Supercar test drives, hampton downs

[headshotnz]

Has any one tried these?

http://www.freemanxexperience.co.nz/fre ... econdcat=1

How "restricted" is the driving?

[Leon]

You have to slow down to very slow speeds before you pass cones that they put out on the track. So basically you get to give the car a squirt on the straight bits and then drive like grandad around corners.

I was reading about this a few weeks ago.

So, if you want to experience being in fast cars it'd be cool. If you want to drive fast around corners etc, you will be thwarted.

[ch4ng]

| SIC | had a go at this in some exotics. I'm sure he can shed some light on it

[Quint]

Bought my bro a couple of hot laps at pukekohe (i think, can't recall tbh) was driving some riced up car (can't remember), but he reported that he was allowed to go a lot faster than he was comfortable with, so maybe look around if you want to stick your boot down.

[gurutasker]

Be careful with voucher companies like that as well... I got stung when buying from a similar one. (Freeman X actually bought them out). They hold the money and give you the voucher, and then when you book the experience they then organise with the supplier. Problem arises when you have a voucher and the company goes bust.. worth nada.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industr ... er-holders

Personally I would organise and pay directly with a company rather than go through one of these experience vendors ever again. It's a shoddy business model that is built on the assumption that a certain percentage of vouchers won't be claimed.

[l SIC l]

Hey, I did the Lamborghini Murcielago and Porsche GT3 drive at Hampton Downs. It was good to experience the cars, but for $800, you are really quite restricted (for example; there are cones just as you come around the corner onto the main straight which make you slow down to walking pace before you can floor it) and the instructor next to you can be quite annoying (if you don't like people blabbing away with what you're obviously already doing right).

But yeah, if you do it, I suggest going with the Lotus as you really can't open up the Supercars properly and for that track setup the Lotus would be awesome. Oh, most importantly... If you want to get the most out of the car, give it shit an don't be conservative. It's amazing how fast 3 laps goes by and get your monies worth out of it. I was a bit too conservative at times and it still annoys me :p

[l SIC l]

I paid for the experience on that FreemanX site over the phone, no worries. They do try sell you al the extras on the day though... Which I got and regretted. The framed photo and insurance is all you really need

[Mr Ree]

As has been said already, voucher sellers are nothing more than poorly disguised scam artists.

I would prefer to be taken on some hot laps in an race prepped car, than be told to go slowly for 3 laps in an exotic. Its all about the braking and cornering forces, thats where the adrenalin comes from

[reliable]

I just done it recently, its good if you want to exprence the cars i.e. see what a Porsche or a Lotus feels like in real life no in your dreams.

But if you want to go fast/race get an adrenaline rush, go to a track day with your own car.

And if you do go freeman X, drive the car hard out of the gate it is over so quick, I made every shift near or over the red line felt a little tiny bit of slip on the tires and the guy next to me did not say anything about my driving.