Instructor Needed for Bedford on 4-Mar

[barry_j]

I will be going to Bedford on 4-Mar and a friend is also coming along in his Noble. His insurance company says that he will need to be accompanied by a qualified instructor. He can obviously get instructors on the day but can anyone recommend an instructor that my friend can hire for the whole day? Any idea of costs please?

[paulburrell]

It would be cheaper to get specialist track day cover for the day i.e. less than £200. Or don't bother with insurance cover as Bedford is a pretty safe place to be. Alternatively ask Easytrack(the organisers I think) whether they can put you in touch with someone. Getting one of the better known "mercenaries" e.g Don Palmer at such short notice might be difficult and in any case your mate would be looking at about £400 for the day.

Hope this helps

[barry_j]

paulburrell said:

It would be cheaper to get specialist track day cover for the day i.e. less than £200.

Thanks for teh suggestion but he's tried getting one-day cover but premiums and excesses are high. Where can you get it for £200? Any idea what the excess will be?

In the meantime, any recommendations for an instructor would be appreciated...

[paulburrell]

Try Eggar Lawson for cover 0115 941 5255. Others on here might recommend instructors.

[ehasler]

Steve Lewis - [e-mail]
Simon Mason - www.simonmason.com

Both are good, and are ARDS licensed.

[barry_j]

ehasler said:

Steve Lewis - [e-mail] Simon Mason - www.simonmason.com Both are good, and are ARDS licensed.

Cheers Ed. Remember about a year ago we went down to Bedford (you & the Mrs, Trackdemon in his MCS, me when I had my Red 993tt and a guy in a M3 CSL). I seem to remeber that you and the M3 guy shared an instructor for the day. Can you remember his contact details and price?

[ehasler]

Yep - I do rememeber that day That was Steve Lewis, but I can't remember what we paid - I've known him for a while, so I think we got a slight discount, but it would be best to drop him a mail.

[barry_j]

ehasler said:

That was Steve Lewis.

I dont suppose you've got his phone number have you?

[ehasler]

barry_j said:

ehasler said: That was Steve Lewis. I dont suppose you've got his phone number have you?

YHM

[calypsoelise]

why not give ET a bell and ask them if they can sort someone exclusive. shouldn't be a problem at all normally loads of instructors chasing bedford work.

if you dont get sorted drop me a note, theres a few instructors living in that area and normally ok last minute.

[barry_j]

calypsoelise said:

why not give ET a bell and ask them if they can sort someone exclusive. shouldn't be a problem at all normally loads of instructors chasing bedford work. if you dont get sorted drop me a note, theres a few instructors living in that area and normally ok last minute.

YHM

[enginearin]

Jamie Robinson was doing a great deal on a full day's private instruction last year... nice guy and knows his stuff too.

Try emailing him through his profile on the www.wscc.co.uk boadroom User name I.S.M

[Don]

ehasler said:

Steve Lewis - [e-mail] Simon Mason - www.simonmason.com Both are good, and are ARDS licensed.

I like Simon Mason.

He's a right bastard if you screw up but that's the whole point. If you don't want to get better and have your (all too obvious) mistakes pointed out so you can fix 'em then you shouldn't get an instructor.

He talks a great deal about forward vision helping you to plan the corner. Its something I've wanted to spend more time with him really understanding. Coming from an Advanced Driving background with Scanning etc methods of observation I thought it would be easy - its not - the whole planning process and the forward observation required is different - related but different and its something I've been struggling to master for the last while.

Recommended. But be prepared to need a thick skin.

>> Edited by Don on Tuesday 28th February 18:45

[Keith R]

Don said:

ehasler said: Steve Lewis - [e-mail] Simon Mason - www.simonmason.com Both are good, and are ARDS licensed. I like Simon Mason. He's a right bastard if you screw up but that's the whole point. If you don't want to get better and have your (all too obvious) mistakes pointed out so you can fix 'em then you shouldn't get an instructor. >> Edited by Don on Tuesday 28th February 18:45

I would say that's debatable. People respond differently to different techniques. While the 'no nonsense, kick up the ass' approach may work for some, it won't work for others. I've experienced Simon on the 5 day Silverstone course and found him very uncomfortable to work with. Personally for me, to be able to absorb information and drive on the limit, I need to feel comfortable to begin with.

Does this mean I shouldn't get an instructor?

[anonymous-user]

i'd recomend Stuart Turvey without hesitation, but he'll be in my car...

[GarrettMacD]

Keith R said:

Don said: ehasler said: Steve Lewis - [e-mail] Simon Mason - www.simonmason.com Both are good, and are ARDS licensed. I like Simon Mason. He's a right bastard if you screw up but that's the whole point. If you don't want to get better and have your (all too obvious) mistakes pointed out so you can fix 'em then you shouldn't get an instructor. >> Edited by Don on Tuesday 28th February 18:45 I would say that's debatable. People respond differently to different techniques. While the 'no nonsense, kick up the ass' approach may work for some, it won't work for others. I've experienced Simon on the 5 day Silverstone course and found him very uncomfortable to work with. Personally for me, to be able to absorb information and drive on the limit, I need to feel comfortable to begin with. Does this mean I shouldn't get an instructor?

Horses for courses, etc. Conversely, Simon has taken me from a total novice to a reasonably acceptable club racer, but I know that with more track time with him I will get better. I make a point of getting instruction at every track day I go to (just to learn lines, etc) but I find that I am unable to relax or learn as much with anyone else.

The thing you've got to remember about Simon is that he doesn't like 'billy' instruction (Billy = Billy Bunter, Punter = novice with (usually) no ARDS licence) so he tends to not put up with any poor driving. This is more out of his own sense of self-preservation than anything else, and is entirely understandable given the amount of novices he has to work with every day/week/month/year. When you've had a few sessions with him it gets much more relaxed and focused and you will get faster and more consistent.

Just my own experience, no affiliation to him, etc...

[nic360]

if anyone has a half hour break with an instructor going spare, happy to chuck them £20? for 30mins or whatever is the right going rate.....just come up and say hello.........nic in the silver 360,,,,,,,,,cheers..........think i have one of the track instructors booked in the morning but interested in getting other views.......