SUPERCAR EXPERIENCE DAYS ARE A SCAM

With Christmas coming up, you - or your family members - might be considering getting a supercar experience day. I’ve done a whole load of them at tracks across the country and I think there are some things that you should know. While I do apologise for the sensationalist title - YouTube is a fickle beast - and while I’m sure many have enjoyed their supercar “blasts”, it’s not quite what it seems.

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[tribaldesigns]

I'm pleased you mentioned how good Thruxton was. Had the ultimate supercar experience there 6 years ago and the cars and drivers were incredible.

[andyjohns]

I did my first track day recently and bumming about on YouTube came across this vid whilst randomly looking at track day stuff. To be honest (and I don’t write this loads) this video is probably one of the very best YouTube vids I’ve seen. The content spot on and 100% in accordance with my track day experience… which was very good but marred by upselling, poor quality photos and in car film footage together with over zealous instructors (and yep, I was told if I spun any car the day would be over too)… believe this ‘vid, it’s spot on…

[Kalliopi-wsyt]

I was so excited to go to the super car experience for my birthday until i saw this. Thanks so much

[AdamBuckley]

Did an Elise experience on the short circuit at Silverstone - it was fun but they limited the revs enormously and the instructor kept making you brake so early it was pointless being in an Elise. Go Karting is more fun and better value, but probably less of a 'Instagram' opportunity for most people.

[Mark__A]

The everyman racing experience is crap for any car person. On the top of what you mentioned: queue to access anything, even if you booked with a time slot. Everything is overbooked. Instructor feels like just want to get you done asap, and next, then next again... The F430 I drove was like a mickey mouse car. Not even close to be able to pass an mot. Tires was chinese old cracked worn crap. Huge letdown. 458 was better but there was not too much experience...

The porsche experience day at Silvertone was amazing. Multiple tracks, skid pad, very good instructors, and almost 5 hrs driving. You got plenty of time to understand the car, the limits, the tracks... amazing.

However still the Nürburgring was the best for me this year. Got taxi lap, rented car lap, own car laps, instructor for my friends and miss who was again amazing...

Next year April we carry on at the Nürburgring again for sure. Let's go Andy, get your things together. 😁

[olliesgarage]

I did an experience a few days ago with car chase hero's, driving x2 cars (for a total of 2 laps in each!) which was a gift. As you say in your video, scare you into buying the insurance waiver, apparently you would still have to pay if someone else drove into you! My experience was at a local airfield in the middle of nowhere and they charged everyone an additional £2 for car parking!! Personally I think its a joke! I have also done the F4 master at Brands Hatch, which was amazing and I would highly recommend it!

[IanRothwell-xjbh]

Great video and I wish I'd seen it before I went on one myself. However, you missed one vital point. They also keep the car in standard road mode and don't allow you to use sport or any performance setting. In my case, I drove a 770BHP Aventador. A gorgeous car with an amazing sound track, but it didn't feel like 700HP+, more like 200. My 4.2litre Jag XF was sportier in standard mode with a mere 420BHP and way more exciting than the Lamborgini was in Sport or Dynamic mode. I know why they do this, it's a good way of making sure you don't spin accidentally. I've since come across a chap who just happens to be an instructor for the same one's I went with (Everyman Racing) and he said individual instructors may allow you to switch to sport mode if they feel you can handle it. However, he told me that certainly wouldn't be allowed with any cars 600HP+.

[HuMaNiTaRiAn]

I had the same experience at one of mine, they went on and on about the insurance waiver, telling us fear stories and scaremongering. then they asked if anyone in the room was "brave" enough potentially financially ruin themselves and go without it. me and my mates were the only one to put our hands up, the guy was looking at the other instructors, inhaling through his teeth and nodding his head towards me asking me if I thought i was "michael schumacher". fuck them, disingenuous, convinced two of the other guys in another group to skip it as well because he was cheeky af.

[gavinranson]

I let a friend of mine drive my mx5 on track and let him drive it to his limit, he said it was much more fun than doing the amg experience at mercedes world. Point is it dont matter what car you drive, what's fun is driving any car to its limit.

[tnrX]

I wouldn't waste my money, far better to do a trackday in your own car. Much more fun, as much track time as you want and with the added bonus that you're on your own and actually able to immerse yourself in the experience & most importantly enjoy it !

[jordanh]

Car Chase Heroes are the ones to go with. No random person should expect to be let loose in these supercars. No matter what driving experience you think you have, the instructors are there for the customers safety. Just cos you weren’t allowed to put your foot down on a corner because you most likely would spin and crash because from the instructors side of it. They are all mostly ex or current racing drivers and know how cars handle and don’t handle.

It’s an Experience it’s not a Trackday. Proof is in the pudding. Not all EXPERIENCES are the same.

[dominicnewton]

Go direct with silverstone. Unbelievable experience and worth the money, full beans down the hangar straight

[Itsameaidensmainaccount]

Damn I’m currently on my way to one and I just found this video, I hope it goes well

[panel]

My son and I have just been to one of these events at Aldershot. It was a little disorganised as there was no information displayed as to what to do or where to go. Yes they do push you to spend extra all the time. I'm wondering if they would blame you for some damage if you don't pay the insurance waiver. The cars were a bit tatty as people are getting in and out of them all day compared to a private owner that would use them a couple of times a week at most. The instructors were ok with us, quite polite. The track was a bit rough though which is the fault of the owners not company running the event to be fair. Not a bad day out TBH, better than we expecting after reading all the reviews. I don't know how much it cost as it was a gift. For most people it is the only way they will have a chance to drive cars of this ilk no matter what condition they are in. I would go again but to a different circuit ie Goodwod as it's only up the road for us.

[raxleigh]

I bought a new helmet from Merlin at Castle Combe a few years ago. They were doing an experience day at the time with an Ariel Atom for cheap so I thought it'd be perfect to test out the comfort and field of view of my new helmet. It started to rain as I was waiting, so they stopped doing the Atom. Fair enough, except they wouldn't refund me. Begrudgingly did a few laps in a GTR and decided to basically blank the instructor. Was nowhere near the limit as they had a chicane on pretty much every straight and it was wet, but the guy was screaming his head off at me to brake (when I already was) on the second half of every straight. Shit experience, helmet was great though

[ramit]

great video - looking for best experience for my son so will look at Thruxton and Silverstone as options.

[alexhgft]

I just did one today at Brands Hatch, it was sort of "fun" but the cars were mostly in bad shape, the instructors were really annoying putting their hands on the wheel and telling me all the time to short shift, all the time breaking on my behalf very early. I've spent £500 for the "premium" cars, got a ferrari from 2005 that looks worse than an old former rental fiesta bought at an auction.

The Ariel Atom was driven all the time on 4th gear, we could not change gears, it was prohibited. All cars being told off when not shifting early, 3 of the 6 cars I drove had VERY junky gearbox.

I feel I got ripped off. Never again.

[gouldyoldyhd]

Loved the video but for the instructor we get a lot of different types of drivers so its difficult to know youre driving levels instantly, now you should never be shouted at or told youre an idiot and i have started to not say instructions mid corner as ive realised i wont get my point across, but any damage from the car a level of responsibility is on the instructors hands if no feedback was given. Also getting into a car thats not youres where you have the level of responsibilty but sat in the passenger seat is difficult and especially if the driver does not listen to any feedback and outdrives themselves.

[raveena]

What about the silverstone experience?

[bbbf]

So Thruxton the only one? - any others that don't require a days travel from up Nortth?