There are a lot of things I've just never got round to doing. For example, one of the Knockhill Experiences. I've been meaning for years to have a go in a proper racing car on the twisty, undulating track we all know and love so much, but job changes, flat moves etc have always got in the way. Until now, when I finally got round to going for the Legends Unlimited Package.

Friday the 8th of September was thankfully a very different weather day to the couple of weeks preceeding it, so I and several other eager faced and nervous newcomers to the track arrived at Knockhill to lovely sunny and warm conditions with not a breath of wind in the air. First stop, the Champion's Clubhouse to sign in and take in the safety briefing, delivered by Iain Inglis. It's pretty basic stuff such as an introduction to the track, how the day would pan out, instructions on keeping out of the way of faster cars, flag rules and so on. From there, we are directed to Race Control and the pitlane to await the first part of our day.

As the 19th driver in line for the first segment, I had a moment to wander about. The CCTV cameras those of us at the SMRC meetings had been hearing about were on view and you get a pretty good view of the course from there. Out into the pitlane to reveal six legends in a row, a Seat Leon Safety Car, four Seat Ibiza Cupras and a big line of single seaters for those taking part in that experience.

When you are called over the tannoy (on this occasion by Duncan Vincent, keeping his vocal skills practiced for the club meetings..) it's time to get a helmet and get strapped into the driver seat of one of the Ibizas with a Knockhill instructor. The point of this is to first of all get a feel for the track and for the instructor to see how advanced or otherwise your driving is. Make a huge mess of this (easily the easiest part of the day) and I'd assume they wouldn't risk one of their expensive racing cars on you! My instructor turns out to be no less than Jonathan Adam, multiple Seat Cupra Championship and Renault Clio Cup race winner, indeed winner of one of the BTCC supporting Seat races the previous week. After a few brief points about what he wants me to do, we leave the pits and complete two laps of the track, Adam pointing out lines, turning in points, gearing, braking and so on. Back to the pitlane and time for the next part.

The four people who have just been out in the Ibizas are now bundled into the Leon where we are introduced to ex Scottish Formula Ford Zetec Champion and another driver who was out on track the previous week at the BTCC meeting, Joe Tanner. The next two laps are a rollercoaster ride in which you are shown what a very fast lap is like followed by a lap in which all the braking points, turning in points etc are wrong to show you what you shouldn't be doing!

Back to the pits and it's time to get down to what we're really here for. The group splits into those who are doing the Single Seater experience and those of us who are there for the Legends and we meet up with Scottish Legends supremo Aly Hunter and Legends mechanic Michelle - both very familiar characters to anyone who knows anything about racing Legends in Scotland. After some introduction to the general layout of the controls and some stern warnings with regards to how we should drive in this first of what will be three sessions in the cars, it's time to hit the track.

It's a tight fit in the Legend, but the controls are all pretty much within easy grasp so it doesn't take long to get used to. The sequential gearbox is pretty intuitive and the steering whilst fairly heavy is very responsive. With the engines restricted to less than half of normal for this first session, it was just a case of learning the way around the track in the little machine whilst testing out the brakes and turn in points. With the single seaters all out on track at the same time it's a busy place, which almost led to trouble towards the end of the session when I passed one of the single seaters heading into the hairpin (nothing in mirrors) just to find at arrival to the turn in point that the insanely fast Formula Hotlaps car had caught me out of nowhere. Quick moment of diving out of the way panic to let him on his way and the chequered flag comes out to indicate I need to come back in. Suitably pleased at learning the basics, it's off to Kinnaird's Restraunt for a free lunch.

Back in the pitlane again afterwards, the single seater guys have packed up and gone home so the legends now only have to share the track with the Graham Brunton run Formula Hotlaps and Ferrari Experience cars. The engines are now unrestricted and it's time to give a full-fat Legend a try. Upon leaving the pits, the extra power is obvious, the rev-counter now going much higher. After a couple of slowish laps it's time to get the power down and have fun, though the hairpin and the end of the main straight into Seat prove to be my bane as I struggle slightly with getting my braking points and downshifts quite right. Back in after 7 laps and Aly Hunter gives a couple of pointers with my line into Seat.

Final session and I'm determined to get my head down and get it right. After a few laps I get the braking and downshift into Seat Curves spot on and clip the inside kerbing. Run out the bottom and into Scotsman, taking as much of the outside kerb as I dare before entering the Butchers complex. Up the hill again and take all the left hand kerb into the blind John R Weir chicane, chucking the car right as I crest the hill and getting the power flat all the way along the backstraight. Brake into yet another blind uphill right at Clark, running along the edge of the kerb on the left before running down the Hislop straight in fifth and then hard on the brakes and down to third for the hairpin. The rear hangs out slightly as the power goes down on the exit and it's back up to fifth as you arrive at the finish line. The lap felt brilliant and even though it was probably slow when compared to those who race these things every couple of weeks, to me it felt like a major achievement. I only got the lap right everywhere that one time but it felt great.

Back to the pits for a debrief and to receive the certificates and the day is done. Christmas is (somewhat thankfully) gone for another year, but if you've got some surplus Christmas money left a voucher for one of these experiences is a fantastic idea - check out the Knockhill website for full listings.

Many thanks to the staff at Knockhill, the instructors and to Aly Hunter and his Legends crew for a fantastic day out.