Mark Haybittle is passionate about rally driving. He set up Extreme Driving in 1992 and has involved thousands of people in this exciting motor sport.
Extreme Driving’s sales and marketing manager started Ladies Only Rally Experience to allow females to have a go. Typically, women have purchased gift vouchers for the men in their lives, without considering themselves. Ladies Only Rally Experience has shown that women have a tremendous aptitude for the sport.
Rallies and trials are usually run in forests on unsealed roads and range from novice, club and state levels right up to Australian and World Rally Championship events. The experience of driver and navigator working together gives great satisfaction.
The course offered by Extreme Driving starts with a 30-minute briefing on the principles of driving a rally car. Safety is paramount. Participants are placed in the driver’s seat and instructors in passenger seats of fully prepared rally cars.
The participant learns to drive with an instructor in the wide open spaces around a series of witch's hats and trees. When the time is right, participants and instructors swap seats.
Confidence and control techniques are taught and speed is gradually increased within the individual driver's capabilities. Everyone must wear helmets and all cars are fitted with roll cages and racing harnesses.
The second most important thing about the course, after safety, is that it must be fun for everyone.
Location
The Hunter Valley, two hours north of Sydney.
Cost
Extreme Driving Ladies Day rally drives start at $495 per person. They also run mixed days. It runs year round, by appointment.
Please note prices are valid at time of filming.
More information
ExtremeDriving.net
HPOTS Centre
Quarrybylong Road, Cessnock 2325
Ph: 1800 648 846
www.extremedriving.netinfo@extremedriving.netQantas: 13 13 13
