Simulator Race Experience for Two

The Race centre was great but the vouc her was a nightmare to redeem. It was a gift otherwise I would've taken it back for a refund.

When did your experience take place? 17 Jul 2022

What was the name of the venue where your experience took place? The Race Centre

I bought two of these experiences one for my son and the other my partner; as a Christmas present for them both (Christmas 2021). As I was looking for a meaningful and personal gift this seemed to jump out at me as what had been described in the advert as something that is right up their street. As I said I had purchased the gift from Next at £49 each and gave these gifts to them on Christmas day to which they were extremely excited and happy about. In late February this year we booked a trip to go to North Yorkshire in April to see some family friends, so while we were up there at the time, we decided to book the experience which was located in Halifax, which was an hour and a half away from where we were staying at this time. When we arrived at the hotel on Friday the 15th my partner called the Halifax race center to double check what time our bookings where, which had already been confirmed two months prior by a phone call that we had booked the experience. However, when we had called to confirm this, they had no record of any booking under our name at all but said that they could squeeze us in at mid-day on the following day as there was only a couple of spots left for the whole day as they were “extremely busy” but yet when we got there, there was just some locals that were messing about in the area. When we arrived at the race center in Halifax, we were expecting a substantial complex of new and up to date equipment allowing us to be immersed in the experience as your advert reads “ This is your chance to slip into the shoes of some of the best formula 1 drivers as you buckle up and take on the worlds greatest grand prix circuits, from the comfort of the bespoke race pod as you experience the same tracks as an f1 race car driver using top quality equipment that allows you to be completely immersed in the simulation. Take a hold of the steering wheel which uses a force feedback system to give an amazingly authentic feeling, they are also equipped with shift paddles similar to those found on Modern formula 1 cars. Brake using the specially designed, which use grand prix strength brake springs. Watch yourself on the track using super high-resolution graphics on the large screen set before you and let yourself be absorbed by the life like visuals, to complete this experience you will be wearing top quality headphones, so you hear such sounds as the levels of grip, engine condition and the approaching competition around you.” Which sounded amazing. “Your event will include a series of timed sessions to find out who can get the fastest lap, chose your car and race circuit then get ready for an exciting and competitive grand prix event with full practice and qualifying sessions to determine who starts on pole position on the grid and then followed by a full-on grand prix race. With a number of races to determine the ultimate winner.” And this all above was pointed out in your leaflet that this was going to take at least 3 hours,* so as you can Imagine my son and partner reading all of this were buzzing with excitement. As I said before we arrived on Saturday at 11:30am and were told by the amusement/bowling alley arcade employee that somebody would arrive shortly to set everything up for us. When we were waiting we had a quick look at the equipment, there were 12 pods altogether all covered in dust, all sets of headphones were extremely basic and half ripped and torn along with being filthy dirty, also there were wires from all the equipment just everywhere on the path in front of you and on your seats in the pods, we waited until 12:10, and in the end a bar tender had to ring the person in charge of the simulators who turned up at 12:15 and seemed to be younger than me son who is 16. My son and partner where told to sit in a pod each and where told how to turn the steering wheel and how to press the brake and accelerator and were told that they had 15 minutes after sitting in a pod for 3 minutes my son was told to move as the pod he was in did not work, my son and partner then had a practice session for 10 minutes not even in formula 1 race cars they were then told that they had one more session of 15 minutes which my son had to move pods again because the system had crashed and was not working in the second pod he was moved to, they were then told that they were driving a touring car on thruxton race circuit which is not even an f1 circuit let alone they were not even using f1 cars. After there 15 minutes they were told to now both move because both of their “pods” were broken now and that that they would be put on Monte Carlo (Monaco) 1968 track layout, which they had approximately 2 minutes on before all of the “pods” crashed. Along with all this the set up was literally an office pc down beside not even a race pod just a car seat with a set of pedals and a steering wheel that you can buy out of any electronic shop along with the extremely pixelated TVs and the very poor sound from not even headsets but just cheap headphones which could be brought from your local supermarket. After we had moved from pod to pod our experience had lasted just over an hour. So, as you can understand myself, my partner and my son are very upset and completely disappointed with the whole experience, as it was nothing that was described in your experience leaflets that we had purchased. Also, I paid £49 per experience and while I was sitting at the venue there were leaflets on the table right in front of me saying you could pay for this experience on site at the venue/arcade for £16.99 for the experience itself. As you can imagine I feel very deceived by what was described in your leaflet as to what I purchased and frankly what you are advertising is completely false because our experience was nothing like what was described. Its not even the fact that I feel like I have overpaid for something it’s the fact that my partner and son were so excited for what they were going to experience then were thoroughly let down but what they did actually experience which I say again is nothing like what had been advertised. Myself personally I was so upset as they looked so excited in the beginning then they looked completely deflated and utterly disappointed with the whole experience and now I feel like I have really let them both down. I just really hope nobody else has the disappointment that my partner and son had to go through and had or have experienced at this particular venue I just hope your other venues are not as poor as this one was

