HPC - Any good?

[MadProfessor]

I'm stepping into an M5 later this year and thought I should probably upgrade my skills to go with the car. I'm a sensible chap with a safe track record but would like to learn how to handle a car that powerful safely whilst extracting some of its potential. The HPC looks like a possible group that offers more than just training but their website is minimalist. Anybody got any opinion or experience?

[SVS]

I've done HPC. The training is world class. It's an outstanding course

After HPC, you'll enjoy your car ten times more than before. And you'll also be ten times safer and more skilled. Can't say fairer than that!

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

I highly recommend that you sign up over at Advanced-Driving.co.uk, and find the Essex driving day (June 1st) in the members-only section.

There will be at least ten HPC members there who can tell (and show) you more about it.

[Synchromesh]

If you're under 26 (or close enough) get yourself to the HPC Young Drivers Day.

In terms of gatekeepers, I'd have no hesitation in recommending Clive Jones. I haven't driven with Andy Morrison but haven't heard a bad word about him either, so geography and availability may be your deciding factors. You sound like you have the right attitude (the first and most important step) so try a half day and see how it goes!

Any further questions PM me, and no doubt some more members will be along with more replies soon.

[Vaux]

MadProfessor said:

.....The HPC looks like a possible group that offers more than just training but their website is minimalist.

Have you looked under the "About the club" tab? The Driving Standards document is quite interesting.

[brisel]

Best thing I did in terms of driver training. Good fun after joining too - if you know any members local to you try tagging along on a dawn raid (an informal day of driving organised by members where you get to swap cars).

[MC Bodge]

Synchromesh said:

If you're under 26 (or close enough) get yourself to the HPC Young Drivers Day.

If you're not under 26 are there any other options available?

Synchromesh said:

In terms of gatekeepers, I'd have no hesitation in recommending Clive Jones

I assume that potential members travel down to the gatekeeper's local area?

It sounds interesting, although I've heard that it can be fairly expensive.

[johnao]

MC Bodge said:

Synchromesh said:

If you're under 26 (or close enough) get yourself to the HPC Young Drivers Day.

If you're not under 26 are there any other options available?

You could try an ADUK day ( http://www.advanced-driving.co.uk ). There's usually lots of HPC members to talk to on these events. Also, you might find that there is an ADUK mentor in your area who is also a member of HPC.

MC Bodge said:

Synchromesh said:

In terms of gatekeepers, I'd have no hesitation in recommending Clive Jones

I assume that potential members travel down to the gatekeeper's local area?

It sounds interesting, although I've heard that it can be fairly expensive.

Yes, you do have to travel to the gatekeeper. You could try a half-day with a gatekeeper as a taster. Even if you decide against doing the full course you'll no doubt benefit from the half day.

[StressedDave]

MC Bodge said:

I assume that potential members travel down to the gatekeeper's local area?

Correct - at the moment the choices are Clive Jones in South Wales and Andy Morrison in Thames Valley. You get better training that way because they know the roads intimately and will chuck all the challenging ones at you as well as being able to divert you onto interesting roads if the ones you are playing on are full of other cars blindly following the one ahead.

MC Bodge said:

It sounds interesting, although I've heard that it can be fairly expensive.

It depends on your definition of expensive of course - it tends to be £1000 or thereabouts for 2½ days of training. If you work it out on an hourly rate it's remarkably reasonable - about the same as hiring a bog-standard ADI for the same amount of time, and that's not including the facilities costs for using places like Millbrook or Bruntingthorpe.

[tulloch]

Both of these facilities are within easy distance of Banbury but not South Wales. What facility does Clive use for the HPC course?

[StressedDave]

Not sure - I think he's using a SkidCar out somewhere towards Haverfordwest as part of his course, but someone who has taken the course with Clive will have more info...

[tulloch]

Thanks. Not sure if I'd fancy a skid car having some previous experience of them, much rather experience the real thing at e.g. Millbrook.

[Synchromesh]

tulloch said:

What facility does Clive use for the HPC course?

I'd suggest contacting him directly for this kind of detailed information.

[AlR26]

Absolutely agree that HPC is some of the best money I have spent and most enjoyable motoring.

I went through Andy Morrison as a gatekeeper who was also fantastic. The gatekeepers have slightly different coaching styles and you might find you like one more than others. It is not uncommon to complete a half day assessment with each of the gatekeepers till you find your favourite and in any case, most would suggest splitting the entry course/assessment into a half day assessment and the further 2 days at some later point.

[annsxman]

AlR26 said:

Absolutely agree that HPC is some of the best money I have spent and most enjoyable motoring.

I went through Andy Morrison as a gatekeeper who was also fantastic. The gatekeepers have slightly different coaching styles and you might find you like one more than others. It is not uncommon to complete a half day assessment with each of the gatekeepers till you find your favourite and in any case, most would suggest splitting the entry course/assessment into a half day assessment and the further 2 days at some later point.

Absolutely agree. I found about about HPC when I was with Andy for some advanced bike training - I use Rapid Training: www.rapidtraining.co.uk every two years or so for a refresher.

I did a 1/2 day assessment with him in my BMW 530d, a day using his Porsche 996 C2, and a day in my wife's Honda S2000. The second full day involved 2 hours on the Bruntingthorpe test track.