Tell me about driver training you've done...

[Kyle]

Hi all :)

Am keen to get stuck into some driver training courses, and want to hear your opinions and suggestions.

I've not done any up until now, was fairly confident with my ability to control my old car, peugeot 306 s16, fwd..
But I just cant get the hang of this bloody falcon....

Keen to hear your stories! :)

[NickS]

Hey Kyle,

I have a done a few different things ...

2 defensive driver training days with Ian Luff at Oran Park.

2 skid pan days with Aaron McGill at Eastern Creek - no actual instructors in the car, but great practice.

2 open track days at Eastern Creek with instructors in the car.

3 Wakefield open days - again, no instructors, but Schuey in the red Monaro gives you something to chase.

1 Formula Ford day - no in car instruction (duh) but plenty of pointers about driving style, heel-toe, lines etc.

IMO the instructors help heaps with line and braking points, can't say they have done anything for car control, practice, practice, practice !!! The open days are great as you can slowly build up the pace at a level you are comfortable with. If you have never done any course I would highly recommend almost any of them, you will definitely get something out of it.

They are heaps of fun too ...

:cheers:

[Ryzz]

Have done 2 Defensive Driving Days, one with Aaron Mcgill @ Oran Park, and another with xyz Defensive Driving co (Cant remember name) who were pretty average. Also at Oran Park.

Have done countless (4-6??) Skidpan days at Eastern Creek and love it. Great chance to learn some car control in the wet and have a blast at the same time. Not to mention a good chance to brush up on your heckeling skills :up2sum::up2sum:

[DaveHAT]

Kyle,
One of the best things you can do is get yourself to a driving course with a sanctioned driver training company if for no other reason that to get a thorough understanding of the physics and mechanics of driving a car and why so many people get it so wrong for the stupidest reasons.

Personally, I've done:


6 advanced driver training courses @ Oran Park with Ian Luff motivation, including basic car control up to CAMS approved track work.
2 skidpan days with Aaron Magill @ Eastern Creek
8 Motor cycle training circuit days @ Amaroo Park with Stay Upright
1 Lexus driver training 1/2 day @ Eastern Creek



My opinion has always been you can learn a great deal from a book but the instructors on these days can give you more feedback about what you are doing right and wrong behind the wheel of a car. Better to learn in a safe/controlled environment away from day to day traffic than learn the hard way on the road.

Very worthwhile IMHO no matter which company you chose to go with and you have great fun in the process ---> WIN/WIN ! :)

[NickS]

Hethro, one of the best things you can do is get yourself to a driving course with a sanctioned driver training company if for no other reason that to get a thorough understanding of the physics and mechanics of driving a car and why so many people get it so wrong for the stupidest reasons ...

:hmmm: it could just be me, but I could have sworn Kyle asked the question. Oh well, I suppose Alex might be interested too. :stick:

:hide:

[CarlFST60L]

Ive been to heaps a days, and honestly, i have learnt more buy going for a lap with good drivers, getting a feel for how to get the car moving...

Example, my neighbour came to wakefeild last friday, he was laping 1:19 average... After comming for a couple of 1:15's, he dropped his time to 1:16.2 within a couple of laps :)

Same with drifting, i went for a couple of laps with a mate, and shit, it opened my eyes to how far the limit really is, same with a rally basher, i thought i was screaming around, first lap with my mate driving, i honestly couldnt believe that he was able to maintain 80km/h through a couple of corners with only really two wheels on the ground, couple of laps later, i was doing the same :eyes:

So i guess, going with someone that has limits past yours will open your eyes to the real limits of your car...

That being said, understanding the physics of a car is important, best one i have read is in the grand turismo game book ;)

[Elite SS]

I learned to drive in Cabramatta..25 years ago....if you can survive cars turning right from the left lane..reversing up the street because they missed theirs....flying out of the carpark while yelling at the kids in the back seats.
looking for your smokes while your heading for a stop sign...your doing well...Well thats my defence driving course...

Seriously..go for it..it will benefit you and you will be suprised on what you know & don't know...you can only better yourself:)

[scat2k3]

Hi Kyle,

Goran certainly has the most complete real world training there :lol:

Whether it be a formal driver training day, skid pan day or the like, they all share a lot in common.

