Track day tuition.......who is best?
Discussion
Who do you guys rate for very good tuition on cicuit? Some of the guys are very pricey at £500 odd a day, making the day very expensive when you have to pay for the track day too. I'd like someone who is affordable in the sense I can use them more. I did some time with Don Palmer and Mark Hales, that was brilliant. I really like don but he seems more into extreme handling. Maybe he is the answer, I wish he was as we really get on. I am just thinking how I get to the next level on track. I am pretty fast but I always enjoy learning and going to the next level.
I am tracking a Manthey prepared 996 GT3.
Thanks in advance for the help.
Dave
I am tracking a Manthey prepared 996 GT3.
Thanks in advance for the help.
Dave
Baby Blue said:
Sean Edwards or Mike Wilds ............young or old .....everyones abt £450 per day but u can always split with someone.....gives u chance to think abt what u ve learnt and practise while the other guys out...........
+1 for mike, top man! Never 'had' Sean but he has a very good reputation, and like Mike knows the 911 well. I am not sure where you are based.
I did a day with Andy McKenna in a GT3 at Teeside Autodrome. He was very good - one on one for the whole day and we had the place to ourselves. It was £350 all in.
I have also worked with Don who is very good, but with Andy you get far more one to one coaching. Andy runs Ice Driver - look it up on You Tube - and one of his cars is a 911.
I did a day with Andy McKenna in a GT3 at Teeside Autodrome. He was very good - one on one for the whole day and we had the place to ourselves. It was £350 all in.
I have also worked with Don who is very good, but with Andy you get far more one to one coaching. Andy runs Ice Driver - look it up on You Tube - and one of his cars is a 911.
jbmxx said:
I use Gary Marsh from A Need 4 Speed - very patient, knowledgeable instructor who seems to be able to drive really quickly and smoothly, and then impart the techniques he uses to suit the customer. He also owns a GT3 himself which I find really helps.
+1 "look through the corner"...Also can highly recommend Sean 'Rain Master' Edwards...
Depends on how far you want to go. I understand you sentiment about cost but Mike and Sean are top level drivers and for that level of instruction £500 per day is about right. However you cut it, the car will cost £1000 to run for the day so there is an argument to say you may as well get the very best from the day rather than save £100 or so. 911's are not an easy car to fully understand. Don will teach you car control. Ideally you will also need to compliment his teaching will a top level 911 circuit specialist like Sean or Mike.
SFD, l think you have opened a really good question which i and a few friends have reached, also. I think it really depends what "level" you are at and where you want to go. I have been recently working with Eugene O'brien because he is very knowledgeable about the circuits we are using and also knows the cars very well. He is setting laptimes for us and then analysing the data with us explaining where on the cct we need to improve. I wont embarass myself, here, with the gap but it is susbstantial
From a pure car control point of view we are going over to Sweden next year to have specific instruction on on/over limit handling using a frozen lake .
Its really useful to have data from the instructor, in the same car at the same time on the same rubber etc etc, by using that data and video we can work out what we are doing "wrong" - its does save chucks of time and makes lap times more consistent. We use some of the day to analyse data rather than drive the car, its pointless just grinding around doing the same old thing.
I don't really think its a "day rate" thing more focussing on what you really really want to achieve, then nail it..
Hope this helps
From a pure car control point of view we are going over to Sweden next year to have specific instruction on on/over limit handling using a frozen lake .
Its really useful to have data from the instructor, in the same car at the same time on the same rubber etc etc, by using that data and video we can work out what we are doing "wrong" - its does save chucks of time and makes lap times more consistent. We use some of the day to analyse data rather than drive the car, its pointless just grinding around doing the same old thing.
I don't really think its a "day rate" thing more focussing on what you really really want to achieve, then nail it..
Hope this helps
Mike Wilds or Sean Edwards. Top dogs.
Mike has years of racing experience on all tracks and in everything from F1 to C2 to saloons, Sean is in current Porsche Carerra Cup and superb at wet weather driving.
You wont go wrong with either - in fact using them both would cover all the issues.
A good idea mentioned above is to share a day with a couple of friends, which will cut down the cost and allow time to practice between tuition laps.
