I find myself quite often asked, by people buying presents for relatives, which supercar experience day I’d recommend.
Tough one, this. The short answer is “I don’t know”, but the longer answer is a slightly uncomfortable “I’m not sure I’d recommend any”.
It’s tough, because people want to drive supercars. Why wouldn’t they? Despite our talk of them being too fast, heavy, irrelevant and inaccessible to provide the same level of fun for most of us as a Toyota GT86, the truth is that we drove a 730bhp, 1700kg car last week and it was utterly brilliant. Why wouldn’t you want a piece of that?
But these cars being so powerful and expensive is both the appeal and a problem for event organisers. They’re costly to run and insure and, particularly, to fix or replace.
So for the sort of money that buys a good present, the cars have to be carefully managed. Laps are limited, as are engine revs in many cases, and there’ll be an instructor having a kitten in the passenger seat at any overly liberal application of throttle. (That’s no surprise; don’t know about you, but I’m not the world’s greatest passenger at the best of times. Being one alongside a complete stranger who is himself a total stranger to a mid-engined, rear-drive, 500bhp sports car can be no good for your system.)
I’ve spoken with friends and relatives after they’ve done these days and the verdict is usually the same: they’re pleased they’ve driven an Aston, Porsche, Lamborghini, whatever, but they come away slightly unfulfilled.
“It’s frustrating, but I was just starting to get into it,” said my neighbour, mistily eyed, after a go in an Aston recently. “It’s so different from everything else I’ve driven that it takes those few laps just to start getting used to it. Then it’s finished.”
It’s nobody’s fault. You can’t fly to the moon for £20, and you can’t make money letting people thrash supercars until their thirst is quenched for £100.
The alternative? There are places where you can get your fill, of course, with a bona fide racing driver egging you on in a track-prepped car, but at a gulpworthy cost. When it comes to getting pure driving pleasure, rather than an ‘experience’, the answer is to remove the expensive hardware.
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Public flogging
I stand by my belief that anyone who uses the ''C'' word before 12th December should be flogged in public with unripened holly branches (the holly would help keep the yuletide spirit going)
Ideal car-related Christmas present?
It was going to be a Lamborghini Veneno roadster but it won't fit under the tree.
Palmersport is the Daddy
Palmersport's day at Bedford Aerodrome is extremely expensive, but as a result overcomes all the shortcomings you discuss. Their fleet of cars is perfectly maintained, and operate on custom-built circuits on an amazing complex.
Their Instructors egg you on, and will tell you aggressively if you are not attacking the circuit with sufficient gusto. At £800ish, its a lot of money, but everything is included. Breakfast, lunch and tea, prizegiving and even DVDs with your own on-board video in their unique Formula Jaguar single seaters and the incredible supercharged Ariel Atoms.
I did this day for the second time the week before last, and it was mind-blowing. Caterham 7 Superlites, Ariel Atoms, LMP style 2-seates, BMW M3 GTPs, single seaters with genuine downforce and slick tyres and on off-road challenge in Defenders.
Each car is fitted with telemetry and timing equipment, with prizes given at the end of the day for fastest laps. We went with 21 people as a private group, and without exception, every driver of every level came away a more accomplished driver, and with a massive smile on their face.
It is without doubt the best one out there, and whilst expensive, great value for money. Please note, I do not work for them, I just can't get across what a fantastic day it is. Can't wait to return in 2014.
Track days or Rally car instruction
A fair few years ago, my Price Waterhouse colleagues booked a day of Rally Driving instruction in Northamptonshire (not far from Silverstone).
This is my choice of a great motoring gift.
Great adrenalin rush as the instructor challenges your driving (Helmet communications)
Great competition between your mates to determine who can achieve the fastest lap time.
Mud / Water and slippery tarmac provide a great mix of handling challenges.
I would happily sign up again & again.