OT: Where to get a ride in a track car please?

Question

Hi All,As many of you are petrol (or derv it seems now) heads, I though I'dask here.Daughter is 18 in a couple of months and asked yesterday if there wasany way she could get a fast ride round a track on a bike or in a caras her birthday thing.I spoke to a biker mate earlier and he suggested 'pillions' weren'tallowed (at all?) on many tracks now so I was thinking that a lap ortwo 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 aspossible ... so Brands maybe?) and ideally not 'silly money' please?The Red Letter Day things seem to be mainly driver experiences. Thereis 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 mp.s. I'm asking rather than Googling because I'd like to know what thereal punter experience is likely to be rather than what the marketingpeople want you to believe.p.p.s.  She and I have watched the Super bikes at Brands, Touring Carsat Silverstone, Dragsters at The Pod and been round the off road trackat Abbingdon. ;-)

Doki · Answer

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.

T i m · Answer

Ooo, that sounds like the thing Doki!Understood. And if it was being done as a favour (with all the legalstuff in place of course) rather than a job I'd still be more thanhappy to buy all the ice creams or put towards the fuel / whatever!;-)And events not existing etc. :-(Super, well if anyone has the ear of such a person I've got a coupleof months, *some* funds and we are pretty flexible time wise.I would rather be the fly on the wall with someone willing to putthemselves out a bit for a budding petrol head (our daughter) thanfunding the coffers of some big Co.All the best and thanks for your feedback.T i m

T i m · Answer

Woah, that is interesting Abo. ;-)As long as it was actually in one of the real Stock Cars, notsomething 'else'? :-(I'll add it to the 'looking good' list, thanks.All the best ..T i m

David Hearn · Answer

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

T i m · Answer

Ooo, another for the list thanks David.I guess it doesn't matter if it's only road cars if they are drivingthem hard enough. ;-)(sweet)Hmm, we don't (well, not regularly or anything big etc).It might have to be real money then ... :-(All the best ..T i m

OT: Where to get a ride in a track car please?

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