Car Experience

which includes:

  - 1 Lap High Speed Passenger Ride
  - 2nd Supercar Selection: Recipients Choice

but it doesn't mention actually driving the fucking car on the email I got, and I was about to completely give up on it, So I checked, and yes, you do actually drive the car.

 

However the closest place to me is about 90 minutes drive and I'll have to book a day off work. On the face of it, it looks a good day out -  I don't mind if it's any good, but from what I've heard from a few lads at work it's just a spirited lap of a track in the passenger seat, and then two laps driving the thing yourself but under extreme supervision with a lowered rev limit and max of 90MPH etc.

I've done my own track days and been in properly fast cars being driven properly, and the idea of being driven round at "health and safety" speeds by some random bloke and then being reeled in massively in a new Porsche absolutely doesn't appeal to me and if that's the case I'd try and swap the day for a rally experience where you can actually drive the (admittedly shit) cars hard.

 

Has anyone done one of these supercar days? Was it total shit?

[RoadworkUK]

I have fear that there might be more fun to be had on a spirited charge around an Asda car park.

[garethj]

A bloke at work did one and it was 3 laps driving, one was warming up, the next one got faster and the first bit of the last lap was ok, but after that you need to come back into the pits.

 

They gave him (or he probably paid extra for) a USB stick with video of the drive - camera showing through the windscreen, speeds, a blip showing position around the track etc.  It was about 4 minutes of video.

[dollywobbler]

I did one about 14 years ago because I'd stuffed my Subaru Impreza and needed to get my confidence back. First car was a Porsche 911 in 996 flavour. Astonishingly quick compared to anything I'd driven (my Impreza didn't even have a turbo...). You effectively got an outlap, a flying lap and then back in - so you didn't get too carried away.

 

Struggling to remember the order, but I think the Lotus Exige was next. What a hoot! Instructor really had me pushing it hard - understeer city at one point as I got a little carried away. Amazing.

 

Then I think it was the Noble M12 GTO. Astonishing. I was terrified of it. The sound was just other-wordly.

 

Last was the Dodge Viper, which was also terrifying as it felt like a truck, was as wide as a truck, yet I managed to get it up to 130mph on a small airfield circuit without really trying.

 

I was meant to be driving a Diablo as well, but it broke. Gutted. 

 

So yeah, you don't get very much time at the wheel at all, but it is still quite exciting. £100 worth of exciting? Probably not. Frankly, I enjoyed an hour of driving an artic at a much more recent experience far, far more. Especially as I was able to get it up to the limiter. 

[Crusty Sills]

I got Mrs Sills a super car drive last valentines day. It was 3 laps on a small track on a Surrey airfield.

It wasn't great and the track wasn't for a full on speed experience.

I wouldn't buy or do another unless it was a good hour on a proper track.

Enjoy it for what it is but don't get your hopes set to high.

[Skizzer]

I did a Caterham one at Silverstone a couple of years ago where we drove the shit out of them, and one at Thruxton back in about 2005 involving various things including a Formula Renault, 911 Turbo and a Murcielago, where the instructors were a bit more restrained but not as bad as I think you're hearing. They certainly revved up to the red line and didn't stop at 90mph.

 

Both of these were more than £100 - that sounds like it might be over as soon as it's begun.

 

The instructors like to get a feel for whether you're an idiot or not before they encourage/allow you to push it. Once they've established you're not too nervous, have some car control skills, listen to what they tell you and are not a massive Pistonheads bellend, they'll encourage you to push harder, brake later and so on.

 

If you go expecting to drive the absolute nuts off a Boxster sideways you'll probably be disappointed.

[egg]

I've done two and enjoyed them both

 

- Drove a DB4, E-type (utter class) and a left hand drive 1972 Porsche 911 Carrera at Goodwood

 

- Drove Mini Cooper, Ferrari 355 (I think!) and single seater at Donington (pretending I was Senna in 1993)

 

Both were prizes so didn't pay for them. So they were great! But not exactly value for money.

 

wouldn't pay for one....

[gordonbennet]

My lad did one a few years ago, a rather expensive present from his lady wife, got to drive a selection of cars for several laps inc a single seater, as i recall it was at Silverstone and he enjoyed it a lot and learned a lot especially how twitchy single seaters are.

 

If you want further info i can speak to him tomorrow and report back.

[Skizzer]

P.S. If it involves any sort of single seat / open wheeler, definitely do it. And that includes JCBs.

