Which High Performance Driving Course To Choose????

[DAVE-W-]

Im currently a member of the IAM but would like to do a course which actually trains you how to handle a car in emergency situations. I used to own an M3 which was sadly written off while tryin to swerve to avoid an oncoming car on my side of the road. I dont want a course that trains you to be defensive or that gives you 3 laps in a ferrari. I want a proper full day course or more that takes you out and trains you on a track how to handle a car on the limit at more than the usual 20mph in a sierra in a skidpan.I plan on getting a cerbera next so want a real life course.
The mains ones that i have found is Don Palmer's course and HPC UK Ltd. Does anyone have any experience with these companies or know of any others?

Much appreciated
Dave Wilson

Edited by DAVE-W- on Sunday 3rd December 15:06

Edited by DAVE-W- on Sunday 3rd December 15:22

[willibetz]

Dave,

Sorry to hear of your predicament.

I know Don and can recommend his limit handling coaching. He also offers roadcraft training and assessment for those interested in membership of the High Performance Club.

If you're interested in membership, a visit to www.hpc.org.uk may be useful. The site also refers to some other credible training organisations. Both Cadence and Clive Jones come highly recommended.

HPC UK Ltd, despite the similar name, is not related to the Club as far as I know.

WilliBetz

Edited by willibetz on Monday 4th December 11:38

[waremark]

I agree with all Willi B's comments.

If you want another alternative to consider, I have heard good things about Andy Walsh who trades as Car Limits and generally trains at North Weald near Harlow. He sells a very good DVD 'Bending the Rules' and is less expensive than Don Palmer.

[icb]

I have been to Car Limits at N. Weald, very good and Don Palmer,who I found expensive for what you get. Last year I went to Driving Skills on Elvington and had loads of time in my car and learnt a lot. Am going again in January to try out my new Tamora, paying just £350 for own instructor all day, or you can share an instructor with others for £199.

[DAVE-W-]

Cheers for the replys. At the moment the one that has stood out the most is Hugh Noblett at Cadence. Still waiting to get an idea of prices from him to compare to Don Palmer. There have been other cheaper companies mentioned but Hugh and Don seem to be the top two and are links to the HPC which highlights there quality.

Cheers
Dave Wilson

[StressedDave]

Hugh's prices are on the website at www.cadence.co.uk

[Hollywood Wheels]

We in the Elise community swear by Andy at www.carlimits.com , he's in North Weald. It's £180 for lots of instruction, and a big open airfield, you can try anything you like safe in the knowledge that you won't be hitting anything......

Edited to add:- Just seen that you're in Glasgow, a bit of a trek for you!!

Edited by Hollywood Wheels on Thursday 7th December 15:04

[hamishbeattie]

Hi Guys,

I did a days driving with Hugh. My main reason was that it was road and track, in my case Millbrook Proving Ground. 100MPH braking as emergency stop was a n eye opener to just how powerful the brakes on my Boxster are.

The Millbrook bit was £150 for 2 hours, the rest is up to you, as Hugh is very flexible. if you then want to go the High Performance Club route they do a 2 1/2 day course.

good luck

Hamish

[zumbruk]

Hollywood Wheels said:

We in the Elise community swear by Andy at www.carlimits.com , he's in North Weald. It's £180 for lots of instruction, and a big open airfield, you can try anything you like safe in the knowledge that you won't be hitting anything......

I did Andy's day yesterday in my Chimaera. Never have I spun so often at such speed. Enormous fun, and I learned more than my poor tired brain could take in in one go. Everything I've ever been taught about driving is wrong...

The only downside is there's nowhere one can go and practise this stuff.

[Captac007]

hi
Sorry about your M3
I have just completed my Master Drivers Course with Cadence Driver Development.
Its run by Hugh and Susie Noblett For me, its Cadence all the way !
One to One training with the most experienced instructor in the UK
Also, HPC (High Performance Car) as i understand it, is NOT in any way connected to the High Performace Club.
If you want to build on your experience and continue to become a better driver, i would say do the Master Drivers Course with Cadence and then if you are successful and Cadence are happy, they will recommend you for membership of the HPC (High Performance Club www.hpc.org.uk of which i am awaiting my membership to come through)
If you want anymore unbiased help, let me know
Regards
A

[Zod]

If you get Dave with Cadence, you can try to make him sick on the handling course at Milbrook!

[hardboiledPhil]

Andy said:

One to One training with the most experienced instructor in the UK

Are you trying to say he's old....

Congrats on achieving the standard Andy - it's not easy to do.

I've driven with Hugh, Dave, Andy W etc and they are all worth driving with. What could be more fun than trying them all!

Oh and Dave got out of the car after a few laps of the outer handling at Millbrook when we went there

[7db]

Zod said:

If you get Dave with Cadence, you can try to make him sick on the handling course at Milbrook!

Probably best to make sure it's not your car...

[StressedDave]

No, I'm normally quite good at getting drivers to stop so I can revisit lunch... Of course if they're not listening then could be on the cards.

[darkblueturbo]

I've done a limit handling day with Don Palmer and have also done my first day (of 2.5 required) to join the HPC with him, one of 2 'gatekeepers' of the HPC.

The other is John Lyons, or www.cadence.co.uk, who you can also do the 2.5 day road course with.

It really is good stuff and my driving, and confidence, has improved no end adter first a day on the track with Don, then a day on the road...

See my thread here for an more detailed report of the days:
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=342393&f=154&h=0

[waremark]

Just to correct the factual info on HPC 'gatekeepers' - there are three individuals who can recommend you to the High Performance Club on successful completion of a two and a half day course: Don Palmer, Hugh Noblett of Cadence, and Clive Jones. All are top class. If interested see www.hpc.org.uk/ .

StressedDave is a senior instructor for Cadence, but does not do the Master Driver's Course which is the course which leads to membership of HPC. He is a little less 'experienced' (ie below 40!) but a great driver, and has a speciality in analysing your driving using datalogging equipment.

Neither John Lyon of High Performance Car training - a very experienced expert in the field - nor Eunan McGuiness of HPC UK Ltd have a relationship with the High Performance Club.

There are plenty of other great coaches out there - I am only mentioning in this post names that may have been confused with HPC gatekeepers.

Edited by waremark on Sunday 7th January 16:01

[DanH]

Captac007 said:

One to One training with the most experienced instructor in the UK

lol John Lyon might not agree

[waremark]

For students of history, I believe that Hugh Noblett of Cadence and John Lyon of High Performance Car driving with John Lyon were in the same joining group of civilian instructors at the Metropolitan Police Driving School, Hendon, in 1969. Prior to that, John had worked for the then BSM High Performance Course from its start up in 1962, and also for the Jim Russell racing school.

[Triggerwave]

I've done limit handling with Don Palmer, Andy Walsh, and Ride Drive (serving traffic cops). They've all got their strong points, Don is probably the best instructor and is definitly the most theoretical but he's also the most expensive. Andy's course is fantastic value for the money and covers as much as any normaly person could possibly digest in a day. Ride Drive was less structured than either of the others (we did handbrake turns and loads of other fun but not necessarilly practicial manouvers) but did included a skid pan.

Suffice to say I don't think anyone would be disappointed with any of the above.

I only wish the IAM did some stuff like this...


Triggerwave