Silverstone Exige
The Story
More to follow but here is a brief run down of my day at Silverstone on the Exige Experience.
Carol bought me the day out to drive an Exige after some less then subtle hints from myself. The prospects looked ominous when my day was booked for the dreaded Friday the 13th.
I need not have worried, everything went perfectly.
David joined me for the run down to Silverstone in a stunning Vauxhall Astra hire car, 0-60 in a weekend and a cup of tea!
My tutor was Ray Allen, a former F1 and F5000 driver. He raced against a few unknown drivers, such as Jackie Stewart, Graham Hill, John Surtees, Emerson Fittipaldi and Carols Regizonni no less!! What a buzz! Ray took me out for an initial introduction run getting me to brake, turn in and accelerate out of the corners. My second run was a lot faster, I had begun to get used to the car and the circuit. I did glance down half way down Hanger straight and I was doing 125mph, but that is only half the story because the Exige is at it's best in corners. Safe to say my neck is a bit stiff after today.
My final thrill of the day was being taken around the track by Ray Allen, with the traction control switched off (as Ray said, "I am the traction control in this car!"). What an absolute blast and pleasure. Ray has been there and bought the t-shirt and what a driver, how many people have had the privilege of being driven around a track by an F1 driver? As we pulled in after his lap I said to him it was safe to say there was room for me to improve!
What a day and thank you to Carol for buying the day for me and David (eh?) for his company, it was a blast.
Photo's from the day are in the Gallery page.
Here is a wee video of another driver taking No1 round the track No1