What to do - car control course, skid pan or drift day?
Discussion
I went to the Autocar Drift School (basically one of the Caterham events) on Friday and whilst the day was great, I was shocking! I did quite well in the wet in the morning, but when things dried up, so did all of my 'talent'.
Basically I want to improve my car control. A lot.
As far as I can see there are three options.
1) Another drift day
I've seen the Oulton Park course mentioned before: http://www.motorsportvision.co.uk/oulton-park/trac...
On the one hand I like the idea of doing so in my own car, but I'm not sure how suitable it would be without a limited slip diff. It'll happily kick the tail out on the exit of slow speed corners, but I'm not sure I could sustain a prolonged drift with an open diff? It's also a little far afield (I'm in North London).
2) A skid pan day
I wasn't sure how relevant a front wheel drive skid car would be... Are there any where you can take your own car onto a wet-surface (i.e water, not oil) skid pan?
3) One of the car control days
Rob Gravett's course sounded very promising, but I'm not sure I can afford more than the cost of my daily driver for a day's instruction! Slightly closer to home, I've also heard good things about the Car Limits days at North Weald. With the latter I could also hire one of their Elises to abuse, rather than having to fuel, service and re-shoe my own car.
Any thoughts or other suggestions?
Basically I want to improve my car control. A lot.
As far as I can see there are three options.
1) Another drift day
I've seen the Oulton Park course mentioned before: http://www.motorsportvision.co.uk/oulton-park/trac...
On the one hand I like the idea of doing so in my own car, but I'm not sure how suitable it would be without a limited slip diff. It'll happily kick the tail out on the exit of slow speed corners, but I'm not sure I could sustain a prolonged drift with an open diff? It's also a little far afield (I'm in North London).
2) A skid pan day
I wasn't sure how relevant a front wheel drive skid car would be... Are there any where you can take your own car onto a wet-surface (i.e water, not oil) skid pan?
3) One of the car control days
Rob Gravett's course sounded very promising, but I'm not sure I can afford more than the cost of my daily driver for a day's instruction! Slightly closer to home, I've also heard good things about the Car Limits days at North Weald. With the latter I could also hire one of their Elises to abuse, rather than having to fuel, service and re-shoe my own car.
Any thoughts or other suggestions?
What about one of the Motorevents academy days ? Sound quite good and good value for money as well I think. They just sent me an email - i'll dig out the details.
Sorry - meant MotorSport-Events.co.uk
http://www.motorsport-events.co.uk/academy-days.php
Sorry - meant MotorSport-Events.co.uk
http://www.motorsport-events.co.uk/academy-days.php
Edited by SimonV8ster on Tuesday 3rd June 13:25
What do you want to get out of it? Avoid losing control on the road? Become quicker around a track? Or learn how to drift around Silverstone waving to the adoring fans? I can *highly* recommend Andy Walsh's Car Limits days at North Weald. I wouldn't do another Rob Gravett day.
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 3rd June 13:27
LexSport said:
What do you want to get out of it? Avoid losing control on the road? Become quicker around a track? Or learn how to drift around Silverstone waving to the adoring fans? I can *highly* recommend Andy Walsh's Car Limits days at North Weald. I wouldn't do another Rob Gravett day.
Interesting, why do you say that? (Feel free to PM if you prefer...)Edited by LexSport on Tuesday 3rd June 13:27
Going back to your question - a little of all the above really. That said, *touch wood* I've never had any problems on the road, I've always been able to correct any little slides that occured and I'm not that worried about setting fast lap times.
I guess drifting would be the closest discpline to it, but I'm more interested in being able to extract the most from a conventional road car's handling, rather than something with specially prepared suspension geometry and a hyrdaulic handbrake.
Andy also sometimes runs 'activity days' where you get the same exercises but no 1 to 1 tuition (just tips and suggestions before your next run) and share the day with 16 - 20 others, these usually cost < £50. You get less practice but this means you use up less tyre, I think they are a good way of practising what you have learnt on a full 2 or 4 driver day though you may find it would also be a fairly cheap way of finding out what Andy offers on his courses.
