Supercar experience recommendations please
Discussion
Depends on your budget.
Supercar experiences can be VERY short - as little as three laps of a circuit, and I’ve read that some of the cars are deliberately pegged back to avoid abuse.
If you’re up for spending a chunk more, I would strongly recommend a day at Palmersport - despite the cost, it’s far better value for money
Supercar experiences can be VERY short - as little as three laps of a circuit, and I’ve read that some of the cars are deliberately pegged back to avoid abuse.
If you’re up for spending a chunk more, I would strongly recommend a day at Palmersport - despite the cost, it’s far better value for money
I've done a fair few driving experiences, including 911 Turbos and Mclarens but the most enjoyable and engaging by far was with Palmersport at Bedford Autodrome. I didn't do the full day, I just did the BMW M4 driving experience which was 2 x 15 minute instructor guided track sessions in the latest generation M4. The M4's are fully track prepared cars (fully stripped out, roll cages, suspension changes etc).
They genuinley push you to your limits and give great coaching.
I've often found that many of the driving experiences are quite watered down and restrictive (understandably). But Palmersports was quite the opposite. Its more expensive than your typical supercar experience day, but if the budget stretches that far, I'd definetly reccomend it.
Otherwise, I drove a Mclaren on the Brands Hatch indy circuit, that was fairly affordable and great fun - just felt like it was over very quickly!
They genuinley push you to your limits and give great coaching.
I've often found that many of the driving experiences are quite watered down and restrictive (understandably). But Palmersports was quite the opposite. Its more expensive than your typical supercar experience day, but if the budget stretches that far, I'd definetly reccomend it.
Otherwise, I drove a Mclaren on the Brands Hatch indy circuit, that was fairly affordable and great fun - just felt like it was over very quickly!
Yeah, you can drive a Ferrari for £99, but you cant actually drive a Ferrari for £99.
Its an expensive business, venue, instructor, fuel, car, maintenance etc etc so you are getting a very short experience.
I bought the wife one, she never used it so on the last day I booked it for myself, its all very well driving a quick car on a circuit but if its full of non enthusiasts driving a crap Batmobile replica or doing 23 mph in an Aston Martin you just get to sit in traffic.
So, really I would say a proper one where you get some decent seat time would be £500 and up.
All the logistics of getting there, having a day off for two laps of Three Sisters in three cars just wasnt worth it, The "Hellcat" had been neutered, swear the supercharger was missing a belt or it was a much lower powered model dressed up to look like a Hellcat. I can see why as letting the public loose in 700 plus bhp muscle cars on a busy track sounds like a recipe for stress and destruction
Best bit was paying for some laps in a Ariel Atom driven by a young lady who knew what she was doing and wasnt subject to the no overtaking rule.
So, do it properly, avoid the £99 stocking fillers.
Its an expensive business, venue, instructor, fuel, car, maintenance etc etc so you are getting a very short experience.
I bought the wife one, she never used it so on the last day I booked it for myself, its all very well driving a quick car on a circuit but if its full of non enthusiasts driving a crap Batmobile replica or doing 23 mph in an Aston Martin you just get to sit in traffic.
So, really I would say a proper one where you get some decent seat time would be £500 and up.
All the logistics of getting there, having a day off for two laps of Three Sisters in three cars just wasnt worth it, The "Hellcat" had been neutered, swear the supercharger was missing a belt or it was a much lower powered model dressed up to look like a Hellcat. I can see why as letting the public loose in 700 plus bhp muscle cars on a busy track sounds like a recipe for stress and destruction
Best bit was paying for some laps in a Ariel Atom driven by a young lady who knew what she was doing and wasnt subject to the no overtaking rule.
So, do it properly, avoid the £99 stocking fillers.
iI've done two of the supercar experience you get through red letter days/virgin experiences etc. Both were given as gifts and both were in short a load of crap!
The first was at old airfield in leicestershire with a cirecuit laid out with cones. It was driving a Ferrari 355 with the dash lit up like a christmas tree! Wasnt allowed over 4k revs, wasnt allowed to overtake and wasnt allowed to even do a decent launch off the line.
Second was at another airfield just outside stafford, this time it was an aston V8 vantage. Slightly better condition car but still the same limitations and in reality you'd struggle to get above above 70mph.
The best experience i've done was a classic car one, it was from a firm in droitwich which i cant seem to find any more. They gave you the keys for about an hour with a specific route to follow through some country lanes which were enough to give it a good go and as you were on your own you werent limited in how you can drive it.
First car was a 911 40 jahre special edition, it was ok but not amazing although i was able to properly launch it! Second was an MGB V8 Roadster an despite being well down on power to the porsche was much more fun.
I'd look out for alternativ to the red letter days type as theyre just not a good experience.
