Formula One: Want to drive a real Formula One car? Here's how.

If anyone who is a die hard formula one fan, there is always that crazy question that can go into someone's mind: "What could happen if I had a chance to drive one of those formula one cars?"

In the United States alone, there are many racing schools to get you started in any kind of racing. However, there are none that have the exact specifications that can make that huge fan stand up and be proud that he or she drove a real formula one racing machine.

However, in Europe, where formula one is king, many schools give you that simulated feeling without have to go to your neighborhood Playstation to get that feeling.

British-owned company, Wild side Adrenaline sports, can get you driving a vintage formula one car at the famous Magny-Cours circuit in France that can make you remember that drive forever.

But it is a 1994 Larousse car that I drove, and I had wondered if there is something that is closer to the current specifications that were changed in 1998.

Well, I am happy to say that there is. But you have to be patient, because this location is in France, but further south, down in the lavender state of Provence, just 45 minutes from the famous seaside resort of St. Tropez in the town of Luc en Provence. This is the TAG Heuer racing school.

Many tour operators have no idea how to get a package for you. The reason is because the area sits nearly in the middle of nowhere, major hotels are very rare to get to. In fact, the hotel I had to stay in was one half hour away from the track itself, in the town of Brignoles.

Getting there was tough enough, but so was my ambition to drive a race car. Since I know French nearly fluently, it was not a problem asking for directions. (Note: know the odd French word, it helps you.)

Arriving early was good, especially at 7 a.m. when nobody was there. Since I was there in late summer, it shows how Europe can change weather even then (a little chilly). Finally two people, one later to be my engineer for the day, Isabelle Geste, led me into the school, which looked just like the pictures on the internet.

From there, I met my group, which included 11 Frenchman, a German and a Swiss. Along came the director of the school, Patrick Galliard, himself a Formula One driver in the 1980s, who was my guide, since he spoke perfect English.

The first thing was to get used to the first car, a Formula Three trainer, before you can tackle the Formula One vehicle. This is the test -- if you can handle this car, you can handle anything.

Also, since this is a beginning class, there are stick shifts on the car, not the paddle shifting systems that I was used to. This was my first shock. In the past class at Magny-Cours, paddle shifts were used and I figured that this is no time to bail out. After all, it was tough just to get here, and if I could handle this, there were more levels afterwards that included paddle shifts anyway.

The Formula Three's were slow, but the point was is was for training. The average student gets two chances to drive the car, 25 laps in all, before the group takes a tour and then breaks for lunch.

The tour showed all the things that this school offered. Gailliard showed us the garage, which holds all the cars, beginner to advanced. Plus, all the cars of past students who later succeeded in later Formulas are also kept here in their museum. Such names were Stefan Johannsen and three time LeMans winner, Yannick Dalmas.

Then we were whisked away to the north of the school where a three course meal was awaiting us. My guests were the international contingent -- the German and the Swiss. Since they spoke English, I was more comfortable than being with the French, which sounded like a different dialect, Provencal, then my school French.

Then came the big moment. The drive in the Formula One car was quite a thrill. Out of the 11 Frenchman who started, only five stayed to take on the bigger and faster car. The shifts still fooled me, but Geste already told me that I, knowing paddle shifters, would go much faster later on. I would take her word for it, since I thought that she was gorgeous anyway.

After all was done, the champagne flowed (which was great) and even someone who was on a diet could not resist those cookies. An award was given to all the Formula One participants, and a cameraman, who shot all the footage, gave you the opportunity to pay him to have him put together a movie of your driving experience. A complementary umbrella also was given, something that would be tough to get through security at the airport.

The idea is that if you want to get real close to the real thing, then this is the place. Good French, good directions will make this a great adventure.

Besides, after this, it is a return to the second class with the paddle shifters, and then to Barcelona for the real race track, full of speed.

Yes, I love it.

For more information on the school, go to AGS Formula One.