With the cold weather and the problems some people are having I thought I would look for a driving course that perhaps club members could get involved in.

 

I live about 20 miles from the Millbrook proving ground, where vauxhall tested its cars, so decided to start there.

 

During my search I came up with this web site.

 

http://www.cadence.co.uk/home.html

 

At first glance it seems very expensive at 430 squid for a days road drivng and a go at the proving ground.

 

I then noticed that they do club days.

 

Perhaps we as a club could organise something along those lines to help us all out.

 

Hopefully this will minimise the accidents that seem to keep happening in this bad weather.

 

What do you guys and girls think?

 

Darrell

 

PS be carefull out there.

I drive a discovery so no advanced driving needed so bring on the ICE lol

I think £85 to put yourself through I.A.M. training and membership is far better value. You can get quite a bit off your insurance with some companies too.

I think this is more for the more powerfull car though.

 

Darrell

i'll be up for that matey

I think this is more for the more powerfull car though.

 

Darrell

 

 

Good, safe driving is not about testing 300bhp on a public highway though. There's a time and place for that kind of thing. The Z is very easy to drive 'normally'. People just need to exercise some self control.

Good, safe driving is not about testing 300bhp on a public highway though. There's a time and place for that kind of thing. The Z is very easy to drive 'normally'. People just need to exercise some self control.

 

Can't agree more.

 

But this would be an opportunatey to test it out not on a public road under the watchful gaze of a pro.

 

Darrell

With the cold weather and the problems some people are having I thought I would look for a driving course that perhaps club members could get involved in.

 

 

How about these guys.

http://WWW.RIDEDRIVE.CO.UK

Darrell, this is a great idea.

 

I have been thinking about doing something like this myself (so that I stop losing the back end!)

 

I have been looking at Car Limits It sounds like good value too.

 

"We also run Activity Days where you can have fun in your car, increase your driving ability and confidence, meet new faces and try some of the exercises experienced on an Airfield Driver Training Day at a cost of less than £37 per car. Have a go at the high speed bend, circuits in the afternoon and the slalom course which is open all day on most days."

 

What do you think?

I have been wanting to take my z on a skidpan for ages, just to see what happens and find the limits in a safe environment. I tried a few places but none would let me use my own car :(

i know i had a fairly high profile crunch the other week hence some of the thinking behind the thread but to be honest skill isnt lacking in all cases....i've been a daily driver since 1988...avg milage maybe a bit less now but was 1000 per week for over 10 years....seen and driven just about every condition there is at all hours of day and night in all types of car and i've never had a car breakaway the way my silver zed did...a heady mix of oversalted poor road surface, 19" rims 9" wide low profile tyres which were cold (1 mile from home) and a stiff suspension set up conspired to cause a breakaway on 1/3 throttle @ 40 mph whilst driving in a straight line....i know its a bit trite but maybe for cars with such set ups they should be fair weather rides only because it was no better then going out in slicks on that fateful day

I have been wanting to take my z on a skidpan for ages, just to see what happens and find the limits in a safe environment. I tried a few places but none would let me use my own car :(

Have a look at the link to car limits (above).

 

It looks like they will let you bring your own car and let you get it sideways!

I did a couple of days with John Lyon (try a search for my post, also http://www.john-lyon.com). It was one of the most worthwhile things I've ever done with the car. It isn't cheap but it is worth it. There's a big difference between someone like John Lyons teaching, and what the modern advanced driving people do. John Lyon is very much about the 'thrill' of driving (note that I didn't mention reckless) in the evo magazine sort of style and attitude. He is extremely safe in built up areas and then teaches you how to safely drive a car fast on the open roads and at the proving grounds. John was one of the original instructors of the high performance driving course. IAM is about safe driving but I found the people involved very robotic and many didn't seem to have any connection with the enjoyment of driving. I wanted to learn to drive a fast car skillfully and safely so John appealed to me more as it emphasised enjoyment and skill.

 

I've also done one of those airfield days with mazdarotaryclub.com. It was great value for money, and a chance to throw the car around in a safe enviroment. There isn't much tuition though due to the group aspect. I believe I benefited hugely from having advanced driving lessons with John before I went on the airfield day. The same goes for track days, before I'd had the advanced driving lessons I was really thrashing the car as I didn't know how to heel and toe to match the revs and all that sort of thing. The last few track days have been completely different as I've got so much more sympathy for the car now.

