Driving Courses
Can anyone recommend from PERSONAL experience some good driving courses, and ideally contacts for how to book them.
My ideal would be to learn in my own car - on limit driving techniques. I have come to realise that Jenson Button in a Mini would leave me standing on a tough road!
However other courses considered if they teach good driving technique.
THANK YOU!
R
My ideal would be to learn in my own car - on limit driving techniques. I have come to realise that Jenson Button in a Mini would leave me standing on a tough road!
However other courses considered if they teach good driving technique.
THANK YOU!
R
Scooby Senior
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 8,204
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The IAM or RoSPA courses are very good. I can recommend the IAM one. It does'nt teach Burnsy style corning but it's amazing how fast progress you can make by driving 'properly'
To learn how to handle the car in extreme
circumstances I can recommend the 'wetter the better' driving courses.
Depends on what you want. Both is ideal
To learn how to handle the car in extreme
circumstances I can recommend the 'wetter the better' driving courses.
Depends on what you want. Both is ideal
Scooby Newbie
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 9
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Depends what you're after...
I think the Silverstone Rally School is a very good venue for basic RWD driving techniques. Bears no resemblance to driving a scooby, but good starting point to really learn about balance. Full day clubmans course to intermediate/advanced.
I think the Silverstone Rally School is a very good venue for basic RWD driving techniques. Bears no resemblance to driving a scooby, but good starting point to really learn about balance. Full day clubmans course to intermediate/advanced.
Scooby Regular
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,129
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Rannpossvid,
I'm suprised no one has mentioned Don Palmers 'The Wetter the Better' course yet. Held at the MIRA proving grounds, it is solely about 'on limit driving techniques'.
Unfortunatly I can't recount my own experience, as it's something I am still saving up to do! But ask SDB (biased? never!), Moray, Keith Churchill (Beef) and many others for opinions. All are extremely favourable.
The beauty of the course seems to be exploiting the low grip surfaces to reach on the limit conditions at relatively low speeds, therefore at safe speeds!
My wife and I are looking to go soon, If you are up for it they do a deal where you can reduce the price if you get a group of 7 together.
Cheers
Chuck
I'm suprised no one has mentioned Don Palmers 'The Wetter the Better' course yet. Held at the MIRA proving grounds, it is solely about 'on limit driving techniques'.
Unfortunatly I can't recount my own experience, as it's something I am still saving up to do! But ask SDB (biased? never!), Moray, Keith Churchill (Beef) and many others for opinions. All are extremely favourable.
The beauty of the course seems to be exploiting the low grip surfaces to reach on the limit conditions at relatively low speeds, therefore at safe speeds!
My wife and I are looking to go soon, If you are up for it they do a deal where you can reduce the price if you get a group of 7 together.
Cheers
Chuck
Scooby Newbie
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 22
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I have been on the wetter the better course twice.
It is about improving your handling of the car on the limit. I certainly 'feel' the car more in adverse conditions. But this is not about improving your speed on the road. Day to day you should not be driving on the limit. On those odd occassions you are thrown on to the limit (by a t022er overtaking on a blind bend for instance), then this knowledge will be invaluable.
More to the point I got to powerslide my car more than 90 degrees to the direction of travel
and recover it. 
I preferred my second visit as more things clicked into place, and I had had time to reflect on the first.
I would say that you should try to go onj a course with about five people as with seven you will be waiting around or a passenger for too long.
I got to drive a Tuscan as well
One downside, you meet up before the course at a Little Chef. I had managed to avoid these for 27 years of my life, then went to the same one twice in two weeks
It is about improving your handling of the car on the limit. I certainly 'feel' the car more in adverse conditions. But this is not about improving your speed on the road. Day to day you should not be driving on the limit. On those odd occassions you are thrown on to the limit (by a t022er overtaking on a blind bend for instance), then this knowledge will be invaluable.
More to the point I got to powerslide my car more than 90 degrees to the direction of travel
and recover it. I preferred my second visit as more things clicked into place, and I had had time to reflect on the first.
I would say that you should try to go onj a course with about five people as with seven you will be waiting around or a passenger for too long.
I got to drive a Tuscan as well
One downside, you meet up before the course at a Little Chef. I had managed to avoid these for 27 years of my life, then went to the same one twice in two weeks
Scooby Newbie
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 22
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p.s. Don Palmer's ability to slide your car will **** you off, when you haven't managed yourself. On the days I was there he powerslid the following cars for as long as you like
-Impreza Turbo UK (4 off!)
