Skid-Pan Video

[Synchromesh]

Just put a little video together for my local IAM group. As there seems to be a severe lack of videos in this forum I thought I'd share it with you. Tell me what you think...

http://youtu.be/QeE3MdmcahA

[ian in lancs]

Great video. Brought back a few memories!

I used to instruct on IAM courses and organised skid training for a while. I think it should be part of the basic course

[Synchromesh]

ian in lancs said:

Great video. Brought back a few memories!

I used to instruct on IAM courses and organised skid training for a while. I think it should be part of the basic course

Thanks. There are mixed opinions within our group on how beneficial skid pan training actually is. However, nobody can deny it's bloody good fun.

[ian in lancs]

Synchromesh said:

There are mixed opinions within our group on how beneficial skid pan training actually is

And that is why I left! They couldn't agree on anything except being pompous and superior.

Of course it useful! Any training is useful. Having worked in Sweden for 6 years and been faced with all sorts there and in other countries I appreciated the input. Those who dont think they need it are the dangerous ones.

[Synchromesh]

ian in lancs said:

Of course it useful!

As I say, there are different views. Mine is not necessarily that that skid pan training has no benefits, but a quick google search reveals plenty of arguments to the contrary.

http://www.driveandstayalive.com/articles%20and%20...

I was talking to a Police Class 1 driver about it yesterday, and he told me that the police have stopped giving skid training, as in a car with ESP, trying to correct a skid can actually exacerbate it.

ian in lancs said:

And that is why I left! They couldn't agree on anything except being pompous and superior.

I don't think finding people of that nature is exclusive to the IAM. Perhaps you should have tried moving to a different group if you struggled to get on with people at the one you were at.

[mattdaniels]

I've never done a "skidpan" but have driven the wet course at MIRA and spent some time playing on the wet circuit at Rockingham. The latter was certainly a lot of fun, esp. driving a Caterham and an Evo 7 back to back. The Caterham was easy to upset but they had to crank the kick plate right up to provoke the Evo. Amazing what a few computers can do!

[ian in lancs]

One doesn't always drive cars with skid control systems - the Police use modern well equipped vehicles. I can see why they would drop Skid Control. Can't say I'm all that impressed with the ones I've met and see on TV.

However, Fire and Ambulance still do skid training as do the shadier parts of the military.

when I was in Sweden they didnt have those systems and my training and the specific advice afrom locals about reading the particular conditions in Sweden was invaluable. I distinctly recal a 300km cross country drive on summer tyres in the worst snow / blizzard conditions I have ever experienced. Without that training I'd be in a box.

if training leaves the individual with false expectations of their capability it wasn't done properly.

at least some of my training was about not getting into the skid in the first place and more recently covered with and without the systems engaged. In fact at Prodrive they teach how to trust and take advantage of the systems.