Mike has years of racing experience on all tracks and in everything from F1 to C2 to saloons, Sean is in current Porsche Carerra Cup and superb at wet weather driving.
You wont go wrong with either - in fact using them both would cover all the issues.
A good idea mentioned above is to share a day with a couple of friends, which will cut down the cost and allow time to practice between tuition laps.
Stevorocket said:
Mike Wilds or Sean Edwards. Top dogs.
Mike has years of racing experience on all tracks and in everything from F1 to C2 to saloons, Sean is in current Porsche Carerra Cup and superb at wet weather driving.
You wont go wrong with either - in fact using them both would cover all the issues.
A good idea mentioned above is to share a day with a couple of friends, which will cut down the cost and allow time to practice between tuition laps.
Is it not Supercup that Sean does?... I think it might have included one round of the German Carrera CupMike has years of racing experience on all tracks and in everything from F1 to C2 to saloons, Sean is in current Porsche Carerra Cup and superb at wet weather driving.
You wont go wrong with either - in fact using them both would cover all the issues.
A good idea mentioned above is to share a day with a couple of friends, which will cut down the cost and allow time to practice between tuition laps.
Another vote for Sean.
Whatever you do, make sure you choose a 911 specialist. A competent racer stepping into a Cup car for the first time will not extract class leading pace.
I'm not sure if Steve Rance instructs. From the guidance he gives on PH, he explains the dynamics of the 911 better than any (proper) journo or instructor I have met.
Whatever you do, make sure you choose a 911 specialist. A competent racer stepping into a Cup car for the first time will not extract class leading pace.
I'm not sure if Steve Rance instructs. From the guidance he gives on PH, he explains the dynamics of the 911 better than any (proper) journo or instructor I have met.
All interesting comments and thanks so much for the help. Sorry for the late reply. I think everyone has made some good points here and you've touched on what I am trying to work out for myself.
1) you are right, why scrimp on saving £100 here and there, do it properly
2) a 911 specialist makes a lot of sense
3) handling days are one thing track tuition is very different
4) I still think I need to 100% master my handling level - I am good but I don't always catch the car when it steps out
5) i need some form of plan for the next year - rather than doing the odd day here and there.
I have used sean before but it was many years ago and I was crap and couldn't do the car (my GT2) justice on track - so while I got a lot out of it I would probably get a lot more now, I would hope.
This year I have done 2 handling days with don palmer and the 2 day master class with don and mark hales - I liked the way they taught me how to learn the track. I do like don's style, mark is smooth and calculated, don is always up for a bit of a giggle. We work well together. I did a lambo day at brands last week and one of the instructors has contacted me to offer tuition at £275 a day, his name was alan. But I am thinking I really need to choose careful how I improve on the next year.
I am pretty fast, I definately have lots of room to improve. I think I need to master my car handling so that I can control teh car in any situation - so maybe another handling day or an ice course. Perhaps I should just set a budget and not look at it as a daily cost. It is an investment after all and it is bloody good fun :-)
Let me have a think about this...gotta jump!
Cheers guys
Dave
1) you are right, why scrimp on saving £100 here and there, do it properly
2) a 911 specialist makes a lot of sense
3) handling days are one thing track tuition is very different
4) I still think I need to 100% master my handling level - I am good but I don't always catch the car when it steps out
5) i need some form of plan for the next year - rather than doing the odd day here and there.
I have used sean before but it was many years ago and I was crap and couldn't do the car (my GT2) justice on track - so while I got a lot out of it I would probably get a lot more now, I would hope.
This year I have done 2 handling days with don palmer and the 2 day master class with don and mark hales - I liked the way they taught me how to learn the track. I do like don's style, mark is smooth and calculated, don is always up for a bit of a giggle. We work well together. I did a lambo day at brands last week and one of the instructors has contacted me to offer tuition at £275 a day, his name was alan. But I am thinking I really need to choose careful how I improve on the next year.
I am pretty fast, I definately have lots of room to improve. I think I need to master my car handling so that I can control teh car in any situation - so maybe another handling day or an ice course. Perhaps I should just set a budget and not look at it as a daily cost. It is an investment after all and it is bloody good fun :-)
Let me have a think about this...gotta jump!
Cheers guys
Dave
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