THAT'S THE TRACK.
A day driving a trackday prepared Lotus Elise including helmet, briefing and the services of an instructor are the top prize in the Trackdays.com show competition.
The trackday - worth more than £500 - heads up a grid of five top petrolhead prizes during the Trackdays.com show weekend on April 29 and 30, 2006.
The lucky winner will get to drive the Lotus on the Rockingham Motor Speedway, Northants for the whole day on Saturday, April 29 - the Trackdays.com trackday.
But the other four prizes are well worth clicking for: the runner-up gets a free place on the April 29 trackday using their own car - the day is worth£199 - also including helmet, briefing and instruction, while there are three prizes for short but intense driving experiences in a BMW M3, a Lotus Elise and a MINI Cooper S on April 30 - the day of the show … and in front of a massively envious audience.
"Let's face it, the worst a winner can do is to get the use of a MINI Cooper S, an instructor and one of the top race tracks in the world for an intense introduction to trackday-ing. The best is that all-day experience driving a trackday prepared Lotus - on us," said Ian Raybould of Trackdays.com.
The show is on Sunday, April 30, 2006, but the on-track action will get the green light from 10am on Saturday, April 29, 2006, with the Trackdays.com trackday. The competition, meanwhile, can be entered by visiting trackdays.com.
"Rockingham is a great circuit; we'll be using the 'international' layout which provides for some superb track driving, including a quarter-mile blast round the famous banking," said organiser Ian Raybould of Trackdays.com.
"Trackday regulars will know what's in store, but we'll also be catering for newcomers who want to make a weekend of it - instructors will be on hand, and those unfamiliar with the circuit will be fully briefed.
"The trackday will cost £199, with the circuit open between 10am and 5pm, with a one hour lunch break at 1pm. We're going to make it a 'sessioned'day, which means we'll split each on-circuit hour into 20 minute novice, intermediate and advanced sessions so that newcomers will get the time and space to find their feet, and regular track users will be able to stretch their cars' legs.
Trackdaying - in which non-competition drivers take their standard or modified road cars onto the UK and Europe's top race circuits for high speed days out - is becoming a fast growing pastime as the UK's roads get ever more clogged.
"There are thousands of people who participate in trackdays, but we are highly aware that there are many more car owners and users who are perhaps curious, mystified or even intimidated by the thought of venturing out on to a race circuit," said Ian Raybould.
"But by visiting the show they will discover and learn a great deal from experienced trackdayers, car preparation experts, track day event organisers and other businesses who support or supply trackdays and trackdayers."
Tickets are £12 in advance or £15 on the day. The on-track action on April 30 will include opportunities for visitors to drive a BMW M3, Lotus Elise or MINI Cooper S subject to availability and at extra cost in addition to entry ticket prices, plus demos and displays by manufacturers and tuners.High-speed passenger rides will be also be on offer. There will also be off-road driving experiences, again at extra cost over entry ticket price, displays by clubs and event organisers and a retail area with enhancement, parts, tuning, clothing and equipment specialists.
Tickets for the on-track or off-road experiences are available in advance via trackdays.com, where they can also be purchased as Gift Experiences.
Full details and tickets are available from trackdays.com.