The first was at old airfield in leicestershire with a cirecuit laid out with cones. It was driving a Ferrari 355 with the dash lit up like a christmas tree! Wasnt allowed over 4k revs, wasnt allowed to overtake and wasnt allowed to even do a decent launch off the line.
Second was at another airfield just outside stafford, this time it was an aston V8 vantage. Slightly better condition car but still the same limitations and in reality you'd struggle to get above above 70mph.
The best experience i've done was a classic car one, it was from a firm in droitwich which i cant seem to find any more. They gave you the keys for about an hour with a specific route to follow through some country lanes which were enough to give it a good go and as you were on your own you werent limited in how you can drive it.
First car was a 911 40 jahre special edition, it was ok but not amazing although i was able to properly launch it! Second was an MGB V8 Roadster an despite being well down on power to the porsche was much more fun.
I'd look out for alternativ to the red letter days type as theyre just not a good experience.
It depends what your son wants. Does he just want to drive a Ferarri and say he's done it? (nothing wrong with that by the way)
If so, one of the cheap airfield experiences will tick that box. Yes they're over quickly and you don't really get to learn the car, but you can make a morning of it as you get to enjoy watching the other cars go round before/after your go. I got one as a leaving present from my last job and enjoyed it.
If your son is a proper petrolhead and wants to drive a car properly and learn something from the day, and the prestige of the car/brand is less important, I can highly recommend Porsche Experience Centre. Will cost a bit more, but worth it!
If so, one of the cheap airfield experiences will tick that box. Yes they're over quickly and you don't really get to learn the car, but you can make a morning of it as you get to enjoy watching the other cars go round before/after your go. I got one as a leaving present from my last job and enjoyed it.
If your son is a proper petrolhead and wants to drive a car properly and learn something from the day, and the prestige of the car/brand is less important, I can highly recommend Porsche Experience Centre. Will cost a bit more, but worth it!
I won one in a work competition for an Aston Martin DB9 at Silverstone.
Utter s
te. Four laps with me driving if I remember rightly and the track was so busy I couldn't even get a decent line through a corner.
As already been mentioned, moving down slightly might be a plan. Thruxton have a fleet of Alpines that would probably be fun.
Utter s
te. Four laps with me driving if I remember rightly and the track was so busy I couldn't even get a decent line through a corner. As already been mentioned, moving down slightly might be a plan. Thruxton have a fleet of Alpines that would probably be fun.
All very dependent on budget.
My only experience as a punter is with Car Chase Heroes at their Abingdon Airfield site. I did six laps in a Lamborghini Huracan.
On the positive side, it was an absolutely epic experience, they let me properly put my foot down (I have considerable motorbike track day experience, am comfortable with braking points, turn in markers, racing line etc) and didn't cost a huge amount of money - it was a surprise treat from my wife.
They run a slick operation and film it from two cameras in the car, giving you the footage on an SD card. The in-car instructor was happy with my driving after one lap so let me give it the beans. I didn't rev it to the max due to the relatively compact nature of the circuit but in all honesty the acceleration for an average Joe was so quick I would have reached my limits well before the car got into trouble.
On the negative side, it was all over very quickly, and I had an end of day slot, so had to do a fair bit of waiting until I got in the car.
Would I do it again? Absolutely, yes, but I would have spent more and gone for a 'book 5 supercars' voucher, and experienced a range of them. Plenty of offers on their website.
https://www.carchaseheroes.com/special-offers
My brother did this at Dunsfold with these people and really enjoyed it, with the added bonus of "having done the Top Gear track"
https://www.trackdays.co.uk/driving-experience/dun...
Both of us are early 50s, lifelong lovers of Lamborghinis. Lottery wins apart, this was likely our only option to drive one in anger. We were both able to with these operators and felt that they let us enjoy the cars. There was no mention of rev limits or maximum speeds, but I am sure the instructor would have dealt with it appropriately had we acted like idiots. I didn't feel restrained in using the car's performance, moreover I got the sensation of what it's like to be fired out of a cannon, it was great!
My only experience as a punter is with Car Chase Heroes at their Abingdon Airfield site. I did six laps in a Lamborghini Huracan.
On the positive side, it was an absolutely epic experience, they let me properly put my foot down (I have considerable motorbike track day experience, am comfortable with braking points, turn in markers, racing line etc) and didn't cost a huge amount of money - it was a surprise treat from my wife.
They run a slick operation and film it from two cameras in the car, giving you the footage on an SD card. The in-car instructor was happy with my driving after one lap so let me give it the beans. I didn't rev it to the max due to the relatively compact nature of the circuit but in all honesty the acceleration for an average Joe was so quick I would have reached my limits well before the car got into trouble.
On the negative side, it was all over very quickly, and I had an end of day slot, so had to do a fair bit of waiting until I got in the car.
