track day

Experiencing a Supercar Isn’t As Expensive As You Think

For car enthusiasts, there might be no greater experience than owning a supercar. It could be that you have always dreamed of owning a particular make and have had posters on your bedroom wall from your youth, dreaming of the day that you could sit behind the wheel. Alternatively, you may have developed a love for supercars later in life and now want the ultimate experience that driving has to offer.

But it can be easy to be put off supercar ownership by the fact that it is expensive. Detractors point to the initial cost of the car, as well as insurance and regular maintenance, not to mention running costs, which would appear to make it exorbitant to own a supercar. However, you might be surprised to learn that owning a supercar is not as draining for your bank balance as you think.

The opportunity to try a car

Not everyone who wants to get behind the wheel of a supercar also wants to own it on a day-to-day basis. It might simply be the case that you would be happy with simply the occasional few hours in the driver’s seat. And after all, roads have the same speed limits for supercars as they do for every other car, and if the thrill that you are looking for comes from taking a car up to high speeds, then you might even just be satisfied with a supercar experience day.

You can look at supercar experiences two ways. Firstly, they can be a relatively cheap and easy way to the experience the best of what a supercar has to offer. You won’t be committing yourself to one specific car and can give multiple different models a try. Secondly, however, you can consider your experience day as a test run before you commit to ownership. Buying a supercar won’t come cheap so it can be best to know that you are choosing the right one.

An alternative to buying

If you are committed to owning a supercar and enjoying it on a day-to-day basis, then you might be looking into the prices and wondering how you can afford the initial outlay necessary to own. But it is actually the case that you can drive a supercar without having to buy one. Leasing has become a very popular alternative to outright car ownership, with simple monthly payments and a fixed term often being preferable.

Many buyers assume that it is only possible to lease more affordable cars, but if you look at the top of the market you can find it is possible to lease high-end sports cars and supercars such as the Porsche 911, the Audi R8, and even various Ferraris. With predictable repayments and the financial future of your car planned out, this can be a very affordable way to drive a supercar.

A supercar as an investment

Naturally, the price of a supercar can be extremely high but sometimes it is a case of how your frame that price. Remember that a supercar will not depreciate at the same rate as a normal road car – in fact in some cases if you buy the right model, a supercar will actually gain value. You can’t count on this being the case, but it is often possible to recoup a lot of your initial expense when you come to sell.

You need to think of your supercar as an investment. This starts with doing your research into which model you are going to buy as some will depreciate faster than others. Additionally, you need to ensure that you take care of your supercar correctly. Keeping the car in good condition will pay dividends in the long-term.

Built to last

It is also worth pointing out that supercars are built to be able to withstand the rigors of demanding use at very high speed. This means that all of the parts used in construction are of exceptional quality. Given that these cars are not often used at these sorts of speeds you can enjoy the benefits of their quality in the fact that they will last for a long time. This means that while supercars will still require maintenance, you are likely to have fewer problems, especially if you don’t constantly push it to its limits.

July 9, 2018 / Comments Off

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Track Day Beginners Etiquette: Dos And Don’ts

If you are considering in attending a track day for the first time, there are a few things that you need to learn. Naturally, track day organizers want to provide a truly fun and unrestricted driving experience, but it is also vital for there to be rules and guidelines in the interest of safety.

Of course, it should also be pointed out that outside of the specific rules there are plenty of unwritten rules that simply serve as good etiquette for when you get out on a track day. Here we look at some of the dos and don’ts of track day etiquette to ensure that you have a fantastic day on the track, stay safe and avoid upsetting other drivers.

DO invest in some training

It’s the case with any kind of motorsport that if you turn up as a complete beginner to any kind of track day or race event, you can feel out of your depth. Don’t worry – this is a common occurrence for almost everyone who tries a motorsport for the first time. Thankfully, there are now many opportunities to do some learning or training in motorsport driving in a friendly and relaxed environment.

For example, before you get into rallying you can go on a beginner’s rally driving experience day to get an introduction to the skills required for this type of driving. The same is true for many of the race tracks in the UK – for example, Silverstone offers driver coaching that can help you master the track before you get out on the circuit alone.

DON’T treat it as a race

It is important to remember at all times that a track day is not a race. Yes, you are on a racetrack but the rules for track days explicitly state that any form of racing off lap timing is not allowed – and in many cases doing so will invalidate your insurance.

Driving on a track day is a chance to drive at speeds that are not allowed on the roads and to test the limits of your car and your driving ability, but it cannot become a race. Stick to the driving that is allowed or you will find yourself escorted from the track and banned.

DO listen carefully to the safety briefing

Before the driving fun begins on any track day there will be a safety briefing given by the marshals. This is the time where rules are explained and safety practice detailed. It is never acceptable to assume that you already know the rules and therefore you don’t need to listen. Different track days have specific rules that you will need to follow, and failing to do so can be extremely dangerous for you and the other drivers around you. So make sure that you pay attention to the briefing and take on-board everything that is said.

DON’T arrive with a faulty vehicle

The majority of track day sessions allow for unmodified road cars to be used on the track. It is actually very common for individuals to take their own car just to see how it will perform. But just because it is OK to turn up and drive in your everyday car, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t do any preparation before the event.

At the very least you should be thoroughly checking your wheels and ensuring that the whole of the car is in good enough condition to be driven in anger. Obviously, it is impossible to guarantee that you won’t encounter problems, but you need to take as many precautions as possible to be sure that your car will be in good shape for the track day.

DO learn the overtaking rules

Once again, a track day is not a race. But overtaking is still allowed to ensure that faster cars are not held up by slower ones, so whether you are driving a quick or slow car you need to understand the rules and etiquette expected for overtaking. Rules may differ between courses and events but typically they state that overtaking can only be executed to the left of the car in front. Additionally, you can only overtake in designated areas of the track – usually on the straights.

February 16, 2018 / Comments Off