I want to learn how to drive....no seriously!
Discussion
I was reading the thread about best budget mod, and Caspy (still owe ya £25 
)posted something like "driving lessons and petrol". This got me thinking.
I've had my Ro since Feb and I obviously love it to bits. Up until now, the most powerful car I have owned is a 2.2Litre Astra Coupe. I've never driven a big engine motor like this before. I love blasting it around (within legal speed limits of course) but in all honesty I'm scared to push it. Especially with the odd thread popping up about written off Ro's and bashed up ones appearing on Ebay. I really don't know how to drive my car.....I mean really drive it.
Anyway, I really want to learn how to drive it properly. I'm not talking about taking it to Brands and ragging it around the circuit, any monkey can do that. I mean I want someone to take me out in my car and show me how to push the limits of my driving. To learn to control it and to keep control if I start to lose it.
I live in Kent and wondered if there is anything like that down this way, or a bit further afield for that matter?
Anyone have any suggestions?
)posted something like "driving lessons and petrol". This got me thinking. I've had my Ro since Feb and I obviously love it to bits. Up until now, the most powerful car I have owned is a 2.2Litre Astra Coupe. I've never driven a big engine motor like this before. I love blasting it around (within legal speed limits of course) but in all honesty I'm scared to push it. Especially with the odd thread popping up about written off Ro's and bashed up ones appearing on Ebay. I really don't know how to drive my car.....I mean really drive it.
Anyway, I really want to learn how to drive it properly. I'm not talking about taking it to Brands and ragging it around the circuit, any monkey can do that. I mean I want someone to take me out in my car and show me how to push the limits of my driving. To learn to control it and to keep control if I start to lose it.
I live in Kent and wondered if there is anything like that down this way, or a bit further afield for that matter?
Anyone have any suggestions?
No, I wouldn't take it to Brands either, too tight.. (the circuit, not me!!)...
They're not popular with everyone due to the varying surfaces, but a trackday held at an airfield could be a good option as they tend to form the course with cones, so fairly safe if you go off. Well organised ones will normally have drivers who will take you round and give you a few pointers. It's a good way of pushing the limits without too much risk..
Can't remember who ran the last one I went to, but I'm sure a quick google will turn something up..
They're not popular with everyone due to the varying surfaces, but a trackday held at an airfield could be a good option as they tend to form the course with cones, so fairly safe if you go off. Well organised ones will normally have drivers who will take you round and give you a few pointers. It's a good way of pushing the limits without too much risk..
Can't remember who ran the last one I went to, but I'm sure a quick google will turn something up..
bb08154153 said:
This site sounds great.
Am wanting to go on something similar but live near Cambridge- can anyone reccomend one near me too/ please??
Would be great to see what she can do.
Thanks
North Weald isn't all that far from Cambridge. Andrew Walsh does excellent tuition days there - as s55shh said, see: www.carlimits.comAm wanting to go on something similar but live near Cambridge- can anyone reccomend one near me too/ please??
Would be great to see what she can do.
Thanks
Edited by Jack Blag on Wednesday 12th November 14:22
I went on a slalom day organised by the Lotus 7 club, that was 1/2 day of throwing a car round cones and stuff which was a good way to get used to the car. I even had a couple of laps from a chap who owns Cadence.
www.cadence.co.uk/
They run a Millbrook (Beds) which shouldnt be too far. Im even thinking it for myself and the missus.
www.cadence.co.uk/
They run a Millbrook (Beds) which shouldnt be too far. Im even thinking it for myself and the missus.
Tempy said:
I was reading the thread about best budget mod, and Caspy (still owe ya £25 )posted something like "driving lessons and petrol". This got me thinking.
I've had my Ro since Feb and I obviously love it to bits. Up until now, the most powerful car I have owned is a 2.2Litre Astra Coupe. I've never driven a big engine motor like this before. I love blasting it around (within legal speed limits of course) but in all honesty I'm scared to push it. Especially with the odd thread popping up about written off Ro's and bashed up ones appearing on Ebay. I really don't know how to drive my car.....I mean really drive it.
Anyway, I really want to learn how to drive it properly. I'm not talking about taking it to Brands and ragging it around the circuit, any monkey can do that. I mean I want someone to take me out in my car and show me how to push the limits of my driving. To learn to control it and to keep control if I start to lose it.
I live in Kent and wondered if there is anything like that down this way, or a bit further afield for that matter?
Anyone have any suggestions?
)posted something like "driving lessons and petrol". This got me thinking. I've had my Ro since Feb and I obviously love it to bits. Up until now, the most powerful car I have owned is a 2.2Litre Astra Coupe. I've never driven a big engine motor like this before. I love blasting it around (within legal speed limits of course) but in all honesty I'm scared to push it. Especially with the odd thread popping up about written off Ro's and bashed up ones appearing on Ebay. I really don't know how to drive my car.....I mean really drive it.
