RWD driver training

[matt21]

Hi all.

Quick background of myself: I'm 24, driven approx 150,000 miles so far since passing my test 6 weeks after my 17th birthday and owned the following cars.

1992 Ford Escort
2003 Mini Cooper
2005 Mini Cooper S
1994 BMW 525i Touring
2000 BMW 530iA
1997 Honda Integra Type R

I would consider myself an above average driver. In the Cooper S I had all the driving aids, LSD etc etc and without sounding too arrogant felt it was a virtually uncrashable car - it never bit me whilst driving hard (including the Ring 3 times).

I currently have the BMW 530i and whilst its a big old bus its still great fun to hussle along back roads and likewise the Integra is ten times more fun!

However, I still don't feel 100% confident with the Honda and the RWD BMW. I want to be able to drive safely and quickly with confidence that I am always in control - like I felt with the MINIs.

Is there any good driver training about to help further my confidence with RWD and tail happy cars so I can enjoy it rather than worry about it.

Unfortunately my finances are very stretched at present with certain circumstances, so really looking for a cheap day course or similar. Failing that I will continue to potter along at 6-7/10th as I am at present.

Thanks in advance

[PGM]

John Cave www.drivetrain.uk.com I've used for many years, he is a friend of mine.

Nice bloke and will do just what you have asked and he's very reasonably priced compared to some.

Cheers
Paul

[SVS]

Hi Matt,

Paul's recommendation looks good. Also, I recommend RideDrive very highly indeed:
www.ridedrive.co.uk/shop-high-performance.htm

E.g. check out the Advanced Handling Skills half-day and full-day options, which could be right up your street. Brilliant fun too!

I've done various RideDrive courses on car and bike. They were great

Cheers

[Mrs Muttleysnoop]

CAT Driver Training are very good and are based at Millbrook.

[LordGrover]

I've been fortunate enough to have sessions with the first two the above - both recommended.
However, I think 6-7 tenths is probably more than enough for public road driving - anything more and you're better suited to circuits or airfields.

[/dadmode]

[matt21]

Thanks guys.

I think with reference to my 6/7ths I do not intend to suddenly start belting around at 11/10ths.

Occasionally the road conditions, entry speed or what is round the corner are not what we expected and I want to feel comfortable to control the car should I find the corner to be more challenging than expected.

And of course confidence on those greasy empty roundabouts in the BMW

[Mrs Trackside]

I can recommend a RideDrive day. I did one last year and learnt a hell of a lot, mainly about which gears to use, how to use the road, etc and especially driving round Bruntingthorpe in my Elise, BUT I could NOT get the car to loose control, which the whole point of having the instruction! I wanted to get into a skid situation so I'd know what to do if/when it happened.

I've got an MX5 now and with the recent snow, I've had a couple of moments where I've felt I'm going to loose control of the car (I haven't, but the worry is still there). I've booked a car control day with Mazda on Track. I can't tell you what it will be like because it's the first one I'll have done with them, but it's not only for Mazdas.

http://www.mazdaontrack.co.uk/car-control-days-56-...

[Mattt]

Car Limits at North Weald seems to be recommended by the Lotus boys - I intend to go at some point.

[waremark]

Mattt said:

Car Limits at North Weald seems to be recommended by the Lotus boys - I intend to go at some point.

Completely ideal for the purpose that you mention. Andy Walsh's technique is to get you to take a particular corner faster and faster, helping you to identify and indeed raise the limit, and to practise sorting things out when you go beyond the limit. A four person day is very good value.

Incidentally, his DVD Bending the Rules is strongly recommended as an intro to limit handling.

Don Palmer at Bruntingthorpe is also excellent, but the starting price is higher.

[bennyboysvuk]

Did you ever play with lift off oversteer in the Minis or in the Integra? If you have then you're half way there.

I guess I found my limits over a long period of time. After learning the basics fairly quickly I think it takes a while to become wholly confident of when the back will slide and how to gather it all up if you do provoke it.