Skid Pan testing....
Discussion
Can anyone recommend or tell me the best skid pan session near me in Milton Keynes. Also can anyone tell me how much it would cost. I am planning on going from a 1.9 Gti 205 to a CTR so I reckon a bit of training would be helpful.... after all, its the driver behind the wheel, not necessarily the quicker car that will win.
Cheers!
Cheers!
Do a couple of airfield days, Bookatrack are pretty good and relatively inexpensive (we will get you hooked yet!) and often have an instructor on hand so you can book a few laps with him.
Skid pans in the area, I have no idea, there is one associated with Thruxton Circuit which is fairly good, I will try and dig out the details tonight.
Skid pans in the area, I have no idea, there is one associated with Thruxton Circuit which is fairly good, I will try and dig out the details tonight.
I reckon I will need that extra run off then, I will probably try and take my Pug to limits it hasnt had before. Its been through enough in the first 5 months with me. Floored to the furthest margin for top speed - only getting 126 regretably and also having it taken to the highest point in the rev range, only when decatted though, less pressure build up.
Track days sound fun, I just hope my lil baby can put up with it.
Track days sound fun, I just hope my lil baby can put up with it.
Mr Storm, when the wife and I bought our CTR we got an advanced driving course for free (I know yours will be a used one), the instructor we got was superb (ex police instuctor) and had been training people in Honda R cars for some time and knew the car well. He mentioned that if he get enough people interested he would do a skid pan day. If you would like his number I'll dig it out for you.
The course was called Honda MAC by the way, just in case you have one on order and the dealer hasn't told you about it.
The course was called Honda MAC by the way, just in case you have one on order and the dealer hasn't told you about it.
For those who are interested (probably the local badger population 
) I went on a skid control course at the weekend.
It was a 99 quid affair, lasting 2 hours or so, in North Oxford. Run by Drive and Survive. Car was a Mondeo on a cradle.
Good points:
Excellent instructors, friendly and knowledgable. Warm caravan and good patch of tarmac to play on. Skid cars were good for inducing oversteer/understeer and for braking effects. Cost is reasonable. I learned a few new things and relearned a few old ones.
Bad points:
You really only get about 40mins-one hour behind the wheel. The other instructees or instructor take over for a lot of the time, relegating you to the back seat. Does this make 99 quid good value? Only just, IMHO.
Learning the dynamics of *your* car would be preferable, as a Mondeo under controlled conditions is not very 'real world'.
Some points I knew already, but instructor has to presume you know nothing. If he had an individual approach, we could have honed my technique a bit more.
Conclusion:
My next skid course will be on MIRA's skid pan in my car, for at least 2 hour's drive time, so I can get more individual tuition and learn the unique dynamics of my car in different situations. This would cost at least 150-500 GBP, though, so would be a more expensive day.
For a quick introduction and a bit of a laugh, I can recommend the Drive and Survive course at Churhc Enstone, Oxford. I arranged it through Red Letter Days (easily googlable!). It was called 'Skid Pan Experience' or something.
Cheers
Domster
) I went on a skid control course at the weekend. It was a 99 quid affair, lasting 2 hours or so, in North Oxford. Run by Drive and Survive. Car was a Mondeo on a cradle.
Good points:
Excellent instructors, friendly and knowledgable. Warm caravan and good patch of tarmac to play on. Skid cars were good for inducing oversteer/understeer and for braking effects. Cost is reasonable. I learned a few new things and relearned a few old ones.
Bad points:
You really only get about 40mins-one hour behind the wheel. The other instructees or instructor take over for a lot of the time, relegating you to the back seat. Does this make 99 quid good value? Only just, IMHO.
Learning the dynamics of *your* car would be preferable, as a Mondeo under controlled conditions is not very 'real world'.
Some points I knew already, but instructor has to presume you know nothing. If he had an individual approach, we could have honed my technique a bit more.
Conclusion:
My next skid course will be on MIRA's skid pan in my car, for at least 2 hour's drive time, so I can get more individual tuition and learn the unique dynamics of my car in different situations. This would cost at least 150-500 GBP, though, so would be a more expensive day.
For a quick introduction and a bit of a laugh, I can recommend the Drive and Survive course at Churhc Enstone, Oxford. I arranged it through Red Letter Days (easily googlable!). It was called 'Skid Pan Experience' or something.
Cheers
Domster
I recieved a 3hour skid pan voucher from my other half for Christmas, the venue .. Thruxton. Im going to wait though until the weather gets a little warmer, maybe take the wedge. (as far as I understand, and the end of your session, they let you take your car on it too). Cost I believe was £60. they also offer a fyull 7 hours session too, with the finale being a cat and mouse game between you and the instructor around a set circuit
jvaughan said: I recieved a 3hour skid pan voucher from my other half for Christmas, the venue .. Thruxton. Im going to wait though until the weather gets a little warmer, maybe take the wedge. (as far as I understand, and the end of your session, they let you take your car on it too). Cost I believe was £60. they also offer a fyull 7 hours session too, with the finale being a cat and mouse game between you and the instructor around a set circuit
Sounds very familiar.
I did a session at a skid pan very near the thruxton circuit a couple of years ago. Great fun!
If its the same place, you will spend about half the time in the car (depending on the size of the group) and be running a Sierra on bald, over inflated tyres, on a concrete surface slick with oil.
No grip, nuts instructors and a fun learning experience.
IIRC they offer both half days and full day courses. Might be worth upgrading to the full day.
Cheers for the reply lads, I think I might need to look at the Thruxton one then..... in fact I think you might need another lesson or two as well TheLemming - glad to see that your tank survived the tree impact at the weekend.
Any ideas of who I need to book through for the Thruxton one?
Any ideas of who I need to book through for the Thruxton one?
Domster, I must agree with your points here. I did the course at Church Enstone at the end of last year (took me a long time to sort out my xmas present) and had a great time. It was posted as a "Skid control" course, but we spent most of our time getting as out of shape as possible. It is a pain since you get only 40 minutes in the drivers seat, but you do get to watch the others and learn from their attempts, and the instructors seemed to know what they were talking about. The course they had set out with cones was fairly comprehensive, and the opportunity to under and over steer on demand was worth the money.
I had a great time, but would have liked more time to play.
(Also, whilst there, I was kind of jealous I was not on the adjoining rally course!)
>> Edited by Fer on Monday 13th January 13:54
I had a great time, but would have liked more time to play.
(Also, whilst there, I was kind of jealous I was not on the adjoining rally course!)
>> Edited by Fer on Monday 13th January 13:54
The one at Thruxton is run by a company called Driving Management Ltd. I've done it twice myself (second time was accompanying the girlf). It's about £105 for the full day. AFAIK, you only get to take your own car on at the end if you do the full day.
Don't have the number to hand, but if you call Ian Taylor racing (www.iantaylor.com I think), who are also at thruxton, they'll give you the number.
BTW - the guy who runs the course (name escapes me) is a part time test driver for Porsche, and also does the demo laps for Ian Taylor, so he's quite handy!!
Don't have the number to hand, but if you call Ian Taylor racing (www.iantaylor.com I think), who are also at thruxton, they'll give you the number.
BTW - the guy who runs the course (name escapes me) is a part time test driver for Porsche, and also does the demo laps for Ian Taylor, so he's quite handy!!
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