Set to fly: Fabian Coulthard (left) and Roger the Dodger.

Here motorsport fans, thrill seekers and anyone with a lust for speed can revel in the ultimate track experience short of taking up the sport itself. When planning a quick hop across the Tasman recently, softie here decided hubby deserved more than the daily dragging around the shops and organised for him to test his driving skills behind the wheel of a race-replica V8 Holden Commodore.

Now I expected him to be delighted and indeed he was. But I also detected a hint of apprehension. I couldn’t understand why. “You raced [Holden] HQs for long enough and you’re a diehard Holden man, you even sell them so what’s the prob?” I asked.

Confession time – he might have driven well once but his amateur racing days were long over and age, he feared, had taken its toll on reaction times. He didn’t want to disgrace himself. “Piffle,” I said and as it turned out he needn’t have worried. He had a blast.

Not only did Roger the Dodger take several spins around the track with NZ-born V8 Supercar driver Fabian Coultard, who is a full time member of the Paul Morris Motorsports team, he was also planted behind the wheel of – wait for it –  a race replica FORD  and given a chance to show what he could do – nearly killed him that! Not the driving, the Ford! Neither the Davie Holden team at Manukau or the opposition South Auckland Ford boys will ever let him live it down.

On the other hand, he acquitted himself extremely well, keeping reasonable times over the 2.1km track and never once lost it on a corner. I don’t think I’ve seen him so chuffed since he took home his first win on the track. way back in the early ’90s.

In his own words – “that was absolutely great, a million dollar experience. I could do it all over again.” And at $449 for the 3x4 lap sessions (total of 12 laps) inclusive of classroom and in-car tuition it is certainly within the reach of most folk.

The $449 level one full programme in a 350 horsepower car wasn’t the only option although it was probably one of the most popular of the four available, which included two cheaper choices of a three lap drive ($165) or a six-lap drive ($275). Then there was the top of the range level two full programme ($695).

Given his time again, the husband says he would definitely go for the level two  programme which cannot be attempted until drivers have first completed level one – “just think more time and more grunt on track,” said hubby.

And for those wondering what makes level two so great it’s the increased engine power – 450 horsepower – resulting from modifications to the camshaft, cylinder heads and exhaust systems. The level two cars have V8 Supercar brakes (AP on Commodores and Brembo on Falcons) coil-over adjustable suspension, wider (10 inch) rear slick tyres (8 inch on level one), racing spool locked diff and a ‘Motec’ data logging system with print out.

Upgraded though they are, level two cars still don’t match the 600 horsepower available in the real McCoy, deemed just a tad too powerful, too rich and, most likely, an insurance nightmare, for the general public.

For those who don’t fancy driving themselves but would love a spin around the track, there is the option to travel as a passenger and enjoy several ‘hot laps’ with a qualified instructor. For petrol heads, a bit too tame me-thinks. “The way to go is definitely the self-drive experience preferably to level two,” Rog re-emphasised. “It’s more exhilarating and has the added pace for thrill seekers.”

While the chance to hurtle around the track and test your race skills is the big attraction at HPDC there a lot more to see at the $8 million purpose-built driver training and educational facility.

We took the opportunity to inspect the V8 Supercar workshop facilities operated by Paul Morris Motorsports. It included car maintenance, repair and fabrication areas, machine shop with CNC lathe and mill, network computer system, engine room and dyno, design office for technical engineers, car assembly area and race shop.

It was Paul Morris and American-based Nascar Busch series racer Marcos Ambrose who established the V8 Super School programme at the complex in 2004. The Paul Morris team has since designed a total of nine Holden Commodore Supercars and the facility has also been used by other race teams such as Toll HSV racing. Toll team driver Garth Tander’s crew was on site preparing to depart for Bahrain when we visited just after the Gold Coast Indy 300.

A driver training school also operates from the centre catering for everyone from young drivers to corporate companies for events, team building or even to raise the standard of driving amongst employees.

This comprehensive programme naturally takes advantage of all the facility has to offer including a 97 metre diameter skid pan which has a seven metre diameter turntable used for skid control, braking training and simulated wet, weather driving.

However, for most New Zealanders holidaying in Australia, the chance to indulge dreams of chequered flag victories is the big draw card. So, shoppers, next time you’re wondering what to do with fellow travellers who want to be anywhere but Pacific Fair, send them out to the Holden Performance Driving Centre where undoubtedly they’ll experience the thrill of a lifetime better, even, than the Big Drop just down the road at Dreamworld.

The Holden Performance Driving Centre can be found at 75 Norwell Road,

Norwell, Queensland. Check it out online at www.performancedriving.com.au