Australian Penthouse

Race a V8 around Sydney’s historic Oran Park Raceway

By Brett Colbert

Fancy yourself as a bit of a wheelman? Well, V8MAX is giving you the opportunity to hop into the hot seat of a race-prepped V8 Ford or Holden for an adrenaline-charged fang around Sydney’s Oran Park Raceway.

Upon arrival, you’ll attend a mandatory drivers’ briefing, hosted by one of the qualified V8MAX training staff, and learn the basics of racing, including braking zones, apexes and gear selection. This invaluable knowledge will help you maximise the performance you can strangle out of the car. Next, you’ll head to the pits to get suited up, and choose which beast you want to race. There’s a selection of Falcons and Commodores, all fitted with full roll-cages and race-tuned motors, brakes, suspension and gearboxes (an automatic option will be available next month).

After a quick detour to the gents for a nervous wee, your car thunders into pit lane, where you pose for a picture next to your beast. Then you jump behind the wheel and get strapped in. In the passenger seat is a driver coach, who offers a few expert tips to have you hooning around the track in no time—while keeping you out of trouble.

Now it’s time to race! As you press the ignition button and the V8 animal comes alive, growling and barking, a wide smile will crawl across your face. Now grab first gear and lead the car out of the pits and onto the track… Drop the hammer! With your race eyes on, you’ll haul arse like a V8 Supercar driver, braking late, cornering hard, and slamming the throttle down as early as possible. Get it all spot-on and you’ll be belting down the front straight, white-knuckled, in excess of 200km/h. Eventually, you’ll be shown the chequered flag, which, sadly, signals the end of your race day. But don’t despair, because you can buy a DVD highlighting your drive (this is shot using the two in-car cameras). With your DVD in hand, you can relive the action forever, and brag to all your mates about how racy you are!

This is an absolutely mind-blowing experience that you really must try yourself.

A V8MAX voucher would make a great gift (thanks, Mrs Colbert!), or the major prize at a corporate event. And the ladies need not be shy because V8MAX offers something for everyone, with automatic transmissions to be fitted to some of the race cars, and passenger rides also available.

V8MAX is taking bookings until mid-2010, after which Oran Park will be closed forever.

So there is no better time than right now to test your mettle behind the wheel at this historic track, before it’s gone for good…

V8MAX is offering Australian Penthouse readers 5 PER CENT OFF the ticket price!
Log on to: www.v8max.com, or give them a call on 1300 797 220, and remember
to quote promotional code pnt167 to obtain the discount. Offer is valid for the first
250 applicants, or until July 15, 2009.

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