In one sense this is a cheating task. Trying to come up 101 things that are fun/interesting/worthwhile/exciting is quite tricky. And expensive. I had already received for my birthday in early 2010 before The Day Zero Project was conceived a voucher from my dad to go rally driving. I'd always fancied a track day of some sort, and so I figured I could stick this on the list, even though I was doing it anyway!
It turned out to be slightly more of a challenge than I anticipated. In August I had a small accident, and my little Puma was out of action for nearly two months, I'd only had it back a few days before the rally driving, and I was a little nervous of driving and scared of another crash. Not only did I drive the 2 and a half hours to Oxfordshire but I was then to throw myself round a deliberateley muddy course where the aim was to be out of control! I was scared!
You started with a safety briefing, which I don't remember much of, except being told that you mustnt worry about the car as its not yours and to "drive it like you stole it". I decided then to sign up to the insurance they offered. Apparently they dont have many proper crashes, but I could all too easily imagine myself driving into a tree, despite Dans encouraging pep talks.
They drove us up to a building by the track, which was a mile long and twisted and turned over a couple of acres. A tractor went round watering the track to make it easy to slide at slow speeds. Somehow I was first in my group of 4 and straight into the Puma! I can't tell you if its the same as driving my Puma on the road, as Rally driving is just so different. You never got out of 3rd gear as they wanted you to concentrate on the steering. And your aim is to slide the car round corners which I would never dream of doing in my precious car. For my first 15 minute go I was rubbish. The instructor must have wondered what I was doing there. I didn't want to go fast, I couldnt seem to turn properly into corners. I didn't get the hang of handbrake turns as I've never been a boy racer so never tried before! I got out the car thinking the time had gone slowly and worried I wasting an expensive day out.
In the wait til my next go I gave myself a bit of a talking to. I'd asked for this birthday present, and then dragged Dan all the way to Oxfordshire, just so he could photograph me, when he'd already driven 5 hours to see me. And he didn't even get a go! I owed to myself, Dan and Dad to make sure I gave it a proper try.
The second 15 minutes went a lot better. Something clicked in my brain and I was lot better at drifting round the corners. I still turned the steering wheel too much on the handbrake turns, forgetting that the point was that I was sliding and not needing to turn the wheel. This session went far too quickly and I wanted to keep going and I was immediately itching to get back behind the wheel.
The third outing was fantastic. I nailed the handbrake turns to the delight of my instructor (who needn't have sounded quite so surprised I got it), and as I threw the car round the corners, sliding sideways at every opportunity I may even have let out a whoop or two of joy! As we went round for the last lap, my instructor asked if I was proud of myself, as I should be. And I finished with a big grin, knowing that there they probably wasn't a career in rally driving awaiting me but I'd made a massive improvement from the start of the day.
I also got taken out for a spin with a rally driver who was a lot faster than me! I wouldn't say it was scary as such, just very impressive now I knew how difficult it was to do!
In all I definitely enjoyed the day. I'd been wanting to do something like this and I feel as though I achieved something even though I wouldn't say I was a better driver because of it. It was a fantastic day out - thanks Dad!
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