Hi All,

As many of you are petrol (or derv it seems now) heads, I though I'd
ask here.

Daughter is 18 in a couple of months and asked yesterday if there was
any way she could get a fast ride round a track on a bike or in a car
as her birthday thing.

I spoke to a biker mate earlier and he suggested 'pillions' weren't
allowed (at all?) on many tracks now so I was thinking that a lap or
two as a passenger in a car of some sort may be more likely?

Anyone actually done such a thing (in the UK and as near to London as
possible ... so Brands maybe?) and ideally not 'silly money' please?

The Red Letter Day things seem to be mainly driver experiences. There
is the odd one like 'Rally Driver Experience' (that sounds exciting)
where you can just be a passenger so that could be ok?

All the best ..

T i m

p.s. I'm asking rather than Googling because I'd like to know what the
real punter experience is likely to be rather than what the marketing
people want you to believe.

p.p.s.  She and I have watched the Super bikes at Brands, Touring Cars
at Silverstone, Dragsters at The Pod and been round the off road track
at Abbingdon. ;-)

T i m wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> As many of you are petrol (or derv it seems now) heads, I though I'd
> ask here.
>
> Daughter is 18 in a couple of months and asked yesterday if there was
> any way she could get a fast ride round a track on a bike or in a car
> as her birthday thing.
>
> I spoke to a biker mate earlier and he suggested 'pillions' weren't
> allowed (at all?) on many tracks now so I was thinking that a lap or
> two as a passenger in a car of some sort may be more likely?
>
> Anyone actually done such a thing (in the UK and as near to London as
> possible ... so Brands maybe?) and ideally not 'silly money' please?
>
> The Red Letter Day things seem to be mainly driver experiences. There
> is the odd one like 'Rally Driver Experience' (that sounds exciting)
> where you can just be a passenger so that could be ok?
>
> All the best ..
>
> T i m
>
> p.s. I'm asking rather than Googling because I'd like to know what the
> real punter experience is likely to be rather than what the marketing
> people want you to believe.
>
> p.p.s.  She and I have watched the Super bikes at Brands, Touring Cars
> at Silverstone, Dragsters at The Pod and been round the off road track
> at Abbingdon. ;-)

There are a couple of track instructors on Club GTI's forums who may be able 
to help out with a passenger ride in a track prepped MK1 or 2 Golf GTI 
(probably nudging on 160-170 brake and 8-900 kilos). TBH I think you'll need 
a track school / instructor to find someone with the relevant insurance.

I've also heard a great deal of the experience day type things from the 
firms who do everything (ie, drive a race car, or go in a hot air balloon, 
or go to a spa) can be a bit tight on actual time quick motors. OTOH I know 
a few off here have been to some things organised by Jonathan Palmer and 
rate them highly.

On Sun, 20 Jul 2008 22:44:26 +0100, "Doki"  wrote:


>There are a couple of track instructors on Club GTI's forums who may be able 
>to help out with a passenger ride in a track prepped MK1 or 2 Golf GTI 
>(probably nudging on 160-170 brake and 8-900 kilos). 

Ooo, that sounds like the thing Doki!

>TBH I think you'll need 
>a track school / instructor to find someone with the relevant insurance.

Understood. And if it was being done as a favour (with all the legal
stuff in place of course) rather than a job I'd still be more than
happy to buy all the ice creams or put towards the fuel / whatever!
;-)
>
>I've also heard a great deal of the experience day type things from the 
>firms who do everything (ie, drive a race car, or go in a hot air balloon, 
>or go to a spa) can be a bit tight on actual time quick motors. 

And events not existing etc. :-(

>OTOH I know 
>a few off here have been to some things organised by Jonathan Palmer and 
>rate them highly. 

Super, well if anyone has the ear of such a person I've got a couple
of months, *some* funds and we are pretty flexible time wise.

I would rather be the fly on the wall with someone willing to put
themselves out a bit for a budding petrol head (our daughter) than
funding the coffers of some big Co.

All the best and thanks for your feedback.

T i m

T i m wrote:
> Hi All,
> 
> As many of you are petrol (or derv it seems now) heads, I though I'd
> ask here.
> 
> Daughter is 18 in a couple of months and asked yesterday if there was
> any way she could get a fast ride round a track on a bike or in a car
> as her birthday thing.
> 
> I spoke to a biker mate earlier and he suggested 'pillions' weren't
> allowed (at all?) on many tracks now so I was thinking that a lap or
> two as a passenger in a car of some sort may be more likely?
> 
> Anyone actually done such a thing (in the UK and as near to London as
> possible ... so Brands maybe?) and ideally not 'silly money' please?
> 
> The Red Letter Day things seem to be mainly driver experiences. There
> is the odd one like 'Rally Driver Experience' (that sounds exciting)
> where you can just be a passenger so that could be ok?
> 
> All the best ..
> 
> T i m
> 
> p.s. I'm asking rather than Googling because I'd like to know what the
> real punter experience is likely to be rather than what the marketing
> people want you to believe.
> 
> p.p.s.  She and I have watched the Super bikes at Brands, Touring Cars
> at Silverstone, Dragsters at The Pod and been round the off road track
> at Abbingdon. ;-)

Would she be interested in out and out speed? How does 170mph sound?

http://www.racing-school.co.uk/driving/ovalcar.asp

-- 
Abo

On Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:50:04 +0100, Abo <no@spam.thanks> wrote:

>
>Would she be interested in out and out speed? How does 170mph sound?
>
>http://www.racing-school.co.uk/driving/ovalcar.asp

Woah, that is interesting Abo. ;-)

As long as it was actually in one of the real Stock Cars, not
something 'else'? :-(

I'll add it to the 'looking good' list, thanks.

All the best ..

T i m

T i m wrote:
> Hi All,
> 
> As many of you are petrol (or derv it seems now) heads, I though I'd
> ask here.
> 
> Daughter is 18 in a couple of months and asked yesterday if there was
> any way she could get a fast ride round a track on a bike or in a car
> as her birthday thing.
> 
> I spoke to a biker mate earlier and he suggested 'pillions' weren't
> allowed (at all?) on many tracks now so I was thinking that a lap or
> two as a passenger in a car of some sort may be more likely?
> 
> Anyone actually done such a thing (in the UK and as near to London as
> possible ... so Brands maybe?) and ideally not 'silly money' please?
> 
> The Red Letter Day things seem to be mainly driver experiences. There
> is the odd one like 'Rally Driver Experience' (that sounds exciting)
> where you can just be a passenger so that could be ok?
> 
> All the best ..
> 
> T i m
> 
> p.s. I'm asking rather than Googling because I'd like to know what the
> real punter experience is likely to be rather than what the marketing
> people want you to believe.
> 
> p.p.s.  She and I have watched the Super bikes at Brands, Touring Cars
> at Silverstone, Dragsters at The Pod and been round the off road track
> at Abbingdon. ;-)

http://www.thruxtonracing.co.uk/experiences/tesco_other_3carpassenger.html

6 laps (2.4 mile laps) in 3 cars - RX8, SLK 350 and then Ferrari 335.

£80, but using Tesco vouchers, it'll only cost £20 in vouchers.  I'm 
still to arrange my 4 car (inc single seater Formula Renault!), 16 lap 
drive (using £80 of vouchers) - so can't yet say how it marketing stuff 
relates to real life!  Saved up the Tesco vouchers for over a year of 
shopping + petrol etc - but £20 of them shouldn't take long (assuming 
you shop at Tesco!)

D