Track/Fast-driving instruction courses. Advice required...
Discussion
Hi everyone, I put this in the track day section too, but thought I'd add it here in case any follow Aston drivers had anything specific to recommend:
I've been looking at a few of the 'package' driver training for track focused and fast road car driving. I feel like I would benefit from some instruction to help me get the best out of my Vantage, and at some point would like to track it. However, I like the idea of learning on someone else's car, as is the case in a lot of these packages. I figure, that whilst they are relatively expensive, tracking my on car by the time I add insurance, tyre wear, fuel, brake wear etc then it wouldn't be much different!
Has anyone done any of the following and have any feedback? Also happy for other suggestions, especially perhaps lesser know companies doing it in the UK which have a good rep for delivering good training but with less painful costs.
Silverstone http://www.silverstone.co.uk/experiences/1-1-drive... Looks like it could be decent. I'm in Bedfordshire, so nice and close for me too.
Racing School http://www.racing-school.co.uk/driving/intensive-t... Strikes me as a bit odd only to give feedback after 50 laps and as it's single seater can't have a passenger instructor. Perhaps better for refining your own style rather than instructional purposes?
ART http://catdrivertraining.co.uk/driver-training-cou... Looks a bit expensive for what it is?
Lotus Driver academy http://www.lotusdrivingacademy.com/hethel/licence I'd probably only do the second 2 days. First day sounds very basic and I don't want to pay to walk around a factory for a morning, I want to learn to drive! Otherwise sounds decent.
Higher end (expensive) stuff:
Porkers http://www.porsche.com/silverstone/en/experience/p... I think you need your own car for this one, but presumably for a cost you can use one of theirs. I know they have loads there which they use for their experience days etc.
Merc http://www.mercedes-amg.com/driving-academy/ada.ph... Looks quite cool and on the more advanced ones involves doing laps of the 'ring. Pretty damn expensive though.
Aston Martin http://www.astonmartin.com/racing/driver-academy Ok this one is just a joke. Looks amazing, but I don't have 23 grand spare!! Wish I did!
I've been looking at a few of the 'package' driver training for track focused and fast road car driving. I feel like I would benefit from some instruction to help me get the best out of my Vantage, and at some point would like to track it. However, I like the idea of learning on someone else's car, as is the case in a lot of these packages. I figure, that whilst they are relatively expensive, tracking my on car by the time I add insurance, tyre wear, fuel, brake wear etc then it wouldn't be much different!
Has anyone done any of the following and have any feedback? Also happy for other suggestions, especially perhaps lesser know companies doing it in the UK which have a good rep for delivering good training but with less painful costs.
Silverstone http://www.silverstone.co.uk/experiences/1-1-drive... Looks like it could be decent. I'm in Bedfordshire, so nice and close for me too.
Racing School http://www.racing-school.co.uk/driving/intensive-t... Strikes me as a bit odd only to give feedback after 50 laps and as it's single seater can't have a passenger instructor. Perhaps better for refining your own style rather than instructional purposes?
ART http://catdrivertraining.co.uk/driver-training-cou... Looks a bit expensive for what it is?
Lotus Driver academy http://www.lotusdrivingacademy.com/hethel/licence I'd probably only do the second 2 days. First day sounds very basic and I don't want to pay to walk around a factory for a morning, I want to learn to drive! Otherwise sounds decent.
Higher end (expensive) stuff:
Porkers http://www.porsche.com/silverstone/en/experience/p... I think you need your own car for this one, but presumably for a cost you can use one of theirs. I know they have loads there which they use for their experience days etc.
Merc http://www.mercedes-amg.com/driving-academy/ada.ph... Looks quite cool and on the more advanced ones involves doing laps of the 'ring. Pretty damn expensive though.
Aston Martin http://www.astonmartin.com/racing/driver-academy Ok this one is just a joke. Looks amazing, but I don't have 23 grand spare!! Wish I did!
If you're in Bedfordshire, PalmerSport at the Bedford Autodrome could probably tailor something to your requirements.
Their GT package is probably closest to what you are after: http://www.palmersport.com/palmersport-gt.aspx
Their GT package is probably closest to what you are after: http://www.palmersport.com/palmersport-gt.aspx
I'm positive that Aston do a Personal Driving Course with a pro driver, and it's defo not 23k. I'm sure someone on here will know, if not give your local dealer a bell.
