Knockhill Track Driving Lessons - worth the money?
Discussion
Anyone here been to knockhill for an instructor lesson in their own car?
I bought Mass's old XTR2 and am finding that it can be a bit of handful in damp conditions. In the dry on public roads it's completely placid, as driving within speed limits doesn't really give any indication of what it's cabable of, or where it's limits lie. I did the prodrive driver one day course a few years back and felt quite comfortable on the track, but though that a lesson would be sensible before tackling a track day.
any thoughts?
I bought Mass's old XTR2 and am finding that it can be a bit of handful in damp conditions. In the dry on public roads it's completely placid, as driving within speed limits doesn't really give any indication of what it's cabable of, or where it's limits lie. I did the prodrive driver one day course a few years back and felt quite comfortable on the track, but though that a lesson would be sensible before tackling a track day.
any thoughts?
cheers folks, always nice to get positive feedback. Think I'll go ahead then.
Believe the cost is £119 = 25 laps and lasts about an hour
Funnily enough Mass did mention something about drift lessons (should I trust a guy who has too fast too furious Tokyo drift posters in his garage
)
Would be nice to actually get the car out for a play, seem to have done nothing but tinker with it for weeks (but I guess that's half the fun) planning to fit a scottoiler tomorrow, hopefully get it out for a run afterwards.
Rgrds
KEF
Believe the cost is £119 = 25 laps and lasts about an hour
Funnily enough Mass did mention something about drift lessons (should I trust a guy who has too fast too furious Tokyo drift posters in his garage
)Would be nice to actually get the car out for a play, seem to have done nothing but tinker with it for weeks (but I guess that's half the fun) planning to fit a scottoiler tomorrow, hopefully get it out for a run afterwards.
Rgrds
KEF
northo said:
Definately worth it. I always try and grab Alan Brunton who is a great instructor. Besides, who else is going to train you on track?
Alan is a grade 'A' headcase.
Talented chap though (and married to Sasha).
Joking aside, I know Alan personally (he is a bampot) and he can drive
KEF said:
cheers folks, always nice to get positive feedback. Think I'll go ahead then.
Believe the cost is £119 = 25 laps and lasts about an hour
Funnily enough Mass did mention something about drift lessons (should I trust a guy who has too fast too furious Tokyo drift posters in his garage )
Would be nice to actually get the car out for a play, seem to have done nothing but tinker with it for weeks (but I guess that's half the fun) planning to fit a scottoiler tomorrow, hopefully get it out for a run afterwards.
Rgrds
KEF
That sounds good value. Can you get a loan of one of their cars? I don't think the leasing company would be very impressed if I stuffed their new car at Knockhill Believe the cost is £119 = 25 laps and lasts about an hour
Funnily enough Mass did mention something about drift lessons (should I trust a guy who has too fast too furious Tokyo drift posters in his garage
)Would be nice to actually get the car out for a play, seem to have done nothing but tinker with it for weeks (but I guess that's half the fun) planning to fit a scottoiler tomorrow, hopefully get it out for a run afterwards.
Rgrds
KEF
ETA - looking at their website they also have on road tuition for 4 hours in your own car. This sounds just what I'm after - has anyone done it?
Edited by Ecurie Ecosse on Sunday 22 February 09:38
evening folks
With all the positive feedback I went ahead and booked a instructor session up at knockhill.
Amazing how many people recognized/commented on the westie. One of the workshop guys was kind enough to lend me the use of his air hose when I realized I'd forgotten not only to check the tyres but also to bring my pump.
After a brief chat with the clerk of the course (who wanted to convince himself that I wasn't a complete nutter before he let me loose on his track) I got underway with a young lad Joe as my instructor.
Sitting in a car that low I was really glad to have him along, from utube videos I had no idea how blind some of the corners were.
He took a quick shot to show the best lines through the corners then back over to me
Out if the pits and tried really hard to hit the first apex then down through the series, tried to catch second at the bottom of the hill, nothing doing. Carried on up the hill passing one of their Seats and went for fourth, again nothing doing. Coming up to the last hairpin and it dawned on me - gear linkage had gone with the car stuck in third. Game over.
Still they were really sound about it and said I could rebook once I've sorted the car.
Disappointed with the outcome but can't fault knockhill at all - desperate to get back up there and really get motoring.
Some small consolation - even with only third gear at my disposal I was catching their Ferrari 360 - probably miss daisy at the wheel though.
With all the positive feedback I went ahead and booked a instructor session up at knockhill.
Amazing how many people recognized/commented on the westie. One of the workshop guys was kind enough to lend me the use of his air hose when I realized I'd forgotten not only to check the tyres but also to bring my pump.
After a brief chat with the clerk of the course (who wanted to convince himself that I wasn't a complete nutter before he let me loose on his track) I got underway with a young lad Joe as my instructor.
Sitting in a car that low I was really glad to have him along, from utube videos I had no idea how blind some of the corners were.
He took a quick shot to show the best lines through the corners then back over to me
Out if the pits and tried really hard to hit the first apex then down through the series, tried to catch second at the bottom of the hill, nothing doing. Carried on up the hill passing one of their Seats and went for fourth, again nothing doing. Coming up to the last hairpin and it dawned on me - gear linkage had gone with the car stuck in third. Game over.
Still they were really sound about it and said I could rebook once I've sorted the car.
Disappointed with the outcome but can't fault knockhill at all - desperate to get back up there and really get motoring.
Some small consolation - even with only third gear at my disposal I was catching their Ferrari 360 - probably miss daisy at the wheel though.
Ah there he is, howdy Mass.
not too bothered about the gear linkage, fairly sure I can get to it without loosing too many fingers. Half the fun was buying a car I could work on myself. Just serviced it, re-tensioned the chain, fitted a scottoiler and replaced the brake fluid with some nice high temp AP stuff. Still havering about the rear diffuser needs quite a few brackets and could make it really hard to get on the trailer - side plates for the wing may be a better bet.
Monday was the first time I've tried it with the race nose and tyres, on the dry track it was totally planted - for the few laps I got I was still well within my limits (apart from slightly overcooking the 1st corner one time), the way I drive probably build up slowly, the instructor day was good in that they've set cones at the brake and turn in points as well as marking each apex, really good to have something clear to aim at.
I think a few more laps would have had me crawling all over the Ferrari (except with the instructor at the wheel - christ they're fast round there)
hoped I'd make the track scotland day - but I think the instructor plan was the best way to start; plus given the weather on saturday I'd have drowned - the exige looked good in the rain though....
take it easy
KEF
not too bothered about the gear linkage, fairly sure I can get to it without loosing too many fingers. Half the fun was buying a car I could work on myself. Just serviced it, re-tensioned the chain, fitted a scottoiler and replaced the brake fluid with some nice high temp AP stuff. Still havering about the rear diffuser needs quite a few brackets and could make it really hard to get on the trailer - side plates for the wing may be a better bet.
Monday was the first time I've tried it with the race nose and tyres, on the dry track it was totally planted - for the few laps I got I was still well within my limits (apart from slightly overcooking the 1st corner one time), the way I drive probably build up slowly, the instructor day was good in that they've set cones at the brake and turn in points as well as marking each apex, really good to have something clear to aim at.
I think a few more laps would have had me crawling all over the Ferrari (except with the instructor at the wheel - christ they're fast round there)
hoped I'd make the track scotland day - but I think the instructor plan was the best way to start; plus given the weather on saturday I'd have drowned - the exige looked good in the rain though....
take it easy
KEF
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