I am just about to book an advanced driver instruction course and want to clear something up.

 

There will be a lesson in power sliding - oversteer.

 

Is this the same technique as drifting, because I was under the impression that drifting was really bad for the auto gearbox and don't want to fook my car for the sake of learning a few skills!

 

Any advice on power sliding autos will be greatly appreciated, and if anyone has had bad experiences with it, let me know.

i believe poersliding is exactly the same as drifting as the car is sideways. some courses will supply a car for you to use.

if you want to learn how to drift there is a place called drift school i believe t-pot went on, not sure how good/bad that one is tho

Thanks, I am not really after drifting, just want to be a better driver - hence the course. But since they cover powersliding, I just want to make sure I won't damage my car!

I was under the impression that it was the manual box that was weak, not the auto.

mine goes sideways quite comfortably ;) and its an auto, its all about throttle control

if your doing an advanced driving course, im guessing it will be a advanced ROAD driving as apposed to advanced TRACK driving.

 

If its road based, the whole course is based on something called ROADCRAFT. Its a very good course, and its what the police base their whole driving on. If you have any questions about advanced road driving, feel free to ask me as im a police advanced driver.

 

Oh and in answer to your question, power sliding is one technique of drifting an wont damage your box, all it is, is the force being put through the tires is overpowering the grip available from the road surface.

 

On your course you wont be learning how to drift im afriad, it will be how to control a "skid".

 

like is said if youve got anything you want to ask about advanced driving feel free to ask mate, that goes for everyone as well :)

 

nick

if your doing an advanced driving course, im guessing it will be a advanced ROAD driving as apposed to advanced TRACK driving.

If its road based, the whole course is based on something called ROADCRAFT. Its a very good course, and its what the police base their whole driving on. If you have any questions about advanced road driving, feel free to ask me as im a police advanced driver.

On your course you wont be learning how to drift im afriad, it will be how to control a "skid".

nick

 

Hi Nick, thanks for that. The course is part road - part track at Millbrook

over 2 days.

 

Most of it IS on the track so you can practice high speed driving in complete safety.

 

contents here:

 

Master Drivers Course

Our Master Driver's Course is designed to bring out the best in your driving, and is the approved route for entry to the prestigious High Performance Club. If you successfully complete the course you will be recommended for membership. Membership allows you to take advantage of the Club's insurance scheme and their superb, members-only driving events which are dedicated to furthering your skills, with a friendly group of like-minded individuals. You don't need a high performance car to belong to the Club. It's all about High Performance thinking and attitude.

 

The Course lasts for 2½ days. The first half-day is an assessment drive to see whether you have the attitude and aptitude to go further. If you're not quite there, then further training will be recommended - we don't want you to waste your money taking the course before we think you can complete it.

 

The first day of the course (normally taken a short while after the initial assessment drive) is a road driving day including a session at Millbrook Proving Ground. The second day includes a session of practical car control exercises on Lincolnshire Police's skid pan. You will also have a period driving one of our high performance rear-wheel-drive cars to show that your new driving skills can be adapted to unfamiliar roads and vehicles. The aim of the course is to allow candidates to develop:

 

A systematic and planned approach to their driving

The ability to be in complete control of their safety at all times

Excellent situation awareness and observation – verified by giving a short commentary drive during the second day

A courteous attitude to all other road users

Smooth use of the controls, with an emphasis on keeping the car balanced at all times

The ability to overtake other road users discreetly and safely

Proficiency in using the capabilities of their vehicle to best advantage when appropriate – enabling safe, unobtrusive progress

After the half-day assessment drive, the remaining two days are consecutive. We won't expect you to drive non-stop – we regularly stop for breaks to allow time for discussion. This shouldn't be seen as a 'test' or an 'ordeal' – we'll work with you at all times, offering advice and encouragement along the way. Our aim at Cadence is to take your latent skills and coax and cajole them to the surface, creating an enthusiasm for continual improvement.

 

The cost of the complete course is £995, which initially may seem like a lot of money, but when you consider the intensity and depth of the training involved, is, in our opinion, extremely good value and equips you with the ability to participate confidently in Club events.

sounds like it will probs be based on roadcraft, well thats how it reads anyway. Youll enjoy it, but its bloody hard work. Kust to give you a small comparison, your course is 2 and a half days long, police advanced driving is a month long.

These look like the guys that used to be with John Lyon who I did a similar thing with last year. John ,who carried on the High performance course after the british school of motoring stopped offering it due to the onset of political correctness on our roads back in 1979, parted from the group and continued on his own.

 

From Johns website:

The history of the original HIGH PERFORMANCE COURSE Originated in 1962, the original High Performance Course was born at almost the dawn of the motorway age from the need for education at the very high speeds involved. For the motorist, horizons opened up with roads designed for safe use of a motorcar at speed and sports cars that

were built for it, like the Jaguar E Type and the Porsche 911.

 

The experience behind John Lyon:

 

The HIGH PERFORMANCE CAR DRIVING COURSE is under the

personal direction of John Lyon, one of the first High Performance

co-drivers taught in the early 60's by the late John Miles MBE who was

previously an advanced instructor at The Metropolitan Police Motor Driving School, Hendon. John Lyon later became an instructor at Hendon himself, one of the few civilian instructors to be taught to drive safely at high speed by Mr O.V. Thomas B.E.M. John is well known for his roadcraft writing and his vast motor racing experience,in particular, his success as twice overall champion racing driver in the B.R. & S.C.C. Caterham Super Seven Championship in his road going Seven.

JpThe two parties fell out and went their seperate ways.

 

I rate John Lyon and it was well worth the money. If these guys offer anything even close to as good then they are worth while.

 

http://www.john-lyon.co.uk/Octane09_05_06.pdf

http://www.john-lyon.co.uk/octane.htm

 

John is the one to go for if you want to do proper fast (safe) driving and become a better driver. These people you are going with look like they may be similar? IAM is more just safe driving, perhaps more fitting for the crowded roads of today but not my cup of tea. Opinion on John is quite polarised because of this. If you look on Pistonheads there are people who worship him and there are people who hate him! I think some of the more influential post whores on there are part of 'rival' groups so it goes against him. There's also a large fraternity of 'Institure of Advanced' drivers people on there who bore me silly with petty roadcraft arguments, and are very against the more 'spirited' old school performance driving instruction.

wanna talk to old uncle chunk about drifting an auto :p

have you done one of his courses royal?

Yes mate, I posted about it after. If you do a search you should find it easily. I did a couple of days with him. I did plan on going back and doing more but I just havn't had the money for it. I'd like to do it this summer once the bank looks healthier. I'd definately recommend him. Like already mentioned you have to prepare yourself for 'school boys lesson' so to speak. Its not that he's overbearing, he's just very direct and tells you straight away where you were going wrong. Lots of people who think they are already good drivers can't handle this. I knew I was cr*p at driving so went along with that attitude lol! My driving has improved so much after doing it. It makes such a difference having an ideal to work towards. I'm sure I've picked up bad habits again that he wouldn't approve of , but on the other hand I'm still improving at the techniques that I learn't with him even 6mths later. You learn so much in such a short period of time that you are knackered by the end of the day.

what does it cost mate it didnt say on the site. also does he choose what course you do the site wasnt very explicit