Phil Price Rally School
17 May 2008, 08:02 PM
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Phil Price Rally School
Ever wanted to learn to drive sideways?
I'm sure people have posted about the Phil Price Rally School before on here but it's such a good day out I thought it was worth sharing our experience with you all in a short video and write up with a few photos. Oh and there is, of course, plenty of Scooby action involved in its natural habitat - the gravel stage.
God bless the late Colin McRae, Richard Burns and Michael Park, Rally heroes of mine. They made rallying look easy, I mean how hard could it really be? A day out at Phil Price Rally School in Mid Wales just gave me a whole new level of respect for these amazing guys. It’s tough, really tough.
Without reservation I agree with the critics that this is the best motorsport/driving experience in the UK and at £285 per person its competitive with trackdays and other driving experiences. The day bounds along at eye widening pace, you are constantly in and out of the cars, learning new techniques, driving a real rally stage with a co-driver or passenger in the ultimate thrill ride with Phil himself in a WRC spec car! I will spoil the ending now - if you like cars and driving even a tiny bit book yourself a place – NOW!
Here is our video of the day:
YouTube - Phil Price Rally School 11 May 2008
Unlike the rule bound track day world the driver briefing is about the sport (safety is paramount but kept in perspective too). How to go sideways is the theme of the day, within 20 minutes Phil is briefing the intricacies of the Scandinavian Flick, using videos of Group N, WRC, and mighty Group B rally cars to demonstrate the point. The picture hanging above the TV screen is Phil training Ayrton Senna how to drive a rear wheel drive Group B rally car – this guy knows his stuff.
Within 30 minutes you are out on the figure of 8 track in a MkII Escort, with all it’s low grip, tail out rear wheel drive antics. Second gear is all you need as you learn the ‘lift, turn , kick’ technique. Lift as you enter the corner to get the weight on the front wheels, turn in, kick the throttle to get the back out…then feather and opposite lock to hold the slide. Easy? Well maybe after a bit of practice. As Phil says, ‘keep the wheels pointing where you want to go’ and he’s not impressed by doughnuts either…
A slow ‘pace note’ speed ride out around the real stage in the Group N Impreza is next up. This place is the real deal, big drops, blind crests, hairpins, yumps the lot. It’s so bumpy it’s a wonder any car can drive on it at all let alone at speed. Phil talks you through it, no belts or helmets required at these speeds so its time to soak it all up. Can’t wait for my go behind the wheel.
More time practicing in the MkII’s – there is a competition at the end of the day so suddenly everyone is trying that bit harder. Plenty of spins later (the only way to learn where the limit is!) – see the video for a few of mine – and you start to get the hang of staying initially wide, turning in and using the power to bring the back round for a tight exit. It took me a while to adjust from my clean track lines.
Lunchtime is a chat about pace notes and co-driver instructions – listen carefully is the best advice!
Now it’s time for your go in the Impreza, with Phil as Co-Driver. The car is full dual control so no danger of an off. Fun as the MkII’s are nothing can prepare you for your first drive on a real stage, trying to steer the car over the broken surface, use the ruts for grip, grab the next gear and interpret the next set of instructions taxes every sense. Just as you think you have got it Phil shouts another instruction arrghh… ’30 right, opens’ he says, it looks a lot tighter to me and I lift - another tongue in cheek telling off from Phil ensues. Phil warns everyone about assumption but I still managed to make a wrong turn over a blind crest – rallying demands a lot of trust in the team. Threats to stab his pencil in my leg this time…you can see it all on the video! Talking to everyone else it seems we all made mistakes at some point. It really does increase your respect for the ability of the true great rally teams.
More MkII practice alternating laps on your own, laps with the instructors. Ian and Andy are helpful and patient all day, grinning as they get spun from pillar to post!
Phil disappears for a while to return in a plume of dust with a wild roar in his RWD Cosworth and later a WRC Impreza. It’s fast ride time, and fast means real rally pace. Words do this experience little justice, how he keeps the car on the road is beyond me. The blind crest into immediate 90 right at the end of the stage will live with me forever, all I could see was sky as we launched sideways over the crest!
If that wasn’t enough the day ends in a timed competition around the figure of 8 track in the MkII’s. Two and a half laps clockwise, then again anticlockwise against the clock. Mistakes such as hitting tyres or leaving the circuit incur penalties, so do you go for it or take a measured approach? Just for fun they also soak the track one last time. By now everyone is going sideways with abandon so there are plenty of thrills and spills.
The Mrs did the full day too and enjoyed every minute – she was the one who had always wanted to go sideways and the reason we booked this day! She was the only girl driving on the day but everyone, regardless of ability or experience, is made welcome.
Sadly the day has to end. Everyone gets a prize for competing along with memories they will never forget. Simply superb.
I'm sure people have posted about the Phil Price Rally School before on here but it's such a good day out I thought it was worth sharing our experience with you all in a short video and write up with a few photos. Oh and there is, of course, plenty of Scooby action involved in its natural habitat - the gravel stage.
