New to rwd - skid pan or other training?

[giger]

I'm after a quick bit of advice - I've come from a FWD background where I'm used to how cars behave and the physics behind them. I've also got a few track days under my belt and feel quite at home with this layout. I've recently changed weekend cars and I'm now in RWD, this is new territory for me.

I realise that with modern cars it is difficult to get the back end to rotate without the car correcting it unless you're driving like an idiot or not reading the conditions correctly, but I want the confidence to push on without that fear of things getting out of shape at the back of my mind.

So, is skid pan training worth a go to give me the skills to control the car or should I be looking at something else?

I'm West mids based but the ' in to the blue ' skid pan at Rockingham looks good value and you get to use your own car (a bonus in my books)
https://www.intotheblue.co.uk/driving-experiences/...
What do you reckon?

[dvenman]

I reckon skid pan training is worthwhile anyway. Just use the change of car as a really good excuse to get it past the domestic financial controller

[p1esk]

Of the two options mentioned, I'd suggest 'other training.' If you do that, and get the right sort of training, you are much less likely to encounter situations where the skid pan training might have been beneficial.

Also, was there not some research that concluded that those who took skid pan training ended up having more mishaps than those that didn't have skid pan training?

[giger]

p1esk said:

Of the two options mentioned, I'd suggest 'other training.' If you do that, and get the right sort of training, you are much less likely to encounter situations where the skid pan training might have been beneficial.

Also, was there not some research that concluded that those who took skid pan training ended up having more mishaps than those that didn't have skid pan training?

Thanks, and I take your point. But if I'm on a track day with the DSC off and the back starts to rotate, would I not be better off learning how to catch and control it, or are some things just learnt 'on the job'?

[vonhosen]

If you are intending to be doing a lot of that why not make a proper investment and visit Don at Bruntingthorpe?

http://www.donpalmer.co.uk

[p1esk]

giger said:

p1esk said:

Of the two options mentioned, I'd suggest 'other training.' If you do that, and get the right sort of training, you are much less likely to encounter situations where the skid pan training might have been beneficial.

Also, was there not some research that concluded that those who took skid pan training ended up having more mishaps than those that didn't have skid pan training?

Thanks, and I take your point. But if I'm on a track day with the DSC off and the back starts to rotate, would I not be better off learning how to catch and control it, or are some things just learnt 'on the job'?

Ah, sorry. I was thinking about what would be most helpful in the context of driving on public roads.

[woodyTVR]

vonhosen said:

If you are intending to be doing a lot of that why not make a proper investment and visit Don at Bruntingthorpe?

http://www.donpalmer.co.uk

I second this but only if you intend to spend time sideways on purpose. I'd never seen an old chap go quite so fast around a corner on the opposite lock stops - amazing to watch.

On the road unless you're deliberately trying to get the rear out you'd have your traction control on and this will do a damn sight better job of getting you out of the st than a skidpan / drifting course. If you've got the traction off and you unexpectedly lose the rear you won't have the space or the time to make much difference unless you're really lucky or traveling at a low speed.

[giger]

Cheers all. It's not about driving like a loon on the public road, just having the confidence in various conditions and speeds to be in total control of the car. The Don Palmer Car control course looks great, i'll be following up on that.

[DocSteve]

Don Palmer is great, no matter what your driving skill in my opinion. His approach does often involve some "psychological analysis", which is helpful so long as you are comfortable with that sort of thing.

In reality, even with the driver aids off, the difference between FWD and RWD is not as great as is made out. One major difference is when you apply enough power to break traction (this is obviously more likely in low grip situations). The principles of weight transfer, slip angles etc all remain the same. For example, if you understeer whilst applying gas in a corner, put on more lock then come off the gas then the result will be oversteer whether FWD or RWD. Equally an oversteer induced by trail braking and subsequent weight transfer can be addressed by throttle input in both, albeit that in a RWD car you could break traction if you overdo it and then you will be back with oversteer.

I think as you say it will be a bit of finding out what happens when you get out on track. If you've already got experience then I doubt you will end up doing something silly.