Palmer Sport Driving Experience at Bedford Autodrome
Date:
October 2009
Location: Bedford Autodrome, Bedfordshire
Vehicles: Jaguar XKR, Porsche JP3, Renault Clio Cup, Caterham 7 Superlight, Formula Jaguar, Palmer Jaguar JP1, Land Rover Defender, Go Karts
Author: Chris Darlington
I've been lucky enough to have sampled the Palmer Sport full day event at
Bedford Autodrome on three occasions. Each time the day has followed the
same format. It does require an early start and as the Autodrome is some
distance from my home I stayed at the Sharbrook Hotel only 10 minutes drive
away. I'd recommend this to anyone traveling more than an hour as you'll
want to be fresh and focused to get the most out of the day ahead.
 So, after checking in at 8am you get a full English breakfast served in your
own hospitality suite. I do remember not eating much the first time I went
due to the sheer excitement of the day ahead. You're allocated a Team Name
(typically Senna, Prost, etc) and if you're in a large group (15+) you'll
all be together for the day. If you're in a smaller group you'll be put
together with other smaller teams and single drivers to make a larger team.
A full briefing of the day ahead is given after breakfast by your allocated
Team Leader, talking about what cars you'll be driving, rules of the circuit, flag meanings, timetable of events etc. Your Team Leader and one
other helper stay with you through the day and drive you between circuits in
two minibus'... most of the time like they're racing Lewis Hamilton as well
as each other, which provides much amusement!
Bedford Autodrome is a purpose built race track with 4 different circuits
with huge run off areas. This means that when you go off (and you will spin
/ go off the circuit) you're in the safest possible surroundings. This is
exactly why the instructors feel comfortable pushing you to find your (and
the cars) limits. All the instructors are excellent, and without exception
are able to help you get the most out of the car and drive to the maximum of
your ability. Ex-instructors include Lewis Hamilton and a lot of them are
very young, but they are very professional, polite and good company. The
cars I drove were:
- Jaguar XKR
- Porsche JP3 (race prepared standard Carrera)
- Renault Clio Cup (BTCC race prepared)
- Caterham 7 Superlight (both round a circuit and in a "duel" against
another driver)
- Formula Jaguar (single seater)
- Palmer Jaguar JP1 (two seater mid-engined prototype racers)
- Land Rover Defender
- Go Karts
Around 9am you head out to the first circuit and first drive of the day.
Mine has always been the Jaguar XKR, quite a lump of a machine but a great
starter to the day. Normally there are around 6 cars for each circuit and
your team is split down so each driver gets a go... whilst the others are
able to watch from the hospitality areas with access to free tea, coffee,
biscuits and toilets. When your name is called you get you'll put on your
helmet (each circuit has its own selection so you don't carry one around
with you) and be introduced to your instructor who'll help you into the car
and explain the controls to you. Then, off you go. You are allocated a set
time (I think this is around 15 minutes) so how quick you are depends how
many laps you do. There are markers on all circuits showing breaking and
turn in points, but you soon learn that the breaking points aren't there for
you... as the instructor firmly tells you to keep your foot planted on the
accelerator as you pass the marker and then shouts BRAKE at an unfeasibly
late stage before saying "turn in" and then "BACK ON THE GAS, QUICKER,
QUICKER!" Each lap is timed and your fastest lap is recorded as well as how
sympathetic you are with the car and number of spins (told you!). The Jag
is a heavy car to drive quickly and to be honest I always struggle with it,
but it's a good starter to the day as it's familiar cockpit environment will
put a lot of people at ease immediately. After comparing times it's quickly
off to the next circuit and next car.
 The second circuit combines the Clio's and Porsche's taking alternate turns
to go out on track. Again, the instructions are fantastic really helping
you understand the racing line and how the cars need to be driven to get the
best and fastest times out of them - the Clio and Porsche couldn't be
further apart in terms of how you need to drive them. What I found
impressive was the amount of faith the instructors place in you and the
constant feedback you receive. You're connected to them via a helmet
earpiece and microphone so you can hear their instructions clearly and
discuss any points of uncertainty with them as you drive along. They
clearly love their job and want you to have the best possible experience.
If you are a good driver and show promise they will push you all the way...
even though you're on the track with 5-7 other cars they'll make you
overtake, want you to redline every time you change gear, want you to go as
fast as you safely can and if you spin will laugh it off and tell you to get
back onto it!
Next up the Caterham's - I love these! You can really be a hooligan in
these, power sliding around the corners and feeling so close to the driving
experience as you drive around the fast, tight circuit. You have two
separate goes in the Caterham's. One is the standard around the circuit
pitted against the other drivers and the second is a "duel" event where 2
specially prepared Caterham's, by which I mean they are set up to spin, are
raced against each other on mirror image courses ending with an opportunity
to do a donut before crossing the finish line. Top stuff!
Whilst half of your team are blasting around the Caterham duel you'll have a
chance to go off in the Land Rover to do an off road course where you aim to
score points by hitting strategically placed tennis balls with your wing
mirrors and front windscreen as you negotiate the mixed terrain. Quite
calming and a bit of fun... but not as exciting as the circuit driving.
 Finally, you head off the 1.85 mile West Circuit to drive the Palmer Jaguar
and Formula Jaguar... in between you get to go on an outdoor go-kart circuit
for a bit of fun (although it's still timed so be sure to do your best).
This part of the day is simply superb. The Palmer Jaguar is stunningly fast
and as you negotiate the West Circuit your instructor gradually encourages
you to pick up the pace and feel the car through the corners... you will
spin this thing! On my first Palmer Sport event, coming down the back
straight just out of a corner at over 100mph I lost the back end spun around
360 degrees over the grass in the middle of the circuit covering me and my
instructor in grass and mud. Now, I expected a rollicking, but as we spun
back facing the right way for the last time he simply shoved it into third
and yelled "GO, GO, GO!" before laughing uncontrollably for about 2 minutes.
He told me I wasn't trying enough unless we spun, but admitted it was a more
impressive off road experience for him! The last time I went I managed a
lap in just under 72 seconds, fastest for the day... see how you compare.
Finally, the Formula Jaguar is your chance to drive a single seater. For
this you'll have a separate briefing video and will be told to drive
carefully and considerately. Spin in this and they will call you into the
pit lane for a chat. Spin twice and your likely to be called in for good.
Again, they encourage you to drive quickly, but as there are no instructors
with you they advise safety first. Overtaking is still permitted, but only
on the straights and you are told you're not racing each other simply
yourself (although from experience most people I've overtaken haven't viewed
it that way afterwards!) You're first two laps are behind an instructor in
a hot hatch to get you up to speed and then you're on your own. Although
it's a million miles away, this does feel like F1 as you hit the limiter
before changing gear and try to eek out the last bit of speed your
capability can muster. When the chequered flag comes out you will not want
to go back into the pits. Both Jag's have camera's inside that record your
laps and you are given these at the end of the day on a USB stick so you can
relive the memories.
The day finishes with a presentation and winner (best lap time) for each car
and an overall winner of the day. It makes interesting reading comparing
your fastest lap time in the single seater against the Evo Magazine fast lap
times! And if you are thinking of going to a Palmer Sport event it's worth
swatting up on the West Circuit in advance, it will pay dividend when you
get to try the real thing. What a day, what an experience... thoroughly
recommended I don't believe you'll find a better driving experience day in
the world.
This
was a Driving
Experience review by Chris |
