Giant thumbs up to Fast Club! You've gotta try it!
Discussion
For my birthday I decided to treat myself to a day in their Radical SR4 with a racing instructor. If it is something you'd consider doing, then read on as I will definately be doing it again and thought it was excellent value for money.
Some of you may know me from various track days and know that I'm no slouch in either my Evo or CSL, so as I've recently got my race licence I thought a bit of tuition wouldn't go a miss in case there was some little things I could do with brushing up on.
Anyway the track day itself was £300 at Brands Hatch GP, so I didn't think £750 was too bad considering it included full tuition, car, fuel etc etc. I had never driven a Radical before and so it was quite an experience for me to actually drive a proper race car with a sequential box, rather than the usual road cars with at best an SMG box.
First of all I got taken round and shown the lines that I should take around the circuit. Generally it wasn't too different to what I would have done but a few corners did have a bit of variation and when I got them right I could see the difference it made. First session out and I was getting overtaken by everything as I had to go slowly to get used to it and take the proper lines. The instructor pulled me up on every little thing I did wrong in a constructive way, which was needed, but it did make me feel as if I had got into many bad habits without realising it and that I wasn't that good a driver after all. It wasn't until a few laps later that I actually started to get a decent pace up. Finally in the 3rd session I felt I was doing OK and even managed to overtake a black radical of a very similar spec. I didn't think much of it, but was most chuffed when the driver of the other radical came over and complimented my instructor on his very neat lines and smooth driving. He was then pretty embarressed when he was told that it was me driving and it was the first time I'd ever driven the car, especially as he raced his! :D Suddenly I didn't feel so useless.
We had a few more sessions and it just got better and better. My instructor was now starting to compliment me and I was going faster every session. Then on the final session it was my turn to be passenger and I couldn't wait to criticise.
Well feck me, this guy really did know how to drive. To say I couldn't believe how fast and capable he was is an understatement. He didn't make one mistake that I could pick up on, every line was perfect, even with the car in a 4 wheel drift at well over 100mph through Hawthorn. I just couldn't believe how fast the car is capable of going in the right hands and didn't realise he was as good a driver as he was.
It wasn't until after this session that my friend told me he was Michael Vergers, who apparently is Radicals test/race driver and has developed the car from day 1. The guy is an absolute god when it comes to driving!!!
After all my waffle, what I'd really like to say is a massive thanks to Nigel who owns and runs Fast Club, Jason who helps keep the car together in it's top form and most of all Michael for teaching me how to get a few more seconds off each lap in a safer way!
Top people, top day
Steve
Some of you may know me from various track days and know that I'm no slouch in either my Evo or CSL, so as I've recently got my race licence I thought a bit of tuition wouldn't go a miss in case there was some little things I could do with brushing up on.
Anyway the track day itself was £300 at Brands Hatch GP, so I didn't think £750 was too bad considering it included full tuition, car, fuel etc etc. I had never driven a Radical before and so it was quite an experience for me to actually drive a proper race car with a sequential box, rather than the usual road cars with at best an SMG box.
First of all I got taken round and shown the lines that I should take around the circuit. Generally it wasn't too different to what I would have done but a few corners did have a bit of variation and when I got them right I could see the difference it made. First session out and I was getting overtaken by everything as I had to go slowly to get used to it and take the proper lines. The instructor pulled me up on every little thing I did wrong in a constructive way, which was needed, but it did make me feel as if I had got into many bad habits without realising it and that I wasn't that good a driver after all. It wasn't until a few laps later that I actually started to get a decent pace up. Finally in the 3rd session I felt I was doing OK and even managed to overtake a black radical of a very similar spec. I didn't think much of it, but was most chuffed when the driver of the other radical came over and complimented my instructor on his very neat lines and smooth driving. He was then pretty embarressed when he was told that it was me driving and it was the first time I'd ever driven the car, especially as he raced his! :D Suddenly I didn't feel so useless.
We had a few more sessions and it just got better and better. My instructor was now starting to compliment me and I was going faster every session. Then on the final session it was my turn to be passenger and I couldn't wait to criticise.
Well feck me, this guy really did know how to drive. To say I couldn't believe how fast and capable he was is an understatement. He didn't make one mistake that I could pick up on, every line was perfect, even with the car in a 4 wheel drift at well over 100mph through Hawthorn. I just couldn't believe how fast the car is capable of going in the right hands and didn't realise he was as good a driver as he was.
It wasn't until after this session that my friend told me he was Michael Vergers, who apparently is Radicals test/race driver and has developed the car from day 1. The guy is an absolute god when it comes to driving!!!
After all my waffle, what I'd really like to say is a massive thanks to Nigel who owns and runs Fast Club, Jason who helps keep the car together in it's top form and most of all Michael for teaching me how to get a few more seconds off each lap in a safer way!
Top people, top day
Steve
Man, what a day - MV is indeed, a fantastic driver, but even better, he can impart his vast knowledge in a way that I understood. He made me think about issues I'd never really considered and certainly made me quicker compared to the start of the day - The whole set up was excellent - Hats off to Fast Club for a day to remember. For anyone who's a 'gentleman' racer or hotshoe wannabe, I seriously doubt you'll find better value.
Mr Happy
Mr Happy
It was the 1st time Fast Club had booked with us but i spoke to Nigel several times before the day and was very impressed with his attutude to safety and how he had his day worked out. I'd be happy to welcome them back on any of our days.
Melindi
www.goldtrack.co.uk
Melindi
www.goldtrack.co.uk
Thanks for the kind words, we thoroughly enjoy these days too. It's great to deal with people who take their driving seriously, and have a genuine urge to learn.
We will watch your progress closely Daivid and wish you all the best in your forthcoming FPA race at Brands, and indeed your race career.
Steve, I look forward to seeing both yourself and Bruce next month and I'm sure you'll both carry on from where you left off.
Melindi, thanks for a slick day and we'll catch up next week at Silverstone.
Nigel
www.fastclubuk.com
We will watch your progress closely Daivid and wish you all the best in your forthcoming FPA race at Brands, and indeed your race career.
Steve, I look forward to seeing both yourself and Bruce next month and I'm sure you'll both carry on from where you left off.
Melindi, thanks for a slick day and we'll catch up next week at Silverstone.
Nigel
www.fastclubuk.com
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