What’s the catch? As a Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer, it’s the question I get pretty much every time I tell someone that they can drive a $250,000 Lamborghini or Ferrari on a racetrack with no speed limits. So, in full transparency I’d like to show you a video of my Xperience and answer some common questions. Directly below you’ll find a video of my driving experience in a Porsche 911 GT3 at Blackhawk Farms Raceway.
This was my first time driving the GT3 and I’ve only driven Blackhawk a few times in the past. As you can see from the video, this is the real deal and is the exact same driving experience you’ll get with Xtreme Xperience. We have created a format that allows you to enjoy your dream cars to the limit in a safe way. It’s important to note that you don’t have to drive as fast as I did in this video. Our experience was developed to accommodate all skill levels and expectations, so if you just want to cruise a Ferrari around the track at low speeds, we can make that happen, too.
Now, back to those common questions I mentioned…
How fast can I go?
Your speeds will depend on both the racetrack and your ability. We drive some of the top road course racetracks in the US, with straightaways ranging from 1000 to 3500 feet long. You will have the opportunity to hit 100 to 160 mph at full speed before needing to slow down to enter a turn. You’ll also do highway speeds through corners. In the video, I was hitting about 120 mph on the 2000 foot straightaway. MY ADVICE: Don’t go into this worrying about how fast you’re going and do not look down at the speedometer; keep your eyes on the road and enjoy the car. Enjoy the feeling of braking, cornering, and accelerating. Enjoy the sound and soak up the memories.
Can I really push the cars?
In short, YES! We encourage drivers to enjoy the cars, but clearly there have to be some safety limits. You’ll have an instructor coaching you to help you go as fast as possible. As you can see in the video, I’d say I was “pushing” the car with the help of my instructor. You’ll put your foot to the floor, redline the gears, use the powerful brakes, and experience lateral g-forces in corners like never before. MY ADVICE: Check your ego when you get in the car and listen to your instructor from start to finish. Regardless of what kind of car you drive, how much Forza you’ve played, or how much Top Gear you’ve watched, the professional sitting next to you knows that car on that track better than you and they get a great joy in helping you go fast. If you want to use the paddle shifters, you can, but I don’t recommend it for your first time out; you’ll waste your time trying to figure out shifting instead of enjoying the drive.
Are the cars limited or governed?
No way. The cars you drive at Xtreme Xperience are just like you’d get from the dealership. In fact, some of our cars are tuned and have aftermarket modifications to make them even faster than stock. We also run the cars in ‘Sport’ or ‘Race’ mode to help improve the car’s performance.
Do I need to know how to drive a manual?
No, not at all. Our vehicles are all equipped with semi-automatic transmissions that allow anyone and everyone to drive with ease. Enjoy the drive and experience every bit of your supercar without the worry of shifting gears. Each car has paddle shifters that you’re welcome to try, but I don’t recommend it for your first time out.
What’s the deal with having an instructor in the car?
Whether you’re a first-timer, a seasoned track day junkie or are riding with a pro, there will always be a professional instructor in the vehicle to provide real-time feedback. Their goal is to help you drive the racing line, brake, corner and accelerate at just the right time to achieve optimum speeds. MY ADVICE: Again, listen to these guys and girls. They are true professionals who know the cars and track very well. They are 100% there to help, not slow anyone down. I also recommend doing our lead car ride-along where a pro drives you around the track at high speeds before you drive. This way, you’ll see the track so there are no surprises and you’ll feel what it’s like to drive the racing line, brake hard, and accelerate out of the corners. Plus, the ride-along is ridiculously fun.
What about other cars on the track?
We run in a lead-follow format which is a standard practice in high performance driving education experiences. The lead car in the pack is being driven by a professional driver, so you’ll be chasing a pro who’s showing you the racing line for optimal speeds. There are other cars on the track with you so we have a procedure for passing slower drivers as soon as we can (you’ll see me pass the Ferrari 458 and Corvette Z06 with our instructor point by system). MY ADVICE: If this is your first time doing anything like this, don’t want to go fast or don’t want the pressure of other drivers behind you, start at the back of the group. If you have track experience, have driven with us before, are on your second or third car, I recommend you communicate with your instructor to get positioned in the front of the pack. You can see in the video above just how fast the lead car moves.
What’s my liability for potential damage to a car?
All of our Drivers are required to purchase a minimum level of Track Insurance but Ride-Along participants don’t need to (note: your personal insurance policy will not cover your XX drive). Basically, like any insurance you’ve ever purchased, you pay a small amount (a premium as low as $39) to lock in an amount you would owe (a deductible as low as $2,000) which would cover potential damages up to a certain amount (up to $150,000). You would be responsible for any damage to the car above the insured amount. You can view your various insurance options here. MY ADVICE: Don’t let this intimidate you. As long as you listen to your instructors and don’t plan on driving like a complete yahoo, you will not need to worry about messing up one of our beautiful cars.
Conclusion
I hope I’ve helped paint a better picture of what the experience is actually like and answered some of the most common questions. If you have any questions or would like to speak with someone about your experience, please give us a call at 866-273-7727. You’ll probably see me at an event, so please introduce yourself and say ‘hi.’
Happy Driving!
Joe Moore – Chief Marketing Officer
Ready to Drive? Reserve Your Xperience Today!