Looking for track/skid/advanced driver training in Surrey

[Alistair1990]

Afternoon everyone,

I'm a journalist and have recently got into the fortunate position where I can borrow and review some interesting cars. Recent highlights have been a BMW i8, Rolls-Royce Wraith, Tesla, JCW Mini and Ferrari California T. I'm 26, have been driving for eight years, did a lot of karting (two and four stroke) at university and now drive a Mini Cooper S.

I feel I have a good understanding of under/oversteer, weight transfer, grip and general vehicle dynamics, but I'm looking for a short course or driving experience which will a) confirm I do know what I'm doing, and b) teach me a fair bit more.

Essentially, if I'm driving a RWD car with a bit of power I want to know I have the confidence to push on, when safe to do so. Ideally, my budget is under £500.

[angoooose]

Ever thought of the IAM?

There are some people here who will help for much less than £500

http://eastsurreyiam.org/

[StressedDave]

Alistair1990 said:

I feel I have a good understanding of under/oversteer, weight transfer, grip and general vehicle dynamics, but I'm looking for a short course or driving experience which will a) confirm I do know what I'm doing, and b) teach me a fair bit more.

IME those who are looking for a) discover that the answer is 'No'.
I'd be looking to work out what you actually want. Do you:

a) Want to learn more about limit handling so when you cock it up on the road you're travelling quicker than you would otherwise have been, and discover that unlike proving grounds/airfields, the public road doesn't have anywhere near enough space to recover serious moments of oops, then you want a limit handling course from someone like Don Palmer. He is very good at it and you may get enough out of it to keep you safe.

or

b) Learn how not to need your car control skills by developing your road driving skills. The IAM is one option although the £100+ fee these days seems a bit steep for instruction by non-professionals of variable quality (as you'll read from the other posts on here, some great a great Observer and others less-so) and a test. My money would be spent on going to either Clive Jones or Andy Morrison at http://www.high-performance-course.com/ Your budget would stretch to 3 half days (better than doing a day and a half IYSWIM) with either of them and have a bit left over.

I presume as a techno-journo you won't have access to serious off-road facilities and you want to be safe on the road. If that's the case, then option (b) will undoubtedly be preferable.

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

StressedDave is obviously too modest aware of the posting rules to mention his own coaching abilities, but he'd be worth asking.

The majority of my (still limited) understanding of vehicle dynamics has been derived from his writing and in-car advice over the last few years. He's also close to some very good roads.

[waremark]

Alistair1990 said:

Afternoon everyone,

I'm a journalist and have recently got into the fortunate position where I can borrow and review some interesting cars. Recent highlights have been a BMW i8, Rolls-Royce Wraith, Tesla, JCW Mini and Ferrari California T. I'm 26, have been driving for eight years, did a lot of karting (two and four stroke) at university and now drive a Mini Cooper S.

Ignore me if you find this intrusive, but out of interest are you involved in print journalism, or are you making a living from your car blogging?

Can you see a way to use your own training to get exposure for driver training and to promote it to a wider audience?

PS - I watched your California video and I thought it was very good.

Edited by waremark on Saturday 23 January 01:36