When did your experience take place? 23 Apr 2022

What was the name of the venue where your experience took place? The Race Centre (Halifax)

Gift for my husband who loved it and cant wait to go again

When did your experience take place? September

What was the name of the venue where your experience took place? Southampton

No comments.

When did your experience take place? 25/11/18

What was the name of the venue where your experience took place? Halifax

I had this as a present. From the start to the end, it was amazing day. Would definitely go again.

When did your experience take place? Nurburgring

What was the name of the venue where your experience took place? Southampton

Used an Experience voucher for a 3 hour "Open Racing event" on the Monza circuit. Good fun and needs a lot of concentration! There were 16 people booked in (and 10 screens and race-'pods'/cockpits) so we were split into 2 groups of 8 for practise and qualifying. This was a 20 minute session, where we found out that Formula Ford cars are decidedly "skittish" - think Bambi on ice at times! After everyone had had a qualifying session, it was then into the races themselves. We had 4 roughly 12-minute races, so 2 races each, which didn't finish when the winner crossed the line, but when the last or penultimate driver did - so if you're good enough to win, you can continue racing looking to improve your line/times! Then it was a step up to the "big beasts", a 2007 F1 Sauber with 7 gears and 740-odd horsepower! Felt more under control with these - unless you got on the power too early and then it was insta-spin! Again there were 4 races - 2 each - of similar duration to the above, before the final standings were announced and the top 3 received their trophies atop the podium - but without the traditional Champagne-spraying!! All told, in a 3 hour session I was probably in the race-seat for about 70-80 minutes, and driving/racing for about 60 minutes in total. So although there's some waiting around if you're not racing, it never seems to be for too long and it's fascinating watching other players show how to do it - or not! The staff were knowledgeable and enthusiastic - especially when I asked for help getting around the 2 Lesmo corners - at which I seemed to spend more time in the gravel traps than on tarmac!!! And as far as I can tell, after qualifying the racers are generally split up into the better drivers and the less able, so people are competing against those of a similar standard. I had a very enjoyable 3 hours and when you look at it, it equates to £12 per hour which I think is pretty reasonable in this day and age. Even more so when I consider that the voucher (a gift) was originally for a "Helicopter Blast" experience which would have lasted a whole 5 minutes - and that's not a typo! If you're competitive, or just want to have a go.... go for it, you'll enjoy it!

When did your experience take place? May 2018

What was the name of the venue where your experience took place? The Race Centre, Eastleigh.

Bought this as a gift for my F1 mad husband and he absolutely loved it. He came first in the race and won a trophy too which was unexpected and a nice acknowledgement - would definitely recommend!

When did your experience take place? February 18

What was the name of the venue where your experience took place? Halifax

I was baught this for a present and i am so glad i was.I really enjoyed the day.The staff at the venue were of the highest quality the service was exceptional.

When did your experience take place? November

What was the name of the venue where your experience took place? The race centre Halifax

4 of us went and can not stop talking about it. Looking to do it again

When did your experience take place? 3 WEEKS AGO

What was the name of the venue where your experience took place? HALIFAX WEST YORKS

I bought this for my partner last Christmas and he finally got round to using it last month, and I must admit what a great gift it was. The whole experience lasted for around 3 hours, well worth the money. all racers young and old seemed to have fun. would definitely buy again.

When did your experience take place? October 29th 2017

What was the name of the venue where your experience took place? halifax race centre