Driving Experience, Hints Or Tips

[gachjoel]

Hi All,
As a birthday present from my wife,i`m doing a driving Experience at Thruxon on 09/07.
I will have the pleasure of driving an
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
Porsche Cayman
Mazda 3(i think)
A single seater mazda.

Any one got any hints or tips to help me make the most of the day.
I worked out the obvious one,DON`T CRASH !!!!!!!!!

Thanks

Gary

[terence]

Just ease yourself into it,you will have an instructor with you ,listen to what he tell,s you.Just keep everything nice and smooth,dont brake too suddenly,likewise the throttle,be smmooth with the steering input,make the car FLOW,feel what it,s telling you and respond as required,MOST OF ALL ___ENJOY IT!!

[Steve Burns]

What a small world. I'm also doing the Aston Martin Experience at Thruxton on Monday, as a 30th birthday present.

I've never driven an Aston Martin before so really looking forward to it.

I'll try and be on best behaviour

[gachjoel]

OMG Steve,
I`m booked in for the 11-50 session.
I`ll look a tab obvious as i got a t-shirt with my name & BARC Marshal printed on it.
So if you see me give me a tap.

Terence,
thanks for you comments,
so basically i should do the opposite to the way i drive to post in my own car when i`m marshalling in the outback

[Andy Johns]

I work there, I'll be in the Debrief office where you come after you have finished driving. You will have a 20 minute briefing, then be driven round three laps by an instructor in the Mazda 3 MPS. After that you will drive the Porsche Cayman for four laps, then the Aston for four laps. That is followed by the best bit, five laps in the Formula Renault single seater (it's got Mazda stickers on it because they sponsor us). Listen to the instructors, they are all race licence holders and know their stuff. Don't assume, because you've driven the circuit before, that you'll know how to do it. There will be cones at the turn in, apex and exit points for each corner to guide you on the fastest line. When you get to the single seater garage, tell Stan you are a marshal, Trevor Jackson will probably be working in the garage as well. They should be able to swing you a couple of extra laps.

[The STIG]

Advice : DONT PANIC!

[Woolley]

Since this is not specifically marshalling, I'll oik it over to trackside.

[gachjoel]

Andy,
Cheers for that,
i know my lines are way off when i go in my own car,might have something to do with the caravan on the back,
plus my estate car aint got the grunt of what cars you have there.
But will mention that when going to the single seater(Many Thanks).
Plus i might wear my probans to keep me warm

Cheers Woolley
beer on me at next meet

Stig,
i dont do panic,
i drive a 7.5 t lorry for a living

[Andy Johns]

Don't wear your probans, you'll look a prat amongst all the other drivers (last year we had a visit from a Honda F1 supporters club who all wore drivers overalls - they looked a right load of lemons). If the weather is bad, you'll get waterproofs for driving the single seater. Come and say hello when you arrive, I'll be next door to the registration room.

[gachjoel]

Cheers for that Andy,
Will sure pop in for a natter,

Have fun this weekend all you lovely people

[gachjoel]

Wooooo
Hooooo

What a totally amazing day that was.
All the staff/instructors are so friendly and easy to talk to.
Luck was on my side today as the rain stayed away.
Shaun took me round for the 3 sighting laps,
Tom took me round in the caymen,what an amazing amount of power and stability that car has got.
Then Iisa took me round in the Aston Martin,WoW !!!!! what a car that was to drive,What a pleasure to have met her,and had some very nice comments from her,enjoyed our little `Racing World ` chat at the end,pity we didn`t have longer to natter.
Big Big Thank You to Stan,Trevor & Andy.
Thanks to the Marshals aswell,esp the Marshal in the outback on 12 or there abouts,
kept him well busy on the blue flag on my 1st 3 laps in the single seater.

If any marshal gets the chance to do a Driving Experience,do it.
It has opened my eyes a bit more to how the driver works & reacts,racing driver who have to deal with shed loads of other cars on track,where i didnt.
even more so with posts that i don`t recall seeing on my way round the circuit,now gives me a better insight when i`m on those posts in the future..

But to all the Thruxton Staff,10/10 on an excellent Day.

[Steve Burns]

Glad you enjoyed your day gachjoel.

I was on the 08.30 course so I must have been leaving when you were arriving. I too had Shaun (who I race against in Castle Combe FF1600) in the Mazda, then Rob Manger (who I also race against in Castle Combe FF1600 - theres a pattern forming here ) before my good friend Ilsa accommpanied me in the Aston. What a fabulous car.

The Formula Renault was a buzz aswell, it holds the line really well through the fast corners. Must get some wings for the Formula Ford....

Thanks to Pat Blakeney, Shaun, Rob, Ilsa, Stan and all at Thruxton for a great experience.

[gachjoel]

Coming out of village then thru the right hander at church which i managed to take that flat out.
The car held very well thru the corners,but its only down to the experts teaching me the right line that made that possible,
Plus having a bit of confidence within myself to do it.
But if i ever get the chance to do it again,i wouldn`t hesitate

But i look forward to receiving the DVD,to see if my drive went aswell as i thought.

But pity i missed you,it`s nice to see the face behind the helmet,it`s also nice to chat and get drivers points of view on events that happen whilst on circuit.
No doubt we`ll cross paths one day at coombe