My Ferrari 360 experience at Thurxton racing circuit
 

Few pictures of my day at Thuxton doing a Ferrari 360 experience course back in June. Beautiful weather while messing around in Ferraris and racing cars. What more could you ask for?

The day consisted of driving an MG something (rover 45) 2.5 V6, which I was very impressed with. Then a Merc SLK 3.5 V6 (left me cold). Then came the Ferrari 360 spider which was superb, as expected. Then a drive in the Formula Renault (4,500rpm rev limit). The formula Renaults were a bit old and tired but they were still blisteringly fast round the bends. And before you ask, no I didn't get to drive the Lambo, in fact it didn't move all day. :cry:

http://img57.exs.cx/img57/8830/SLK_1.th.jpg http://img71.exs.cx/img71/6338/360_1.th.jpg http://img57.exs.cx/img57/6151/360_2.th.jpg http://img57.exs.cx/img57/8485/360_3.th.jpg
http://img57.exs.cx/img57/9874/360_4.th.jpg http://img57.exs.cx/img57/1205/360_5.th.jpg http://img57.exs.cx/img57/8463/360_6.th.jpg http://img57.exs.cx/img57/9421/360_7.th.jpg
http://img57.exs.cx/img57/7158/360_8.th.jpg http://img57.exs.cx/img57/3849/360_9.th.jpg http://img57.exs.cx/img57/831/Renault_1.th.jpg http://img57.exs.cx/img57/7324/Renault_2.th.jpg
http://img57.exs.cx/img57/7324/Renault_2.th.jpg http://img57.exs.cx/img57/6653/Renault_4.th.jpg http://img57.exs.cx/img57/3397/Renault_5.th.jpg http://img57.exs.cx/img57/2270/Renault_6.th.jpg
http://img71.exs.cx/img71/1636/Lambo_1.th.jpg http://img71.exs.cx/img71/8809/Lambo_2.th.jpg http://img71.exs.cx/img71/8555/Lambo_3.th.jpg

Sorry about the arrangement of the pics. I gave up trying to get them four on a line :x

Awesome pics there Dave, looks like a fantastic way to spend a day, shame about the lambo, but you can't have it all! :P You've certainly 1-0 on me and alot of others as far as Ferrari drives :D 8) BTW did you have to be 21 to do the day? (and license held for so long)

Cheers AL. I don't think you have to be 21, just got to hold a full UK driving licence. Thinking about it they didn't look at my driving licence when I booked in on the day :roll:. I did have an info booklet but think I chucked it. Here’s the web link

http://www.thruxtonracing.co.uk/courses.html

As I always say, you are lucky in the UK with some many "driving nice cars on track" opportunities!

Cheers, i have seen some of these courses had age restrictions, i'll look into it as you've made me very jealous :P maybe a treat after/ during my work placement year :D

nice! Did they have any rev restrictions or any other restrictions on the ferrari??

WOW... nice pics and what a sexy Murcielago :P

I'm definitely going to do this as soon as possible. I'll need to pass my test first... just a small obstacle.

I'd really like to go down to Silverstone to do it... although Oulton Park near me does similar things. I bet it was a blast... i really do dream of owning these cars, and i'm not going to stop until i own them :)

Nice pics too, and what a gorgeous day to drive 8)

No electronic retractions, just the instructor. Generally I was changing at about 4,000rpm in the 360. This is understandable as it is a highly stressed engine.

Don't go to sliverstone as they put you on a special short circuit :( . Oulton Park is a fantastic circuit. Don't know what cars they have though.

Thanks for the comments guys.

is that because the enforced a 4k rec change or because you didnt want to go higher than that...... the 360 isnt even in its stride at 4k :(

Probably not, when I did a similar course I got to use all the glorious revs. Looks like you had a great day!

Well... as you can see i'm only 16 at the moment, so i'd be looking to do this in a few years time...maybe in the F430, the 997 Turbo, the revised Gallardo etc :P

And that thing about Silverstone sucks :roll:

Are you joking? Of course I wanted to go over 4,000rpm. I did hit about 7,000 (once) over taking a Porsche 911 but most of the time the instructor just told me to change up. What you got to remember is that Thruxton is the fastest circuit in the UK its so fast in fact that it's not open to "drive what you brung track days" like most UK circuit are. There's no way you can jump into a 360 for the first time and go flat out unless you want to crash that is. Also the cars are used a lot and they want to put them under as little stress as possible.

@Jon_s - what circuit did you do your course at mate? What cars did you get your hands on?

I didn't know that about Thruxton.... but it does seem a bit mean that they don't really encourage you to get the car singing :|

I completely understand it though, and you clearly were allowed over 4k, but with an experience instructor telling you to change up, you trust his judgement and wisdom :D

hmmmm when i went to drive an M3 around rockingham there were no restrictions at all, you could rev it to the redline and drive as fast as you wanted. You were just advised to take it easy on the first lap.

Same with the 355 and elise that you can drive there. And they're all not much slower than a 360.

First thing the instructor asked as i was rolling out the pits was, what car do you usually drive.... i replied a clio 1.2 n he just smiled.

Having said tht i did get better driving marks than someone there who actually owned an M3.

Just wish more circuits imposed as little restrictions as rockingham :(

Cool :o I'm off to rockingham next then. It does seam to be the trend, a lot of restrictions etc. I went to castle combe for my 18th and that was the same. I can understand thruxton because its so fast. Cheers for the info mindgam3 I look into it. Thing is looks like I'm all out of milestone birthdays. Will have to pay for it myself :(