Skid pan: Any experience of Combe or Northants Skid Control?
Discussion
All,
Just a quick question to see if anyone's been on the skid-pan courses at either Castle Combe or Northants Skid Control Centre near Corby?
Am looking for a 1/2-day course for me, better half, and a couple of friends - varying ability and cars owned. Have come to the conclusion that a wet pan would be better in terms of realism than cradles or rear-steer shenanigans, but the only two courses between London and the far-north I can find are these two.
Any comments/recommendations/warnings welcome.
Any suggestions on the real differences between the methods of training also welcome.
Thanks,
Martin
(Oh, and have tried some nearby constabularies, but you need to be a resident of the county for most, and one of my friends is miles away!)
Just a quick question to see if anyone's been on the skid-pan courses at either Castle Combe or Northants Skid Control Centre near Corby?
Am looking for a 1/2-day course for me, better half, and a couple of friends - varying ability and cars owned. Have come to the conclusion that a wet pan would be better in terms of realism than cradles or rear-steer shenanigans, but the only two courses between London and the far-north I can find are these two.
Any comments/recommendations/warnings welcome.
Any suggestions on the real differences between the methods of training also welcome.
Thanks,
Martin
(Oh, and have tried some nearby constabularies, but you need to be a resident of the county for most, and one of my friends is miles away!)
Castle Coombe wasn't too bad. Went down with 7(?) others arranged through here (IIRC by Dazren).
They had a Rover thing (FWD
) and a BMW 3 something (RWD 
) Alternated in two groups between driving and classroom/whiteboard discussion. Training level was pitched quite well for my group once it was established we were all fairly experienced drivers. Driving included figure eight, emergency "swerve" & drifting, all with classroom work to explain the physics.
Ended with a race around a figure eight track (both ways) + J turn / parking, aggregate times for both cars with a small prize for the fastest. All participants got a certificate showing their completion of the course.
They had a Rover thing (FWD
) and a BMW 3 something (RWD ) Alternated in two groups between driving and classroom/whiteboard discussion. Training level was pitched quite well for my group once it was established we were all fairly experienced drivers. Driving included figure eight, emergency "swerve" & drifting, all with classroom work to explain the physics. Ended with a race around a figure eight track (both ways) + J turn / parking, aggregate times for both cars with a small prize for the fastest. All participants got a certificate showing their completion of the course.
Thanks Tango.
How much wheel-time did you get?
And given we're a mixed bunch (I've done trackdays in FWD, but not much rwd near-the-limit, other chap now has 200SX but little experience, two ladies like their cars but again no formal at-limit experience/training), how do you think they'll approach things?
Ooh yeah - and how much did you pay? I've been asking about the basic £85 course and it doesn't seem to cover much of what you describe at all.
I for one am most interested in rwd - I've pratted around (safe circumstances) in fwd cars in all weathers, and understand the dynamics, but rwd I want to learn the difference, before I get something powerful. But the others will have different priorities.
>> Edited by havoc on Thursday 9th February 15:15
How much wheel-time did you get?
And given we're a mixed bunch (I've done trackdays in FWD, but not much rwd near-the-limit, other chap now has 200SX but little experience, two ladies like their cars but again no formal at-limit experience/training), how do you think they'll approach things?
Ooh yeah - and how much did you pay? I've been asking about the basic £85 course and it doesn't seem to cover much of what you describe at all.
I for one am most interested in rwd - I've pratted around (safe circumstances) in fwd cars in all weathers, and understand the dynamics, but rwd I want to learn the difference, before I get something powerful. But the others will have different priorities.
>> Edited by havoc on Thursday 9th February 15:15
havoc said:
How much wheel-time did you get?
Probably about that much, maybe a bit more
Trying to work it out...8(?) hour day, split 50/50 between two groups, 4 drivers per group, works out to be 1 hour each but factor in swapping seats etc. When you're not driving you're a passenger so you're involved anyway. There were also stages when both cars were being driven at the same time, so that will add to the time.
havoc said:
And given we're a mixed bunch (I've done trackdays in FWD, but not much rwd near-the-limit, other chap now has 200SX but little experience, two ladies like their cars but again no formal at-limit experience/training), how do you think they'll approach things?
Our groups were split girls & boys and no one complained about things be too fast or too slow. I do remember that during the race at the end we all had one passenger and the lady I had with me screamed a lot
It seems that the guys had a little more "advanced" training than the girls. havoc said:
Ooh yeah - and how much did you pay? I've been asking about the basic £85 course and it doesn't seem to cover much of what you describe at all.
I don't remember, although I ought to do a search in the forums. I do remember thinking it was quite reasonable not that it helps you
havoc said:
I for one am most interested in rwd - I've pratted around (safe circumstances) in fwd cars in all weathers, and understand the dynamics, but rwd I want to learn the difference, before I get something powerful. But the others will have different priorities.
Someone did ask if we could do RWD only but they said no. I guess with only 1 RWD car it would have meant less driving time for us anyway.
I'll see if I can find the orignal thread where we arranged everything.
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