I cannot see any on his calendar at the moment but you could always drop him an email and ask.
I cannot see any on his calendar at the moment but you could always drop him an email and ask.
Biggest single step i made was spending a week on a frozen lake in Sweden using a mix of FWD and RWD cars on a high speed course and slow speed technical sections.
It really magnifies your weaknesses and is a great way to learn with zero damage.
doesn't cost the earth either , cheap ryanair flights etc but sadly only good in winter time.
It really magnifies your weaknesses and is a great way to learn with zero damage.
doesn't cost the earth either , cheap ryanair flights etc but sadly only good in winter time.
petermann said:
Which course in Sweden would that be? A quick google search doesn't seem to reveal anything.
Don Palmer does something like that - not cheap though.Chris71 said:
3) One of the car control days
Rob Gravett's course sounded very promising, but I'm not sure I can afford more than the cost of my daily driver for a day's instruction!
Even if he charged £11.60 it would be overpriced. It's garbage. When I asked him about trail braking he informed that people who did that didn't know what they were doing. Seriously.Rob Gravett's course sounded very promising, but I'm not sure I can afford more than the cost of my daily driver for a day's instruction!
Ultimate Car Control my backside.
Chris71 said:
Slightly closer to home, I've also heard good things about the Car Limits days at North Weald. With the latter I could also hire one of their Elises to abuse, rather than having to fuel, service and re-shoe my own car.
That was a good day, but you'll need plenty of thread on your tyres. I did it in my own car. It's very good value, and he's good instructor.Can't comment on the other options
petermann said:
Which course in Sweden would that be? A quick google search doesn't seem to reveal anything.
The one i went on was a private affair where we hired the lake. It was organised by a well know Rally Co-ordinator. http://www.bbc.co.uk/lancashire/content/articles/2...
BMW (Germany i think) were also using the lake with some very nice cars etc, i think it was some course you could go on if you were a BMW customer
John Haugland does it as well in Norway http://www.hauglandmotorsport.com/
I think it'll be one of the days at North Weald for starters...
I've got a friend who's interested in sharing the drive. Might take my TVR, but it's a little soft for track use at the moment and doesn't have an LSD, so the idea of hiring their Elise sounds rather promising. If I got a group of four together it'd only be £50 each to hire the Elise, plus £190 for the day. That's got to be less than replacing the lost tyre tread and changing the fluids on my car.
I've got a friend who's interested in sharing the drive. Might take my TVR, but it's a little soft for track use at the moment and doesn't have an LSD, so the idea of hiring their Elise sounds rather promising. If I got a group of four together it'd only be £50 each to hire the Elise, plus £190 for the day. That's got to be less than replacing the lost tyre tread and changing the fluids on my car.
Chris71 said:
If I got a group of four together it'd only be £50 each to hire the Elise, plus £190 for the day. That's got to be less than replacing the lost tyre tread and changing the fluids on my car.
Don't think the Elise hire works like that as he charges £200 for a 4 person day and £400 for a 2 person day. I suspect it would be £200/person on a 4 person day.In some respects the car and set up does not matter, I use cheap tyres pumped up to 40+ psi when I take the Impreza up there for instance, a lot of what you learn will apply to any car. Andy's airfield courses are about learning the dynamics of cars on and over their limits and how to feel and control them.
Not that I haven't been tempted to hire the Elise myself.
Sorry this is a bit late. I did a drift day in my MX-5 which does not have a limited slip diff. It's mighty hard (read near impossible) when the track's dry but fortunately, they wet it.
In the wet it's tricky, especially with no power steering, but drifts are entirely possible. You just have to get the inside wheel spinning slightly faster than the other driven wheel and you're there. You won't be on the lock stops (think half a wheel turn at most) but it's great.
I would love to do another when I get chance.
In the wet it's tricky, especially with no power steering, but drifts are entirely possible. You just have to get the inside wheel spinning slightly faster than the other driven wheel and you're there. You won't be on the lock stops (think half a wheel turn at most) but it's great.
I would love to do another when I get chance.
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