All I know, It’s called “Palmer”
We’ve got a full tank of gas, brand new semi-slick racing tires, a converted former WWII RAF airfield, seven different race-tuned cars, it’s cloudy and we’re wearing crash helmets.
Let’s hit it!
Ok, I admit the above line is a rip-off from a true classic. You can find the original here. But unlike the tale of the Jake & Elwood vs the Illinois state police, this time all cars returned safely to their hanger. No one wounded up in Juliette.
I took these pictures several years ago when I participated in one of Palmersports corporate events. Just think about a theme park for petrol heads with a large company entertainment budget. An unforgettable, fast-paced day of pure driving pleasure. We rode BMW M3, Caterham Super 8, two-seater Formula Jag and a single-seater Formula 3500, a race-tuned Renault Clio and these old 911s. We rode all of them, just as hard and fast as we could. The palmer instructors – riding with us on the passenger seat, are known for never telling you to slow down. They only say where you can go even faster. Brave bunch, I must admit…
Have I died and reached paradise?
I climbed out exhausted after completing about ten laps in the Porsche. Catching my breath, I took my Nikon camera. I then turned the shutter control into slow and tried to express the speed I felt riding those modern VW “beetles” around the bends. The soft English sunlight and my fast-paced colleagues did the rest.
Jonathan Palmer is a former F1 racing driver with a keen eye for business. After retiring from Grand Prix back in the late 80s, he went on to build a racing operation geared to the “rest of us”. The formula (pun not intended) is quite simple really. Lease an old World War II airstrip outside of London. Split it into four different tracks. Focus on seven different types of sports cars – each one delivering a different facet of the racing experience. Hire seasoned racing instructors and offer everyone to go out and try to complete the fastest laps he or she can. Package the whole thing as a full experience day with breakfast, VIP shuttling and trophies, and sell it to British and international corporates looking for a special bonus day for their executives, top salespeople and best customers. Sit back and watch the cash register go “Ka-Ching!”.
Palmersports – celebrating 25 years of operations this year – became a hit. No wonder. It is probably the most condensed single race day a car enthusiast can wish for. And, while it may not be cheap, it is, very likely the best corporate day, ever!
Proper disclosure. My buddies and I paid our own ticket. If you happen to know a company that includes a day at Palmer as one of its optional bonuses, and just happens to have an open marketing position, please let me know.
😉