No idea what it's like, however I went out with one of the pro drivers the other day (courtesy of Works) and was very happy with the instruction I got on the road, so would imagine a track based course would be tip top.
No idea what it's like, however I went out with one of the pro drivers the other day (courtesy of Works) and was very happy with the instruction I got on the road, so would imagine a track based course would be tip top.
I've done the Silverstone Experience thing twice (Elise and Vantage), this is the very short one where you get about 3-5 laps of the south circuit for circa £100. My recommendation is to avoid these, it's all over in an instant and I got nothing out of it. A half day or full day of 1:1 tuition would be better.
Big Ry is referring to this: http://www.astonmartin.com/en/eventsx/performance-...
I'm going to do it later in the year, I'm sure many here have already so they will comment soon
Big Ry is referring to this: http://www.astonmartin.com/en/eventsx/performance-...
I'm going to do it later in the year, I'm sure many here have already so they will comment soon
Big Ry said:
I'm positive that Aston do a Personal Driving Course with a pro driver, and it's defo not 23k. I'm sure someone on here will know, if not give your local dealer a bell.
No idea what it's like, however I went out with one of the pro drivers the other day (courtesy of Works) and was very happy with the instruction I got on the road, so would imagine a track based course would be tip top.
Yeah, I think you are refering to the the PDC which is about 1200 for a day and done at Milbrook. Looks decent, but seems you can get 2-3 days for that elsewhere (although obviously not in a top spec new Aston).No idea what it's like, however I went out with one of the pro drivers the other day (courtesy of Works) and was very happy with the instruction I got on the road, so would imagine a track based course would be tip top.
How much did you pay for the road instruction from Works if you don't mind me asking, or was that a sweetener after you bought something from them?
Voguely said:
Yeah, I think you are refering to the the PDC which is about 1200 for a day and done at Milbrook. Looks decent, but seems you can get 2-3 days for that elsewhere (although obviously not in a top spec new Aston).
How much did you pay for the road instruction from Works if you don't mind me asking, or was that a sweetener after you bought something from them?
Didn't realise it was £1200.....that's not a cheap day out.How much did you pay for the road instruction from Works if you don't mind me asking, or was that a sweetener after you bought something from them?
It was actually a sweetener for them to try and GET me to buy something.........which I no doubt will.
I went to Thruxton (Hampshire) last summer for a great day. You can tailor your experiences to build up laps and confidence and end up in their V8 Vantage for 5 laps.
http://www.thruxtonracing.co.uk/experiences
Like all these things, time flies by and you always want more, but I'd thoroughly recommend the team down there. Thruxton is the fastest circuit in the UK and has some challenging sequences of corners so you can 'feel' the car getting into a rhthym. Going through Church at over 100mph and chasing down the Murcielago along the Brooklands straight was pretty good fun as I recall....
http://www.thruxtonracing.co.uk/experiences
Like all these things, time flies by and you always want more, but I'd thoroughly recommend the team down there. Thruxton is the fastest circuit in the UK and has some challenging sequences of corners so you can 'feel' the car getting into a rhthym. Going through Church at over 100mph and chasing down the Murcielago along the Brooklands straight was pretty good fun as I recall....
http://www.carlimits.com/script/viewEvents.php?typ...
Ian Walsh is something of an instructional legend and will teach you more about car handling than most. Worth a look.
Ian Walsh is something of an instructional legend and will teach you more about car handling than most. Worth a look.
Bincenzo said:
http://www.carlimits.com/script/viewEvents.php?typ...
Ian Walsh is something of an instructional legend and will teach you more about car handling than most. Worth a look.
Andy Walsh even Ian Walsh is something of an instructional legend and will teach you more about car handling than most. Worth a look.
Can vouch for these did a couple of these in my lotus days. You learn a huge amount
Bincenzo said:
http://www.carlimits.com/script/viewEvents.php?typ...
Ian Walsh is something of an instructional legend and will teach you more about car handling than most. Worth a look.
Did you use your own car?Ian Walsh is something of an instructional legend and will teach you more about car handling than most. Worth a look.
whoami said:
Bincenzo said:
http://www.carlimits.com/script/viewEvents.php?typ...