-STI V
-Lotus Elise
-TVR Tuscan
-Mercedes 500SL
-Audi A8 (The barge)
-BMW M5
He didnt manage to slide a Vectra V6 continously though
(Although one of the other instructors gave it a go using reverse)
-Impreza Turbo UK (4 off!)
-STI V
-Lotus Elise
-TVR Tuscan
-Mercedes 500SL
-Audi A8 (The barge)
-BMW M5
He didnt manage to slide a Vectra V6 continously though
(Although one of the other instructors gave it a go using reverse)
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Scooby Regular
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 1,335
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Can't agree more with recommendations for the Wetter the Better at MIRA. I've been twice now and there is no better place to learn what happens to you & your car as you approach and cross the limit of adhesion. The speeds are low (so you're not overwhelmed by fear all the time), there is plenty of room to spin without hitting anything and wear & tear on the car & tyres is minimal.
Both Don & Colin will annoy the pants off you with their ability to powerslide anything for as long as they want. I've seen Don get into cars and launch straight into slides without anything more than a quick left-right shuffle and I've seen Don drag a Citroen Saxo sideways for a lap of the circles. Push for more time on the circuit and don't spend so much time on the circles, then you can gain a lot of knowledge that will be useful to you on the road and on track days.
It's best to go on a day when there's a range of different cars, as it's interesting to make comparisons. Better still, go with friends (or make them while you're there) and take turns in each other's cars. On my 2nd visit, I went with a group of friends and we had the place to ourselves:
MY00 UK Impreza
BMW Z3 2.8
Porsche Boxster
Toyota MR2
TVR Chimaera
TVR Vixen
Citroen Saxo VTS
Peugeot 406 Coupe
It's a lot more interesting if you *don't* go when everyone's in an Impreza. Trying out different cars makes for a much more interesting day.
If you're really unlucky, you'll run into some bloke who runs a website. He's always at MIRA, trying his hand at this powersliding lark. I've heard he's finally getting the hang of it!
IMHO, going straight to high-speed tuition on a race track is a waste if you're not confident with your & the car's behaviour on the limit of adhesion.
Both Don & Colin will annoy the pants off you with their ability to powerslide anything for as long as they want. I've seen Don get into cars and launch straight into slides without anything more than a quick left-right shuffle and I've seen Don drag a Citroen Saxo sideways for a lap of the circles. Push for more time on the circuit and don't spend so much time on the circles, then you can gain a lot of knowledge that will be useful to you on the road and on track days.
It's best to go on a day when there's a range of different cars, as it's interesting to make comparisons. Better still, go with friends (or make them while you're there) and take turns in each other's cars. On my 2nd visit, I went with a group of friends and we had the place to ourselves:
MY00 UK Impreza
BMW Z3 2.8
Porsche Boxster
Toyota MR2
TVR Chimaera
TVR Vixen
Citroen Saxo VTS
Peugeot 406 Coupe
It's a lot more interesting if you *don't* go when everyone's in an Impreza. Trying out different cars makes for a much more interesting day.
If you're really unlucky, you'll run into some bloke who runs a website. He's always at MIRA, trying his hand at this powersliding lark. I've heard he's finally getting the hang of it!
IMHO, going straight to high-speed tuition on a race track is a waste if you're not confident with your & the car's behaviour on the limit of adhesion.
Groovy,
thanks for the feedback everyone - unanimous vote then!
I will try and go with my mate who has a Porker - that should be fun in the wet!
I had this course on my short list, just wanted to see what else there was
Cheers,
David
PS When I went to the website I couldn't find reference to this course - how do I go about booking - ta!
thanks for the feedback everyone - unanimous vote then!
I will try and go with my mate who has a Porker - that should be fun in the wet!
I had this course on my short list, just wanted to see what else there was
Cheers,
David
PS When I went to the website I couldn't find reference to this course - how do I go about booking - ta!
Scooby Regular
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 2,271
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Rannoch
Yes - I'm very happy for you to look at something - I'll mail you offline
About time we all went on the one Moray et al are always raving about - and yes best to keep the numbers low as I dont wanna be queuing
Yes - I'm very happy for you to look at something - I'll mail you offline
About time we all went on the one Moray et al are always raving about - and yes best to keep the numbers low as I dont wanna be queuing
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