Best place for track tuition?

[trefor]

Anyone got any suggestions where to go for a decent track day where you can drive a number of cars and learn about car handling/fast driving under tuition? I mean in their cars, not yours!

Bedford Autodrome seem to have a nice selection of cars to play with and a nice track, but it appears you can only get to them on corporate events? Anyone know better?

Thanks.


Trefor/.

[Neil Menzies]

Have a look at
www.tangerineuk.com/shop/index.php?main=product&id=26

[adrianr]

Depends what you're after!

Bedford (Palmer Promosport) is a corporate entertainment setup, so don't count on getting any tuition but it is a good day out (esp at someone elses expense) and you'd probably learn something.

Most of the race circuits do some sort of "experience" type day, but they're only ever going to assume you are a total beginner and teach you just enough to stay on the track. And don't count on getting much car time either - read the small print before signing up.

The Jim Russell school used to offer introductory days where they did actually try & teach you how to drive a bit, but I'm not sure what they're up to now or even where they're based.

Otherwise you can do a DIY day - there are people who hire cars and people who hire tracks and airfields and people who provide tuition so you mix and match. A Caterham at an airfeld day with 2 or 3 sessions of instruction should start you off in the right direction.

If the latter appeals, try Richard Ellingworth at www.racecarhire.co.uk/

AdrianR

[ATG]

I understand Lotus organise some kind of training event. Anyone got an views on that?

[adee]

... Polaris Drive offer on track tuition in their track-prepared Porsche 944s and other performance cars if required.
Admittedly I am little biased (it is my company!) but we provide a great day with plenty of track time and tuition... no rev limits although safety is still foremost.
Take a look at our website, www.polarisdrive.co.uk or e-mail sales@polarisdrive with some information on when and where you'd like to go and we'll do our best to get you on track.

[powelly]

I've been lucky enough to have gone on 2 palmer days, and I think you can pay to go yourself (@£500 )..

I thought the tuition you received wasn't too bad, depends how you approached the instructors. I got a lot out of the day especially positioning and gradual braking techniques... not that it helped me much with the griff I've just bought, I was told early on that the throttle was no longer a switch... but read that for the brakes as well!! It's just as easy to kick sideways under braking as it is under power......!!!

[powelly]

Oh and forgot to mention, they are the only place I have been to where they actually encourage you to thrash the cars..... the Honda Integra is a hoot!!!

[adrianr]

quote:
... Polaris Drive offer on track tuition in their track-prepared Porsche 944s and other performance cars if required.

What else have you got now? - I drove your 944 at Rockingham last year.

AdrianR

[yertis]

Does anybody know anything about the Don Palmer Creative Car Control courses at Bruntingthorpe? IMO my driving skills are crap, and I'd like to raise my standard a bit before go out on the track. I once did a days tuition at Castle Coombe, which didn't work for me because the Focuses (or Foci) rolled around far more than the cars I'm accustomed to, and because the Formula Ford thingies they use are all too small for me (too tall)

[Imelda]

I did a day at Bedford Autodrome celebrating a friends birthday. Not cheap but a superb day out. No rev limits, instructors who really encourage you to give it some (some more than others), a good selection of interesting cars and nothing to hit if you balls it.

If you do it, go for the "superdrive" option, which gets you passenger laps in a tandem seater Formula Palmer Audi with a proper racing driver at the helm. Awesome and a very humbling experience because you will realise just how crap you are behind the wheel. Personally I wanted to get out even before we'd even left the pitlane.

Oh yes. And lots of lovely fresh young totty looking after you throughout the day.

[powelly]

ah yes, forgot to mention the totty, got carried away with one on my second visit and got a wee slap.....

[getcarter]

Don Palmers course is excellent - just prepare yourself to trash both tyres and brakes.

Bedford Autodrome is also good, as the instructors there know what they are doing and if you do get it wrong there are large 'run offs'

You might also consider an airfield day (with tuition)

Steve
www.SadGit.net

[yertis]

Hmm... Kemble and Wroughton are both not far from me. How do you find out about "airfield days" then? I've never seen them advertised.

[yertis]

Also,and I know I ought to ask the man himself, would it be better to do Don Palmer's course in a rear wheel drive car or a quattro? questions questions