F355 Experience at Silverstone - advice..

hay, not sure this will help but my friend did the elise one and loved it! he got a good few laps (even though it was the short course) and would recommend it to anyone, so add a 355 into this and your gonna love it!

 

I have done the 360 one before and have another lined up for July. Best advice is to follow carefully what the instructors tell you, and don't be afraid to put the foot down hard. I was (first time mind you I have rolled at Beckets before!)
My brother managed to get a 360 to go from 6th into reverse at speed - that is not recommended at all - they are privately owned.
Regards
Nick

 

I did a Lamborghini Experience last year. My advice would be to think in advance about how you want to approach it. I listened too much to my instructor and got out of the Gallardo feeling very underwhelmed. When I got in the Murcielago I told my instructor that I hadn't felt any sensation of speed or danger in the Gallardo. He was brilliant and encouraged me to take the car a little closer to the limit. He also let me do an extra lap! It was brilliant. I think I overtook 5 Ferrari's during that last lap.

 

Be careful after my first 360 experience I got the F bug and had to have one - now the experience lasts and lasts

 

If track days are anything to go by, they will want to see the licence. If it cant be read, there is a number Admin can call at the DVLA. You will be handed over to them and you will have to provide personal details - name, address etc - and then they will ask to speak to the Admin again and will confirm you have a licence and its clean/pointed up to the max etc.

Enjoy the day.

Jamie

 

It wont be a 355, they were sold a couple of months ago to a circuit in Spain (for £15K each) - Silverstone now have x7 de-cat 360 F1's, and you drive an Exige 1st not an Elise. As long as you remember the right paddle shifts up and its attached to the steering column plus Vale is SLOW then I am sure you will enjoy it.

 

Having said that (Spain) I notice one of the Silverstone 355's has found its way onto Autotrader

 

don't know how many cars Silverstone had but 5 have been sold in UK - one of which i've bought !

 

@adw Congrats on the new baby! I presume you got LHD? What sort of milage have these ex-Silverstone cars on them, and what kind of shape are they in? Can I also be so bold as to probe on the price you paid??

I did the 355 experience last year. Elise before it was great fun. You think you've done a respectable pace until the instructor brings you for a lap! Then the moment I'd waited years to savour - driving a 355. It was simply brilliant. As already said, nail these cars from the first lap if you have any ability. You have great instructors alongside you, who do alot to keep you safe eg. telling you when to brake and/or nail it. I found the gated gears a bit difficult in the 355, but all part of the experience. Otherwise, sensational, especially feeling the car starting to move under me through the seat of my pants. I was also lucky enough to get an extra lap.

Hearing that they now have the 360's, I'll be heading back asap. We also drove an Audi TT, but honestly it felt a bit dull after the preceeding cars. Regrettably we missed a passenger ride in the Caterham 7 which looked damn quick. The souvenir photo of you in action driving the Ferrari is a must! Enjoy it

 

Hmmm the plot thickens...they had 6, but No.6 is still in the workshop in component form. Hope you fully understand what you have bought and hope it was cheap(ish) - out of interest did you buy direct or from a dealer?

The 360 Experience format is 1 lap, instrutor showing you round the South circuit in an Exige, then you drive the Exige for 4 laps to help learn the circuit. You then drive 4 laps in the 360 and finish off with a passenger ride (1 lap) in a Supercharged Exige. Don't confuse the 360 Experience with the Ferrari Super Car Sensation - thats 3 laps in a 360, no Exige or passenger ride (but cheaper).

 

I bought my car from the dealer who bought 5 from silverstone. I guess when you buy a car like this you have to go in with your eyes open. I wanted to use the car for some motorsport so the cage harnesses etc were a bonus ( PFHC ). As it turns out the engines were fully rebuilt 2003 /4 at a rumored cost of 12k and since then were immaculately maintained no expense spared. The engine is currently out being rebelted and serviced - everyone who has seen the car & the service history which I have now fully obtained has remarked what good condition the car is in. Compression is excellant and the faults identified at time of purchase have turned out to be more minor than anticipated. ( phew ) The cars had the ECU's reprogrammed to limit the revs to 7250 so this will need to be altered before full use can be obtained also traction control was fitted so the instructor could adjust the car to the drivers ability. I also need a set of standard rims to run in th PFHC so if anyone fancies swapping their standard rims for a set of excellant split rims let me know.
regards adw

 

The "traction control" is hopeless I would pull it out, all it appeared to do was abruptly cut the throttle when one of the rear wheels turned faster than the other. It meant even in the dry at 30 mph the car would pogo through exit Vale / Club given the radius of turn, most instuctors (me included ) left it off unless it was REALLY wet, but even then I imagine it caused more spins than it stopped!

If it were my car I would have the straightness and integrity of the rear subframe checked VERY carefully plus all wheel alignments and I would also double check all the cars components (including internals), I know some of the engines had aftermarket steel conrods for example (effect the rev ceiling?) and most (if not all) had pattern bumpers etc (check weights).

I presume you are changing the seats, the standard ones are dangerous with that roll cage (seat height needs to be lower) - even in a light 'off' the cage can knock you out easily its so close.

And I hope its not the one a chap projectile vomitted into the airvents in...not nice (dont worry, you would know if it was that one already ). One thing is for sure, they havn't seen a salty road for many a year

 

Thanks for info - have a list of the components used in the engine rebuild by Merlin Developements and there is no mention of con rods so probably stock. The Traction Control was "wound up" pretty tight I am told by PPS but can be re-programmed from the pro logic web site I believe ( I will probably remove this anyway ). Originally intended changing the seats but have held back because they are not in that bad nick ( most of the other cars the sides were burst but these are OK ) I will however note your comments on the roll cage. Engine is currently out & the cradle has been visually checked but will probably take your advice up on an alignments check - if anyone has any advice / experience of changing suspension settings - I would be greatfull to receive it .

Havent properly driven it yet so perhaps the projectile bits are yet to make there guest appearence.!!

Sound like you know the cars so any info / history greatfully received - Car was No 4

 

I'll ask around and see if I can get info, I'm at SS next week. The projectile was smell not solids (dont think it was no.4)

The TC level is adjustable with a knob on the control box, its main problem was probably due to the fact that the car wasn't designed for it and its abruptness makes the car unstable. It helps against a Gorilla at the controls but hinders all others in my opinion.

 

Cool, glad you enjoyed it