Suggest me a driving experience please

[Calza]

It's my dad's 60th soon and I'm looking to get him on some kind of driving experience as a gift.

The two I've looked at so far are the PalmerSport half day and the Mercedes-AMG 63 half day, both come in at around £550.

Sadly I won't be able to book two driving tickets and join him, but aren't ruling out the possibility of tagging along as a passenger!

Currently I'm swaying heavily towards the AMG experience, simply because some of the PalmerSport stuff doesn't add up to me - a full english or a 2 course lunch? I'd send him to a restaurant if that was the case. Although they do seem to have more of a spread of cars.

Any experience of either - or anything else I can look at?

Thanks!

[SAS Tom]

If he’s up for travelling a day at Phil Price rally school in wales. A decent chunk cheaper at £350 per day and plenty of driving time.

[Calza]

SAS Tom said:

If he’s up for travelling a day at Phil Price rally school in wales. A decent chunk cheaper at £350 per day and plenty of driving time.

This one looks very interesting, thanks!

[JDiz]

Porsche experience at silverstone, get to use different tracks, eg ice hill, low friction, kick plate as well as normal handling circuit

[joropug]

Second rally. I did a Silverstone rally session , even at this level it was mega fun being able to properly rag it, handbrake turn etc .

Conversely I've found supercar days to be proper dull with the instructor restricting rpm and gears significantly.

[Calza]

JDiz said:

Porsche experience at silverstone, get to use different tracks, eg ice hill, low friction, kick plate as well as normal handling circuit

Tempting, they only seem to offer a 90 minute gift package though. Would be nice to have a little longer I feel.

joropug said:

Second rally. I did a Silverstone rally session , even at this level it was mega fun being able to properly rag it, handbrake turn etc .

Conversely I've found supercar days to be proper dull with the instructor restricting rpm and gears significantly.

Yes I absolutely want to avoid something which has restrictions like that. Is this who you were with https://www.silverstonerally.co.uk/ ?

[nickfrog]

PalmerSport. By a country mile.

[Steve Campbell]

http://www.forsterracingschool.co.uk/rally-driving...

[quick Nick]

Hi Calza,

Perhaps I can help with this - we do trackday services and can provide something that may well be suitable for you.

This kind of budget with us can get you good wheel time with training in an M3 or Caterham 7. Do you have an idea of which circuit you wanted to visit?

Hopefully some fellow PHers will read this and give us a recommendation as I know I've met a few over the years but in the meantime feel free to browse what we do and come back to me if I can be of service :-)

realgt.co.uk

Best,
Nick.

[Turn7]

nickfrog said:

PalmerSport. By a country mile.

Or go home......


Anything else is playing at it.

[cdon]

On the face of it Palmersport is expensive, but it is extremely good value.

It can be physically demanding though..

[QBee]

OI!!!

There are plenty of us 60+ drivers still wiping the floor with the yoofs at track days.

[nickfrog]

QBee said:

OI!!!

There are plenty of us 60+ drivers still wiping the floor with the yoofs at track days.

Oh yes, I have made assumptions a couple of times, to only realise that experience, smoothness of input and patience can more than make up for a slight loss of reaction time... At 50, I hope to join those ranks soon though!!!

[Calza]

What makes palmersport so much better than the others?

[Calza]

quick Nick said:

Hi Calza,

Perhaps I can help with this - we do trackday services and can provide something that may well be suitable for you.

This kind of budget with us can get you good wheel time with training in an M3 or Caterham 7. Do you have an idea of which circuit you wanted to visit?

Hopefully some fellow PHers will read this and give us a recommendation as I know I've met a few over the years but in the meantime feel free to browse what we do and come back to me if I can be of service :-)

realgt.co.uk

Best,
Nick.

Emailed!

[Turn7]

Calza said:

What makes palmersport so much better than the others?

You get pushed by the instructors to go faster ! Theres no holding back,no low rev limits.

Lunch is a superb meal.

The whole day is about the most professionally organised Ive ever seen.

Also, a great choice of drivers cars that you will remember for ever.

Its not cheap for sure, but some of the other days Ive seen mentioned on here - low revs, no third gear, three laps and in type are a big waste of money if you actually want to drive a car fast on track.

[radical78]

bookatrac Caterham drift a lot cheaper and great fun

[anonymous-user]

I did the Phil Price rally day, prob 15 years ago. Was brilliant. Lots of time driving.

Given its also my father's 60th this year, I may have a look at some of the suggestions too

[Turn7]

radical78 said:

bookatrac Caterham drift a lot cheaper and great fun

BAT no longer deal with Caterham as they are a Ginetta dealer now, and Jonnny Le Roux has left the business.

[captain_tripping]

PalmerSport days are quite something. The instructors are great, typically a lot of young championship drivers, and they really push you to the absolute limit. You may not get as much seat time as a trackday in your own car but it really is worth it as a one off