Trackday instruction in my boxster.
Discussion
What QBee said.
IMHO 'experiences' are for folks who have little clue; if you're enthusiastic / competant, get a driver coach/instructor and book some track time.
Trackday instructors vary wildly; some are very much of the 'brake here', 'accelerate now' variety. That's fine and will most likely surprise you how late/early respectively you can do it. Some will teach you how to do it yourself (used a guy with bookatrack at donington who was absolutely excellent).
Generally I would suggest a couple of sessions with the former (or whatever you get with your trackday - if they're really good, great!), then consider actually spending a day with a proper coach if you really want to take things further)
IMHO 'experiences' are for folks who have little clue; if you're enthusiastic / competant, get a driver coach/instructor and book some track time.
Trackday instructors vary wildly; some are very much of the 'brake here', 'accelerate now' variety. That's fine and will most likely surprise you how late/early respectively you can do it. Some will teach you how to do it yourself (used a guy with bookatrack at donington who was absolutely excellent).
Generally I would suggest a couple of sessions with the former (or whatever you get with your trackday - if they're really good, great!), then consider actually spending a day with a proper coach if you really want to take things further)
upsidedownmark said:
What QBee said.
IMHO 'experiences' are for folks who have little clue; if you're enthusiastic / competant, get a driver coach/instructor and book some track time.
Trackday instructors vary wildly; some are very much of the 'brake here', 'accelerate now' variety. That's fine and will most likely surprise you how late/early respectively you can do it. Some will teach you how to do it yourself (used a guy with bookatrack at donington who was absolutely excellent).
Generally I would suggest a couple of sessions with the former (or whatever you get with your trackday - if they're really good, great!), then consider actually spending a day with a proper coach if you really want to take things further)
I have enjoyed sessions with three or four instructors on track days, always good, usually ARDS qualified and supplied by the track day organiser. Generally you get 20 minutes for £20, so pretty good value I would say. You can waste £20 of fuel in no time poddling around on your own without a clue, so it is money well spent.IMHO 'experiences' are for folks who have little clue; if you're enthusiastic / competant, get a driver coach/instructor and book some track time.
Trackday instructors vary wildly; some are very much of the 'brake here', 'accelerate now' variety. That's fine and will most likely surprise you how late/early respectively you can do it. Some will teach you how to do it yourself (used a guy with bookatrack at donington who was absolutely excellent).
Generally I would suggest a couple of sessions with the former (or whatever you get with your trackday - if they're really good, great!), then consider actually spending a day with a proper coach if you really want to take things further)
If you want specific times I would call the track day organiser, explain you are a novice, and see if you can get them to book those times in advance for you, otherwise if you leave it to chance you might end up with 4.30 pm. Also, there are specific novice track days, run in sessions, if you are nervous, but personally I would just stick to a standard, road car, open pit lane format day.
Book your first instruction session for around 10.00 or 10.30 (to allow yourself 30-60 minutes to get used to track driving and learn the circuit), and a second one for early afternoon to polish up what you have learned during and after the first one.
Another hint is to spend your time, in the paddock before the start, talking to people. Man up, don't be shy, try to spot people who have done a few track days and ask either to go out with them early on, or ask them to go out with you, to give you pointers on braking, speed, gears and lines. Either way, most genuine enthusiasts will be willing and happy to help. Do bear in mind that most people only spend 2-3 hours in total on track, spread throughout the day, so you are not spoiling their fun or depriving them of track time by asking. We like to be asked on the whole.
That way you at least have a clue before your first instruction session.
And don't try to drive too fast, start slow and build up the speed. Your most useful piece of equipment on the car is your rear view mirror. Use it, and then let other people sort out how to get past you. You will be surprised how safe it is and how much fun too.
Steve H off here is local to Oulton and comes highly recommended as does Mike Cooper.
Both have a very good way of getting their knowledge across, worth booking a whole day you will not believe the difference a day with one of these gents i the passenger seat will make to your ability.
In my opinion a session of instruction in the morning and one in the afternoon will get you better at the lines but to make real progress you need more full time coaching.
Both have a very good way of getting their knowledge across, worth booking a whole day you will not believe the difference a day with one of these gents i the passenger seat will make to your ability.
In my opinion a session of instruction in the morning and one in the afternoon will get you better at the lines but to make real progress you need more full time coaching.
I'd be wary of track day instruction, its not necessarily what the OP is looking for. He wanted instruction to improve his road driving - this can be done on track, but isn't the same as track day instruction and IMO not best done on a track day.
Phone the circuit, they will probably have a "Performance Driving Course" or similar, which is best placed to teach you the handling characteristics of your car - possibly some time on track, some time on a skid pan and some time out on the roads. My local circuit (Knockhill) does this and its an excellent way to gain confidence on the road.
Phone the circuit, they will probably have a "Performance Driving Course" or similar, which is best placed to teach you the handling characteristics of your car - possibly some time on track, some time on a skid pan and some time out on the roads. My local circuit (Knockhill) does this and its an excellent way to gain confidence on the road.
gruffalo said:
Steve H off here is local to Oulton and comes highly recommended as does Mike Cooper.
You're very kind 
OP. I'd be happy with any of the recommendations that are listed, Sean is very capable and good on the high performance and race side of things, Mike has a very wide range from advanced-road right through to race which may suit what you are after and I'm more trackday biased so it really depends on what you are looking for.
Happy to chat on here or by PM, I can get you in touch with the other fellas as well if they don't pop up on here to say hello!
Edited by Steve H on Thursday 15th October 21:40
marks44 said:
Hi Have a boxster, want some track day instruction to make me a better road driver and make the most of the car.I am 10 mins from Oulton Park in Cheshire.
Does anyone have any info,the Porsche experience...well not gonna fufill the brief....own car, new skills.
Cheers
Howard Hunt is a great instructors and holds a S grade licence, he works on some of the PCGB Porsche club Great Britain days, he coached my son and I can honestly recommend him. Does anyone have any info,the Porsche experience...well not gonna fufill the brief....own car, new skills.
Cheers
If you want his number please let me know,
Edited by cwin on Thursday 15th October 21:50
A friend of mine who I was on a track day with booked a day with a chap called Adam Foster. He pushed Ryan mega hard all day and his car control and understanding of his car grew massively. Adam tends to train mostly at Bedford but will travel. His website is below
http://www.adam-foster.co.uk/tuition/
http://www.adam-foster.co.uk/tuition/
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