May 9 2009 Laura Coventry
Clinging for dear life on to the luxurious leather seat, I rocket through a chicane, scream round a hairpin and roar along the straight at a breathtaking 120 mph.
I am securely strapped into the passenger seat of a Ferrari 360 Modena - which cost more than my house - and I'm being driven around Knockhill Racing Circuit by its owner, Graham Brunton.
This weekend, more than £30million worth of cars will be on display at the track, including Graham's Ferrari, for the Scottish Motorfair, the country's official motor show.
The Italian supercar, which gulps petrol at 10mpg, is Graham's pride and joy.
He is the managing director of Formula Hot Laps, which runs the Ferrari Experience, and is the longest-serving instructor at the Fife circuit.
With more than 20 years of racing under his belt, I know I am in good hands. But that doesn't stop me squealing as Graham winds the howlingV8 engine up to full revs.
Belting around Knockhill in some of the world's fastest cars is all in a day's work for Graham. He undoubtedly has one of the coolest jobs in the country.
This weekend, visitors to the Scottish Motorfair will have the chance to win a ride around the track in the Ferrari.
Dad-of-two Graham runs his business with his wife, Heather, a former museum curator, and they put in long hours at the track. But for Graham it's not just a job, it's his life.
The 42-year-old said: "Like anything, it becomes a job. On a daily basis, that's how the public perceive it.
Once you get people out there, they thoroughly enjoy it.
"You never ever wake up not wanting to go to work.
"I always just hope everything clicks into place and the weather is going to be reasonable. A lot of these people have waited 12 months to come along and their expectations are really high.
"I suppose this is the entertainment business.
"You always get people asking how you get into a job like this. I was racing myself as soon as I could. I first competed at 17. I didn't do karting.
"I went straight into single-seater racing and was always involved in motor racing up until then.
"I have always been a fan of fast cars. My first car was a Ford Escort RS2000." Heather, 43, who enjoys the occasional weekend trip in the Ferrari, said: "My husband has a passion for motorsport and loves to get other people involved in it." Graham is a former Edinburgh taxi driver, who quit ferrying people around the capital to become an instructor at Knockhill in 1989.
He launched his own business in 2003 and it's become a real family affair. Besides Heather, Graham also employs his son, Craig, 21. Craig could change a gearbox at 14 and now helps service the cars.
He's a rising motorsport star and won the Scottish newcomers' title in 2007.
He uses his expertise to spin members of the public around the track in a two-seater Formula 1-style car.
This weekend, Craig will be one of the on-track instructors and will also be demonstrating one of the cars.
Graham, whose everyday car is a BMW X5 4x4, added: "The pleasure in the job is seeing people making improvements in their driving.
"The major problem is people try to go too quick, too soon. But we are there to help, not to spoil your day.
"We've never had a serious accident. Out on the track, it's probably the safest members of the public have ever driven in a car, because it's geared towards safety.
"A lot of people are hyped up and buzzed up when they leave here." Besides Formula Hot Laps, Graham also runs Graham Brunton Racing, preparing cars for other people to race.
He has just bought a Formula 1 simulator, which looks like an actual Formula 1 car, and is available for hire.
The state-of-the-art machine, which has a "butt kicker" in the seat and forced feedback in the steering wheel, allows racing fans to experience all the world's top circuits, as well as Knockhill. It's just one of many attractions to try out at the motor show.
Despite the grim economy, Graham's racing experience business is booming.
"Everyone's talking about recession but, in my business, there are no signs that we'll struggle.When it's doom and gloom in life, people want a bit of escapism and want to enjoy themselves. I give them that.
"If I wasn't doing this, I have absolutely no idea what I would do. It's all I know. It's hard work and we work long days and in all weathers, but there is no worst thing about this job.
"There's no typical day here. They are all different. I thoroughly enjoy it.
"If I didn't enjoy it, I'd sell everything and have a go at property." Pulling into the Knockhill car park in my Peugeot 206, it is immediately obvious that Driving Experiences attracts serious petrolheads.
I park next to a Lotus, a Honda Civic Type R and an Alpha Romeo 147 T-Spark.
I am introduced to driving instructor SimonWhincup, 26, before climbing into the driving seat of a sporty Seat Cupra.
Simon tells me he drove his first go-kart when he was four and was hooked.
He's been a full-time instructor at Knockhill for three years. After a quick briefing, I head off down the pit lane and out on to the track.
Three laps later, it's Simon's turn to show me how it's done, and he takes no prisoners, hurling the Seat around the track at up to 115mph.
It's exciting, but not as nerve-wracking as my next challenge - driving a single-seater racing car alone on the track.
I slide myself into the cockpit of the low-slung machine before part-time instructor Rory Bryant, 20, gives me the rundown on the controls, including the push-button gearbox.
Rory began racing last year and is currently looking for a sponsor. He's at Knockhill on a work placement.
The Edinburgh University student, who is studying sport and recreation management, laughed: "It beats stacking shelves in Tesco. Getting paid for driving fast cars always wins."
Soon, my adrenalin is pumping as I set off down the pit lane again, this time in the single-seater, with no instructor to direct me and no one else on the track.
I cruise at a leisurely pace for the first few laps before gathering all my courage and flooring the accelerator. I rocket down the straight at what seems like 200mph.
It is an amazing feeling going so fast in the little single-seater.
As I thunder around the circuit, I try to imagine I'm Formula 1 champ Lewis Hamilton smashing a lap record.
That's when it all goes horribly wrong.
While travelling at a modest 76mph, I lose control on a bend and spin the car..
Amazingly, I manage to stay on the track and creep back into the pit lane, where I am greeted by Craig.
He's going out for a few laps in the Formula 1-style passenger ride car, and invites me to jump in.
Once I am safely strapped in behind him, it's a quick thumbs-up and we're off.
As we rocket round the track, the wind whistles through my helmet but the car's engine keeps me warm.
There are a few hairy moments when the tyres lose their grip and spin, but it is a truly exhilarating experience.
Graham then takes me out in the Ferrari, which cost £129,000.
My final experience of the day is at Knockhill's Rally School with Sasha Pearl, who proved to me that women are just as good, if not better, drivers than men.
At first, I try my hand at driving a Ford Escort, complete with with roll-bars, down the rally stage, winding in and out of the corners.
Then it is rally driver Sasha's turn and almost immediately I am pinned into my seat as she speeds off down the track.
Demonstrating her amazing skills, she steers us in and out of the winding circuit.
As the wheels spin on the tarmac, I fear we are losing control, but Sasha quickly brings the steering back.
Barely out of breath, she revs the engine and crosses the finish line, while I am left panting and trembling.
This weekend's Scottish Motorfair is a must for all motorsport fans and car enthusiasts. On display at the show will be an A-Z of cars, from the Alfa to the Zonda.
Free test rides will be available so you can experience the Knockhill track.
Entertainment on the track includes supercars, sidecar displays and classic and modern Ferraris.
Off the track, there are lots of exciting things to see for all the family, including Truckmania, the new Bikezone, and a world record attempt by the Go-fast Jet Pack Man.
Last year, the family show attracted 19,500 visitors. Tickets are £15 for adults and £8 concessions. A family ticket is £40.
There are a range of driving packages available from Knockhill. For more information, visit www.knockhill.com or www.formulahotlaps.com
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