Porsche Driving Experience..
Discussion
Booked my driving day with Porsche for end of April, meeting at Flitwick Manor...sounds pooosh.
Has anyone done the day? I really want to get the most from this experience day in order to enjoy my car to the full. I had a brief taste of what the car (9972s) could do at the infield track at Oulton Park, but would really like to improve my skills if possible for fast road driving. I am fairly comfy with the car, but I have never felt confident enough to push as hard as I do on a motorcycle. Any tips of what to ask for on the day, and whats the time best spent on (different aspects of driving the 911) with (I assume)a top class instructor on this one to one. My thoughts are money best spent on eeking the most from my ability rather than strecting the cars capabilities even further away from my own with tuning mods etc.
Thanks 9HH.
Has anyone done the day? I really want to get the most from this experience day in order to enjoy my car to the full. I had a brief taste of what the car (9972s) could do at the infield track at Oulton Park, but would really like to improve my skills if possible for fast road driving. I am fairly comfy with the car, but I have never felt confident enough to push as hard as I do on a motorcycle. Any tips of what to ask for on the day, and whats the time best spent on (different aspects of driving the 911) with (I assume)a top class instructor on this one to one. My thoughts are money best spent on eeking the most from my ability rather than strecting the cars capabilities even further away from my own with tuning mods etc.
Thanks 9HH.
9hellheaven said:
Booked my driving day with Porsche for end of April, meeting at Flitwick Manor...sounds pooosh.
Has anyone done the day? I really want to get the most from this experience day in order to enjoy my car to the full. I had a brief taste of what the car (9972s) could do at the infield track at Oulton Park, but would really like to improve my skills if possible for fast road driving. I am fairly comfy with the car, but I have never felt confident enough to push as hard as I do on a motorcycle. Any tips of what to ask for on the day, and whats the time best spent on (different aspects of driving the 911) with (I assume)a top class instructor on this one to one. My thoughts are money best spent on eeking the most from my ability rather than strecting the cars capabilities even further away from my own with tuning mods etc.
Thanks 9HH.
I'm doing it this coming Tuesday so report to follow, Has anyone done the day? I really want to get the most from this experience day in order to enjoy my car to the full. I had a brief taste of what the car (9972s) could do at the infield track at Oulton Park, but would really like to improve my skills if possible for fast road driving. I am fairly comfy with the car, but I have never felt confident enough to push as hard as I do on a motorcycle. Any tips of what to ask for on the day, and whats the time best spent on (different aspects of driving the 911) with (I assume)a top class instructor on this one to one. My thoughts are money best spent on eeking the most from my ability rather than strecting the cars capabilities even further away from my own with tuning mods etc.
Thanks 9HH.
P
Nice one Pete..Millbrook? I think but ime not sure you get to ask for what most suits you..road work..track..skid pan..I think they draw the line at airbag activation though!! Look forward to hearing from you. Ive got an Picture on my wall signed by HANS Herman, famous driver from the 50s 60s I understand that one of the instructors at the Porsche day was his team mate in a Le mans victory of the early 1970s! Anyway enjoy the day..9972s on the day??
9hellheaven said:
Nice one Pete..Millbrook? I think but ime not sure you get to ask for what most suits you..road work..track..skid pan..I think they draw the line at airbag activation though!! Look forward to hearing from you. Ive got an Picture on my wall signed by HANS Herman, famous driver from the 50s 60s I understand that one of the instructors at the Porsche day was his team mate in a Le mans victory of the early 1970s! Anyway enjoy the day..9972s on the day??
997 RS on the day, yes Millbrook, - did a similar thing in a 997gt3 with Barry Horne - really good fun. P
I did it the other week, great day out 
here's my report from another forum..
Great day out, started with brecky at Flitwcik Manor and meet the instructors, then drive to Milbrook testing Ground...
Drove the Alpine road a few times (in the wet ) great fun, almost like a short, but extreme version of the Nurburgring..
Then the 1 mile standing start test.
This is an exact mile stretch of tarmac, with a bank curve at the end, it is designed to reach max speed, before hitting the brakes hard at the end, i reached 169mph today, before throwing out the anchor
Interesting fact, the best the instructor managed ever was a 171mph from an RS, the best he has managed in a 997 TT was 168, and 171 for a tip.
Next was the high speed bowl, where you can go round all day at 100mph, and take your hands off the wheel, but any faster, and the car wants to start going further up the bank. We should have only done 130mph max there today, but he said go as fast as you like, so i did 160mph, and believe me that's quite scary considering how bumpy it is aswell..the car felt very stable at that speed.
He took me for a few laps around the handling track (very tight twisty short circuit) where he drove, and i was astonished at the grip levels of the car in the wet, it just didn't seem possible, and i don't think i'd drive it that fast in the dry
I managed to get him to blag us onto a wet slippery test section for some sideways action, and we both then spent 5 mins getting sideways and doing donuts in the wet
Aston Martin were there doing similar experiences for Their Customers in AMV8's and DB9's etc....funny, but they also own a Carrera 'S' for their customers drive 1st, then jump into an AM to feel the improvement bad move if you ask me
all in all, great day out, you'll love it Pete
here's my report from another forum..
Great day out, started with brecky at Flitwcik Manor and meet the instructors, then drive to Milbrook testing Ground...
