Drifting lessons for wife
Discussion
Hoping this is the right sub-forum
So out of the blue last night my wife announced that she was planning to learn to do donuts in the Maserati I'm looking at buying. I've told her in no uncertain terms that's not happening, so then she said she wants to learn to drift and do donuts and a session would make a good (46th) birthday present. Could have knocked me over with a feather.
We live near Hemel Hempstead and while there is a drift school at the old Bovingdon Airfield I've heard mixed reviews.
Has anyone been to the Bovingdon one and is it any good?
Any alternative suggestions for a good experience for a middle aged couple (as I'd probably do it with her). Silverstone Caterham experience is one option but I don't think she'd like the open top and suspect she'd prefer something with M3's ideally.
Any ideas appreciated, her birthday is end of April so I've got a few weeks.
So out of the blue last night my wife announced that she was planning to learn to do donuts in the Maserati I'm looking at buying. I've told her in no uncertain terms that's not happening, so then she said she wants to learn to drift and do donuts and a session would make a good (46th) birthday present. Could have knocked me over with a feather.
We live near Hemel Hempstead and while there is a drift school at the old Bovingdon Airfield I've heard mixed reviews.
Has anyone been to the Bovingdon one and is it any good?
Any alternative suggestions for a good experience for a middle aged couple (as I'd probably do it with her). Silverstone Caterham experience is one option but I don't think she'd like the open top and suspect she'd prefer something with M3's ideally.
Any ideas appreciated, her birthday is end of April so I've got a few weeks.
If she wants to learn to drift I've heard good things about these guys. I think they have an E46 M3 but would probably suggest she starts in something lower powered.
http://flatoutfactory.com
Either that or I think BMW offer driver training days in newer M cars on skid pans and wetted circuits etc.
http://flatoutfactory.com
Either that or I think BMW offer driver training days in newer M cars on skid pans and wetted circuits etc.
AdamGRocco said:
Cheap MX-5 or BMW and round ToysRus car park at midnight, that's the usual way to learn isn't it?
Would be an unusual chat with the babysitter as we left... "Off anywhere nice tonight", "Not really, we're just going to pick up some McDonalds and then go and do some donuts over in Luton"I got a 40th birthday present from my sister with Drift Limits in Bovington last year. She got me the bronze package, I then upgraded it to the gold. That took it from something like 20 laps to 50. It was in an MX5. I upgraded to do a few in the M3 towards the end.
You get a dedicated instructor. He was a really good guy, very patient, albeit no more than about 20 years old!
However, the track is really short, and 50 laps meant only around an hour in the seat. Whilst I did learn some stuff, the main thing I really took away was that I have a hell of lot to learn. Fair enough I suppose.
Highlight of the day was getting a couple of hot laps in their modified Ariel Atom (with formula Renault brakes and wheels). How the bloody hell something can go around corners that fast is totally beyond me. How someones brain can work fast enough to pilot something that fast around corners is also beyond me! The noise that thing made cannot be described. Make sure you get a go with an instructor driving! Really. Make sure you do this!
Oh, and book the basic stuff online, then upgrade on the day. They play the hard sell on upgrades and driving different cars etc, but it is cheaper than buying it all up front.
I don't think generally speaking that Bovington was particularly good value for money for what you get (over £300 spent), although retrospectively, it was good for me in that it got me hooked. I bought a car with a welded diff a few months ago, and last Saturday I took it to the Norfolk Arena drift practice day in Kings Lynn. What an absolutley incredible day! It was £40 for the whole day, and for that you were basically given free reign to get on with it. They allow 5 or 6 cars out at a time, so the track is not crowded. They hold beginner and advanced groups, so you don't hold the fast guys up. I spoke to the organiser Malx at the beginning, and he told me to do a few laps by myself, then he'd take me out and give some instruction. I also went out as passenger with some of the experts. By the 4th session I was linking 3 long corners and really felt like I was getting somewhere. Unfortunately then my engine fell out! Both mounts broke, then engine moved to one side and the power steering pump pulley cut through the rad pipe. Game over? Nope, so many people came to my aid. Engine shoved back over and held in with ratchet straps. Bit of pipe spliced in. Back out there. Drove the car an hour home after.
Basically, the summary of my waffling - yes, do an 'experience' day, see if you like it. Then buy a cheap old car, find a place that hold days for beginners, then go play. Don't take the Maserati!
I absolutely cannot wait for the next one!
You get a dedicated instructor. He was a really good guy, very patient, albeit no more than about 20 years old!
However, the track is really short, and 50 laps meant only around an hour in the seat. Whilst I did learn some stuff, the main thing I really took away was that I have a hell of lot to learn. Fair enough I suppose.
Highlight of the day was getting a couple of hot laps in their modified Ariel Atom (with formula Renault brakes and wheels). How the bloody hell something can go around corners that fast is totally beyond me. How someones brain can work fast enough to pilot something that fast around corners is also beyond me! The noise that thing made cannot be described. Make sure you get a go with an instructor driving! Really. Make sure you do this!
Oh, and book the basic stuff online, then upgrade on the day. They play the hard sell on upgrades and driving different cars etc, but it is cheaper than buying it all up front.
I don't think generally speaking that Bovington was particularly good value for money for what you get (over £300 spent), although retrospectively, it was good for me in that it got me hooked. I bought a car with a welded diff a few months ago, and last Saturday I took it to the Norfolk Arena drift practice day in Kings Lynn. What an absolutley incredible day! It was £40 for the whole day, and for that you were basically given free reign to get on with it. They allow 5 or 6 cars out at a time, so the track is not crowded. They hold beginner and advanced groups, so you don't hold the fast guys up. I spoke to the organiser Malx at the beginning, and he told me to do a few laps by myself, then he'd take me out and give some instruction. I also went out as passenger with some of the experts. By the 4th session I was linking 3 long corners and really felt like I was getting somewhere. Unfortunately then my engine fell out! Both mounts broke, then engine moved to one side and the power steering pump pulley cut through the rad pipe. Game over? Nope, so many people came to my aid. Engine shoved back over and held in with ratchet straps. Bit of pipe spliced in. Back out there. Drove the car an hour home after.
Basically, the summary of my waffling - yes, do an 'experience' day, see if you like it. Then buy a cheap old car, find a place that hold days for beginners, then go play. Don't take the Maserati!
I absolutely cannot wait for the next one!
Edited by Utterpiffle on Monday 13th March 10:39
Utterpiffle said:
Highlight of the day was getting a couple of hot laps in their modified Ariel Atom (with formula Renault brakes and wheels). How the bloody hell something can go around corners that fast is totally beyond me. How someones brain can work fast enough to pilot something that fast around corners is also beyond me! The noise that thing made cannot be described. Make sure you get a go with an instructor driving! Really. Make sure you do this!
I drove the Atom at Palmersport last year - theirs has a flappy paddle gearbox. You're right, it's bl**dy impressive (though I preferred the Formula 3000). A colleague (of greater means than me) is looking at getting one as a toy so we're trying to put together a "test drive" day over the next month or so.Edited by Utterpiffle on Monday 13th March 10:39
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