[EssDeeWon]

Shame there isn't a red letter day thing for a driving shite experience. £25 and bring a jerry can of pez to take the following for a blast;

 

Classic RR 3.9 Vogue

Austin Mini Metro

MK2 Granada 2.8 Ghia

Renault 20 (of course)

Citroen BX

MK2 Cavalier CD

Montego VDP

[Negative Creep]

Shame there isn't a red letter day thing for a driving shite experience. £25 and bring a jerry can of pez to take the following for a blast;

 

Classic RR 3.9 Vogue

Austin Mini Metro

MK2 Granada 2.8 Ghia

Renault 20 (of course)

Citroen BX

MK2 Cavalier CD

Montego VDP

 

 

There was one about a month ago. I believe one of the cars has just managed to get to the finishing straight.

[Mr Lobster]

I did the single seater one at Silverstone a few years back and it was fantastic.

 

As above, once the realised you were competent enough they'd let you push a bit, I seem to recall they said if you spin it more than once you're off but otherwise you could push fairly hard though given it was on the Stowe circuit rather than the full GP circuit you probably didn't top the ton but it was still ace.

[garbaldy]

A friend got me an Aston martin day at knockhill for my 40th and I arrived thinking it would be shit,

Five laps in a seat cupra then three in the Aston and it was great fun although short.

The things I always remember and amazed me where.

1 knockhill is way shorter than it appears on tv,

2 the Aston martin is a beautiful car,

3 a seat cupra is faster and feel's nicer to drive.

[cobblers]

Shame there isn't a red letter day thing for a driving shite experience. £25 and bring a jerry can of pez to take the following for a blast;

 

Classic RR 3.9 Vogue

Austin Mini Metro

MK2 Granada 2.8 Ghia

Renault 20 (of course)

Citroen BX

MK2 Cavalier CD

Montego VDP

 

I would definitely do this if there was bacon butties laid on. This would have to be proper track work though not just round the block. I would pay £5 extra for a hot lap in the cavalier with a 1990s twoccer in the drivers seat.

 

 

 

A friend got me an Aston martin day at knockhill for my 40th and I arrived thinking it would be shit,

Five laps in a seat cupra then three in the Aston and it was great fun although short.

The things I always remember and amazed me where.

1 knockhill is way shorter than it appears on tv,

2 the Aston martin is a beautiful car,

3 a seat cupra is faster and feel's nicer to drive.

 

I've got my own Seat Cupra with all the bells and whistles on it, Sounds like I might be as well just seeing if I can swap the day to something else where I can actually drive something quite hard for quite a while. TBH I'd rather just do 20 laps in my own car, I'd be happy with that.

[garethj]

Yeah, I'd be happy if my car would make 20 laps as well

[Tickman]

I did a Groupon  drifting experience, great fun but not what I would count as value for money, even for less than 20% of the supposed cost.

 

If you have done track days before then I would imagine it would be a disappointment as it is aimed at anyone who has never done anything like this before.

[Pillock]

I did 7 laps in a Subaru on tarmac, it was fairly average.

Half an hour in a Mk2 Golf on gravel was more fun, and I was taken out for a fast tarmac lap in a Mk3 GTI -yeah, I know that hardly sounds thrilling but the bloke was 100% nuts and clearly if they trashed the car it was £250 for a new one so he was driving it far harder than they do the supercars. You've also got the thrill of wondering how much of the sills are left as you cane it into a corner.

 

I think Mrs Pillock had the most fun when I bought her a driving experience. It was a Daf XF.

[stephen01]

Did one at 6th gear many years ago, wife got it me for Xmas, the one I did was OK, very much a production line, trying to flog 'extras' along the way, I opted for the picture only, mainly because I'm a tight arse, the one that pissed me off was the extra insurance, I had to sign a disclaimer as I didn't take it out, I can't remember how much it was but I do remember them giving the 'sales patter' oh, average cost for a wing mirror is 250£ blah blah blah.

 

I wouldnt mind but the cars were far from showroom condition.

 

I did three laps, with the instructor by my side.

 

Overall it was a good few minutes, was it worth the wait,cost, ERM I'm not sure,

[cobblers]

 I was taken out for a fast tarmac lap in a Mk3 GTI -yeah, I know that hardly sounds thrilling but the bloke was 100% nuts and clearly if they trashed the car it was £250 for a new one so he was driving it far harder than they do the supercars. You've also got the thrill of wondering how much of the sills are left as you cane it into a corner.

