Hey guys! I know this is generally the place for those with means of owning exotic cars, however with my 30th coming up. My lovely wife has booked a supercar experience for me, to coincide with a trip we had already planned to Melbourne in December. Possibly the closest I'll come to owning one of these cars. The booking was made through Adrenaline.com.au with a company called Supercar Drive. I will be spending 30 minutes driving a Ferrari 360 Modena and 30 minutes driving a Lamborghini Gallardo on the streets of east Melbourne. Naturally I'm pretty excited as this will be the first time I've driven an F-car and a Lamborghini - the most comparable experience was Jon (MrHat) graciously allowing me to take his Exige for some hotlaps around Baskerville Raceway. Just wondering if anyone here has any advice for me in keeping these things on the straight and narrow, and to get the most out of my drive time? I don't really know what to expect, but I suspect that I will just be nervously navigating Sunday drivers for 25odd km's of suburban roads in each car.
These events have lead cars that cruise, it's more follow the leader than do what you want, you won't be anywhere near the cars limits. My friend did one of these recently for a work function, no one else at his company bothered to show up so he got 1hr per car He drove a 550/2 the F430 broke down that day lol
Well I did it. No lead car, no real 'limits' imposed other than the law, just a situation of using your head and common sense. The instructor sitting beside me simply encouraged me to try certain things to experience the cars, and directed me which way to go. I drove the Gallardo from Sandown Raceway out to Lysterfield to do Lysterfield Rd in both the Gallardo and the Modena. I then drove the Modena back to Sandown Raceway. The other customer who was supposed to be driving the opposite car in the session I did was a no-show and forfeited, which meant that the experience order was up to me - I chose to finish in the Modena (ahem). The first thing that struck me was how quickly you adapt to driving these type of cars. I expected to be intimidated and I was a bit nervous initially, but once we got going the main thing I was worried about was hitting the wipers instead of the indicator stalk, ha! I loved the sound of the Gallardo, and the start up was exhilarating. The responsiveness of the e-gear was nice too, but I didn't like the driving position, vision, or the tiny gear levers as much as the Modena. The Modena steering felt more direct and responsive, but most likely a side effect of RWD vs AWD, its the gear changes at high RPM were more violent, but an incredible rush. I would love to do it all again now that I know exactly what it is all about. I'm not expecting anyone on here to care for my opinion but it is topic relevant so I decided to share.
I did one of these drives (had a 430 for a weekend), loved it, realised I can't afford a 430, ended up with 360 these supercar experience drives are a real danger to your wallet much like trying crack cocaine "for experience" - gets you hooked immediately and for the rest of your life
Well when the lottery win comes my way I'd still search high and low to find a good F355, or steal PP's Challenge car, but I suspect that would earn me my own website and I'd be forever infamous on this site. Serge, exactly my feelings. I need more! It's not fair that mere mortals can only have an appetiser. Someone help me invent a google app to make my millions, I will share a cut... promise.
You're gunna find the Gallardo and 360 a let down after the Exige... unless you count the "Chapel St show-off factor" as important.
Reminds me of the line: "a luxury sampled becomes a must-have necessity". If you want to maintain the health of your bank account, stay away from sampling luxury items!
Interesting that in Melb they dont have a lead car. The Ferrari drive day they have in Sydney use an Alfa as their lead car. They always drive past my area and the event my friend did also had a lead car. Tho to be honest when I drove in Melb there were a lot less dickheads on the road
come to the Gold Coast, we have many "imported" dickheads from both Melbourne and Sydney ..... when they hit 80+ they ignore red lights and want to take someone with them for company on the long trip to hell