I have been wanting to take my z on a skidpan for ages, just to see what happens and find the limits in a safe environment. I tried a few places but none would let me use my own car :(

John does part of his course on the MIRA proving grounds which is one of the most advanced in the world, it has a whole host of different skidpan setups. He also does bedford proving ground which has some similar things, as well as an alpine run, a circuit , and a high speed banked circuit. The skidpan bit wasn't open when I was at Bedford though.

let's do it!

Can't recommend the IAM enough! If you had problems with your local group find another one - there's quite a few! No real performance driving techniques are taught but IMO the things you learn are invaluable to driving on the roads these days. No amount of performance training will prevent you losing the back end on a bit of diesel - IAM teaches you how to read the road a lot better so may well help....

^^^ What Andy said. I have done IAM and a couple of police courses for the bike and IMHO they are the best things I could have done.

 

I did get a course on a skid car a few years back which certainly helps if the back end kicks out as I know how to react, but IAM taught me how to avoid that situation.

 

That said, nothing like a bit of fun on private land though.

I'm another avid supporter of the IAM - best thing I ever did. Did a refresher with them after 5 years too - well worth it.

 

I use Millbrook a lot for work - it's a good facility, but pretty pricey due to it being one of the best test facilities in the world... not a problem for a large manufacturer but a little unreasonable for individuals/clubs I suspect. Go down market a bit and there is still some nice places. Chobham Proving ground near where the A3 intersects the M25 is also very good, and I suspect much cheaper. However, I have no idea what they offer in a non-proffessional sense.

 

Dave

Start with some IAM training it won't do you any harm! and in a few years you'll realise the differance especially when you sit in the passenger seat next to joe average driver.

Do some performance driving training for arseing about in fast cars on a private track in summer.

One thing we're all forgetting here is that you shouldn't be 'performance driving' on public roads in the first place! The reason behind this post is fair enough, I'm sick of seeing posts about smashed up Zeds, just waiting for the next one to be a fatal :( The reason for most of the recent crashes (no offence intended to anyone here) is the inability of the driver to read the roads/conditions correctly or pushing it too hard on unknown roads. This is exactly where the IAM comes into play! I challenge anyone who thinks they can drive, to do the IAM test and pass it - just not possible even with years of driving experience under your belt! FFS the lessons are even FREE, given by volunteers! The only costs involved are the text books required and the test fee, so even if you just do the course it aint gonna cost you a penny! Like Paul says, its amazing the difference you will notice!

 

If its knowing the limits of your car (which you certainly shouldn't be doing on public roads) then do a track day but on an airfield - these cater far better for getting the car out of shape than the days offered on circuits. They practically encourage you to push it too far in the briefing which is more than can be said for most circuit days...

Cost of text book will be recovered on first insurance renewal!

There literally is no financial cost involved, a few hours need setting aside, but theres things worse than taking the Z out for a few hours each week! :)

 

You quite simply don't realise what a bad driver you are until you do the training - it should be compulsary.

I challenge anyone who thinks they can drive, to do the IAM test and pass it - just not possible even with years of driving experience under your belt!...

 

 

water on your bonfire Andy :D

 

....my old drinking mate Mitch passed his IAM @ two weeks after his 17th birthday and passed...he took his driving test on his 17th and was for a while the yougest ever IAM

 

maybe it harder if your older / more experienced as you have bad habits by then...cant say for sure just a theory

If its knowing the limits of your car (which you certainly shouldn't be doing on public roads) then do a track day but on an airfield - these cater far better for getting the car out of shape than the days offered on circuits. They practically encourage you to push it too far in the briefing which is more than can be said for most circuit days...

Well the IAM sounds like something we should all do.

 

But at the same time I want to get on track of some sort and find the limits of traction. I need to know when the back end is going to step out and what to do to correct it.

Im definately going to sign up for this! sounds like good value for money! Anyone know anything about the insurance reductions? as in how much it takes off as a rough ball park figure?

Depends on the insurer, but I got nearly 50% off my renewal when I went to an insurer who actually realises that IAM membership is worth something more than a certificate.

 

Bell Direct btw.

Typically 15-25% though.