I just went to a Bentley Driving Experience at Lime Rock Park earlier this week and wanted to share it with everyone here if they are considering it.

The event is run by Bentley NA, but you have to be invited by your Bentley dealer. I don't know if you have to be a Bentley owner, but if not, they definitely have to consider you a prospect. Space is limited and is assigned on a first come first serve basis. The event itself is 4 hours long and there are 2 events per day - 9AM-1PM and 1PM to 5PM. Price is $600 PP.

The event was hosted by a group of people from Bentley NA and it seems like they do this activity on a permanent basis. Bentley has also invited Guy Smith (2003 Team Bentley Le Mans winner) to the event.

As far as vehicles were concerned, they had a 2013 Arnage, a 2013 GT V8, a 2013 GTC, a 2013 GT Speed and a 2013 GTC.

In the beginning, there is a short briefing given by a safety director. He goes over the track as well as basic racing techniques (line, apex, braking points, etc). Then you are off.

The event consists of 3 activities. Participants are divided into four groups and each group is assigned to a different activity, so everything is done in parallel. In my event there were 4 people in my group.

Part 1 is a the race track.

You get assigned a "driving consultant". You and the consultant get into a 2013 GT Speed and do 4 laps around the track. First lap is the consultant driving and pointing out various things to you. Second lap is the "reconnaissance" lap where you either find out or get reminded at how much you suck at race driving and the remaining two laps are "do your best" laps. TIP: There is NO passing, so try not to get stuck behind someone who is super careful or just plain afraid to drive a 5,000 lbs missile at well over 100 Mph. It will ruin the experience. For example, I didn't have anyone in front of me and was able to hit 135Mph on the front straight, while my buddy was stuck behind someone slower and he could only do 120 or so. Out of the four GT Speeds doing this part, all but one (the one I ended up with) had ceramic brakes. So ask around.

Then you get a hot lap in a car with Guy Smith. WOW!!! I have to say Guy is amazing and the way he drives the car gives you a new appreciation for what Bentley has done with the GT, especially if you have driven on that track before (I have). As he drives you around the track, he explains what he is doing - all the turns, transitions, braking, etc. If you are into racing, this stuff is like crack to you. Even though the car he is driving is a base V8, the things he does with it are incredible. Guy is a very nice, down to earth person and doesn't mind answering questions, giving autographs, etc.

Part 2 is a "chauffeur" training in the Arnage. On the hood of the car there is a plate with a tennis ball in it. You drive the car around a short road course (annotated by cones). The objective is not to drop the ball meaning the ball has to stay in the plate. If it falls out, you get a 2-second penalty. Your entire run is timed and the person in the group with the shortest time wins some sort of a price. You get three attempts. I was trying to get a feel for how much power the Arnage has, so I lost miserably. Arnage is, of course, amazing (inside and out) and drives "small" relative to it's actual size.

Part 3 is the autocross where you get to drive a 2013 GTC between cones in a parking lot. First the Bentley folks demonstrate how it's done and then you get to do it youself. Three times. It was nice, but GTC has a very soft suspension and numb steering, so it does not like to be thrown around the course. Plus it started raining, so we had to put the top back up. Oh well.

The real surprise (and this was the unofficial part of the program) was that Bentley NA allowed a bunch of guys with pre-WWII Bentleys to attend the event. Not only we had these amazing cars on display, but these folks were kind enough to offer rides in THEIR cars around Lime Rock race track. This gives you a unique ability to get a little glimpse of what W.O. Bentley himself, as well as Woolf Barnato and the rest of the "Bentley Boys" experienced when they drove these cars at Le Mans races in 1930's. If you are into cars and racing, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I was blown away. I was even able to take a bunch of pictures with my car and those Bentleys. Check them out!

The event was concluded by lunch (very basic food, but of good quality). A white Bentley baseball cap is included with your experience

Overall the event was absolutely awesome. If you are not a Bentley owner, you will be blown away. If you are, you will still be blown away because you get to drive Bentleys the way they meant to be driven . One thing I would change is - I would get rid of the "chauffeur" part and replace it with another hot lap with Guy Smith - driving the Arnage. That would be insane. Or I would not mind driving the Arnage around the track myself.

I am attaching some pictures, let me know if you have any questions.

 

Some more pictures

 

Thanks for sharing, that sounds like an amazing experience.

 

Nice! Am sure everyone had a great time and the weather looked a bit wet at LRP for you. FYI will be there next weekend for the pro races if anyone wants to meetup.

Must admit when reading your post at first I started getting a bit pissed off no one invited lowly ol' me, but then when you said you only got four hot laps at the wheel??? And yes, being stuck behind someone slow at LRP with no option to pass.... bummer. LRP and the GT seem like opposites, so very twisty and slow a track for the beast, though come to think of it perfect for learning how she handles at what is close to normal road speeds without the ability to really go fast like at WGI for example. Good, fun, smart event run by a great company

Love those vintage cars at LRP, the way they have to saw the steering wheel to get around the tighter turns is great to watch! Wow am sure you had a great time being in the passenger seat!