Discussion
Im still trying to learn to spell cry-meer-a let alone any German brands!
(Well, perhaps BMW is an easy one!).
Any of you lot going to the Goldtrack Silverstone GP trackday? I'll be there and would love some passenger laps in a quick Porsche.
>> Edited by DustyC on Thursday 12th August 10:29
Martyn, There is a video around somewhere of one of those days.
I have heard it wrecks a set of tyres but no one seems to complain too much so it must be good.
>> Edited by DustyC on Thursday 12th August 10:30
(Well, perhaps BMW is an easy one!).
Any of you lot going to the Goldtrack Silverstone GP trackday? I'll be there and would love some passenger laps in a quick Porsche.
>> Edited by DustyC on Thursday 12th August 10:29
Martyn, There is a video around somewhere of one of those days.
I have heard it wrecks a set of tyres but no one seems to complain too much so it must be good.
>> Edited by DustyC on Thursday 12th August 10:30
I did one of these days when I bought the Griff about 18 months ago. A very worthwhile day indeed but yes you'll take a lot of rubber off your tyres and also it has to be said that Don's 'style' isn't to everyone's liking. What I mean is that he doesn't 'tell' you what you've done wrong, he kind of asks you what you thought you did and generally makes you think a lot about it.
Personally I got on with him OK and learnt a lot during the day. Oh and he's an awesome driver! Was throwing the Griff all over the place whilst I was hugging the centre console through fear of being thown out the car!
Recommended.
Cheers - Chris
>> Edited by Painey on Thursday 12th August 13:49
Personally I got on with him OK and learnt a lot during the day. Oh and he's an awesome driver! Was throwing the Griff all over the place whilst I was hugging the centre console through fear of being thown out the car!
Recommended.
Cheers - Chris
>> Edited by Painey on Thursday 12th August 13:49
Hi - I've also done a day with Don. Whilst I did learn, I had a frustrating day. Don's style didn't work for me. Also, Don used to teach using the wet grip facility at MIRA. This is a unique facility that similates everything from driving in the rain to driving on snow and ice. After the odd safety incident, Don no longer has access to MIRA, which detracts from what's possible to learn.
Don is undoubtedly great at vehicle handling. However, I've done a lot of training and recommend you check out alternatives before deciding:
www.cadence.uk.com (very highly recommended training from the renowned Hugh Noblett, one of the most experienced high performance driving coaches in the country and a lovely bloke)
www.hpc2001.co.uk (taught by John Lyon. Like Don, he's another 'character'. John is the only person in the UK who can teach you at MIRA)
The Advanced Handling Skills day from RideDrive would also meet your needs well: www.ridedrive.co.uk/sessionsprices.htm
Having done them all, I'd recommend Hugh Noblett at Cadance, closely followed by RideDrive. As you're in Yorkshire, you might like to check out ex-pursuit driver Frank Parkin: www.hpc.org.uk/guestjoin.htm
Hope this helps - let us know how you get on.
>> Edited by huge_ego on Saturday 14th August 15:58
Don is undoubtedly great at vehicle handling. However, I've done a lot of training and recommend you check out alternatives before deciding:
www.cadence.uk.com (very highly recommended training from the renowned Hugh Noblett, one of the most experienced high performance driving coaches in the country and a lovely bloke)
www.hpc2001.co.uk (taught by John Lyon. Like Don, he's another 'character'. John is the only person in the UK who can teach you at MIRA)
The Advanced Handling Skills day from RideDrive would also meet your needs well: www.ridedrive.co.uk/sessionsprices.htm
Having done them all, I'd recommend Hugh Noblett at Cadance, closely followed by RideDrive. As you're in Yorkshire, you might like to check out ex-pursuit driver Frank Parkin: www.hpc.org.uk/guestjoin.htm
Hope this helps - let us know how you get on.
>> Edited by huge_ego on Saturday 14th August 15:58
Also consider www.1stlotus.com/intro.htm
Apparently fair bit cheaper than Don.
Learnt a hundred more things about driving on the limit than I ever imagined. Andy Walsh who holds the course was excellent too.
ETA : Check the AIRFIELD TRAINING section.
>> Edited by lazyitus on Tuesday 17th August 16:01
Apparently fair bit cheaper than Don.
Learnt a hundred more things about driving on the limit than I ever imagined. Andy Walsh who holds the course was excellent too.
ETA : Check the AIRFIELD TRAINING section.
>> Edited by lazyitus on Tuesday 17th August 16:01
Hi there,
MOD500 - Cool, enjoy yourself and do let us know how you get on.
944Tom - Hi, I don't know the details of the incident. However, I had a session at MIRA with John Lyon during the High Performance Course (HPC). It would be pretty easy to come off on your first time there, but I'd say any damage should be minimal. John's more safety conscious, hence John is still allowed to use MIRA and Don isn't. You have to drive OK at MIRA as one of (the many!) requirements to successfully get through HPC.
In my experience, Don Palmer is great ... but it's only worth going to him once you've already got a fair bit of limit handling experience, especially now he can't let you use MIRA as a bit of water splashed on Bruntingthorpe proving ground won't give you the experience you need.
I'd definitely start with Hugh Noblett (also renowned) at Cadence or RideDrive. Both will do a mixed road and track day. Though I'd definitely advise starting with a day solely on the road if you've never done any 'progressive' driving before - trust me
You'll get more fun out of the 944.
Hope this helps.
>> Edited by huge_ego on Tuesday 31st August 20:40
MOD500 - Cool, enjoy yourself and do let us know how you get on.
