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[moosey]

I have to say that the 1st show in the new series of Top Gear just just went out
was crackingggggggggggg.

Even tho the format is tired and past its best, the fear etched on Clarkson's face for most of
that as he drives faster than someone his age with his driving ineptitude should was priceless.

That Lambo was a pretty fine piece of automotive pornography in my humble opinion...and seeing as I have come to the conclusion in life that I won't ever be able to own a supercar lol
does anyone have any recommendations for track days and driving experiences.

Whats best? Circuits, Cars you name it, for someone that has never driven a high powered car but likes to think he will be able to ( prob most men summed up there ). I am thinking best day would be something that built you up through 2 or better still 3 cars from something like an M3 up to a single seater. Or maybe some crazy Nurinburging experience or something over a weekend. I dunno

Anyone done much of this stuff?

[tjm8]

This is a common topic of conversation where I work (one of the supercar brands) and whilst this isn't the brand we work for, the Lotus Elise is well recommended as it is a great track car and you get an amazing racing experience (light and handles great).

The standard recommendation though, is to just go for the car which has the 'wow' factor for you.

I've driven Outen Park and Donnington and both were great day outs. If there are any particular tracks you want to try out (or have in mind), let us know and I will ask a few of the guys at work who have raced all over the country to give you feedback.

[StGilmore]

This is the one with will.i.am, right? (will dot i dot am dot) I really enjoyed it - though I did object to the track part - 'an automatic????!!!!'

My sister has climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro this year. (among other mountains) And has run several marathons.

Me-I'd love to race round that Top Gear track. Closest I've come is racing to catch the last ferry to Tarbert. (I made it )

Someday I hope to ask you for tips Tony
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[moosey]

yes that's the one
i thought the bit on the circular test track was pretty damn scarey forward slash hairs on back of neck entertaining, think clarkson was moderately close to losing it in rather messy way lol.

Closest Tracks to me tj are Truxton and Brands so I think its between those two.

Looking at the track layouts, Truxton looks a great venue and is supposed to be fastest, which I guess is the point for me, well fast and fun. So would luv to know what you think about Thruxton.

Cars wise I just wanna go quick, but obv have no clue where my skill level will run out / hit the wall ( hopefully not literally ) and or i scare myself.

Might sound weird, but I don't think I want to drive a ferrari or Lambo or summat because I think I would be afraid of wrecking it and as a result i wouldn't give it the beans. I think I would just drive it at 80% and not properly race it.

I want something I can be taught to drive at its absolute ragged limit like you could in your own car and it would be nice to know how fast you were compared to other people in the same car. Just so you can say to yourself 'yeh I knew i could have been a racing driver' or confirm worst fears that you aren't that good ! So maybe spend a whole day in touring car or something I dunno. Then if you had a really great day and wanted more you could always do a single seater another year.

Elise could be really good.

[StGilmore]

I'd love to drive the best, fastest, most exciting car as long as I'm not liable for damages - and there's a cracking good emergency crew on site

My worry radar was well active during the episode - even during the city driving. I kept thinking- they have to be making it look like they're driving much faster than they really are (while looking at maps and GPS etc)
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"I find it's best to start the day with no composure and then you've got nothing to lose." B. Boatman

http://midlifepoker.blogspot.com/
http://outthescammers.blogspot.com/

[tjm8]

Moosey, I only managed to speak to one of the experienced racing guys so far and said Thruxton is a great fast track and he always enjoyed racing there. He hasn't done any racing days there (or at Brands), so he hasn't got any experience of the packages they offer, but he said the packages do vary greatly from track to track.

These are some of the tips he said to ask and look out for: -

How much of a free reign are you given to drive? Certain tracks don't have many run off areas so the instructors keep you in check more, whilst in his opinion the more famous / recognised tracks with greater safety are likely to be a little less strict (remember you will be driving one of their cars). He said Thruxton may suffer on this score.

He too said the Lotus Elise sounds like it could be ideal for you

Said you may want to consider one of the karting day options for capturing the thrill of a track and the racing experience, obviously they won't go anywhere near as fast, but because you are close to the ground and in a light kart, it will give you a great time and you can rag the arse of it as you please.

There is a couple of guys who I know have done lots of track days, but they are away on business at the moment, so it might be next week before I will speak to them.

Will post more when I hear.

[moosey]

Appreciate the info tj.
Deffo good suggestion regarding run off areas and freedom!

Thanks

[tjm8]

Some more tips from the guys at work...Their views are that you are better off on the more complex tracks, as you will get more out it when you have experience of hard braking, fast accelation out of bends, learning the driving lines.

Two guys also said you may want to look at the Rally options rather then the supercar, because they said they were the most fun for them.

I've not done the Rally day, so I think I will give that a shot later this year.

[RobGibraltar]

From memory Thruxton had huge grassy runoff areas around significant sections of the track.

Do a track day experience imo

Or start in a cheap car, probably FWD then move up something like an MX5. Once your driving skills exceed the capabilities of the car you can move up.
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[Doudeau]

It's going back 10+ years now, so don't know how relevant it is, but I went on a Ferrari (355 was the current car back then) driving experience day at Thruxton and the guy in the passenger seat happily encouraged us to go quicker each lap and rev higher before changing gears.

The way my day was arranged we had passenger laps, then a few laps in a MGF and a single seater Formula Ford (although mine overheated and I got a few bonus laps in a Formula Renault) before the Ferrari.

From my POV - after driving the single seater track cars the Ferrari seemed a very soft car - steering is less direct, suspension seemed soft, gear change less raw and acceleration and breaking less impressive. Going straight from the MGF into the Ferrari would have been fantastic - from Formula Renault to Ferrari felt a bit of a disappointment.

Saying that, I'd happily do it again though.