 

Aye, I'd much rather do a few laps in a mk3 fiesta 1.1 with someone who's driving it on the door handles than the same distance in a supercar with a bloke who has a 150k business loan on it!

 

I reckon I'm best off ringing to see if they'll swap it for somert else, the company does off road days and rally stuff at Blyton which is my preferred track for everything really.

[Keymaster]

I did a corporate one a while back which was brilliant, there were only 8 drivers & we were there all day. My supplier was sponsoring the MG cup at the time.

 

A quick briefing, bacon butties & sent out in an Impreza to learn the track for 5 or 6 laps each, then out for passenger laps in a race prepped MGF & a race prepped MG ZR to see how the pros do it. BBQ lunch trackside and soon back out in the Impreza to try and replicate the lines and aggression of the passenger runs. Finally we were sent out for 5 laps to do a laptime shoot out in the ZR.

 

It wasn't the usual trackday format you hear about, they wanted us to develop our skills & be able to push the cars to the limit by the end of the day. And we did.

 

I'd love to have another go at a day with a format like that, but the closest one I've seen available to buy is the all day Caterham experience you can do at Oulton etc, where you get a car and instructor to yourself for about £800. I can't afford £800 and all my suppliers hate me so the chances of another freebie are low

[Bren]

I had a day at Oulton Park for my 30th. It was a rally day in an escort cosworth - Terry Pankhurst was my instructor.

 

Very enjoyable though I got criticised for not using my brakes.

[Matt]

I did one at Oulton Park just over a year ago. Bloody ace it was. Check their website to see if you can buy more laps, the company I went with let you do that. My advice with these things is just get as many laps as you possibly can. Even if it turns out to be a bit rubbish it might give you an incentive to save up and buy a really great one for yourself. I can happily recommend Racing-School.co.uk

 

Bit of theory class

Instructor bundles three of you into an Alfa Romeo Giulietta, does a slow lap, a faster lap, a fast lap then just goes like hell.

Some waiting happens

You get bunged into a car with an instructor who basically made me at least go like the clappers straight away. No out or in laps; out the pit lane and fucking go for it. Got a recording of me doing 150 in a Ferrari 360. Ariel Atom was ace, V8 Vantage was laaaavly and sounded great but was out of it's depth really and I basically fell in love with the Audi R8.

 

(1 of 6) https://thirdlanemotors.wordpress.com/2015/06/21/how-i-became-a-racing-driver-for-a-day-and-you-can-too/

[DVee8]

Mrs V8 got myself and No1 son a 6th gear supercar day for Xmas We are going to Elvington raceway in April. As he is 12 he get to drive, he is going for a DB9. I am going for the 911 turbo and a Atom.

[Skizzer]

As an aside, the best driving experience thing I've done was the Phil Price Rally School in Knighton.  You spend the morning basically doing laps of a fairly small figure of eight in a mk2 Escort, which sounds quite dull but really isn't as 1. you're only ever going sideways and it's a massive hoot trying to get the car control right and 2. it's all against the clock so you're competing against yourself and the other people there.  And it does get quite competitive, unlike track experience days.

 

In the afternoon you do a sighter lap and then a fast lap of their proper 3-mile forest stage in an Impreza with the instructor as co-driver.  I've been twice and on my second visit he pushed me to drive it way beyond what I thought I could, getting this thing properly sideways at speed surrounded by trees, blind crests, BFO rocks and sheer drops.  You finish off with the obligatory full-tilt brown trouser lap with the instructor driving an Escort Cosworth - again, more exciting than a track because scenery.

 

It's not cheap at £350 for the day, but more involving than three guided laps of Mallory Park or wherever. And you learn a lot about car control.  Really nice people, too.  Plus: shagged mk2 Escort with mismatched wheels + mk1 Impreza with repair panels riveted on + mk4 Escort = shite.

 

 

Something else to think about is doing a test session at an outdoor kart track.  They have open 'arrive & drive' practice sessions in the week when it's quiet and you can just book out a rental kart, suit and helmet and have a go.  It's about £30-odd for half an hour (and you'll be knackered after half an hour if you're doing it properly, though you can always have another go after a tea break).  Outdoor is much better for this than indoor - the karts are faster, tracks are much bigger, you're more on the limit.