Ian Walsh is something of an instructional legend and will teach you more about car handling than most. Worth a look.
Did you use your own car?Ian Walsh is something of an instructional legend and will teach you more about car handling than most. Worth a look.
I know you were asking about the UK but you can take a Vantage GT4 round the Yas Marina F1 circuit. Combine it with a short holiday, park the missus by the pool and then go and play on the track in a Vantage. Following day you can go to Ferrari world... I thought it was a good idea so I am off there next Sunday!
http://www.yasmarinacircuit.com/en/experiences/dri...
Using man maths it is much cheaper than a driving course in the UK, you get to drive a GT4 round a proper F1 circuit and the missus is happy - job's a carrot
http://www.yasmarinacircuit.com/en/experiences/dri...
Using man maths it is much cheaper than a driving course in the UK, you get to drive a GT4 round a proper F1 circuit and the missus is happy - job's a carrot
sooty61 said:
I know you were asking about the UK but you can take a Vantage GT4 round the Yas Marina F1 circuit. Combine it with a short holiday, park the missus by the pool and then go and play on the track in a Vantage. Following day you can go to Ferrari world... I thought it was a good idea so I am off there next Sunday!
http://www.yasmarinacircuit.com/en/experiences/dri...
Using man maths it is much cheaper than a driving course in the UK, you get to drive a GT4 round a proper F1 circuit and the missus is happy - job's a carrot
I like your thinking - enjoy!!!!http://www.yasmarinacircuit.com/en/experiences/dri...
Using man maths it is much cheaper than a driving course in the UK, you get to drive a GT4 round a proper F1 circuit and the missus is happy - job's a carrot
Voguely said:
Cheers guys, few more options there for me to consider. The car limits one sounds good - next availability is end of June though - wow!
Another endorsement for Andy Walsh (Ex F1 Benetton driver). Some of the others are more akin to 'experience days' whereas I think you're seeking to learn/improve/practise a skillset?It's up to you but I'd argue that it's a better foundation to have some car control skills first before venturing into pushing too hard on track.
All tuition is on a large area at N Weald Aerodrome. Personally, I think you should learn in your own car - after all that's the one you'll be driving in a spirited fashion (where allowed) and IMO it's arguably more valuable to learn/practise car control - ie the signals/sensations/attitude that your car generates as you put it through it's paces and how to use that to get around a course. In a safe environment, you'll experience the onset of a car's rotation, it's braking capabilities, how to get yourself out of trouble or simply enjoy holding a drift etc. If you're still ambivalent on using your car - then hire one of cars on Andy's fleet. The Lotus is a good car - bit more delicate to balance since it's mid-engined but light and sensitive to inputs.
All sounds like a commercial (sorry about that) but I'm really not on commission - but the skills that I have learnt there have helped me out (both from trouble and on the race track).
You can then put that all to use on track days etc (which is a different discipline IMO)
Whoever you choose - it's a very worthy education.
Edited by bjc388 on Saturday 14th March 10:22
bjc388 said:
Andy Walsh (Ex F1 Benetton driver).
Not demeaning what Andy does (because, by all accounts, he's brilliant) but really? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benetton_Formula#Driv...Now, if you want some driver instruction from a genuine ex-F1 driver (and a lovely, humble guy to boot), look no further than Mike Wilds: http://www.mikewilds.com/driving/
BravoV8V said:
bjc388 said:
Andy Walsh (Ex F1 Benetton driver).
Not demeaning what Andy does (because, by all accounts, he's brilliant) but really? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benetton_Formula#Driv...Now, if you want some driver instruction from a genuine ex-F1 driver (and a lovely, humble guy to boot), look no further than Mike Wilds: http://www.mikewilds.com/driving/
Edited by Bincenzo on Saturday 14th March 10:53
Bincenzo said:
I think Andy Walsh was signed but had a big accident which ended his career. Mike Wilds offers helicopter lessons as well, I might sign up!
Bravo - Mike Wilds has an excellent reputation but I've only seen him teaching on track (he may offer tuition at a closed venue if the OP wants to contact him). Edited by Bincenzo on Saturday 14th March 10:53
Bicenzo - Yep you obviously know Andy - that testing crash sadly ended his career before he got a chance to drive the car in competition. He would have been the team mate of Schumacher.
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