God bless the late Colin McRae, Richard Burns and Michael Park, Rally heroes of mine. They made rallying look easy, I mean how hard could it really be? A day out at Phil Price Rally School in Mid Wales just gave me a whole new level of respect for these amazing guys. It’s tough, really tough.
Without reservation I agree with the critics that this is the best motorsport/driving experience in the UK and at £285 per person its competitive with trackdays and other driving experiences. The day bounds along at eye widening pace, you are constantly in and out of the cars, learning new techniques, driving a real rally stage with a co-driver or passenger in the ultimate thrill ride with Phil himself in a WRC spec car! I will spoil the ending now - if you like cars and driving even a tiny bit book yourself a place – NOW!
Here is our video of the day:
YouTube - Phil Price Rally School 11 May 2008
Unlike the rule bound track day world the driver briefing is about the sport (safety is paramount but kept in perspective too). How to go sideways is the theme of the day, within 20 minutes Phil is briefing the intricacies of the Scandinavian Flick, using videos of Group N, WRC, and mighty Group B rally cars to demonstrate the point. The picture hanging above the TV screen is Phil training Ayrton Senna how to drive a rear wheel drive Group B rally car – this guy knows his stuff.
Within 30 minutes you are out on the figure of 8 track in a MkII Escort, with all it’s low grip, tail out rear wheel drive antics. Second gear is all you need as you learn the ‘lift, turn , kick’ technique. Lift as you enter the corner to get the weight on the front wheels, turn in, kick the throttle to get the back out…then feather and opposite lock to hold the slide. Easy? Well maybe after a bit of practice. As Phil says, ‘keep the wheels pointing where you want to go’ and he’s not impressed by doughnuts either…
A slow ‘pace note’ speed ride out around the real stage in the Group N Impreza is next up. This place is the real deal, big drops, blind crests, hairpins, yumps the lot. It’s so bumpy it’s a wonder any car can drive on it at all let alone at speed. Phil talks you through it, no belts or helmets required at these speeds so its time to soak it all up. Can’t wait for my go behind the wheel.
More time practicing in the MkII’s – there is a competition at the end of the day so suddenly everyone is trying that bit harder. Plenty of spins later (the only way to learn where the limit is!) – see the video for a few of mine – and you start to get the hang of staying initially wide, turning in and using the power to bring the back round for a tight exit. It took me a while to adjust from my clean track lines.
Lunchtime is a chat about pace notes and co-driver instructions – listen carefully is the best advice!
Now it’s time for your go in the Impreza, with Phil as Co-Driver. The car is full dual control so no danger of an off. Fun as the MkII’s are nothing can prepare you for your first drive on a real stage, trying to steer the car over the broken surface, use the ruts for grip, grab the next gear and interpret the next set of instructions taxes every sense. Just as you think you have got it Phil shouts another instruction arrghh… ’30 right, opens’ he says, it looks a lot tighter to me and I lift - another tongue in cheek telling off from Phil ensues. Phil warns everyone about assumption but I still managed to make a wrong turn over a blind crest – rallying demands a lot of trust in the team. Threats to stab his pencil in my leg this time…you can see it all on the video! Talking to everyone else it seems we all made mistakes at some point. It really does increase your respect for the ability of the true great rally teams.
More MkII practice alternating laps on your own, laps with the instructors. Ian and Andy are helpful and patient all day, grinning as they get spun from pillar to post!
Phil disappears for a while to return in a plume of dust with a wild roar in his RWD Cosworth and later a WRC Impreza. It’s fast ride time, and fast means real rally pace. Words do this experience little justice, how he keeps the car on the road is beyond me. The blind crest into immediate 90 right at the end of the stage will live with me forever, all I could see was sky as we launched sideways over the crest!
If that wasn’t enough the day ends in a timed competition around the figure of 8 track in the MkII’s. Two and a half laps clockwise, then again anticlockwise against the clock. Mistakes such as hitting tyres or leaving the circuit incur penalties, so do you go for it or take a measured approach? Just for fun they also soak the track one last time. By now everyone is going sideways with abandon so there are plenty of thrills and spills.
The Mrs did the full day too and enjoyed every minute – she was the one who had always wanted to go sideways and the reason we booked this day! She was the only girl driving on the day but everyone, regardless of ability or experience, is made welcome.
Sadly the day has to end. Everyone gets a prize for competing along with memories they will never forget. Simply superb.
17 May 2008, 08:31 PM
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First class review of what seems a great day out 
Maybe there could be a seperate forum created where informative general reviews like this could be stickied? Just a thought...
Maybe there could be a seperate forum created where informative general reviews like this could be stickied? Just a thought...
18 May 2008, 11:08 AM
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Here you go, give then a call to book, great people:
Phil Price Rally School - The ultimate rally driving experience
Glad you enjoyed the write up.
Phil Price Rally School - The ultimate rally driving experience
Glad you enjoyed the write up.
18 May 2008, 05:16 PM
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I went on this course about 15 years ago with some mates and it was a top day out. It seems the format of the day is exactly the same after all this time, but why change a winning formula ? I will never forget the high speed passenger ride with Phil at the wheel !
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