Track Day Experience - which would you choose? - Trilogy

I am very shortly going to a track day driving experience. I have the choice of a Ferrari F430, Lamborghini Gallardo, Porsche 911 Turbo, Audi R8, Aston Martin DB9 or a Maserati Gran Turismo. Which would you choose? Maybe you have already been to one of these events. I am erring to the Ferrari/Maserati/Porsche.

Track Day Experience - which would you choose? - Bobbin Threadbare

I have done one of these track days and I decided to go for the Audi R8 - it was a lot of fun. Do you get to drive anything else? I had a go in a Mitsubishi Evo and offroading in an old Land Rover too.

Track Day Experience - which would you choose? - oldtoffee

Similar experience a few years ago, Ferraro 360 and a Porsche GT3 Turbo as well as a Lotus Elise and Impreza 350 bhp rally car. Ferrari was impossible to drive with so little time. Porsche was immediately fantastic. Elise was best value but I'd buy the Porsche tomorrow given the money.

Track Day Experience - which would you choose? - Ed V

My son did a M-B one in an AMG last week. Said the best bit was getting his instructor - shortlisted for The Stig - to show him what he ought to have been doing!

Track Day Experience - which would you choose? - Trilogy

Bobbin, it was a Groupon offer. I'm going with a couple of friends and we have just gone for the one car option. Today, I spoke to a guy where I work, who has owned both a recent Aston and an F430. He felt the Ferrari would be more fun than the Aston.

Most likely to go F430/Aston. Maybe the R8 of it has a stick shift. :)

Edited by Trilogy on 17/10/2013 at 23:04

Track Day Experience - which would you choose? - Ethan Edwards

I was taken round a track once by a Professional Rally Driver in a proper Rally Car - a humble Seat Ibiza. Nothing on four wheels has ever come so close. Sideways at a vastly illegal speed...she could really drive.

A gentle lap in some plutocrats pretend racer isn't going to cut it for me. Now if you were borrowing a big Ducati perhaps...

Track Day Experience - which would you choose? - Bobbin Threadbare

I was driven around a track by a retired racing driver in a Lotus Elise. Absolutely great. He did suggest that I could achieve a similar experience in my MX-5 but I turned that down...!

Track Day Experience - which would you choose? - Sofa Spud

QUOTE:...""For a first time track day experience in a quick car it can be better to go for an automatic, then, as long as you are a left foot braker, having to declutch and change gear is one less thing to do when you are approaching a corner at over 100mph.""

Leaving aside the issue of whether it's ever wise to do left-foot braking, unless you only ever drive automatics........

.....The time saved by left-foot braking is likely to be more than cancelled out by the lack assistance from engine braking on an automatic !!!

Track Day Experience - which would you choose? - Trilogy

HonestJohn, I ended up going for a manual F430. The Groupon offer was for 3 laps. When we got there we were told it would be just two laps, as they were full laps. Well, ot was more like 1.75 laps. The first lap, to be shown the course. It was an airfield oval with the layout marked by cones. The only gear changing was to get from first to fourth, then just using third and fourth.

We were not thrilled. I am not going to name and shame. I will just say it was not a hilly part of the country. Avant/HJ, is that alright?

Track Day Experience - which would you choose? - barney100

Did one...Ferrari, Porsch, Lotus. Ferrari was the best experience, instructor reckoned the Porsch was the most dangerous as you didn't appreciate how fast you were going.

Track Day Experience - which would you choose? - retgwte

I did a track day in a rear wheel drive car. Big mistake. I quickly realised that all of my quick experience is in front wheel dive cars. I have totally lost any ability to throw a rear wheel car around, and it shows. A decent front or all wheel drive I would be able to go a lot faster and look a whole lot better.

Track Day Experience - which would you choose? - Trilogy

I did a track day in a rear wheel drive car. Big mistake. I quickly realised that all of my quick experience is in front wheel dive cars. I have totally lost any ability to throw a rear wheel car around, and it shows. A decent front or all wheel drive I would be able to go a lot faster and look a whole lot better.

I have fwd and rwd, so not a problem for me, even though rwd car is W124 estate. :)

BTW, Porsche was not available, nor was Atom. :(

Edited by Trilogy on 20/10/2013 at 22:00

Track Day Experience - which would you choose? - Trilogy

Timely. www.autocar.co.uk/blogs/anything-goes/whats-your-i...t

Track Day Experience - which would you choose? - mark999
I've done 2 driving experiences one at Elvington where the track was marked out with cones and one at Prestwold on a proper track. I enjoyed both but Prestwold was far better.
One tip avoid booking early, the closer you get to the date the prices come down,also get a package with as many cars as you can afford. You don't get long on the track and it takes a couple of goes to get some confidence.
Elvington was 6thgearexperience, Prestwold was Everyman Racing.
Mark

Edited by mark999 on 05/11/2013 at 19:52