8 of the best experiential gifts for car enthusiasts under $500

Wondering what to get the revhead in the family for Christmas? Here are eight awesome automotive experiences that won’t break the bank.

Give your loved one the chance to pretend they’re an all-action hero, with a lesson at Stunt Driving School. Driving a modified Toyota 86 stunt car at Melbourne’s Sandown Raceway, they will master 180-degree handbrake turns, 360-degree spins, and take part in a timed motorkhana competition before being taken for a ride on two wheels, in a modified two-wheeling car. $249.

Do you know a wannabe V8 race car driver? In a Fastrack V8 Drive Experience, they’ll be kitted out in a race suit, helmet, and gloves and hit the track for some exhilaratingly fast action, with a pro driver in the passenger seat giving them some hot tips on braking, accelerating and navigating those corners. Available on racetracks in Adelaide, Bathurst NSW, Melbourne, Sydney and Darwin. From $199.

Head for the Adelaide Hills and take a wander around the National Motor Museum. Founded in 1965, it’s home to some great exhibitions exploring Australia’s motoring history, and has more than 300 vehicles on display, from a Holden 48-215 (the first car wholly manufactured in Australia) to a 2008 Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4 (0–100km/h in 2.46 seconds). Entry: $21.50.

If your loved one is a supercars fan, they’ll probably already have October 10–13, 2024, highlighted in their calendars. All you need to do is present them with their trackside tickets to the Bathurst 1000 and they’ll be popping the champagne and spraying it all over the place before you know it. You can register your interest here. From about $120.

Treat the Mad Max fan in your life. In a competition V8 race buggy (like a dune buggy on steroids) they can get sideways through the dirt and airborne over jumps, with an instructor who competes in the Australian Off Road Racing Championship sitting alongside to offer a helping hand. Off Road Rush offers race buggy experiences in six locations across Australia. From $250.

For some all-weather go-karting thrills, head to Ultimate Karting Sydney and test your skills on this high-grip, six-metre-wide concrete track, complete with hairpin bends, heavy braking zones, and 60km/h corners. The race-bred karts boast Honda 9hp 270cc engines – and junior karts are available for young drivers aged seven years and over. From $35.

Sometimes, you’ve just got to travel in style. Top-end sports car rentals can stretch into the thousands of dollars a day if you’ve got your heart set on, say, a Lamborghini. But you can still get something pretty darn special on our $500 budget. How does cruising around the Gold Coast or Byron Bay in a BMW 430i M Sport sound? $490 for 24 hours.

If you think drifting through a corner might be your gift recipient’s idea of bliss, look no further. In a Drift 101 class with Drift School Australia, they will head to Sydney Motorsport Park, Eastern Creek to learn how to use handbrake entries and donuts to perform the flowing drift of their dreams. Followed by two hot laps with a pro. $449.

^Disclaimer

^{Viva Energy Australia Pty Ltd (“Viva Energy”) has compiled the above article for your general information and to use as a general reference. Whilst all reasonable care has been taken by Viva Energy in compiling this article, Viva Energy does not warrant or represent that the information in the article is free from errors or omissions or is suitable for your intended use.}