Motor Madness & Silverstone with Russel & Brigitte

 Motor Madness & Silverstone 

We set off for the iconic Silverstone Race Circuit. Famous for hosting the Formula 1 British Grand Prix since 1948, and a range of other motorsport events. It was the perfect place to begin our motorsport-filled week. Our first stop was Luffield Corner, where we enjoyed a stunning view of the track at one of its most famous corners. We also marvelled at the mural of racing legends Lewis Hamilton and David Coulthard. 

We explored the Silverstone Museum, which offered a fascinating journey through motorsport history, dating back to its origins as a World War II airfield. Highlights included an immersive experience of the Silverstone starting grid, a chance to sit in a real F1 car, and the thrill of racing on a detailed Scalextric replica of the circuit. We capped off our museum visit with a 3D cinema experience that simulated the rush of racing around the Silverstone track in various cars and motorcycles. It was exhilarating!

It was time to get fast and furious down at the race track!Formula Fast Indoor Karting provided a day packed with adrenaline and excitement. We geared up in fireproof racing suits, helmets, and gloves, then received a full safety briefing before hitting the track. Group one kicked things off with a tutorial on driving the 200cc karts, followed by a thrilling 25-minute race. Everyone quickly got the hang of it, with some spectacular overtakes and lightning-fast speeds. 

Once the checked flags were flown, it was group two’s turn to race, and once again, impressive driving skills were on display. Cameron posted the fastest lap time at an astonishing 41.604 seconds. After the races, we celebrated on the podium.

We made our way to the British Motor Museum, home to over 400 classic cars. Highlights included a visit to John Carter’s Garage, a 1930s-style independent garage, and a journey through a century of motoring history on the Time Road. We were fascinated by the range of classic cars, including the iconic Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger, the Thunderbirds FAB1 car, and the legendary DeLorean from Back to the Future. Our favourite, however, was the Robin Reliant from Only Fools and Horses—it was ‘lovely jubbly’! We explored the Jaguar zone, where we saw rare cars, including the D-type prototype from 1954 and the unique XJ13. It was a car lover’s dream come true! 

There were smiles all round down at Volcano Falls Adventure Golf, where we enjoyed a fun round of indoor crazy golf. The course offered plenty of challenges, and the competition was fierce, with a very close finish. Afterward, we took a detour to the arcades to win some great prizes.

 

We headed to Simply Race Driving Simulator, where we got a taste of professional racing in simulators equipped with steering wheels, pedals, and bucket seats. The Formula 1 simulations on the Watkins Glen circuit were as close to the real thing as it gets! After some exciting practice laps, we raced against each other, with the podium results as follows: 3rd place, Chris; 2nd place, Gareth; and 1st place, Cameron. With adrenaline still high, we went to Vertigo VR, where we each chose our own virtual reality adventure—whether it was riding roller coasters, fighting off snowmen, or escaping dinosaurs. The immersive experience was wild and exhilarating! 

With Halloween just round the corner we spent the evening carving pumpkins. Everyone thought carefully about what design they were going to do and it was lovely to see everyone enjoying this activity immensely. 

There were some truly impressive designs on display.

We were in movie heaven as we headed to the National Film and Sci-Fi Museum in Milton Keynes. We posed for pictures with Stormtroopers and admired iconic costumes and props from Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, and Doctor Who. 

How much fun was our sing-along at the karaoke box. Liam rocked ‘Beat It,’ Wesley brought the house down with ‘Summer Nights’ from Grease, Gareth dazzled us with ‘Dancing Queen,’ Cameron serenaded us with ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight,’ and Stephen gave an unforgettable performance of ‘Sweet Caroline.’ It was a riot of laughter and fun! 

 We geared up and entered the battle zone, where we unleashed a flurry of laser fire in an epic battle of strategy and skill. The competition was fierce, and the scores reflected our intense focus and energy.