Car Handling Course

[Curdster]

I am looking to improve my car handling skills with my Tuscan and have come across Plans Motor Sport who are near me in Surrey and use Dunsfold aerodrome for the lessons. This is also where Top Gear do their filming, so potential for a 1.441!!!

http://www.plansmotorsport.com/

Has anyone had any experience with Plans or could suggest any other trainers in the Surrey/Sussex area?

[paulhaveawhisky]

About two years ago I had a day out with Ridedrive Ltd www.ridedrive.co.uk. see advert in TVRCC Sprint. Not cheap, but well worth the money. A lot of the TVR chaps over in Kent have used them and they always sing the praises. They take you out in your own car, Tuscan in my case. They use present and ex traffic police / instructors, but they all work via Ride drive Ltd. The network covers the whole country.

I was out with Adrian from 10am -7pm in the summer. Went through almost 1 and a half tanks of fuel only stopping for 30 minutes for lunch and to fill up again. Covered A and B roads and then on to a private circuit some where near Camberley, (can not remember the name). At the circuit they push you and the car (where it is safe) VERY hard so you get to really get the feel of the car and know the limits and how far to go. At the start you keep thinking, I can not do this, it’s a copper sitting next to me, but they are so professional and expert, you get the best out of the car with out crashing it. ……Best money I spent. Looking to re do it again some time.

Paul Haveawhisky

[Curdster]

Paul. Very interesting, it sounds exactly what I am after. Can you give me an idea of roughly what you paid for this?

[da_murphster]

Can I vouch for http://www.carlimits.com/ (aka 1st Lotus)

When I first got my VX220 I dinged it within a day so realised I was not as good as driving as I though I was!

Booked in for a day here - all on an airfield and concentrated on 'feeling' the car - slip angles, heel and toe, cornering, braking effectivly and safely.

Revolutionised what I thought about driving - if I had done it before I bought my VX220 I would definately not have dinged it!

I will do another day with him - that said I would also like to do a day on 'real' roads.

Advanced driving and track days is high on my agenda for 2009 - feel like I'm not getting the best out of my cars at the moment.

Give us feedback on whatever you do.

[paulhaveawhisky]

I believe it was around £230 ish (two years ago). Have also done the Carlimits at North Weald (Essex) last year, but part of a big TVR group (10-15 people) so a lot cheaper, £60ish I think. A good day, but lacked the individual attention after doing ride drive on real roads and a fair bit of waiting around watching the other drivers. Their was no instructor in the car, but then it was of course much cheaper and a group thing, so not the same. It was more of an introduction, that would lead you to have a more intensive course with instructors with them, covering simulate to ride drive and excellent I have heard from many people.

[Ryder35]

I did a Plans session a couple of years back. It was good, the nice thing is (being one to one) you can set your own agenda. graham is a good instructor and has trained a number of stars in reasonably priced cars for TG.

[Mustang Baz]

Curdster said:

Paul. Very interesting, it sounds exactly what I am after. Can you give me an idea of roughly what you paid for this?

Curdster - I cannot recommend Ride Drive highly enough and have done a full day and a half day refresher course with them since owning the Tusc. Superb tuition and I put the skills to use every day. I paid app £300 for the full day, but the half day was considerably less. Also - remember that if you meet a required standard, you can also become eligible for a 25% discount on your insurance through Adrian Flux which saves me a considerable amount each year. Call Julian at Ride Drive and he will sort you out. Tonnes of comparable posting to mine on this so it is not an individual viewpoint.

[paulhaveawhisky]

Have found the old receipt in my TVR box while having a sort out. The cost was more than I remembered. The date was 29th May 07 for the Advanced TVR Handing Skills and Road Driving Experience. P/CODE S03PM. Cost was £285 + vat = £334.88.

Hope the above helps.
cheers
Paul