darkblueturbo

As a newbie to the Monaro I was quite nervous of it's size, weight and RWD with all that torque - especially being used to a classic Scooby for so long.

So I thought rather than pussyfoot about trying not to scare myself I'd do something about it.

My fiance had done a limit handling day with Don Palmer, the Fundamentals of Car Control, at Bruntingthorpe when she first got her Supra and I was able to see the benefit to hear driving so I thought it must be my turn now.

Having a nice open airfield to play on and a friendly expert sitting next to you is the best way to learn about the finer points of tyre grip and balancing the weight.

He has a very good teaching method of you taking him for a drive in your car. Then he takes you for a drive and asks you what you notice about how different it is (and even if you're good, it's very different).
Throughout the day you stop and he goes through some technical details on your tyres and weight distribution / balance, that on it's own I'd find very interesting, but in tandem with a car, an expert and loads of wet space, it's truly enlightening.

Sooner than I'd have thought possible I was finishing every lap with an lovely 2nd gear slide on opposite lock.
Obviously they weren't all perfect but nothing beats that feeling when you meant to do it and your on the lock stops with the tyres smoking!

Fortunately it was a wet day so it was easier to do at lower speed and I still have some life left on my rear tyres, which I was very pleased with!

The days are small groups of 2 of 3 people - there was Mark and his 997 Carrera4S and Andy with his 400bhp ex Bob Rawle STi8 (Hi Hol, if you're reading this!)
It's nice to get a chance to take each other out and travel in a car like the 911 that I'd never have a chance to. As well as speak to and get more ideas from other like minded chaps. It works really well.

I'd recommend it to anyone and everyone - best day out in the car EVER!
You don't have to drive sideways - but it helps!!

No where's that thread with all those big empty car parks I saw before Christmas...? :-)


I followed the day up with a full day road course, again with Don, working towards membership of the HPC.
While I've always considered myself a better than average driver he showed me lots of subtle techniques that, while I knew them in theory and had tried to put them into practice myself, had never really been able to put into practice with much confidence.

Until now - as with the handling day Don lets you show him what you can do. Then he takes over for a short while to show you what he was explaining to you. You jump back in the car and everything's much clearer... I never thought I'd be so comfortable in high speed B-Road driving or overtaking as I am now.
While Don's website says you won't be encouraged to overtake everything that moves, as I'd mentioned this as a major weak point he made sure I never missed a safe opportunity when it arrived.

Brilliant day - after 2 days I'm shattered and broke, but it was well worth it!!
Don Palmer is an expert coach specialising in car control and limit handling driving. for anyone who's interested... I know I am... I've already discussed with him another day and a half road driving, for entry into the HPC (of which he is one of only 2 'gatekeepers') and, just because it was SO much fun, another day at Bruntinghtorpe for the next step up in limit handling and car control.
I really can't wait...!

ru'

Great report; thanks for that. I'm guessing that £s spent on driver training could well be worth more than on car mods in many cases!

How much did it cost?

darkblueturbo

Prices are all on the website but £450 per day including VAT.
Plus your petrol and any brakes and tyres that lose their life - though mine never did.

But thinking of the Monaro and the Scooby there isn't anything that I could buy that would give me that much enjoyment, or that much extra pace (safely) on a bendy B-road.

I've spent a fortune modding a Scooby in the past and modding me costs far less for far more gain.

Still gotta have your loud exhaust pipes though... And there's never any harm in having more power. But when you really know what you're doing with it you don't feel like you need as much.

Have a look at the website - there's a very interest couple of handbooks Don's written - one about Car Control and one about (Road) Driving which form the basis of his courses. They're great to read, but when you're in the car with Don they all make so much more sense.

Best fun you can have in a car with your pants on, as they say!

prana

ah yes, I was humbled greatly by my driving instructors and everyone should do a course once in their life - my lousy opinion

Steve Whitehorn

iTrader: (13)

Don Palmer gets the big thumbs up. I got alot out of the time I spent with him.

dreamer_girl

I'm an HPC member already - I'll keep an eye out for you in the HPC forum!!!

I'd love to do a car handling course in the Scoob - everything I've done up til now has been in RWD cars. The Scoob isn't quite the same!!

darkblueturbo

Not on the HPC forum yet - still gotta do the remaining day and a half first, but I'll be there soon...

I've done the limit handling in both the Monaro and a Classic Scooby... Now, don't get me wrong, the Scooby is great fun - more fun than you could ever have with it on the road, there just isn't the space they have far too much grip and pace!
BUT you can't compare to RWD - you can't have more fun in a car than hanging it out sideways in the way you only can with a rear driver.

The Scooby does lovely big lairy slides but they're just not the same, IMO.

Steer from the rear, as they say (but not on the road, obviously!)