Experiance Days for Petrol Heads

By Guest Author, Isabelle Guarella of Passsmart

Photo by Osmosis.it, found on Flickr

Whilst the idea of zooming around a race track all day may not be your idea of fun, for boys (or girls!) with a love of cars there’s nothing more appealing. So if there’s a birthday coming up, a driving experience day could be the perfect gift. With so many motoring days to choose from, I have whittled them down to the very best to help you choose the perfect present for the petrol heads in your life.

Thrill Rides at the Walt Disney World Speedway
With a Lamborghini, Audi R8 or Porsche 997 to choose from, thrill riders will have the experience of a lifetime from the passenger seat, in the safe hands of a professional driver. For $99 they’ll be treated to two laps around the track; an exhilarating experience they’ll never forget. You have to be 14 years of age to take part in a thrill ride, with under 18s accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

For over 18s, there is the option to take to the wheel of one of these super cars. This once in a lifetime experience – which ranges in price from $150 for an Audi R8, to $419 for a Ferrari 458 Italia – allows the driver to take six laps of the Speedway with a professional instructor beside them.

The Disney driving experiences gives petrol heads the perfect chance to test their driving skills, whilst giving you and the rest of the family a great excuse to visit Disney. Win-win!

The NASCAR Experience
You can treat your boys to the NASCAR driving experience at a number of speedways around the US. With a number of riding and driving options available, NASCAR fanatics are sure to get a taste of what its like to be a real race driver.

The Race Fan Favorite experience is just one of the packages on offer. It will set you back $364.99, and will take you on a 3 hour racing lesson on a real Nascar speedway, including a 5 minute timed racing session. Don’t panic, they will, of course, be accompanied by a professional instructor and they’ll get their first taste of putting the pedal to the metal in a safe, controlled environment.

For those not quite 18, there’s also a ride along option priced at $129.99, with no age limit but a minimum height requirement of 5’0″ and weight requirement of 100 lbs. On the ride along, passengers are treated to 3 laps in a real NASCAR race car, driven by a professional instructor. Reaching speeds of up to 170mph, this one will really get the adrenaline pumping. Family have the option of watching from the stands, but you never know, you might want to get involved yourself!

4×4 Off Road Experience
At the Revolution Off Road experience in Orlando, Florida, there are a number of different activities to enjoy. From going off road in a 4×4 to taking to a dirt trail on a quad, experience days here are not for the faint-hearted. Drivers must be over 16, and anyone under 18 requires a parent or guardian to sign the liability waiver.

This off-road adventure will lead you over creeks, up steep hills and down slippery descents. Don’t worry, there’s also the option of being a passenger if you don’t fancy driving!

Prices range from $25, as a passenger, to $160 for the ATV triple: an ATV, Can Am Buggy and Jeep.

Brands Hatch

If you’re planning a trip to the UK, why not take a trip to Brands Hatch? Here even the younger kids can get involved, as their YoungDrive! program gives kids over the age of 11 their very first driving lessons. In a safe environment, with a qualified instructor, your child’s first taste of driving will be at one of the most famous race tracks in Europe.

For the adults, there is the RaceMaster package, which gives you the opportunity to taste the full F1 experience from the driving seat of a powerful super car. With one to one tuition, you’ll be taught how to drive like a racing driver, reaching speeds of over 100mph. The RaceMaster experience costs just shy of $300, whilst the YoungDrive! is priced at $130.

This guest post was written by Izzy from PassSmart.com; the UK-based company helping learner drivers find their perfect instructor.