Aldershot or Dunsfold?
Discussion
Supercar experience thing for the missus, guessing Dunsfold "because top gear" although you only get one half of the 8 thanks to not wanting people to hit each other.
Thoughts? Aldershot Raceway will probably be quieter, but given they say they are known for Banger racing...! Track layout seems to impede fast runs, which is all this will be about tbh.
https://www.trackdays.co.uk/tracks/aldershot-racew...
Thoughts? Aldershot Raceway will probably be quieter, but given they say they are known for Banger racing...! Track layout seems to impede fast runs, which is all this will be about tbh.
https://www.trackdays.co.uk/tracks/aldershot-racew...
I suspect that the 'track' isn't the banger racing oval, but the perimeter road in the 'Rushmoor Arena' across the road, it's even got a Google maps marker to that effect.
They used to use it for the Tempest Rally so there's a few youtube videos you can use to see the layout (minus the gravel bits of course). It is somewhat point-and-squirt but you should be able to get up the some speed.
They used to use it for the Tempest Rally so there's a few youtube videos you can use to see the layout (minus the gravel bits of course). It is somewhat point-and-squirt but you should be able to get up the some speed.
Edited by Truckosaurus on Monday 16th September 08:45
Macron said:
Supercar experience thing for the missus, guessing Dunsfold "because top gear" although you only get one half of the 8 thanks to not wanting people to hit each other.
Thoughts? Aldershot Raceway will probably be quieter, but given they say they are known for Banger racing...! Track layout seems to impede fast runs, which is all this will be about tbh.
https://www.trackdays.co.uk/tracks/aldershot-racew...
I had a voucher for Dunsfold and somehow ended up paying an extra 60 quid: first I hadn't printed the parking voucher and the parking attendant wouldn't let me park unless I paid 10 pounds (despite acknowledging the voucher on my phone). Then there was the damage waiver to reduce the excess from something silly to something less silly, I think that was 30 pounds. Water and hot dog came to another 10 and finally a quick passenger ride round the perimeter in an M3 driven by a "rally pro" was another 10 pounds for my friend to join - the ride lasted about 90 seconds.Thoughts? Aldershot Raceway will probably be quieter, but given they say they are known for Banger racing...! Track layout seems to impede fast runs, which is all this will be about tbh.
https://www.trackdays.co.uk/tracks/aldershot-racew...
While I enjoyed the actual driving experience, it felt like a car based Ryanair than a legit enjoy the car experience - e.g. the excess reduction is basically a hidden tax because the excess they threaten you with if you did have smash, is eye watering. Then you realise the instructor has a power cut button and dual brakes available to them. The whole time you are constantly being offered upgrades to the "ultimate experience" that makes you feel like whatever you have is not quite up to scratch.
Not bad overall - but watch out for the hidden costs.
Thanks, appreciate it,
I've seen the damage waiver nonsense which suggests you can pay £25 to them to avoid "negligence", which given it would be the word of an instructor against the driver (and as you say, they have dual controls) appears challenging.
I expect I'll get robbed for it anyway.
I also expect I'll take her to Dunsfold as it may be busy, but I'd hope that means it will come with a good selection of cars to choose from.
I got a comparatively good deal on a 6 car plus passenger lap, and each car should be a whopping 6 miles each. I suspect they'll try and short change that to fit in with a lower number of laps...
I've seen the damage waiver nonsense which suggests you can pay £25 to them to avoid "negligence", which given it would be the word of an instructor against the driver (and as you say, they have dual controls) appears challenging.
I expect I'll get robbed for it anyway.
I also expect I'll take her to Dunsfold as it may be busy, but I'd hope that means it will come with a good selection of cars to choose from.
I got a comparatively good deal on a 6 car plus passenger lap, and each car should be a whopping 6 miles each. I suspect they'll try and short change that to fit in with a lower number of laps...
Thought I should update in case anyone else was looking at this.