944Tom - Hi, I don't know the details of the incident. However, I had a session at MIRA with John Lyon during the High Performance Course (HPC). It would be pretty easy to come off on your first time there, but I'd say any damage should be minimal. John's more safety conscious, hence John is still allowed to use MIRA and Don isn't. You have to drive OK at MIRA as one of (the many!) requirements to successfully get through HPC.
In my experience, Don Palmer is great ... but it's only worth going to him once you've already got a fair bit of limit handling experience, especially now he can't let you use MIRA as a bit of water splashed on Bruntingthorpe proving ground won't give you the experience you need.
I'd definitely start with Hugh Noblett (also renowned) at Cadence or RideDrive. Both will do a mixed road and track day. Though I'd definitely advise starting with a day solely on the road if you've never done any 'progressive' driving before - trust me
You'll get more fun out of the 944. Hope this helps.
>> Edited by huge_ego on Tuesday 31st August 20:40
Hi,
did a session in my RS with Don about 3 months ago at Bruntingthorpe. If you are confident with controlling oversteer (at speed), Don will teach you how to really steer a car (not as simple as just turning the wheel, as you'll find out) and also how your tyres work. Some of the comments on here imply you are not 'taught', but Don's style is to get the individual to think what they are doing and work things out for themselves. This is not hard in reality. If you have any degree of mechanical apptitude, then I think his courses are excellent and would not hesitate to recommend them.
I've heard mixed things about John Lyon and his courses. Being encouraged to drive at over the ton on A and B roads is not clever in my book, no matter what sort of car you're in...
Bernard Aubrey (sp) is also highly recommended.
Don certainly is a character though! There are some great places to eat around the track at lunchtime as well!
Cheers
did a session in my RS with Don about 3 months ago at Bruntingthorpe. If you are confident with controlling oversteer (at speed), Don will teach you how to really steer a car (not as simple as just turning the wheel, as you'll find out) and also how your tyres work. Some of the comments on here imply you are not 'taught', but Don's style is to get the individual to think what they are doing and work things out for themselves. This is not hard in reality. If you have any degree of mechanical apptitude, then I think his courses are excellent and would not hesitate to recommend them.
I've heard mixed things about John Lyon and his courses. Being encouraged to drive at over the ton on A and B roads is not clever in my book, no matter what sort of car you're in...
Bernard Aubrey (sp) is also highly recommended.
Don certainly is a character though! There are some great places to eat around the track at lunchtime as well!
Cheers
A few years ago I took a 5 day advanced (road) driving course. It was based in Essex and run by an (no names, no pack drill) ex-Police instructor. He was also contracted by F*rd to train their development engineers.
Day 5 was 'Overtaking day'. We travelled to the quiet open roads of East Anglia and overtook everthing in sight. We were in a slightly warmed over Sierra Cosworth, and at one point overtook an Ital with 140mph on the clock in safety.
On the way back we stopped at chatted to some of his mates in a white BMW with and orange stripe along the side.
Great days, I imagine its all Gatso hell nowadays, and far far too dangerous to travel at those speeds
.
SS7
Day 5 was 'Overtaking day'. We travelled to the quiet open roads of East Anglia and overtook everthing in sight. We were in a slightly warmed over Sierra Cosworth, and at one point overtook an Ital with 140mph on the clock in safety.
On the way back we stopped at chatted to some of his mates in a white BMW with and orange stripe along the side.
Great days, I imagine its all Gatso hell nowadays, and far far too dangerous to travel at those speeds
. SS7
Hi Fergus,
Yeah, like Don, John Lyon is another character. I've done three and a half days with him to date, successfully completing the High Performance Course and a little beyond. HPC was the most stretching training I've ever done on road or track, but well worth the effort.
Positives: John is considered the best all round driver in the country. He formerly taught the Met police pursuit driving, has been chief instructor at Snetterton race school, various racing championship wins, various rally championship wins, and still instructs test drivers in limit handling. Quite a broad CV! So he has lots of expertise to pass on. Whilst he likes to teach you how drive briskly, he always puts safety first.
Negatives: His instructing style is a little old school, i.e. he sometimes breaks your driving down before building it up again. (He's also taught the SAS and is himself ex-Army.)
However, he's one of the great characters of motoring - a historic figure - so it's a privelage to learn from him before he retires. See www.hpc2001.co.uk
Edited to say that I've also heard great things about Bernard Aubrey. (He too used be be an HPC instructor.)
>> Edited by huge_ego on Wednesday 1st September 19:26
Yeah, like Don, John Lyon is another character. I've done three and a half days with him to date, successfully completing the High Performance Course and a little beyond. HPC was the most stretching training I've ever done on road or track, but well worth the effort.
Positives: John is considered the best all round driver in the country. He formerly taught the Met police pursuit driving, has been chief instructor at Snetterton race school, various racing championship wins, various rally championship wins, and still instructs test drivers in limit handling. Quite a broad CV! So he has lots of expertise to pass on. Whilst he likes to teach you how drive briskly, he always puts safety first.
Negatives: His instructing style is a little old school, i.e. he sometimes breaks your driving down before building it up again. (He's also taught the SAS and is himself ex-Army.)
However, he's one of the great characters of motoring - a historic figure - so it's a privelage to learn from him before he retires. See www.hpc2001.co.uk
Edited to say that I've also heard great things about Bernard Aubrey. (He too used be be an HPC instructor.)
>> Edited by huge_ego on Wednesday 1st September 19:26
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