Petrolheads - Silverstone driving experience thing

[Pubey]

Got a voucher for my birthday to go to Silverstone and drive a fast car.

Choice is between an Aston Martin Vantage, a Ferrari 360 Modena, A Lotus Exige S or a single seater.

Leaning towards a single-seater, but think you get less time actually on the track. Anyone done one and got any suggestions/recommendations?

 

[steveo]

Time on track will be obviously limited. You are at an immediate disadvantage if its a left hand drive manual car as your natural muscle memory will confuse 1 and 2 with 3 and 4 etc. The single seater sill be right hand shift as well. Having said that, depending on how the course is set up you hopefully wont be doing too many gear changes.

In my experience its best to hammer it hard straight away. I would go for the Aston or if you get more laps, try the Lotus. Immense fun and ridiculously low to the ground.

 

[Pubey]

Nice one cheers steveo

 

[davewebbsbrain]

friend of mine drove a Modena and Exige at Silverstone. The Exige was much more fun apparently

 

[Pubey]

friend of mine drove a Modena and Exige at Silverstone. The Exige was much more fun apparently

Seeing as you get 5 laps with the Lotus and only 3 with the Vantage or Modena, I think I'm going to do the Lotus.

 

[OldBlueLady]

Bought one of these for my daughter for Brands Hatch, where she's already ear-marked the Aston!

 

[steveo]

I remember picking my car up from a service at a place that was a joint Lotus dealer. Thought I would hop in an Elise while I was waiting. Took me about 5 minutes to get in it and longer to get out, but I did have a big coat on.

 

[ooh-andy-ansah]

Go for the Lotus, perfect for track driving, don't be tempted by the Aston, they will make sure you drive that like miss Daisy in order to not go sideways :winking:

 

[ooh-andy-ansah]

I remember picking my car up from a service at a place that was a joint Lotus dealer. Thought I would hop in an Elise while I was waiting. Took me about 5 minutes to get in it and longer to get out, but I did have a big coat on.

Aha there is a knack to getting out, door wide open, right hand firmly on the windscreen surround as far up as you can go and lever yourself out, on exiting the car do not show any signs of relief in case a young person is observing you :smile:

 

[maninasuitcase]

Time on track will be obviously limited. You are at an immediate disadvantage if its a left hand drive manual car as your natural muscle memory will confuse 1 and 2 with 3 and 4 etc. The single seater sill be right hand shift as well. Having said that, depending on how the course is set up you hopefully wont be doing too many gear changes.

In my experience its best to hammer it hard straight away. I would go for the Aston or if you get more laps, try the Lotus. Immense fun and ridiculously low to the ground.

Did this a couple of times at Brands Hatch. You get some practice laps with an instructor before they let you loose in a single seater. Steveo is right, being so close to the ground, it does seem very fast even though it had a rev limiter fitted. The ones I drove had left hand gear shift with a four speed box and it was easy to get used to.

 

[Napster]

Pfft I'd got for the Ferrari every single time.

 

[Pubey]

Pfft I'd got for the Ferrari every single time.

 

[shrimpled]

I am fortunate enough to own a V8 Vantage and they are absolutely tremendous cars, albeit more suited to the road than the track.. Have also owned a couple of kit cars previously for track days specifically and they are aboslutely bonkers fun. The Lotus would be very simillar in driving terms I'd imagine. Have never driven a 360 so can't comment on that.

If it's the thrill of a racing experience you want go for the Excige but happy to answer any questions you might have on the Vantage.

 

[Crawliano]

I did Brands in a single seater. You go out first in a souped up BMW or similar first for a few laps, then get about 5 laps in the single seater. Trust me, you don't need more. I was aching after!