Would I do it again? Absolutely, yes, but I would have spent more and gone for a 'book 5 supercars' voucher, and experienced a range of them. Plenty of offers on their website.
https://www.carchaseheroes.com/special-offers
My brother did this at Dunsfold with these people and really enjoyed it, with the added bonus of "having done the Top Gear track"
https://www.trackdays.co.uk/driving-experience/dun...
Both of us are early 50s, lifelong lovers of Lamborghinis. Lottery wins apart, this was likely our only option to drive one in anger. We were both able to with these operators and felt that they let us enjoy the cars. There was no mention of rev limits or maximum speeds, but I am sure the instructor would have dealt with it appropriately had we acted like idiots. I didn't feel restrained in using the car's performance, moreover I got the sensation of what it's like to be fired out of a cannon, it was great!
Edited by Shooter McGavin on Monday 21st October 12:43
I've had a couple of vouchers with "Scotland supercar experience" which is based at Ingliston in Edinburgh.
Both times I've used the voucher at Knockhill and it's been fantastic.
For the money i thought it was well worth it.
Do what your told in the first drive, and the next instructors will let you off the leash a fair bit.
Both times I've used the voucher at Knockhill and it's been fantastic.
For the money i thought it was well worth it.
Do what your told in the first drive, and the next instructors will let you off the leash a fair bit.
If he's already a driver, I'd join the cries of Palmersport or a similar handling day - Drive limits @ North weald can be done in nearly any car and is a hoot.
A track day may be an option - Again, it's not the car that makes the day fun; And if you're lucky and friendly, you may be able to passenger with someone.
A track day may be an option - Again, it's not the car that makes the day fun; And if you're lucky and friendly, you may be able to passenger with someone.
I did one in the US years ago. I was booked in to drive a 430 but was told there was no chance of me fitting with a helmet. They gave me the Gallardo and told me to discretely take the helmet off as I got in.
When I closed the door, a guy with a thick Russian accent said “it’s my day off and they dragged me in. Do what ever you want to the car. Try and blow it up. But, if you try to steal it, I have a gun and will shoot you”.
It was only me and the Ferrari on track but the Ferrari was being driven so slowly l would sit until it was right behind me and then drive until I caught it up and repeat.
I’ve also done NASCAR in a car and a truck. That was an experience! I’d highly recommend it over a super car. We didn’t as part of a stag weekend of fishing, driving and casinos. We had the track to ourselves and raced the st out of them. “NUMBER 9, SLOW DOWN” “NUMBER 9 MOVE AWAY FROM THE WALL” over the intercom.
I had the advantage of having done it before.
When I closed the door, a guy with a thick Russian accent said “it’s my day off and they dragged me in. Do what ever you want to the car. Try and blow it up. But, if you try to steal it, I have a gun and will shoot you”.
It was only me and the Ferrari on track but the Ferrari was being driven so slowly l would sit until it was right behind me and then drive until I caught it up and repeat.
I’ve also done NASCAR in a car and a truck. That was an experience! I’d highly recommend it over a super car. We didn’t as part of a stag weekend of fishing, driving and casinos. We had the track to ourselves and raced the s
t out of them. “NUMBER 9, SLOW DOWN” “NUMBER 9 MOVE AWAY FROM THE WALL” over the intercom. I had the advantage of having done it before.
Terzo123 said:
I've had a couple of vouchers with "Scotland supercar experience" which is based at Ingliston in Edinburgh.
Both times I've used the voucher at Knockhill and it's been fantastic.
For the money i thought it was well worth it.
Do what your told in the first drive, and the next instructors will let you off the leash a fair bit.
Dyslexia got me there - I was thinking Islington is in London not Edinburgh......Both times I've used the voucher at Knockhill and it's been fantastic.
For the money i thought it was well worth it.
Do what your told in the first drive, and the next instructors will let you off the leash a fair bit.
Friends bought me a "supercar experience" at Silverstone, in the McLaren 620R.
I got a passenger 'sighting' ride in an M2, then two sessions in the McLaren. It was a fun session, the instructor was great and really encouraged me to go as fast as possible. It was a fantastic car to drive and I now want a McLaren!
I got a passenger 'sighting' ride in an M2, then two sessions in the McLaren. It was a fun session, the instructor was great and really encouraged me to go as fast as possible. It was a fantastic car to drive and I now want a McLaren!
I have done a couple of supercar experience days and it’s good getting to experience different. Think I did a GTR, Aston Martin, Lamborghini Gallardo in the same day but was only a lap each.
The most fun but again very short lived experience was the passenger ride in an Ariel Atom. Was like being on a rollercoaster
The most fun but again very short lived experience was the passenger ride in an Ariel Atom. Was like being on a rollercoaster
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