Track Day at Hethel
Discussion
nope - but most people say its a good day, but that you dont really get *that* much time behind the wheel.
The kind of thing you do once for the experience....then you just go to www.carlimits.com at £150 a day for further driving training
The kind of thing you do once for the experience....then you just go to www.carlimits.com at £150 a day for further driving training
I did the driver training day recently, it was very good. Only bad point is the waiting around when your in the group lessons (three other people). Excellent round their track though especialy as you use their cars, two 111s and a 111r. Just as well as I smashed a wing mirror off the tyres. Instructors are very good, and make sure you try very hard as they dish out some trophys at the end of the day..The drive home was good with the "winner circuit driving" trophy on the passenger seat...
Of to do a car limits day at North Weald airfield on Wed..
Of to do a car limits day at North Weald airfield on Wed..
Did the training day not so long ago. The instructors are very good and do push you gently to get the best out of you.
The main thing I learnt was how much better the car was than my driving ability.
The day goes too quickly though, and there is a lot of waiting round as there are 3 other people in your group.
If you are doing the day to learn more about the car and the limits - your's and the car's, I would probably go for the more exclusive version - albeit at twice the cost but half the group size. The reason is that just as you are getting into the groove of a particular discipline, it is time to get out and let one of the other group members have their turn.
Oh and the other thing, one of the instructors on the day I went was Martin Donnelly.
If you just want to blast round a track, there are probably cheaper ways to do it, but I really enjoyed my day - especially the circuit driving and hot laps with the instructor at the wheel!!!!
The main thing I learnt was how much better the car was than my driving ability.
The day goes too quickly though, and there is a lot of waiting round as there are 3 other people in your group.
If you are doing the day to learn more about the car and the limits - your's and the car's, I would probably go for the more exclusive version - albeit at twice the cost but half the group size. The reason is that just as you are getting into the groove of a particular discipline, it is time to get out and let one of the other group members have their turn.
Oh and the other thing, one of the instructors on the day I went was Martin Donnelly.
If you just want to blast round a track, there are probably cheaper ways to do it, but I really enjoyed my day - especially the circuit driving and hot laps with the instructor at the wheel!!!!
bogie said:
nope - but most people say its a good day, but that you dont really get *that* much time behind the wheel.
The kind of thing you do once for the experience....then you just go to www.carlimits.com at £150 a day for further driving training
Bogie, have you actually done the carlimits day? What do you actually get to do! Their website doesnt relly describe it very well. I'm seriously considering it, and perhaps getting a load of the BOLOX crew down here to go too.
id summarise it as driving round a corner at 80 mph odd a few times.
a few one on one exercises such as general car dynamics. (oversteer/understeer)
then in the afternoon a sort of timed mini circuit using some cones.
the cost has gone up from 150 to 170.
id recommend itas you can spin 720 degrees in complete safety.
the only downsidee is the hanging about when doing the 1 on 1 stuff
a few one on one exercises such as general car dynamics. (oversteer/understeer)
then in the afternoon a sort of timed mini circuit using some cones.
the cost has gone up from 150 to 170.
id recommend itas you can spin 720 degrees in complete safety.
the only downsidee is the hanging about when doing the 1 on 1 stuff
My wife and I attended the full day. It was great and we both learned a lot. We had Martin as our instructor. Coming from the US I rented a car a couple of days before to acclimate myself to RHD. Steering wasn't a problem but shifting with my left hand was much slower because I had to think about what I was going to do. I couldn't imagine how much of the shifting process I perform automatically when shifting with my right hand. Like anything else I know I would eventually get used to it but it did hamper my performance that day. For me one of the reasons for taking the day was the ride at the end with the instructor (Martin)doing hot laps to find out what the car would really do with an expert. Martin was fantastic. I now know I have a very long way to go to get to the "9/10ths" driving, but does make me feel more confident that I'm not reaching the car's limits as I push it harder. Anyway the day was great and worth it in my opinion. I hope you go and have a great time.
I attended the original course (the 2nd week it was run) and can vouch for all the positive comments passed here.
A year later I attended the advanced and the format was very similar. Yes there is some waiting around but still a decent amount of track time. Hethel is an excellent track and not surprisingly Elises shine there. At the time I'd not attended any other track days so it's an ideal introduction as to what the car is capable of. In the hands of Messrs Breese, Kershaw, Minter, McQueen or Donnelly you'd swear they could bend the laws of physics. A memorable experience.
A year later I attended the advanced and the format was very similar. Yes there is some waiting around but still a decent amount of track time. Hethel is an excellent track and not surprisingly Elises shine there. At the time I'd not attended any other track days so it's an ideal introduction as to what the car is capable of. In the hands of Messrs Breese, Kershaw, Minter, McQueen or Donnelly you'd swear they could bend the laws of physics. A memorable experience.
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