Lotus driving licences - Hethel

Lotus driving licences - Hethel

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chevronb37

Original Poster:

6,471 posts

193 months

Tuesday 20th January 2009
quotequote all
Chaps,

As stated elsewhere on PH.com, I am in the process of buying an Elise. On the basis of having FWD hatches for years and precious little mid-engined experience, I am interested in a driving course to improve my skills. What is the course at the Lotus factory like? It looks like the more exciting stuff is at Silver level. Is there an independent or alternative which you could recommend? Years of attending motor racing events and IAM, RoSPA, etc. have given me plenty of theory, but not much practical application of that learning.

Many thanks,

Swifty

s111dpc

1,408 posts

236 months

Tuesday 20th January 2009
quotequote all
chevronb37 said:
Chaps,

As stated elsewhere on PH.com, I am in the process of buying an Elise. On the basis of having FWD hatches for years and precious little mid-engined experience, I am interested in a driving course to improve my skills. What is the course at the Lotus factory like? It looks like the more exciting stuff is at Silver level. Is there an independent or alternative which you could recommend? Years of attending motor racing events and IAM, RoSPA, etc. have given me plenty of theory, but not much practical application of that learning.

Many thanks,

Swifty
Hi Swifty,

TBH I can't comment on the Lotus courses as i've not done them but i thoroughly recommend doing a day with Andy Walsh of carlimits.com. I have done a couple of days with him now and I have learnt an awful lot from him.

Might be worth posting on the Elise/Exige forum as well for other thoughts.

Good luck

Dave

The Bandit

788 posts

202 months

Tuesday 20th January 2009
quotequote all
chevronb37 said:
Chaps,

As stated elsewhere on PH.com, I am in the process of buying an Elise. On the basis of having FWD hatches for years and precious little mid-engined experience, I am interested in a driving course to improve my skills. What is the course at the Lotus factory like? It looks like the more exciting stuff is at Silver level. Is there an independent or alternative which you could recommend? Years of attending motor racing events and IAM, RoSPA, etc. have given me plenty of theory, but not much practical application of that learning.

Many thanks,

Swifty
Hi Swifty,

I did the 'silver' day last year and it was the best £400 i've spent in a long time.
I too had been driving FWDs for many years and found the course invaluable in learning new skills before my car turned up.
Its probably kept me on the black stuff a few times this last year,also meant i was 'bit' better on track too,comes highly recommended from me.
Going to do the Gold this year hopefully thumbup

Theres a group buy on SELOC at the moment which will save you a few £££,just sign up and do a search for the thread,PM me if you want any help smile

chevronb37

Original Poster:

6,471 posts

193 months

Tuesday 20th January 2009
quotequote all
Cheers for the advice. Can you go straight onto the Silver, or do you have to do Bronze first? Silver looks like the best option for now. I will have a look on the SELOC forum and see if I can get involved. Just got to keep the car on the island for the first few weeks of having it!

The Bandit

788 posts

202 months

Tuesday 20th January 2009
quotequote all
AFAIK you can go straight onto the silver without doing the bronze(its what i did but it was known as something different last year).
You have to have done the silver to do the gold though smile

chevronb37

Original Poster:

6,471 posts

193 months

Tuesday 20th January 2009
quotequote all
The Bandit said:
AFAIK you can go straight onto the silver without doing the bronze(its what i did but it was known as something different last year).
You have to have done the silver to do the gold though smile
Awesome. I will get something booked for the spring. Are you able to take guests as well? Need to get the old man down with me - he is a massive Chapman fan.

Stephanie Plum

2,792 posts

218 months

Wednesday 21st January 2009
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Don't dismiss www.carlimits.com - that could well help you keep it on the black stuff while waiting for your Hethel day - you only need to book a 4 person day - £190 odd well spent in my view smile

chevronb37

Original Poster:

6,471 posts

193 months

Wednesday 21st January 2009
quotequote all
I will get in touch with Andrew Walsh as well to learn about what he offers. Sounds really good, although I'd like to see Hethel at some point anyway. You can never learn too much, so I might try to do both. Thanks loads.

Swifty

Mrs Muttleysnoop

1,414 posts

191 months

Tuesday 3rd March 2009
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Oops a little late in posting this. I did Lotus Driver Training at Hethal in 2000 and it was wonderful. Do a day with CAT Driver Training at Millbrook,Colin Hoad is a very good instructor and is very qualified. He was my mirror man on my first ever lap of the 'Ring in October last year.

S2john

151 posts

241 months

Friday 6th March 2009
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Booked in on the 19th April for the Gold licence. YEEEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAdriving

chrome08

3 posts

187 months

Thursday 2nd April 2009
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Hi, I did the silver licence earlier this year, and just did the Andy Walsh at carlimits.com this week.
Personally, I'd go for the Andy Walsh day, 1, its good value for money, 2, Learned a lot more.
Also covered all the same stuff as the silver licence, so for the cost of the Silver, you can do 2 days days with Andy, I was considering the Gold next but having done the Andy Walsh day I will definately be doing another one with him.
Hope that helps, but at the end of the day, "you" have to decide.