How to Find a Race Instructor?

[indigorallye]

I think it's time I got some instruction!
I can spend money all day long on my car but I don't think I'm getting the most out of it as it stands right now.
So, before I spend more money on it I think some pointers, and general instruction may help me save more time than any fancy new dampers etc.
I drive a front engined, front wheel drive hatchback.
So, where do I find a good instructor?
I've had a quick look on the ARDS site but didn't find it vey helpful.
Does anyone have any reccomendations for the north west region?
Does an instructor sit next to me on a track day? If so I'm going to have to fit another seat.
Do they offer continuous mentoring?
Should I just book a trackday and book some instruction with the TD company?

So many questions!!!

[Jerry Can]

There are several instructors on this website, they will I am sure contact you directly with your level of experience they will all be able to help.


Most instructors tend to sit alongside you but there are some that will stand on the banks and talk to you via radio to improve your driving

Costs are upwards of £300 per day and for the top instructors double that

I think ginetta joe is northwest based so maybe your first port of call

In the past I have used Malcolm Smith, John Stevens, Paul Taft, Mike Vergers, all of whom are excellent

Try googling race driving instruction

Final point there are some chancers out there and you need to be sure of their experience and coaching ability before parting with your cashl

Also paul o neill btcc is an instructor that is NW based

Hth

[andy97]

Many of the TD company's will have instructors who you can book for 20 -30 min sessions & that's useful for learning lines etc but not really long enough to work on technique. Best to book an instructor for an exclusive or shared day (ie 2 drivers share one instructor for the whole day). I recommend Simon Mason; he's an experienced Britcar & British GT racer but more than that, he's not just a racing driver filling in time between races, he's a professional driver coach who takes his job seriously. Based near Oulton Park, too, but will travel..

http://www.simonmason.com/

[indigorallye]

Thanks fellas. I would rather go with a recommendation than just pluck a name out of a directory.
Paul O'Neill is obviously a good driver, but that does not always translate across into being a good instructor/ coach. That obviously applies to all in the field, not just Paul.

[noneedtolift]

Sean Edwards seems to get very good reviews on ph. Personally I can also recommend Nigel Greensall.

[Zumbruk]

I've been more than happy with Colin Hoad at CAT Driver Training.

[Peter Davies]

Another vote for Simon Mason

Pete

[indigorallye]

Thanks guys.
(Pete- videos are up!)

[designndrive62]

Paul O'neill is a top guy - I drove in the same team as him when he was the ginetta g50 guest driver - and if he offers instruction I would have thought he would be an excellent choice,

[danny keenan]

before you go speding money.the best thing i did was watch my race footage over and over and find where i was going wrong.then at the next meeting or trackday try and improve my self.

have you done much testing?or have you just race with us every meeting?

[Racingben]

All named instructors above are very good.

I'm happy to have a look at any footage of your driving to then come up with a programme of things to work with you on a day.

I tend to do a mix of in car and video / data review. (I supply a video vbox in the price)

Give me a pm on here if you want to discuss things further.

Thanks

Ben Elliott (www.race-instructor.co.uk)

[indigorallye]

Danny, I watch the videos over and over again. The problem is that I think my lines are ok (when I'm not trying to get out the way!).
Rather than go and test, and practice bad habits, I would like some pointers and areas to work on.
Ben, thanks for the offer, I am obviously keeping my options open and may well be in touch in the future.

[Graham]

Another vote for Simon mason.

Steve Lewis and Colin Elstrop possibles too

[BertBert]

I've used Ryan Hooker who is very good. He does Palmer work as well so does get up to Oulton easily (if that's NW?)
Bert

[h5lrw]

Look no further than Simon Mason.

[Kickstart]

Another vote for Simon Mason.

[taffyracer]

Mike Wilds, Eugene O'Brien.....both are excellent

[FlyInMySoup]

Can you get someone experienced/fast in your car to set a benchmark time? This will at least let you know if the problem is the car or you and where best to spend time/money. Trying to develop your car and also figure out how to lap fast is really difficult, too many variables. Alternatively you could sell up and buy an ex-race mk2 XR2!

[BMR]

A bit of instruction always helps, even if it is in a different car. Thats certainly what I found, next race I went out I was 1 second quicker.

I think essentially although you need technical understanding of racing lines etc racing is all about confidence and your mind set approaching a race. That seems to be the way in which I've went from being 10th to winning races. (well along with a car that is bang on weight limits!)

I can understand a lot of people race just to drive a car fast but I always hear from these guys "I'm just happy to be on track" etc, they bring the attitude they won't do well, so the result is they don't!

[Thurtene]

Instruction is worth more to you than the actual cost you'll pay. In fact, it would be a better investment than upgrading anything on the car as you'd never know if you were getting the most out of it.

Watching videos won't necessarily show mistakes as you don't know you're making them until someone gives you some instruction.

I've had instruction a number of times (mainly using that provided by track-day companies) and generally found my 20 minutes enormously helpful. Normally, the difference in braking point or turning point is half a car over what you think is correct but the difference is significant. You can usually transfer the skills you learn to other circuits.

As an aside, Paul O'Neill is excellent - but he isn't a registered instructor (or at least wasn't when I spoke to him at a VXR day a while back).