The Hangout: Born to be wild

I’m always on the lookout for different ways to spoil the people I love, and I really do love a good surprise. Mostly, I love surprising and treating others, so I take these things very seriously. I sort of wish my full-time job was just buying and wrapping pressies for people. Even strangers. But that’s my dream job. Imagine!

Anyway, I was chatting to a friend recently and she told me that right at the top of her bucket list was taking an advanced driving lesson. She even said it might be fun to do it with BMW. It kinda got me thinking. I’m not exactly a full-blown petrolhead, but even I can appreciate how exciting that kind of thing would be, especially if you’ve got a bit of a need for speed.

It turns out there’s a place where you can actually live that dream. And no, you don’t need to sell a kidney to buy that Ferrari. You just turn up, get handed the keys to one, and off you go. It’s a bit like stepping into a movie where you’re the star and suddenly you have a garage full of supercars and no reason to drive anything boring ever again.

When I went, I got to drive some properly jaw-dropping cars. We’re talking Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Porsches and there’s even an Ariel Atom which basically feels like strapping yourself to a rocket and hoping for the best. The Audi R8 was smooth and powerful, the kind of car you imagine James Bond taking to the supermarket. And the Lamborghini Gallardo? A loud, fiery diva of a car that makes you feel like you’ve just won a Grand Prix every time you turn a corner.

It’s one of those experiences that doesn’t just tick a box. It drifts around the box with smoke pouring off the tyres and the sound of a V10 engine rattling your ribcage. Whether you’re giving it as a gift, booking it as a treat for yourself, or planning a fun team day out, it’s guaranteed to raise heart rates and eyebrows.

The best part? When it’s all over, you hand the keys back and drive home in your perfectly sensible hatchback with a massive grin on your face. No maintenance, no insurance, no guilt. Just the memory of doing something completely outrageous and amazing. It’s like borrowing someone else’s incredibly cool life for the day. Lol! 

I still catch myself daydreaming about that R8. And the Gallardo. I’m already planning another visit and what I’ll be driving next. 

If you fancy giving it a go, Race Day Events is based at Stoneridge Centre, Edenvale, Modderfontein, Johannesburg. Bookings can be made at race-day-events.co.za. You’ll find them on Facebook at jwcmotorsport and on Instagram as racedayevents. For questions or wild declarations of love for the Lambo, email them at info@race-day-events.co.za.