Driver Training
Discussion
I am looking to try and increase my driving ability. I want to find a course that is professional, with a decent amount of driving. Does anyone know of, or have experience of, a good advanced driving course?. I have looked the Holden one, as well as the BMW course. BMW charge $600 for a basic course, so that is out of the question. Holden charged half that.
Ideally I would like to learn in a new vehicle, and preferably one with a manual 'box. Cost isn't too important, but I would rather not pay for passenger rides inclusive as they don't hold a great deal of interest for me, at least not to the point of paying for them.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, as all I can find is companies that do driving tests.
Thank You.
Ideally I would like to learn in a new vehicle, and preferably one with a manual 'box. Cost isn't too important, but I would rather not pay for passenger rides inclusive as they don't hold a great deal of interest for me, at least not to the point of paying for them.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, as all I can find is companies that do driving tests.
Thank You.
Edited by Jem Thompson on Wednesday 12th August 22:09
Hi Jem Club Lotus run an annual driver training day at Pukekohe for a fraction of the cost which is shared with BMW and Jaguar Clubs. Membership is free this year, but of course youll have to supply your own vehicle for the day. 
I am unsure of when the next training day is but can find out if your keen.
Also playdayontrack do driver training days too from what I hear. I am unsure of their format though.
I am unsure of when the next training day is but can find out if your keen.Also playdayontrack do driver training days too from what I hear. I am unsure of their format though.
Tuition is the fastest route to all of what you're wanting to do IMO - yes experience counts, but you've got to develop good habits, and some skills you might need to use on the road in an emergency can't really be practised anywhere but on the track.
The best tuition I ever did involved a lot of going around an airfield in circles with an instructor - practising emergency braking without locking up (straight line, into a bend, through cones), steering wheel handling technique, experiencing lift off oversteer, correcting slides, etc. It was fun too
The best tuition I ever did involved a lot of going around an airfield in circles with an instructor - practising emergency braking without locking up (straight line, into a bend, through cones), steering wheel handling technique, experiencing lift off oversteer, correcting slides, etc. It was fun too
Ideally I would like a mix of things. Oversteer training on an airfield looks like a great idea, and there is a company based at Ardmore that do this. They also do some training on gravel surfaces, which is an area I want to improve in. I am fine when racing on gravel at Autocross events in a controlled environment, but I find I don't much confidence on open unsealed roads.
I am also interested in on road tuition, but from an enthusiast rather than an instructor who sticks rigidly to the road code. Basically I am interested in becoming safer and smoother through confidence and observation, and hopefully a bit quicker as well.
I am also interested in on road tuition, but from an enthusiast rather than an instructor who sticks rigidly to the road code. Basically I am interested in becoming safer and smoother through confidence and observation, and hopefully a bit quicker as well.
The key to confidence on gravel is too much practice when you're still young and invincible 
On a more serious note, good on you for wanting to improve your driving and being prepared to do something about it. I'm not much use for suggesting anything up that end of the country but something else you may or may not have thought of already - I always found it very useful (especially when I was less experienced) watching in-car video footage of top drivers (think Vatanen, Rohrl etc) and thinking about their car control techniques. For me anyway understanding why something is done a certain way goes a long way toward implementing it myself.
Edited by GravelBen on Wednesday 12th August 07:51
uncinqsix said:
I've done the Holden one (Stage 1). Was pretty good - mainly focussed on safe road driving and not really on car control, but it certainly wasn't a "this is how you drive according to the letter of the road code" kind of course. I found it useful.
Do you get an SV6 to use, or is it in your own car?I'd think for real-world car control training you're probably better off learning in (if not your own car) then at least a similar car to what you drive. Some techniques are common to all cars but there are very different handling characterics between FWD/RWD/4wd, different engine positions, suspension setups etc.
I think I did one of the Holden days through work. It was held on the Manfield Track, and we provided the cars (hire cars, but auto Corolla!!). The track was laid out with cones etc, and towards the end of the day we had a go in their cars.
I've done a road based course in the UK, in my own car, and found it a lot more interesting.
However, seeing what happenings when you push too far, or what ABS can really do on the safety of a track is worth it.
Another course I really enjoyed was a skid pan session - are there any skid pans in NZ ?? (and I don't mean Pak n Save car park in the snow )
Alex
I've done a road based course in the UK, in my own car, and found it a lot more interesting.
However, seeing what happenings when you push too far, or what ABS can really do on the safety of a track is worth it.
Another course I really enjoyed was a skid pan session - are there any skid pans in NZ ?? (and I don't mean Pak n Save car park in the snow
)Alex
Thanks Alex, I was thinking of hiring a car for the day. I want to learn in something fairly generic, as I can then apply the skills I learn to most situations. I would love to try a skidpan, but only in something rear drive, as I am fairly confident with oversteer/understeer in front drivers, mainly from doing club racing events. But I have next to no experience in rear drive cars.
What sort of speeds did you drive at when you were at Manfield? I ask because I am interested in higher speed excercises (60-110), because it as at higher speeds when things turn pear shaped much, much more quickly.
What sort of speeds did you drive at when you were at Manfield? I ask because I am interested in higher speed excercises (60-110), because it as at higher speeds when things turn pear shaped much, much more quickly.
Fraster said:
nothing practical to offer but just want to commend you on your attitude: I suspect that your humility will be a great teacher.
Oh, I forgot to mention it was by court order didn't I?(I am only kidding of course, I have a clean licence and wish to keep it like that)
Ben, your suggestion of watching in-car videos is good, as is playing a good simulator game (Forza Motorsport, RacePro etc), it really does give you an idea of what to do. I have done this for years, and now want to put into practice. Games/videos don't make you panic, and you don't get the same sort of feel for the inputs needed, such as how much opposite lock to use and so on. Practicing makes it instinctive.
Edited by Jem Thompson on Wednesday 12th August 22:19
Bit of thread drift here but Nina & I just did the Playday on Snow at the Southern Hemisphere Proving Ground at Cardrona & it was great. A day with a bit of theory and lots of practical and the instructors were very good. Had a front drive, rear wheel drive & a 4WD to play with and learnt a lot.
That ice sure is slippery!!
That ice sure is slippery!!
Jem Thompson said:
What sort of speeds did you drive at when you were at Manfield? I ask because I am interested in higher speed excercises (60-110), because it as at higher speeds when things turn pear shaped much, much more quickly.
I'm pretty sure we were in that range. One bit I remember, driving straight down a tunnel of cones, then they'd flick a switch to light up whether they wanted you to 'swerve' right and continue down another tunnel of cones, left or straight on. If you came at them too slow they made you do it again!!You had to drive round the whole track to get back in line for each exercise, and weren't limited on speed - but if you had an 'off' you were black flagged.
That Snow thing sounds good
willyheatley said:
Bit of thread drift here but Nina & I just did the Playday on Snow at the Southern Hemisphere Proving Ground at Cardrona & it was great. A day with a bit of theory and lots of practical and the instructors were very good. Had a front drive, rear wheel drive & a 4WD to play with and learnt a lot.
That ice sure is slippery!!
That ice sure is slippery!!
Sounds fun! O/T, were you at any of the S.I. Playdayweek events?
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