Get Down And Dirty With A Tank!

December 19, 2011 0 Comments

If you ever get a little bored with the daily trip to work from behind the wheel of your Renault Clio or your Vauxhall Astra, it could be time to sign up to one of the many experience days that are currently available. Some of the most popular offerings include a drive around a muddy rally course and a spell attempting to manoeuvre a Ferrari around a track.

While these activities are undoubtedly extremely exciting, especially for people who really enjoy car driving, there is one activity which would appeal to just about anybody – driving a tank. Not just some armoured personnel carrier that looks a little tank-like, of course, but a real live army vehicle with a gun turret, preferably one that has seen a little action over the years.

The ultimate power trip

There are several locations which offer the general public this once in a lifetime opportunity, and they are staffed by experts who will be able to show visitors exactly how to get from A to B. Remember, this isn’t just a case of sitting in a cockpit and steering a wheel to get around the circuit. Oh no, it’s nothing like that at all.

For virgin tank drivers, the first thing they notice is the lack of a steering wheel. These gargantuan behemoths are actually steered by pulling either of two levers, which takes a little time to get used to. The sheer size of the vehicles also means the driver has to be aware of when to start pulling on the specific lever.

Feel your way around

The gears are generally operated with a foot pedal, but because the driver is usually unable to see inside the seating area, he or she will have to get used to the feel of the controls. The cockpit in most tanks is cramped and dark, and the driver will often only have the head protruding, so a sure touch is a definite requirement.

While many of us will fantasise about taking a tank out onto the open road, this is of course an impossibility. The damage that can be done by an inexperienced driver doesn’t bear thinking about, so it’s best to stick to the standard circuit as dictated by the local tank driving centre.

However, for an extra fee, some centres will allow visitors to drive straight over an old car. The feeling of immense power when crushing a vehicle is well worth the expense, because the experience will live long in the memory. Let’s just hope it isn’t your Subaru contract hire car!