Tank Driving Experiences in the heart of the Midlands 30 minutes from Birmingham, Nottingham & Leicester
Ploughing through mud, plunging into pits, powering up hills… tank and military vehicle driving experiences really get the blood pumping. So helmets on, goggles down, let’s mix it up with some serious boy’s (and girl’s) toys!
Depending on which tank driving activity you choose, you will be romping around one of two different tracks. One, a rough and muddy, purpose-built area has been designed for the FV432 armoured personnel carrier and FV433 ‘Abbot’ self-propelled gun tank. The other, a grassy obstacle course, has been designed specifically for the Hagglund Amphibious Carrier, Bedford MJ 4×4 Troop Carrying truck and Mini tanks.
Whether you’re after a family day out, a challenging corporate activity day or the biggest stag party or hen party in living memory, you’re in for the drive of your life!
This is the ultimate stress buster. The crunch of twisting metal, the pop of headlights and boom as the windscreen blows, there’s nothing quite like it.
You will be collected from the car park in the instructor’s vehicle and taken to the site where uniforms and helmets are issued. You will then be given a thorough safety briefing and your instructor (a highly experienced, ex-soldier) will demonstrate how the tank is driven around the off road course.
Every participant picks a number out of a hat to decide the order of driving the tank – please note, one car is demolished by 5 drivers.
Attention! This will be one of the most exciting tank driving days of your life! On arrival you will be issued with an army combat uniform and helmet and split into groups of four or five, each group being allocated a different instructor.
Throughout the day you will drive four exciting ex-military vehicles; completing approximately eight laps over two different fields. Vehicles include:
- Abbot self-propelled gun tank
- FV432 Armoured Personnel Carrier
- BV206 Hagglund Amphibious Carrier
- Bedford MJ 4×4 Troop Carrying truck
Lunch will consist of a hearty stew in the winter, and bacon or sausage sarnies in the summer. Tea and coffee are available on request at the reception desk throughout the day.
This 2-hour event gives you tons (literally) of huge boy’s toys to choose from and it’s ideal for the younger driver. You will cover four laps over two courses in your choice of two vehicles from the following list:
- FV432 Armoured Personnel Carrier
- BV206 Hagglund Amphibious Carrier
- DAF 4×4 Troop Carrying Vehicle
- Military Police Land Rover Discovery (with blues and twos)
- Land Rover Series 3 109 ¾ ton FFR
- OC TADS
- Mini Tanks
If there’s space on the day, you’re welcome to bring up to two spectators with you, but please check in advance. Spectators may be offered a ride, but this depends on the size of the group and cannot be guaranteed.
Garlands Tank Driving Experiences meet all the latest health, safety and fire regulations. After a 15 minute safety briefing, you’ll be kitted out in overalls, high visibility vests, goggles, ear defenders and helmets – then it’s time to make the mud fly and play in the biggest, meanest boy’s toys ever!
You can give Garlands Tank Driving Experiences as a gift voucher and because you can get here from pretty much anywhere in the midlands, it really is the perfect location for an amazing day out.
£111.00 per person (includes refreshments)
This 2-hour event provides an exciting taste of ex-military vehicles.
You will cover 4 laps over 2 courses with the opportunity to drive 2 vehicles from a selection including:
- Abbot self propelled gun tank
- 432 Armoured Personnel Carrier
- BV206 Hagglund Amphibious Carrier
- Bedford MJ 4×4 Troop Carrying Truck
Spectators: £30 per spectator, including refreshments and rides where possible.
Full Day Ex-Military Event
£185.00 per person (includes lunch and refreshments)
You will drive 4 exciting ex-military vehicles in a day, completing approximately 8 laps over 2 fields. This is the ultimate driving challenge, providing a truly unforgettable day. Military Vehicles for this activity include:
- Abbot self propelled gun tank
- 432 Armoured Personnel Carrier
- BV206 Hagglund Amphibious Carrier
- Bedford MJ 4×4 Troop Carrying Truck
Spectators: £30 per spectator includes lunch, refreshments and rides where possible
Full Day Car Crushing Event
£300.00 per person (includes lunch and refreshments)
Full day and morning Tank Driving and Ex-Military activities start at 10:00am and finish at approximately 1:00pm or 4:15pm. Afternoon sessions start at 1:30pm and finish at approximately 4:15pm.
Minimum age 12 years. Minimum height 5’0”
The minimum number for a group booking is 12 drivers, unless there is a session running onto which you can be added.
Maximum 20 drivers for a group booking with no spectators.
Alternative areas may be used to drive the vehicles in overly wet conditions.
What you will need
- Comfortable clothing
- A change of clothing
- A valid driving license (only for the Bedford)
- The guts of a tank commander
The FV433 Abbot is built by Vickers, who have been producing tanks since World War I. It has a Rolls Royce multi-fuel engine with semi automatic transmission just like the FV432 and is driven in exactly the same way, with one major difference – a 105mm gun on the exterior. This gun has a range of up to 17km, but don’t get carried away, to comply with UK Law, it has been de-activated.
The FV432 is an armoured personnel carrier with a Rolls-Royce multi-fuel engine and semi-automatic transmission. Steering and braking happens via a pair of levers that apply brakes to the sprocket wheels. As the brake is applied to one track, the other keeps moving, causing the vehicle to turn. The FV432 is versatile and durable and can carry up to 10 fully equipped soldiers.
Hagglund amphibious carriers are powered by either a Mercedes diesel or Ford V6 petrol and have an automatic gearbox, with all four tracks in driving mode. Steering is provided by hydraulic rams that twist to force it to turn. The Hagglund is easy to drive and never ceases to impress.
It’s back to basics and raw power with this troop carrier. With no frills like power steering, the Bedford MJ is built to take the toughest treatment. This 4-ton beauty is powered by a 6-cylinder turbo diesel engine and has selective 2 or 4 wheel drive and high and low transmission. The Bedford has impressive off road capabilities and its rugged features make it a thrilling drive.
Miniature tanks are powered by an air-cooled Honda engine. They have hydraulic transmission and are controlled by two joysticks or foot pedals to make them accelerate, turn or stop. They’re serious fun and absolute child’s play to operate so they’re ideal for anyone to drive, no matter how little off road experience they have.
