Fancy becoming a driving God?
Discussion
Just want to gauge the level of interest here. As soon of you know already. The UK track day company Lotus on Track is sending an expeditionary force to NZ in Nov. to take back the colony.
Andrew Walsh an ex-F1 test driver is signed up. Walshy is well known in the UK through his company Car Limits which teaches advanced track driving techniques. I've done a couple of his training days and have as a result become a driving god
Subject to sufficient interest I could attempt to persuade him to run a mini-clinic at one or more of the track days LoT will be doing - Pukekohe on the 12th, Taupo the 14th and Manfeild the 16th of Nov. I would imagine this would take the form of a group session where some of the fundamentals are explained and then a stint with him as passenger to give some coaching.
I learnt a heck of a lot from him and probably saved the car from certain death as a result of applying his techniques over the years. He really is that good. I thought I was fairly handy behind the wheel, but Walshy is nearly as good
I should add that Club Lotus NZ has graciously agreed to organise the track days on behalf of LoT and as such I can't guarantee the availability of places on the day. I have not spoken with Walshy yet nor with Club Lotus NZ. But if this is something that might interest you please let me know.
Andrew Walsh an ex-F1 test driver is signed up. Walshy is well known in the UK through his company Car Limits which teaches advanced track driving techniques. I've done a couple of his training days and have as a result become a driving god
Subject to sufficient interest I could attempt to persuade him to run a mini-clinic at one or more of the track days LoT will be doing - Pukekohe on the 12th, Taupo the 14th and Manfeild the 16th of Nov. I would imagine this would take the form of a group session where some of the fundamentals are explained and then a stint with him as passenger to give some coaching.
I learnt a heck of a lot from him and probably saved the car from certain death as a result of applying his techniques over the years. He really is that good. I thought I was fairly handy behind the wheel, but Walshy is nearly as good
I should add that Club Lotus NZ has graciously agreed to organise the track days on behalf of LoT and as such I can't guarantee the availability of places on the day. I have not spoken with Walshy yet nor with Club Lotus NZ. But if this is something that might interest you please let me know.
Tell me where to sign! I'm there.
I'm already a driving god though... will this make me a god of the gods? A Zeus as it were?
Nah that sounds awesome, I don't think it'll make me any more than slightly better than I am now, which isn't all that flash but it's got to be worth the price of admission eh?
I'm already a driving god though... will this make me a god of the gods? A Zeus as it were?
Nah that sounds awesome, I don't think it'll make me any more than slightly better than I am now, which isn't all that flash but it's got to be worth the price of admission eh?
George in all honesty and I'll probably forward this thread to Walshy I thought the same thing i.e. been doing track days for years, what could I possibly learn? I found myself on learning overload. He will be probably be worth a second at Puke. The problem will be information overload.
For e.g. I have seen him at Spa (Belgium) overtake an Elise on slicks when he was piloting a standard Elise on road tyres.
I hate to talk him up since he robbed me of overall honours at a sprint in the UK with underhand tactics I won't go into here...
For e.g. I have seen him at Spa (Belgium) overtake an Elise on slicks when he was piloting a standard Elise on road tyres.
I hate to talk him up since he robbed me of overall honours at a sprint in the UK with underhand tactics I won't go into here...
I've given Scuffers a good whipping on a couple of occasions
The format I have discussed with Club Lotus is to have the rentals in their own sessions. I can't speak for Andrew and a lot will depend on the level of interest - which seems pretty high so far. But on his days he generally shows you a couple of techiques you go and practise and then move onto something else. I would imagine he would then do a session as a passenger to observe and advise on your technique.
At this point I think it would be best to get Andrew to post his thoughts before we get to carried away...
The format I have discussed with Club Lotus is to have the rentals in their own sessions. I can't speak for Andrew and a lot will depend on the level of interest - which seems pretty high so far. But on his days he generally shows you a couple of techiques you go and practise and then move onto something else. I would imagine he would then do a session as a passenger to observe and advise on your technique.
At this point I think it would be best to get Andrew to post his thoughts before we get to carried away...
robdickinson said:
Heh I think I'll pass, looks like its time to start job hunting again!
Ooops. Doesn't sound good mate.
Whatever the 'challenge' remember you're entitled to a lunchbreak - Glass of water, Walk, BREATHE.
Hydration, circulation and oxygen tend to give you more & better perspectives.
Mmmm, I think I could be keen. So how does it work? Are there Minis going to be at the track for driver training with these guys, or using our own vehicles as optional? The thought of driving Black Beauty on the ragged edge near fences is not a good thing. But thrashing a newish Mini to bits sounds better for me
kylie said:
Mmmm, I think I could be keen. So how does it work? Are there Minis going to be at the track for driver training with these guys, or using our own vehicles as optional? The thought of driving Black Beauty on the ragged edge near fences is not a good thing. But thrashing a newish Mini to bits sounds better for me
I understand we get to practice in George's Elise and once it's completely shagged we move on to Dean's for some clean laps.
Kiwi XTR2 said:
robdickinson said:
Heh I think I'll pass, looks like its time to start job hunting again!
Ooops. Doesn't sound good mate.
Bah its OK, we can manage on one sallary(just) & theres plenty of tech jobs around, just got to tidy up my CV a bit. may not happen but its looking likely, and I knew it was a possibility, small IT startup burning cash etc.
Kiwi XTR2 said:
kylie said:
Mmmm, I think I could be keen. So how does it work? Are there Minis going to be at the track for driver training with these guys, or using our own vehicles as optional? The thought of driving Black Beauty on the ragged edge near fences is not a good thing. But thrashing a newish Mini to bits sounds better for me
I understand we get to practice in George's Elise and once it's completely shagged we move on to Dean's for some clean laps.
Sounds fair to me
Kylie you use your own vehicle, which kind of makes sense since you'll be able to apply the techniques to suit the quirks of your own vehicle and in an enviroment you're comfortable in i.e. your own car. Secondly this is not about thrashing your pride and joy to within an inch of its life. Quite the opposite, in order to apply the new techniques you will need to go a lot slower to start with as you get used to doing things differently. What it will do is make you a safer and smoother driver on track, going faster will be something that will come naturally as a result of becoming proficent with the new techniques. If he goes out with you, he'll just want to observe you driving the car as you normally would and will provide feedback at the end of the session or if he brings his intercom system he'll make suggestions during the session.
Many of the techniques taught can be practised at low speed in a car park type enviroment. He has a DVD which covers most of what he teaches on a training day. A very short video clip is here Clicky and a slightly longer one here Clicky
Many of the techniques taught can be practised at low speed in a car park type enviroment. He has a DVD which covers most of what he teaches on a training day. A very short video clip is here Clicky and a slightly longer one here Clicky
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