Brands Hatch driving experience

[tbourner]

Did the "F4 Master" driving experience at Brands yesterday, have to say it was awesome! 15 minutes in an M4 with an instructor then 15 minutes in the Formula 4 single seater.
I previously did a thing at Thruxton in a single seater, 4 speed manual - this one was much nicer, proper Cosworth racing wheel with paddle shift. Really good fun.
Bit expensive, but as someone who hasn't done track days and stuff it does what it says, a good experience.
Driving Experiences | F4 Master From £229 | MSV

 

[Mr. B]

Did the "F4 Master" driving experience at Brands yesterday, have to say it was awesome! 15 minutes in an M4 with an instructor then 15 minutes in the Formula 4 single seater.
I previously did a thing at Thruxton in a single seater, 4 speed manual - this one was much nicer, proper Cosworth racing wheel with paddle shift. Really good fun.
Bit expensive, but as someone who hasn't done track days and stuff it does what it says, a good experience.
Driving Experiences | F4 Master From £229 | MSV

You say it was awesome in an M4........that’s nothing.
I did a Brands Hatch experience in 1981 in a........wait for it......a racing Talbot Subeam Ti.....I repeat a racing Talbot Sunbeam Ti....that’s a Ti if you missed it.....no idea what it stands for
It was a half day experience in the morning which meant I had to be up pretty dam early for the long train journey south.
I got a lift between the last train station and the track. The bloke who picked me up in a Land Rover was asking me all sorts of inappropriate grown up questions. I made an excuse of wanting a pee and as soon as he stopped I was off like a rat up a drain pipe. Fortunately not far to the track at that point. Great day out though. My one and only track day experience as a driver.
Don’t make cars like that anymore.....thank god.

 

[Mactech]

It's great you've been able to get to drive on a race circuit with a little input from people who actually know how to do it!
In my working life, I've been surrounded by some of the very best drivers in the world, so I knew I was never going to approach their standard (despite being NW area slot car champion in my yoof!). What I failed to realise is how much of the information and techniques can help you in your road driving.
I was very lucky to spend some time with Jan Lammers (one of my race drivers of the time) at his skid school in Zandvort. Jan was instructing there even before he could see over a steering wheel! I learnt so much about car control from a real expert. That information came in handy as a race engineer, but even more directly applicable when I was moved from the Jaguar race team at TWR to head up the development on the XJ220.
Most useful on cold wet November mornings with 550bhp, 1300kgs and no traction control (!) and equally useful on the many days of circuit testing we had to do.

if you get the chance to get on circuit with and instructor, do so!
It's right up there with being a lifelong motorcycle rider in the staying safe on the road. Oh! ...and did I mention it's rather fun too?

 

[Teego]

^^^^^ + me on the biking. 30+ years on sports bikes and vision like the Hubble telescope. Most bikers are constantly learning and talking to others about how to improve. You need to learn from other people's experiences as well as your own. It multiplies your survival chances. Carry that over to the car too.

 

[DetailerDan]

I've been very lucky to have been taken out by Steve sopher back in 1990 in a whale tail cosworth at Oulton Park. Now that was an experience I will never forgot.

 

[Mr. B]

I've been very lucky to have been taken out by Steve sopher back in 1990 in a whale tail cosworth at Oulton Park. Now that was an experience I will never forgot.

Don’t remind me of Oulton Park it brings back bad memories.
Had my MK1 Ford Escort drained of petrol back in the day whilst watching the racing. Had to abandon the car and walk to the main road in the dark under a blanket with my then girlfriend cause it was .issing it down. Eventually thumbed a lift back up the M1 to AIM.
Happy days - not

 

[John]

Done a few things at Brands over the last 5 years with an ex-colleague of mine.

One of them was the F4 Master and the M4 Master.

I think they are switching to M2s which I reckon will be more fun to drive and a purer experience (less gadgets, LSD, manual etc.).

Always well-organised and fun.

I don't mind the cost as it is significantly cheaper than modifying a road car and paying speeding fines / court fines.

 

[DetailerDan]

Don’t remind me of Oulton Park it brings back bad memories.
Had my MK1 Ford Escort drained of petrol back in the day whilst watching the racing. Had to abandon the car and walk to the main road in the dark under a blanket with my then girlfriend cause it was .issing it down. Eventually thumbed a lift back up the M1 to AIM.
Happy days - not

I hope you mean the m6 not the m1.

 

[Mr. B]

Lol I’m been here too long.
Yep knutsford services.
What a pudding.

 

[DetailerDan]

Lol I’m been here too long.
Yep knutsford services.
What a pudding.

Sure your not a yikker

 

[Mr. B]

No but the girl in the thread was and married but we won’t go there.

 

[tbourner]

Oh yeah and we got a passenger lap at the end, with what can only be described as a nutcase. Plus he looked about 16! Very impressive though.

 

[DetailerDan]

No but the girl in the thread was and married but we won’t go there.

 

[Darrell]

I got one of these driving experiences from my wife for my birthday. I’m yet to do it.

 

[Mr. B]

I got one of these driving experiences from my wife for my birthday. I’m yet to do it.

Get it done. You won’t regret it.

 

[Darrell]

Get it done. You won’t regret it.

I know you’re right and I’ve heard a lot of good things about it but I’m a bit scared that it’s going to be full of macho types. You know the kind.

 

[Mactech]

Oh yeah and we got a passenger lap at the end, with what can only be described as a nutcase. Plus he looked about 16! Very impressive though.

His name wasn't Lando was it?

 

[Mr. B]

I know you’re right and I’ve heard a lot of good things about it but I’m a bit scared that it’s going to be full of macho types. You know the kind.

I think you might be pleasantly surprised plus it doesn’t matter if it is because it’s your experience. Take the wife with you and make a day of it.

 

[DetailerDan]

As bean said you will enjoy it pal.

 

[Deleted member 65149]

I’ve done a similar experience at Thruxton easy well as supercars at Silverstone. Both wonderful.

I went round Brands many times in my yoof, but on two wheels, not four. I was fortunate enough to be a part-time unpaid mechanic for my mate who was to become the British 350 and 500 champion. During quiet periods on practice days I was allowed to take my Triumph Bonneville for a few spins around, and I was confident that I was getting in some good times. That was until one day Alan asked if he could take my bike for one timed circuit. He’d never ridden a Bonny before, let alone mine, but his one lap from a standing start was quicker than my best flying lap. That was when I knew I wasn’t a racer and gave up any thoughts of being so.