It was indeed Rushmore Arena, an odd rhombus of a road loop which is slim meaning if you’re in the W12 Bentley you can’t get up to speed and you’ll catch someone dawdling in whatever they’re in very quickly. Overtaking possible but dependent on your instructor, and the one in front.
Apparently a mile, I’m not convinced it was.
The ticket promised 6 miles per car, you got 5 laps, which isn’t 6 miles, x 6 cars mean you’ve paid for 36 miles and get 30 if it is actually a mile.
Despite having a top spec ticket I was fleeced for £25 for insurance (had I bought it directly it would have been included). and I paid for 2x sighting laps with a passenger at £15, which seemed sensible. Yes, they harped on about upgrades all day. Some are mad, I think it was £30 to have some photos, £55 if you wanted to take a USB away with pics and video. Same price if you had one single lap or what I did. Half a dozen people working in the media unit tells me an awful lot of people pay that!
The ticket if bought directly was £480, for a single sighting lap, 6 cars x “some” laps, and then a fast pax lap. They had a Black Friday sale where it was half that price, at which point it’s interesting.
I paid an absurdly low £181 from BuyAGift including a 30% discount code, so even adding in £40 for the extras I more than did OK, effectively the Black Friday price really, which shows what you can pay.
The cars were interesting, an R8 with a massive crack across the windscreen, 2x GTRs that sounded like they had knackered CV joints, lots of Lambos. A new Vantage (for a fee), and upgrades to Lamborghinis again, for a fee.
Going in Nov it was chilly, damp, and quiet, the cars got dirty in and out which was a bit of a shame, but not world ending. It beat having to wait hours to drive in August. They were sensible with queuing so the order you had on your list was irrelevant if there was another one of the cars free.
For £220ish all in I’d say it was defo worth it, naturally there’s a fair amount of you engaging with the instructor to get the most out of it, and you get to thrash someone else’s car without concern. At £480 I’d make that noise a plumber does working out a price.
If you look past the constant “for just another £25” and do what you’re there for, it’s a good day out.
It was indeed Rushmore Arena, an odd rhombus of a road loop which is slim meaning if you’re in the W12 Bentley you can’t get up to speed and you’ll catch someone dawdling in whatever they’re in very quickly. Overtaking possible but dependent on your instructor, and the one in front.
Apparently a mile, I’m not convinced it was.
The ticket promised 6 miles per car, you got 5 laps, which isn’t 6 miles, x 6 cars mean you’ve paid for 36 miles and get 30 if it is actually a mile.
Despite having a top spec ticket I was fleeced for £25 for insurance (had I bought it directly it would have been included). and I paid for 2x sighting laps with a passenger at £15, which seemed sensible. Yes, they harped on about upgrades all day. Some are mad, I think it was £30 to have some photos, £55 if you wanted to take a USB away with pics and video. Same price if you had one single lap or what I did. Half a dozen people working in the media unit tells me an awful lot of people pay that!
The ticket if bought directly was £480, for a single sighting lap, 6 cars x “some” laps, and then a fast pax lap. They had a Black Friday sale where it was half that price, at which point it’s interesting.
I paid an absurdly low £181 from BuyAGift including a 30% discount code, so even adding in £40 for the extras I more than did OK, effectively the Black Friday price really, which shows what you can pay.
The cars were interesting, an R8 with a massive crack across the windscreen, 2x GTRs that sounded like they had knackered CV joints, lots of Lambos. A new Vantage (for a fee), and upgrades to Lamborghinis again, for a fee.
Going in Nov it was chilly, damp, and quiet, the cars got dirty in and out which was a bit of a shame, but not world ending. It beat having to wait hours to drive in August. They were sensible with queuing so the order you had on your list was irrelevant if there was another one of the cars free.
For £220ish all in I’d say it was defo worth it, naturally there’s a fair amount of you engaging with the instructor to get the most out of it, and you get to thrash someone else’s car without concern. At £480 I’d make that noise a plumber does working out a price.
If you look past the constant “for just another £25” and do what you’re there for, it’s a good day out.
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