Turn, Turn, Turn

The activities started with the Destroy Tyres In 15 Seconds section, also known as doing handbrake turns and J-turns in an old Astra. This was done on the small muddy patch out back where you were able to create much dust. My handbrake turns were better than my J-turns, although I probably got a bit cocky with the handbrake since by the end I was exiting with a lot of revs and wheel-spinning away. Still, it added dust to the whole event.

Me just about to fling an Astra backwards.

(Quicktime) Not my best J-turn by far, it flicked out a little at the start but soon became a reverse around a corner (that wasn't even there).

(Quicktime) Handbrake turn fun!

(Quicktime) Erm, another handbrake turn! (Now with more dust and wheelspin!)

Rally Around

Next up came the ride in a Group A rally car, in this case a 306. Unfortunately it only had road tyres so things had to go a little slower but it was still a lot of fun. Lots of skidding around and sideways driving but it was kept sensible enough that you never felt the need to check your helmet was on properly.

The cars I didn't get to ride in.

(Quicktime) Look closely and you can see the roof bobbing around in the background. It's the final bend so we parked just after the camera stopped.

Ferraris!

Then the main event, the Ferraris! This was a slightly mixed bag because you were limited in what you could do with the cars, it was up and down the runway a few times with someone in the passenger seat telling you to take it easy. Most of us had been hoping for a little circuit to thrash around so the initial feeling was a little cheated, but it soon gave way to a slight sense of awe.

Apparently I had to share the cars with other people, so sometimes I just watched.

F355 Challenge

First up was the F355; 375bhp of Italian supercar. The car pulls away in first without any revs (which we were made to do) then down to the end so you could turn and make your first run. Due to the gearbox (and its potential for damage if you got it wrong) the organisers made us change pretty slowly which had an impact on our speeds, although none of us were really pushing hard anyway; although we were still moving at a fair speed. Apparently the fastest get up to around 130MPH before slowing down to come back the other way, most of us probably fell a little short even though it was still three figure speeds.

This turned out to be the first Ferrari I would ever drive.

From another angle.

The pre-drive briefing

I thought it wise to actually pay attention.

The first thing they tell you is to be very careful as you get in a Ferrari, it's far too easy to look stupid.

This would be me accelerating away on one of the (slightly) uphill runs.

I'd have passed the brake sign by now so I was slowing down again.

All too soon I was told to stop so I had to come back to the waiting area.

I just parked a Ferrari for the very first time.

(Quicktime) That really is me driving by in the F355. Although you had to start braking at around the white sign so really that's me slowing a Ferrari down I guess.

348

Next was the 348 with a mere 300bhp. In some respects this was more fun even though it was the older, slower car. The gearbox had a nicer layout for the driving we were allowed to do and we were able to get closer to its limits. With a little more confidence, having already driven a Ferrari now, we were still topping 100MPH.

Front view of the 348

Side view of the 348

You have to adjust the seat to be comfy.

Foot on the throttle and I was accelerating away!

Just past the brake sign so slowing quite quickly.

Apparently the goofy smile makes some people think I enjoyed myself.

Testing

The autotest involved driving another Astra around a slalom just wide enough for the car. It was hard. Having watched others take the course too wide I decided to go tight on my first run, so tight I flattened every cone. I relaxed a little and was going well on my timed run, until I hit the wipers. Mid bend they popped up on me, I figured I'd turn them off when I was straight but they stopped by themselves. Chuckling I made my way to the next corner, and just as I turned in the wipers were back! I'd set them on their slowest setting! It was too much and I was doubled over in hysterics for the last few corners. My excuse for the slow time was I obviously did the course in the rain.

Rushing Around

Next was a similar activity, but in a Dax Rush, which had a bit more power, and much bigger gaps between the cones. I took my practice laps too cautiously as I experimented with the car, and then a timed run. I managed the slalom pretty well but as I approached the circle at the end I forgot the front was narrower than the back and sent two cones flying; by way of compensation I'd found the sweet spot of the car and managed to take much of the circle sideways. Still, with a ten second penalty for the cones I was never going to win that race.

A Dax Rush waiting to be driven.

Last minute instructions before I was off.

Rounding the final bend.

Park the car in the (yellow) box.