Anyone driven at Hethel?
Discussion
I've decided to book a day at the test track up at Hethel so that I can find out what I can really do in my Elise. My dealer recommended the course and it does sound like it's going to be a very useful/fun day. Has anyone here already had the pleasure of a day with one of their test drivers? I'd be very keen to hear your verdict.
Cheers
Cheers
Never driven on the track myself but I spent an hour being driven round Hethel by Gavan Kershaw during Lotus' 24 hour charity drive against Porsche drivers for Sunspeed.
It was from 10-11pm in November so pitch black and slightly icy. Imagine riding Oblivion and Nemesis for an hour in the dark and you get somewhere close to the experience.
Bloody brilliant!
It was from 10-11pm in November so pitch black and slightly icy. Imagine riding Oblivion and Nemesis for an hour in the dark and you get somewhere close to the experience.
Bloody brilliant!
I've been up there a couple of times and it's damn good fun. I went round with a chap called Graham who races Morgans (bloody nice bloke) who pretty much let me do what I wanted. He offered advice but was also happy to see me having fun which was a good balance.
It's a bit pricey though...
It's a bit pricey though...
Alistair is great. It's like riding around with Sean Connery in some action flick. Just get ready for the moment he takes the wheel. He's an excellent driver but a bit more sensible than Hyla who seems to be a real nutter behind the wheel.
He obviously has tons of experience and can tell you plenty about many of the cars Lotus built that he tested.
michael.
He obviously has tons of experience and can tell you plenty about many of the cars Lotus built that he tested.
michael.
True, Hyla does waste a lot of the cars power on wheel spins and slides for visual effect, but if you get in the car with Al and say 'do your worst' (as I did in my cocky way)- his reply 'you mean my best don't you!' - you may get pleasantly surprised as he red lines it (should that be red lights it - watch the Stack unit)all the way around including the chicanes and hairpins...
Well I've been on it now and 
me that was a good day out. Having pushed the car to it's limits I feel much more confident with experimenting on empty roundabouts etc. As for the comment about the straights being boring........well they are straight yes, but at the end of one is a chicane which you can take a 100mph if you dare. I think the best i did was 85mph through it.
The slalom course he set up down one of the straights looked quite dull but i can honestly say once you get the hang of it, it was awesome! I could have done that all day.
If you haven't been on this course and don't already class yourself as a driving god, you must do it!
me that was a good day out. Having pushed the car to it's limits I feel much more confident with experimenting on empty roundabouts etc. As for the comment about the straights being boring........well they are straight yes, but at the end of one is a chicane which you can take a 100mph if you dare. I think the best i did was 85mph through it. The slalom course he set up down one of the straights looked quite dull but i can honestly say once you get the hang of it, it was awesome! I could have done that all day.
If you haven't been on this course and don't already class yourself as a driving god, you must do it!
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