All ideas welcome!
Discussion
My girlfriend's mentioned that she would like to drive on a track and I thought I'd surprise her with a track day somewhere. Trouble is, I haven't a clue where to start looking and don't want to get stung by something badly-run or unsuitable.
Can anyone recommend something for an absolute novice who has never driven on a track, consisting of some tuition and then maybe a few 'serious' laps? I think she'd rather a car was provided, as her Focus isn't the most exciting thing to drive and she'd probably worry about pranging it.
We live in Southampton and wouldn't want to go more than about two and a half hours away. And if I say I'm thinking of spending three or four hundred pounds, am I being realistic?
As I say, I haven't the foggiest where to start here so any help you can give me would be most appreciated!
Cheers.
Can anyone recommend something for an absolute novice who has never driven on a track, consisting of some tuition and then maybe a few 'serious' laps? I think she'd rather a car was provided, as her Focus isn't the most exciting thing to drive and she'd probably worry about pranging it.
We live in Southampton and wouldn't want to go more than about two and a half hours away. And if I say I'm thinking of spending three or four hundred pounds, am I being realistic?
As I say, I haven't the foggiest where to start here so any help you can give me would be most appreciated!
Cheers.
For £400 you can book a caterham trackday. That is a caterham + instructor all day (the car is shared between 3 or 4 people), so you drive a couple of laps, get out, have tea, coffee, grub, get back in do more laps, etc.
You drive the same car and have the same instructor all day, and the instructor will build pace with the dsriver as they learn the car and track.
Eventaully in the afternoon the driver should be going quick and really having fun.
Food/drink all supplied by Caterham. Instructors use intercoms so they can be heard.
At the end of the day the instructors take their drivers out for hot laps as a final adrenalin hit.
Details can be found on the caterham web site. Run at various circuits around the Uk so you should be able to choose one to suit.
You drive the same car and have the same instructor all day, and the instructor will build pace with the dsriver as they learn the car and track.
Eventaully in the afternoon the driver should be going quick and really having fun.
Food/drink all supplied by Caterham. Instructors use intercoms so they can be heard.
At the end of the day the instructors take their drivers out for hot laps as a final adrenalin hit.
Details can be found on the caterham web site. Run at various circuits around the Uk so you should be able to choose one to suit.
Based on where you live, I would recommend an experience at the Thruxton Motorsport Centre. A choice of cars, easy going safe instruction, option to do more stuff when she gets there and decides she wants another go etc.
Alternatively Silverstone offer some great experiences in cars like a Lotus Exige but very rarely are there any carry on the options after your experience finishes.
Costs about £120 upwards.
I would stay away from the Caterham experiences on this first occassion all things considered.
Alternatively Silverstone offer some great experiences in cars like a Lotus Exige but very rarely are there any carry on the options after your experience finishes.
Costs about £120 upwards.
I would stay away from the Caterham experiences on this first occassion all things considered.
Thanks for the tips. A chap at work also recommended the Thruxton day, so I'll probably go with that one.
Plus, there's an added incentive: I've been toying with the idea of getting an Exige for a while and if I can get my other half hooked, she's much more likely to be forgiving if I spend all my pocket money on one...
Plus, there's an added incentive: I've been toying with the idea of getting an Exige for a while and if I can get my other half hooked, she's much more likely to be forgiving if I spend all my pocket money on one...
My Girlfriend had her first Track Day experience at Anglesey with Book A Track (BaT) October before last. She was with a group of us who had done numerous days before so she never went out on her own. She also passengered with other drivers and by the end of the day she was as quick as most of us.
Last October (a year to her first TD) and numerous track days in between, we did Mallory with BaT again. It was her Birthday, so I got her a couple of sessions in a Caterham with Instruction as a last minute surprise. She loved it!
We have both done track days with a number of operators now, but still both feel most comfortable with BaT
Last October (a year to her first TD) and numerous track days in between, we did Mallory with BaT again. It was her Birthday, so I got her a couple of sessions in a Caterham with Instruction as a last minute surprise. She loved it!
We have both done track days with a number of operators now, but still both feel most comfortable with BaT
I recommend GoldTrack - I did a similar thing last year. Well worth the extra money for the TLC they gave my Partner. Especially when compared to other operators we've used.
[url]www.goldtrack.co.uk/[/url]
K1 CERB
[url]www.goldtrack.co.uk/[/url]
K1 CERB
Both my wife and I have done the instructed course at Snetterton through Palmer. Mapquest shows that to be just shy of 3hrs from you. Dedicated car and instructor. You drive a Vauxhall VX220 during the morning, and your own car in the afternoon. You can also rent out their Vauxhall for the remainder of the day, if your personal car isn't up to it. We were both very happy with the setup. I did it a few months before she did, and I was impressed with the improvements they had made to the instruction.
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