Lotus Sport Intensive Driver Training
Discussion
Morning all,
Well after my last visit to Hethel (Evening Seloc meet) I was itching to get back behind the wheel of an Elise up at the test track, I was taken out for a couple of laps in an Elise S a few week's back by Tony. I've always found the Elise S quick enough for most tracks as I've been on track in an Elise S now 4 times, they never cease to amaze me on what a complete package for an entry level car it is. Cracking!
Saturday 19/04/2008
We arrived at Hethel at 7.55am after departing from the Holiday Inn in Ipswich road at 7.30, partly because some Muppet at the highway agency have decided to re-surface the road that runs up to Lotus!
There were six of us in total for this experience, all seemed friendly enough we chatted away as we were kept waiting in anticipation by the main gate we were then called over to the control tower by Lotus Sport at about 8.10, I sprinted up the stair's leaving poor old long suffering Mrs Boggy to lock up our Car and bring in a few bit's and bob's, we were then met by Lisa of Lotus sport who took all out licence detail's, we were pointed in the direction of Coffee and breakfast (I was a little disappointed at the spread as there wasn't any of the usual Bacon roll's just Scones Croissant's fruit and Coffee). Introduction's followed by a brief run down on what we'd be doing in both the morning and afternoon session's not much hanging around as we soon found ourselves trying on Helmet's then into the people carriers to take us to our first activity.
Our first activity was the figure of eight, this I was to replace the usual under steer and over steer circle at the bottom of the track, It required much more driver involvement/attention for my first driver training, the car seemed to grip so much so in order to get it to slide they had to soak the track, + with a little encouragement from Alistair McQueen we (Two people per instructor) used the handbrake to introduce some more slide. I'm still staggered on how much grip the Elise has? You had to get it into 2nd gear floor it turn in then pull up on the handbrake to even get the thing to slide, simply turning in to quick just lead to under steer, we both took it in turn's for around an hour and 10 minutes I'd had more than enough fun by the end of this and was fairly knackered as you had to work pretty hard trying to control the car and stop it from spinning out in a full 180. Mark the (over chap) I must admit was better than all the rest of us and to a bit of a natural. Anyway enough of talking about other people, Onto the slalom, my first run was crap but after settling down as the previous activity was farily hard going it all fell into place, they extended the course over the driver experiance introducing a 2nd and 3rd gear change making the middle section quite high speed, also introducing a fair amount of breaking. It all felt like a complete natural thing for me I found this activity very rewarding, I came out top of all of the drivers that day so I would say that I suppose, we spent around an hour taking it in turn's before our last activity learning toe and heal. I didn't find this activity easy but everyone else also found this difficult (accept from one of the guys who races so I guess that's just the way it goes). Did have some success and managed to down change about 5 - 6 times using toe and heal but I've got to practice this in my own car
Lunch
Not the usual buffet as we were all taken to a fantastic pub for lunch, good chance for us all to chat and get to know each other a little more, really enjoyed my lunch but everyone wanted to get back for their afternoon track session so I didn't get chance for a desert (Not Happy) 8 - )
We had 3 session's all consisting of around 20 - 25 minutes each, I must admit even thou I say so myself I just went from strength to strength, picked up some really good advice and I now feel that I'm more than ready for track day's, will not be using my own road car as I will end up ruining it. I know this more than before now as you push the Car harder each time as your driving gets better. We were all given a certificate and trophy and urged to come up with a day that would suit people who had completed both driver training and intensive, it's difficult for Lotus Sport to come up with other packages as they can't introduce timed lap's or put us against each other as that would be competitive racing as such, nice to see that their acting on customer input.
I left feeling much more capable and satisfied, I do think that for the money we all paid it should have been both Saturday and Sunday as £899 is a lot of money for a one day course. I'm not complaining thou, Alistair is a fabulous teacher and worth his weight in gold, patent, professional, building confidence in you at every opportunity.
Would I do another day? Yes but it would need to be at around £650 for two people per instructor for the whole day not £900
Boggy
Well after my last visit to Hethel (Evening Seloc meet) I was itching to get back behind the wheel of an Elise up at the test track, I was taken out for a couple of laps in an Elise S a few week's back by Tony. I've always found the Elise S quick enough for most tracks as I've been on track in an Elise S now 4 times, they never cease to amaze me on what a complete package for an entry level car it is. Cracking!
