| As children, we always dream of gaining more | | | | scare them! |
| freedom. As we grow up we progressively gain | | | | The only real restrictions on these experiences |
| more freedom through rites of passage such as | | | | are that you have a valid driving licence and that |
| leaving school and entering the big wide world, | | | | you are generally in good health. There are |
| turning 18 and enjoying full adult status and | | | | various firms that offer these experiences and |
| ultimately leaving home and getting our own place. | | | | they provide a vast choice of nationwide locations |
| But nothing seems to provide more freedom than | | | | that make it easy for you to turn up and drive to |
| passing your driving test and being granted access | | | | your heart's content. Some of these companies |
| to go wherever you want to go. At first it feels | | | | may have height and weight restrictions that will |
| an absolute privilege just to get in your car and | | | | vary according to the vehicle. |
| drive but eventually we take this for granted. One | | | | Almost all experience providers will allow for two |
| of the main problems is that we are often | | | | people to have the same experience together. So |
| endowed with a vehicle that is capable of far | | | | whether you want to share the experience with a |
| more than what we are allowed to do with it. As | | | | friend or if you just want to prove those skills |
| humans we are always progressing and trying to | | | | you have for so long boasted of to your wiser |
| push the bar that little bit higher but the rules of | | | | half, pair and group arrangements are easily made. |
| the road and the requirements of safety | | | | Other than supercar and sports car experiences, |
| constrain our passion for motoring. This isn't of | | | | there are a wide range of experience formats to |
| course a bad thing, the last thing we want or | | | | be enjoyed. If you don't want the instructor |
| need is for everyone to go crazy on the roads. | | | | sitting next to you, you can always opt to drive a |
| Driving experiences are the perfect way to fulfil | | | | single seater car. These are purpose built |
| that urge to put the pedal to the metal without | | | | lightweight cars with no purpose other than going |
| the day to day restrictions of the road. A driving | | | | as fast as possible. On this experience you will |
| experience essentially provides you with access | | | | jump straight into a lower Formula car such as a |
| to a high performance vehicle so that you can go | | | | Formula Renault or a Formula Silverstone which |
| wild and floor it around a purpose built race track. | | | | are essentially the baby siblings of a Formula 1 car. |
| The sort of cars available for such an experience | | | | A pace car will drive in front of you for a while to |
| could be anything from your every day hot | | | | show you where to position yourself on the track |
| hatchback through powerful and agile sports cars | | | | and how to take corners. Then they will move |
| or even monstrous supercars by legendary | | | | out of your way so you can unleash the fury of |
| manufacturers such as Ferrari, Lamborghini and | | | | the engine without restriction. |
| Aston Martin. | | | | For those who find the tarmac a little tame, there |
| For those with a racing urge, the very mention of | | | | is also the chance to get your hands on a rally car |
| these marques is sure to stimulate interest. There | | | | with over 200bhp to rip up the dirt. On this |
| really is nothing quite like turning up to a track | | | | experience you will be taught everything you |
| knowing that you are minutes away from getting | | | | need to know in order to maintain control in |
| behind the wheel of a Lamborghini with upwards | | | | difficult conditions. For those who perhaps find |
| of 500bhp and acceleration from 0 to 60mph in | | | | cars a bit boring why not try racing around in a |
| around 4 seconds. Or maybe you would prefer | | | | fire engine, a dumper truck, a JCB, a tank or |
| getting your hands on the iconic Aston Martin DB9 | | | | even on a sofa (yes really). Or if you really really |
| so you can drive around like James Bond for a | | | | don't like cars, why not try crushing them in a 7.5 |
| day in this British masterpiece, although don't | | | | litre monster truck. |
| worry, there won't be anyone chasing you or | | | | There are many different experiences available at |
| shooting at you! | | | | locations all over the country and in some cases, |
| Upon arrival at one of these experience days you | | | | children and families can even be accommodated. |
| will first be given a short talk as to not only how | | | | Go karts and quad bikes provide all the thrills of |
| to control such a machine around the track, but in | | | | the other experiences but they allow everyone to |
| the techniques to get the maximum performance | | | | be involved. In fact, if you have a child that would |
| out of it to ensure you derive as much pleasure | | | | prefer that you didn't cramp their style, some |
| from the session as possible. Many people believe | | | | companies offer the chance for them to drive a |
| that the instructor that rides with you will be | | | | real car alone. |
| constantly enforcing restrictions upon you to keep | | | | Driving experiences really are a fantastic way for |
| the ubiquitous health and safety inspector happy | | | | anyone to fulfil their need for speed. With a wide |
| and to ensure that the firm's lovely car doesn't | | | | range of vehicles and formats available there is |
| get ruined but this is far from the truth. Whilst | | | | sure to be an experience to suit everybody. A |
| they certainly do not want anyone to get injured, | | | | huge choice of nationwide locations by a wide |
| they are most likely going to be suggesting ways | | | | range of companies ensures that driving |
| in which to push the car harder and faster, for | | | | experiences are accessible. Since the experience |
| example minimising your braking zone or how to | | | | providers ensure that participants have the |
| better hug the apex of the corner. Remember, | | | | appropriate tuition by trained professionals, this is |
| these instructors are professionals and are most | | | | almost certainly the lowest risk approach to |
| likely racers themselves, so you are unlikely to | | | | putting the pedal on the metal. |