Anyway, I really want to learn how to drive it properly. I'm not talking about taking it to Brands and ragging it around the circuit, any monkey can do that. I mean I want someone to take me out in my car and show me how to push the limits of my driving. To learn to control it and to keep control if I start to lose it.
I live in Kent and wondered if there is anything like that down this way, or a bit further afield for that matter?
Anyone have any suggestions?
After exhaust, remap and brakes, it was the next thing I went for. I hired a guy (still looking for his details for you) for the day and attended an RMA organised event at Bedford. It was on track but was purely for me to understand both mine and the cars limits with an expert at my side. Best £400 I spent genuinely. £25??? Ah yes.....
I posted a similar question a month or so ago. I feel the same about driving our Monaro. I don't have a fear of pushing it to the limits but i have to be aware that if i were to loose control i probably wouldn't know how to handle it. Its easy to become flippant about the power. The problem is if you don't have total respect for it it'll kill you. I'm looking at taking advanced driving tuition in the new year. It makes sense
Bonnie and Clyde said:
I posted a similar question a month or so ago. I feel the same about driving our Monaro. I don't have a fear of pushing it to the limits but i have to be aware that if i were to loose control i probably wouldn't know how to handle it. Its easy to become flippant about the power. The problem is if you don't have total respect for it it'll kill you. I'm looking at taking advanced driving tuition in the new year. It makes sense
Advanced driving won`t teach you how to handle your car Bonnie, Carlimits is exactly what you need.
Bonnie,
Advanced Driving is just going over the same things you learnt to pass your test. My girlfriend did the DIAmond advanced course earlier this year.. While she said it was useful it wasn't what she was expecting. And i think she was expecting to learn the same thing as you.
Look up a car craft course from either carlimits or ridedrive. They will be almost exactly what you are looking for, will teach you about your limits and the cars, what to do when you get out of 'control' and so forth.
Advanced Driving is just going over the same things you learnt to pass your test. My girlfriend did the DIAmond advanced course earlier this year.. While she said it was useful it wasn't what she was expecting. And i think she was expecting to learn the same thing as you.
Look up a car craft course from either carlimits or ridedrive. They will be almost exactly what you are looking for, will teach you about your limits and the cars, what to do when you get out of 'control' and so forth.
Thanks for all the suggestions guys and gals. I will definately be treating myself. The prices don't look too bad at all. It'll be something I will be leaving until the new year now as I don't have a lot of free weekends on the run up to xmas and it's an expensive time of year.
Does anyone that has done it feel that they benefitted from it, and got a good feel of what their car can do and control it better?
It's not as though I'm thinking I'll go on this course and straight after I'll be chucking it round roundabouts at 60 with the back end at 90 degrees. Hell, I've had some hairy moments at very very slow speeds. SO much bloody torque in this car. My first drive out in the rain just after I bought it required some replacement underwear when I got home
I just want to understand and control my car better. Some of the techniques taught at carlimits sound just the job.
Does anyone that has done it feel that they benefitted from it, and got a good feel of what their car can do and control it better?
It's not as though I'm thinking I'll go on this course and straight after I'll be chucking it round roundabouts at 60 with the back end at 90 degrees. Hell, I've had some hairy moments at very very slow speeds. SO much bloody torque in this car. My first drive out in the rain just after I bought it required some replacement underwear when I got home
I just want to understand and control my car better. Some of the techniques taught at carlimits sound just the job.
I have done a few of these car control/limits courses with different people and also done a few drift training days. Each and every time they have taught me more but also, more importantly IMO, provided the facilities for you to find the limits of your car in safety, learning what the car does, why it does it, and how to correct it. The more you do these courses/events the greater experience you get.
The experience is key.
If you do a course or event only the one time, what you learn wont have become instinctive if you find yourself in a surprise situation.
My 5p
The experience is key.
If you do a course or event only the one time, what you learn wont have become instinctive if you find yourself in a surprise situation.
My 5p
I did a day with Andrew Walsh (carlimits) in 2004 at North Weald when I had an Elise. The day started off with a few simple exercises so that my driving skill (or lack of it) could be judged by Andrew. He then pushed me into going beyond the limit so that I could understand how the car would react in a given situation and what I should consequently do to correct it.
The day included oversteer, understeer, steering on the throttle, braking techniques, steering techniques... and a lot more!
The day finished with a complex course which incorporated everything I'd been tested on in the morning and much more. Surprisingly, everything I'd learned in the morning came to me easily in the afternoon. I had obviously benefited without realising it!
The day included oversteer, understeer, steering on the throttle, braking techniques, steering techniques... and a lot more!
The day finished with a complex course which incorporated everything I'd been tested on in the morning and much more. Surprisingly, everything I'd learned in the morning came to me easily in the afternoon. I had obviously benefited without realising it!
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