Saturday 19/04/2008
We arrived at Hethel at 7.55am after departing from the Holiday Inn in Ipswich road at 7.30, partly because some Muppet at the highway agency have decided to re-surface the road that runs up to Lotus!
There were six of us in total for this experience, all seemed friendly enough we chatted away as we were kept waiting in anticipation by the main gate we were then called over to the control tower by Lotus Sport at about 8.10, I sprinted up the stair's leaving poor old long suffering Mrs Boggy to lock up our Car and bring in a few bit's and bob's, we were then met by Lisa of Lotus sport who took all out licence detail's, we were pointed in the direction of Coffee and breakfast (I was a little disappointed at the spread as there wasn't any of the usual Bacon roll's just Scones Croissant's fruit and Coffee). Introduction's followed by a brief run down on what we'd be doing in both the morning and afternoon session's not much hanging around as we soon found ourselves trying on Helmet's then into the people carriers to take us to our first activity.
Our first activity was the figure of eight, this I was to replace the usual under steer and over steer circle at the bottom of the track, It required much more driver involvement/attention for my first driver training, the car seemed to grip so much so in order to get it to slide they had to soak the track, + with a little encouragement from Alistair McQueen we (Two people per instructor) used the handbrake to introduce some more slide. I'm still staggered on how much grip the Elise has? You had to get it into 2nd gear floor it turn in then pull up on the handbrake to even get the thing to slide, simply turning in to quick just lead to under steer, we both took it in turn's for around an hour and 10 minutes I'd had more than enough fun by the end of this and was fairly knackered as you had to work pretty hard trying to control the car and stop it from spinning out in a full 180. Mark the (over chap) I must admit was better than all the rest of us and to a bit of a natural. Anyway enough of talking about other people, Onto the slalom, my first run was crap but after settling down as the previous activity was farily hard going it all fell into place, they extended the course over the driver experiance introducing a 2nd and 3rd gear change making the middle section quite high speed, also introducing a fair amount of breaking. It all felt like a complete natural thing for me I found this activity very rewarding, I came out top of all of the drivers that day so I would say that I suppose, we spent around an hour taking it in turn's before our last activity learning toe and heal. I didn't find this activity easy but everyone else also found this difficult (accept from one of the guys who races so I guess that's just the way it goes). Did have some success and managed to down change about 5 - 6 times using toe and heal but I've got to practice this in my own car
Lunch
Not the usual buffet as we were all taken to a fantastic pub for lunch, good chance for us all to chat and get to know each other a little more, really enjoyed my lunch but everyone wanted to get back for their afternoon track session so I didn't get chance for a desert (Not Happy) 8 - )
We had 3 session's all consisting of around 20 - 25 minutes each, I must admit even thou I say so myself I just went from strength to strength, picked up some really good advice and I now feel that I'm more than ready for track day's, will not be using my own road car as I will end up ruining it. I know this more than before now as you push the Car harder each time as your driving gets better. We were all given a certificate and trophy and urged to come up with a day that would suit people who had completed both driver training and intensive, it's difficult for Lotus Sport to come up with other packages as they can't introduce timed lap's or put us against each other as that would be competitive racing as such, nice to see that their acting on customer input.
I left feeling much more capable and satisfied, I do think that for the money we all paid it should have been both Saturday and Sunday as £899 is a lot of money for a one day course. I'm not complaining thou, Alistair is a fabulous teacher and worth his weight in gold, patent, professional, building confidence in you at every opportunity.
Would I do another day? Yes but it would need to be at around £650 for two people per instructor for the whole day not £900
Boggy
Nice writ up Boggy, but
Boggy said:
....more than ready for track day's, will not be using my own road car as I will end up ruining it.
surely some mistake mate.... thats what it was made for, just don't push tehe gear changes and braking as hard as you would in someone elses. I know you want to get a car to use for racing when you get there, but you don't need to be too precious about getting your P&J out on track in the meantime!
subaqua said:
Nice writ up Boggy, but
Slight problem sir,Boggy said:
....more than ready for track day's, will not be using my own road car as I will end up ruining it.
surely some mistake mate.... thats what it was made for, just don't push tehe gear changes and braking as hard as you would in someone elses. I know you want to get a car to use for racing when you get there, but you don't need to be too precious about getting your P&J out on track in the meantime!It's Mrs Boggs Car as well so we'll be trading it in next year for either an Eagle or a S/C Elise, we've got the R for the Trophy now so I'll use that for track days until I'm ready for racing. Mrs Boggys also going to do some training so I think it will probably be the Eagle.
Boggy
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