Hi Everyone, just thought I'd let everyone know how it went on Saturday.
I think the smile didn't leave my face until Sunday evening
I haven't had so much fun in ages.
To be honest I was dead nervous as we got closer to the track as a few of my friends were coming to watch and I didn't want to disappoint.
Once I got there I signed in and was told to go get my overalls on. At this point the nerves changed to excitement. We were taken to a room to watch a DVD on some safety aspects of the track and also how to behave around the track e.g. Where you can overtake, the different types of flag that you may see etc.
After this we were taken down to the pits to do our familiarisation laps. The good thing was that your friends and guests were allowed to come down here with you so there were plenty of photo opportunities around the various different cars that were down there.
We were met by an instructor who then took us out in either a Subaru or BMW where she demonstrated the correct lines and gears to use for the type of driving we were doing. After a couple of laps, it was then our turn to have a go. The instructor gave very clear and constructive advice on how to adjust my own driving style and answered every query that I had.
By the time I had finished my laps in the Subaru, I then felt alot more confident for the highlight of the day....The single seater!!!
Again, you were briefed on how the car differs to anything you have driven before about what not to do etc.
Then I got my laps which I think got faster as each lap went by (according to my friends I did anyway as I was too busy concentrating on what the instructor told me) Even if I wasn't going that fast it definitely felt like I was as you had the noise, vibrations and bumps etc
and the instructor told us to only go as quick as you felt comfortable going and I was happy enough.
When the laps were over it was back into the pits again with the biggest grin on my face ever.
The weather when we did it was a bit showery which meant that a couple of times they had to close the track until it stopped raining and started drying out, so my advice would be that regardless of what time you are booked in, always make sure you've allowed a full day at the track as I was booked in for 12.30 and didn't get into the single seater until 4.00pm (Due to a bit of a queue for the camera car)
The camera car allows you to get a DVD afterwards of your drive so be prepared to wait a little longer.
If you are taking any guests I would recommend the passenger ride that you can do which involves going out in a car with a trained driver. I did it just to see how quick they go compared to how quick I was going...............(I can safely say I was slower than the Professional as he whizzed round corners overtaking everything in site. Again I was smiling all the way round the 3.5 laps we did.
All in all it was a fantastic day that I just keep telling everyone I see about it.
My most memorable part was when I was on my Out lap from the pits, as I accelerated round the long sweeping right hander, as I exited the corner I was met with a Mother duck and about 6 or 7 ducklings crossing the race track in front of me in no particular hurry to get across
................................I managed to avoid them all if anyone wanted to know what happened.