Drove the Alpine road a few times (in the wet ) great fun, almost like a short, but extreme version of the Nurburgring..
Then the 1 mile standing start test.
This is an exact mile stretch of tarmac, with a bank curve at the end, it is designed to reach max speed, before hitting the brakes hard at the end, i reached 169mph today, before throwing out the anchor
Interesting fact, the best the instructor managed ever was a 171mph from an RS, the best he has managed in a 997 TT was 168, and 171 for a tip.
Next was the high speed bowl, where you can go round all day at 100mph, and take your hands off the wheel, but any faster, and the car wants to start going further up the bank. We should have only done 130mph max there today, but he said go as fast as you like, so i did 160mph, and believe me that's quite scary considering how bumpy it is aswell..the car felt very stable at that speed.
He took me for a few laps around the handling track (very tight twisty short circuit) where he drove, and i was astonished at the grip levels of the car in the wet, it just didn't seem possible, and i don't think i'd drive it that fast in the dry
I managed to get him to blag us onto a wet slippery test section for some sideways action, and we both then spent 5 mins getting sideways and doing donuts in the wet
Aston Martin were there doing similar experiences for Their Customers in AMV8's and DB9's etc....funny, but they also own a Carrera 'S' for their customers drive 1st, then jump into an AM to feel the improvement bad move if you ask me
all in all, great day out, you'll love it Pete
Just got back from Millbrook after my morning run.
Turned up earlyish and had some breakfast with the guy who was to be my instructor - Jeremy Palmer then we set off for millbrook in a "Tango orange" RS.
Some advanced driving techniques discussed on the way to millbrook and then it was straight onto an expanse of tarmac where we played with TC and Sport mode. We then did similar things down the 1 mile straight seeing the affect of the sport button on the ABS response which was pretty interesting.
Then it was time for a blat down the main straight to go as fast as poss - only managed 164mph before i ran out of bottle seeing the hill coming up fast in front of me.
Next point of interest was the high speed bowl - amazing how quickly you can get used to the incline and doing 130 - 145mph at that angle plus driving at 100mph withour hands on the wheel.
We then moved to the figure of eight circuit and spent some time looking at understeer which seems to cause me major problems on slow speed corners on track days. I now understand a lot more.
Finally, we moved to the alpine run and did about 5 runs gradually building the speed. Amazing amount of torque in that engine as we did the entire course in 3rd - I would have been up and down the gearbox like a yo-yo left to my own devices.
So about 2.5hrs behind the wheel and a good time had.
P
Turned up earlyish and had some breakfast with the guy who was to be my instructor - Jeremy Palmer then we set off for millbrook in a "Tango orange" RS.
Some advanced driving techniques discussed on the way to millbrook and then it was straight onto an expanse of tarmac where we played with TC and Sport mode. We then did similar things down the 1 mile straight seeing the affect of the sport button on the ABS response which was pretty interesting.
Then it was time for a blat down the main straight to go as fast as poss - only managed 164mph before i ran out of bottle seeing the hill coming up fast in front of me.
Next point of interest was the high speed bowl - amazing how quickly you can get used to the incline and doing 130 - 145mph at that angle plus driving at 100mph withour hands on the wheel.
We then moved to the figure of eight circuit and spent some time looking at understeer which seems to cause me major problems on slow speed corners on track days. I now understand a lot more.
Finally, we moved to the alpine run and did about 5 runs gradually building the speed. Amazing amount of torque in that engine as we did the entire course in 3rd - I would have been up and down the gearbox like a yo-yo left to my own devices.
So about 2.5hrs behind the wheel and a good time had.
P
Edited by Pete RS on Wednesday 28th February 06:52
Went on this Yesterday afternoon. I was lucky enough to try both the RS and GT3
The RS was significantly more comfortable on the Road than my old 996RS and just 'slightly' harder than the standard 997 GT3. The RS was also more stable round the Ring but not significantly so (both alot better than the over weight Turbo!). Both felt evenly matched down the straight (I managed 165 mph in blustery conditions) though the RS was crisper and more mechanical due to the single mass fly wheel. The Gearbox and Ceramic Brakes were superb on both
Overall I came away with the conclusion that the standard GT3 was a vast imrpovement over the 996 while the RS was more friendly and road usable - whether that follows for the Track I don't know. It would also be a closer call between a Club Sport and the RS
....finally although the Orange looked fab when clean the standard car in the Black or the White looked far better when dirty. Anyone seen an RS in Silver? - I need to spec mine soon!
The RS was significantly more comfortable on the Road than my old 996RS and just 'slightly' harder than the standard 997 GT3. The RS was also more stable round the Ring but not significantly so (both alot better than the over weight Turbo!). Both felt evenly matched down the straight (I managed 165 mph in blustery conditions) though the RS was crisper and more mechanical due to the single mass fly wheel. The Gearbox and Ceramic Brakes were superb on both
Overall I came away with the conclusion that the standard GT3 was a vast imrpovement over the 996 while the RS was more friendly and road usable - whether that follows for the Track I don't know. It would also be a closer call between a Club Sport and the RS
....finally although the Orange looked fab when clean the standard car in the Black or the White looked far better when dirty. Anyone seen an RS in Silver? - I need to spec mine soon!
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