That is, what really happens when things go pear shaped. How do you react as the driver and what your car will do when some threshold has been crossed.

All of this in a relatively safe environment. From the sounds of it, this is exactly what you want to find out with the Falcon.

What will it do under extreme braking. How does it behave when the rear end lets go and what do you have to do to get it back under control. :eyes:

By the end of the day you will realise how easy it is to "loose" control. On the flip side, you will learn to feel what the car is doing and how to respond.

The better organised days will also cover basics which are taken for granted but always overlooked. Correct seating position, mirrors, tyre pressures, etc, etc.

I think a Trackchat organised day like this will definitely be on the cards for sometime next year.

Cheers,

Scott

[Ryzz]

I think a Trackchat organised day like this will definitely be on the cards for sometime next year. Let me know if u wanan me to rope up another Skidpan day with McGill next yr.

[Brockfan05]

I've done 2 days with the John Bowe Driving Institute and a fun day at Winton, and a 'private' test session at Bathurst. All good fun :)

[Aeron]

Kyle, I burnt you a copy of my DVD from the Oran Park skid pan Ian Luff course didn’t I? They are a good start.

I've done Ian luff Stage 1, 2 (twice) and 3 (on the race track), Formula Ford Day at Oran Park, 2x Wakefield Park track days, and 1 at Eastern Creek, in the wet.

A few vids from the Oran Park skid pan...


Skid pan big circle - lots of sideways -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBl2Gbvuo-c

Cloverleaf Skidpan -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8qQjfqRxqk

Slalom - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjcTvfxLzMs

Lots of spins - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho98AcYhbWQ

[Kyle]

Thanks for all your input fellas :D:D

Saving the cash for the courses, and tyres and brakes...lol

:)

[dattoman]

I really do need to do some driver training

I kinda skipped forward and just bought a racecar and went out driving
No formal instruction as yet

Probably explains why I'm so slow

[Brockfan05]

Judging by some of the pics of your car dattoman, you can drive better than me :)

[seldo]

I really do need to do some driver training

I kinda skipped forward and just bought a racecar and went out driving
No formal instruction as yet

Probably explains why I'm so slow

Hehe...
I built a 2 dr Datto 1000 sports sedan with a 2 litre Waggott FVA F2 motor, close 240Z box, F 5000 brakes etc....was pretty quick but a bit ..... ermm....twitchy.... Must have a :beer: one day.... ;)

[35R]

I've had an instructor in the car at eastern creek for a couple of laps, thats it really. We should pitch in next Wakefield day and hire an instructor for the day, i believe its about $500; so split amogst 5~10 guys it would be reasonably good value.

[scat2k3]

For those interested, there is twilight skid pan event on December 18th run my Auto-Motion. Click HERE (http://www.trackchat.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=318) for details.

Cheers,

Scott

[NickS]

I've had an instructor in the car at eastern creek for a couple of laps, thats it really. We should pitch in next Wakefield day and hire an instructor for the day, i believe its about $500; so split amogst 5~10 guys it would be reasonably good value.

What do you reckon seldo ... come down to Sydney for a few days and teach us all a thing or two.

[scat2k3]

Yeah, come on seldo. Get out of that rocking chair and have some fun :stick:

Cheers,

Scott

[BLK 1T]

Gday All
Done the following
Couple of skid pan days with Aaron.
2 defensive driving courses through work with in car instructors.
V8 driving day at OP north with Gary Baxter, had in car instruction + racing. This was heaps of fun - old VB-VC 253 4speed cars.
Driven a HQ racer at Wakefield and EC with instruction from regular drivers.
Hot laps in a V8 supercar at OP - man those brakes are good.
Best training of all is aorund 50k/year for many years in all sorts of weather and road conditions and various cars - unfortunately this cant be taught.
Ive got one daughter on P plates and another on Ls and Im still not sure if I am getting the message thru to them on how dangerous the road can be.

Phil

[BOMI]

Driver who who???? :lol:

I have wanted to do some sort of driver training for a long time but never have, for various reasons.

