Sussex young driver training

[Zeek]

I posted this into another thread, but thought it might be worth putting here to.

Sussex are offering a driver skills course (inc skid pad at Goodwood) for 15-25s, for £60, plus you can have the Goodwood Ferrari experience for another £60 if you want it.

http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/ccm/content/roads-and...

ETA Looks like this is the 1 day course with Derek Bell.

Edited by Zeek on Friday 10th October 13:20

[leon_t]

Oooh I like the look of that. Don't suppose you know any more details about the course do you, ie who runs it, how much time is spent on each section etc.? Its pretty vague on exactly whats involved (doesn't really make it clear if you do the Ferrari drive at Goodwood, on road, or if its just a 'ride')

Don't live near Sussex, but I have family that live there and go to Goodwood or on Sunday drives around there fairly often, so I'd say I drive there regularly.

Funny, my dad used to do the gardening for Derek Bell's house many years ago (before I was around)

[theyoungen]

I did this course a few years ago when it first started. I believe it was developed with Southampton University as a prototype for a revised PassPlus.

At the start of the day, the group was split into two halves. One half spent the morning on the skidpan and got about 30-45 minutes driving each. In addition to the wet pan, they had a car with ABS on a dry pan and also did some low-speed manouevring between some cones in the car park.

Those who weren't on the 'pan went out driving with a selection of local ADIs who appeared to be RoSPA and IAM types. They gave some luke-warm advanced driving instruction which, given that I went on to RoSPA afterwards, was actually quite a good introduction.

After lunch, the two halves swopped over.

It was good fun and well worth the money (it was cheaper in my day; University money subsidising it, I suspect).

The Ferrari drive was possibly worth the £30 extra it cost in those days, however it's such a short and controlled/limited experience, I wouldn't bother doing it again. The cars are dual control; the 'instructor' commandeered the rearview mirror (leaving just the door mirrors for the participant) and the three lap allowance is truly too short to enjoy oneself. It takes at least one lap to get to know the circuit and the car, the second lap you might be able to put your foot down and then the third one's your cooldown lap.

All the best,

Tim

[dhutch]

Anyone know of a way of finding out if something like this is avialable in your area? Im in the midlands and would be well up for some skills training for £60.


Daniel

[ironictwist]

bks! Have I missed this one?!

[Sway]

I worked for the firm that originally ran this program, even got run over by one of the instructors on the skid pan!!

It was a government led pilot scheme for West Sussex, whether it has gone national or not I don't know.

There was an incentive initially of a free 3 lap IIRC '355 experience' at Goodwood, with a voucher being given out on the day. This is now an extra (although subsidised) on top of the £60 for the driving awareness day.

General idea is half a day out on the roads in your own car, learning about things like the spacing between white lines etc. (basically higher level planning due to increased awareness). Then a half day on the skid pan in a Sierra.

Only for drivers under 25.

Liked the scheme though, seemed far more use in increasing driving ability in new drivers than Passplus.

[ChrisDT]

I too did this when it first started, and then my grandparents saw it advertised a year later and bought it for me, my brother and his g/f. Very good experience, and still use some of the stuff I was taught on the day, the skid pan was fun - not computer controlled but a circle with 2x sierra 1.8's and HIGHLY inflated tyres, add this to an oily wet circit and it made a good fun session.