Most of us have dreamed of driving fancy, high-performance sports cars with the wind whipping through our hair. Buying one of these cars - like a Ferrari or Lamborghini - is out of the reach of many, but that doesn't mean you can't experience the thrill of being behind the wheel of one of these amazing driving machines! There are a few companies, in the United States, Great Britain and some European countries that will give you that experience. They operate at several racetracks around the nation, both NASCAR type tracks and road course tracks. Some companies have locations in several places, and some big speedways have more than one company operating at their track. Daytona Speedway in Florida also operates one of these experiences but is aimed more at NASCAR type vehicles. Read on to learn more about how to get an exotic car driving experience.
Some companies offering this service include Extreme Experience, Exotic Racing, Dream Drive Exotics and the Mario Andretti Experience. Packages come in many price ranges and are for drivers of all skill levels. There is some instruction available.
Ferraris are the most common, and some add Lamborghini and Porche to the mix. High performance Mustangs, as well a real NASCAR vehicles are also used at times. You can reserve what you want when you reserve your package. Some packages allow you to drive more than one car. More specifically, Lamborghini Gallardo, Ferrari 348 Italia, or F430 Spider, and the McLauren MP4-12C are offered by Dream Drive.
After some training, you will be strapped into a car. At most United States tracks or courses, you get to drive three to five laps and can go as fast as you can handle the car. A professional driver will accompany you, to help you along the way, but the dream of driving a sports car very fast can be a reality. Photos and videos are available for the experience as well.
Some companies in Britain offer packages that offer a set amount of time instead of a number of laps. you can get 30 minute or one-hour long packages. One company offers a drive down a coastal highway in Monaco.
There are several of these operations in Las Vegas. Any large city that has a major racetrack or road racing course, will likely have some sort of package available. You may contact a racetrack to see what they offer, of contact one of the companies and look for a location near you. Daytona Motor Speedway in Florida - where NASCAR started - is another hotbed for this type of experience.
This is driving Indy type cars. There are packages for rookies, which is recommended if you have not done this before. There are practice sessions available, and a solo package.
There are packages offered as low as $99, which is usually for three laps. There are three, five, and seven lap packages available. Prices go up to over $1,000 depending on the package you want. These rides go for a few laps, depending on the package you purchase. Another package is a ride-along, where you ride in the race car with a professional driver, who will likely go faster than any amateur would go. Prices start at $99 and go up to about $600.
When you drive one of these cars you are outfitted just like a race car driver. Starting with a helmet and a racing suit. The cars are made as safe as possible, and some have automatic transmission only as a safety measure.
This is a competition of sorts, a marked out course for drivers to navigate. The drive in the exotic car is timed, and you can compete with other drivers this way. The courses have a lot of turns and value driving ability more than power or speed.