Fast and Furious, Cessnock, NEW SOUTH WALES
Airing Date: Sep 13th, 2004
Extreme Rally Driving run rally driving courses at a rally course in Cessnock, just north of Sydney.
Apart from being fast and exciting, safety is paramount. An instructor sits beside you at all times ensuring you learn proper car control techniques. All participants wear helmets and cars are fitted with racing harnesses and roll cages as precautionary measures. Participants increase their speed and skills within their own capabilities and confidence levels.
Beginners are welcome and are introduced to the basic skills. Participants are run through the different cars, in terms of front or rear wheel drive, and how this affects the car's handling. You then get an introduction to cornering, throttle and steering control.
During the morning, you'll get four driving sessions on the open dirt skidpan, which is clear of all potentially harmful obstacles. The instructor is seated beside you at all times to give constant advice and encouragement.
It's easy to learn to slide the cars in the clockwise and anti-clockwise direction. Two participants are driving at any one time and participants will continue to rotate through the cars. It is a valuable exercise to watch others and identify your own skills and weaknesses as a driver. At the end of this session, you will have earned a lunch break.
The afternoon session is your chance to use your new driving skills on the mini rally course. You get to do two long laps in both cars in both a clockwise and anti-clockwise direction - all up that's eight laps on the rally course. The mini rally track consists of varied surfaces, tree-lined sections, slight bends and a hairpin turn.
By the end of the day you'll have experienced the all the excitement of driving a rally car. As well, you'll take away new car control skills invaluable for everyday driving situations.
Advanced courses are available to graduates of stage one. Stages two, three and four are conducted in groups of two to four people and focus more on racing and navigating skills.
The facts
Qantas will get you to Sydney with prices starting at $105 from Melbourne and $255 from Perth.
Qantas
Tel: 13 13 13
You can stay at the Comfort Inn Cumberland, where rooms start from $95 a double per night with breakfast included.
Comfort Inn Cumberland
Tel: 02 4990 6633
Rally driving courses start from $995 for full day and $495 for half day, including lunch.
LIVE Adrenalin
Tel: 1800 763 762
Suggested reading material: Lonely Planet
Prices correct at 13/09/04