[Sealtainn]

I've done a Rally Day with Shropshire Rally School which was great fun, throwing a Mk2 Escort around. Also got a Single Seater experience at Castle Combe. 1600cc Ford engines but rev limited to 5k. Sadly as I'm broad shouldered I didn't fit in the school cars so had to take an instructors car which was sans limiter. Just told to keep it under 5k, which I didn't. Thoroughly enjoyable

 

Sent from my E2105 using Tapatalk

[fordperv]

I would definitely do this if there was bacon butties laid on. This would have to be proper track work though not just round the block. I would pay £5 extra for a hot lap in the cavalier with a 1990s twoccer in the drivers seat.

 

I was thinking twoccer in a stolen sierra cosworth, that would be funny

[beko1987]

Shame there isn't a red letter day thing for a driving shite experience. £25 and bring a jerry can of pez to take the following for a blast;

 

Classic RR 3.9 Vogue

Austin Mini Metro

MK2 Granada 2.8 Ghia

Renault 20 (of course)

Citroen BX

MK2 Cavalier CD

Montego VDP

There is, it's called Shitefest...

 

I got bought a skidpan for my 21st by my mum at Castle Coombe. Wasnt too bad tbh, they teamed us up, then had 2 cars. One Rover 400 for front wheel drive and one 318i for RWD, both utterly fucked. We went out with the ABS on, and drove around a bit. Then they sprinkled some silicone stuff all over the track and wet it, and the slidey fun began. I certainly noticed the difference between FWD and RWD, I got quite good at drifting the BMW about.

 

After 2 hours of this, and learning control, braking, powering out etc, we did some braking tests. First lot with the ABS on, then they took the abs fuses out of both cars and we did it again without, practising cadence braking etc.

 

All good fun, I did learn some bits, I;ve had to cadence brake in the ZX on the m40 since!

 

There was a health and safety briefing before though If it's a gift, and you don't mind about not going back, just put your foot down and try not to crash. Turn up in your most hanging chod as well for extra bonus points. Don't forget a woollard when your there for us all to see

[Ditchfinder General]

I did one at Oulton Park just over a year ago. Bloody ace it was. Check their website to see if you can buy more laps, the company I went with let you do that. My advice with these things is just get as many laps as you possibly can. Even if it turns out to be a bit rubbish it might give you an incentive to save up and buy a really great one for yourself. I can happily recommend Racing-School.co.uk

 

Bit of theory class

Instructor bundles three of you into an Alfa Romeo Giulietta, does a slow lap, a faster lap, a fast lap then just goes like hell.

Some waiting happens

You get bunged into a car with an instructor who basically made me at least go like the clappers straight away. No out or in laps; out the pit lane and fucking go for it. Got a recording of me doing 150 in a Ferrari 360. Ariel Atom was ace, V8 Vantage was laaaavly and sounded great but was out of it's depth really and I basically fell in love with the Audi R8.

 

(1 of 6) https://thirdlanemotors.wordpress.com/2015/06/21/how-i-became-a-racing-driver-for-a-day-and-you-can-too/

I did one of these at Rockingham,I was really impressed about how the instructors were constantly on at you to give it the beans and brake later and later as the course went on.

 

Definitely thought I was heading for the Armco at one point, the brakes on the Chevy V8 touring car I was driving were mental.

[Stanky]

I got a half-day rally driving thing in Ford Pumas near Bicester a few years back as a birthday present, it was pretty good - learnt a lot and the instructors were keen we give the cars a good thrashing. I chose not to pay the £10 damage waiver at the start, against the advise of my wife and ended up ripping a rear wheel and hub right off the car doing a handbrake turn round one of the corners. To be fair they didn't charge me and just brought out a spare car and let me carry on.

 

I did get the 'worst driver of the day' award as a result though!

 

I also got taken on a palmersport day yonks ago where I got to drive loads of fast stuff, the Caterham was wicked fun, the jaguar XKR was better than I thought it would be and the 997 porsche 911 was a massive disappointment.

[Richard]

Shame there isn't a red letter day thing for a driving shite experience. £25 and bring a jerry can of pez to take the following for a blast;

 

Classic RR 3.9 Vogue

Austin Mini Metro

MK2 Granada 2.8 Ghia

Renault 20 (of course)

Citroen BX

MK2 Cavalier CD

Montego VDP

There is, it's called Shitefest.

 

Note to self - read to the end before replying.