Xperiences Guide to Track and Driving Experience Days, Part #1

By admin, on 09-04-2009 18:18

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Published in : adrenaline sports articles, track days

Welcome to part #1 of the Xperiences guide to driving and track day experience gifts for adrenaline junkies and thrill seekers. We aim to give you a brief glimpse of the best that is available on the market today, whether it's supercar driving experiences, single seater racing, rally driving, famous track days, monster truck or tank driving experiences. If it's on two or four wheels we aim to give you the lowdown on it.

Supercar Driving. Speed freaks can enjoy a wide selection of turbo-charged experiences from many varied suppliers. The range of choices available include thrilling laps in a Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Maserati or Audi R8, racing in superb 1300cc saloon stock cars, scrambling over fields and splashing through puddles on a quad biking adventure (either with a friend, driving for half an hour each, or just for one with a full hour on the bike), enjoying furiously competitive fun with outdoor endurance karting - and many more! These thoughtful gifts offer the ideal experience for all budding car lovers and adrenaline junkies.

Track Days. Aston Martin represents pure power and finesse. Racing School venues around the country offer you a variety of performance cars; beautifully crafted modern classics with performance to stir the soul. It looks and sounds fantastic, with V8 power that demands long straights and high-speed corners. Or maybe you prefer to go to Leicestershire or Warwickshire and try the DB9; an uncompromising 6 litre, 186mph speed machine, with V12 power and handling to satisfy any driving enthusiast. These cars have it all - pace, incredible handling and stunning design.

Stock Car Racing. Compete in authentic 2000cc single-seater Formula 2 stockcars. Exciting to drive and uniquely designed, with a full safety cage and a gear stick positioned between your legs. After a briefing on safety and driving techniques, warm up with as number of practice laps, then it's competition time, normally driving in two race heats of the Stockcar Championship, eight laps per heat.. The excitement builds as drivers' battle it out for a place in the championship finals, with trophies for the winners. The atmosphere is great with live PA commentary, race marshals and fans cheering you on. Lunch and refreshments are often included.

Quad Biking. Lets you take off for a taste of what quad biking is really about, venturing across woodland tracks, through water and up and down slopes, with your instructors keeping a close eye on you all the way. You will get mud spattered, but can hand in those overalls at the end. The bikes are usually Honda 250ESs - a utility machine with five forward gears operated by electric thumb shift - or Sportrax 90s - smaller, sports-tuned quads.

Off Road Driving. With a spirit of adventure at the core of its character, the great outdoors has always been the territory of the the 4x4. These iconic off-roaders weren't built to sit nose-to-tail in rush-hour traffic - you need to get them off the tarmac to find out what they're really capable of. You'll start with a thorough safety briefing (and tea and coffee is provided at most venues too) before your instructor shows you around your vehicle, explaining the impressive capabilities of these 4x4s. Then get behind the wheel yourself to conquer the muddy climbs, drops and hazards of an exhilarating off-road course, in stunning surroundings. Most venues have excellent facilities, including disabled access, catering, toilets, shelter and parking.

Monster Trucks. You could try a triathlon of massive vehicles. After your briefing, you'll start off at the wheel of a hi-view jeep to warm up, before taking a British-spec monster truck over some tough, purpose-built terrain. You'll also get to experience a deliberate sideways roll-over in a 4x4 buggy. Then it's the bit you've been waiting for - you'll need a stepladder to get into the cab of the full-spec, 66-inch terra-tyred American monster truck. When you're ready, you'll drive this amazing vehicle over the top of two saloon cars (they'll be well and truly wrecked).

Single Seater Racing. Driving an F1-style single-seater racing car is unlike anything else. You're strapped into the open cockpit with your legs stretched out into the nose of the car, the steering wheel in front of you and the gearstick between your legs. You're only a couple of inches off the ground and you'll know it; you can feel every bump and vibration and you'll have to fight not to over steer, as your super-responsive car reacts to every tiny adjustment you make. This is driving at its limits, as done by the pros; just you and the car.