I first started driving when I was seven, on a "three on the tree" Toyota Hilux.

So I guess that would explain why am a bit confident behind the wheel. Notice I said confident not competant :lol:

I am really interested do a proper driver training day to see what level im at.

Id say average or there abouts.

I plan to do the Skid pan day on the 18th.


Troy :)

[Gilly]

:hmmm: it could just be me, but I could have sworn Kyle asked the question. Oh well, I suppose Alex might be interested too. :stick:

:hide:


Dave, Have you been slipping Midazolam into your drink at work on your tea breaks??? :lol: :lol:

[fatas]

Well lets start with 3 or 4 of luffys courses then 2 of finlays and then 30 laps in a nascar at oran park set up for circuit that was in 1993.

Then sum laps in various circuit cars with my highlight being 15 laps that i payed lots for in a GARRY ROGERS MOTORSPORT VT at eastern creek :bow: then in 1998 I entered my VP in the state hill climb camps and drove it with a box trailer full of spares to all but 1 of the 8 rounds and came home 6th out of 13 ok for the first year.

Then the next year did 7 of 8 rounds and came home 3rd out of 14 a huge year and 1 i wont forget then i started my own company and have only done 3 or 4 super sprints since then time to dust her off and flog her or sell it and buy a VY / VZ supercar kit it get sonny to build a strong motor and do it all again as most of you know once you start its hard to stop !!!:)

[tigs]

well lets start with 3 or 4 of luffys courses then 2 of finlays and then 30 laps in a nascar at oran park set up for circuit that was in 1993 then sum laps in various circuit cars with my highlight being 15 laps that i payed lots for in a GARRY ROGERS MOTORSPORT VT at eastern creek :bow: then in 1998 i entered my VP in the state hill climb camps and drove it with a box trailer full of spares to all but 1 of the 8 rounds and came home 6th out of 13 ok for the first year then the next year did 7 of 8 rounds and came home 3rd out of 14 a huge year and 1 i wont forget then i started my own company and have only done 3 or 4 super sprints since then time to dust her off and flog her or sell it and buy a VY / VZ supercar kit it get sonny to build a strong motor and do it all again as most of you know once you start its hard to stop !!!:)

Geez fatas, take a breath mate ! You gotta start adding some punctuation in your posts !! :stick:


cheers
Tigs

:)

[NickS]

Geez fatas, take a breath mate ! You gotta start adding some punctuation in your posts !! :stick:


cheers
Tigs

:)

He has punctuation tigs, "!!!" at the end :lmao:

I'd love to watch Richard try and say all of that without taking a breath :yike:

[DaveHAT]

Dave, Have you been slipping Midazolam into your drink at work on your tea breaks??? :lol: :lol:

Propafol Gilly, (<-- comma) even better. :werd:

Being white you can mix it in ya cuppa and noone is the wiser (comma -->), until you slide gracefully off your chair.:woot:

The really cool thing is that you come too just as you're about to hit the floor ---> What a rush ! (<-- exclamation point) :woohoo:

:stick: :)

[seldo]

Look out - here comes the SPP.......(Spelling/Punctuation Police) ;)

[fatas]

thanks bomi i needed that:bow:
why stop me i crnt spiell my own name even :cry:

[Gilly]

Propafol Gilly, (<-- comma) even better. :werd:

Being white you can mix it in ya cuppa and noone is the wiser (comma -->), until you slide gracefully off your chair.:woot:

The really cool thing is that you come too just as you're about to hit the floor ---> What a rush ! (<-- exclamation point) :woohoo:

:stick: :)

And the great thing is, propofol isn't counted like the Midaz. Could be a fun experiment...slipping it in the patients cuppa for a quick laugh!!


Tigs: I'm with you! Spelling and grammer....:toetap:

[NickS]

Tigs: I'm with you! Spelling and grammer....:toetap:

:hmmm: That's "grammar" Gilly :nana:

[Buffy]

Propafol Gilly, (<-- comma) even better. :werd:

Being white you can mix it in ya cuppa and noone is the wiser (comma -->), until you slide gracefully off your chair.:woot:

The really cool thing is that you come too just as you're about to hit the floor ---> What a rush ! (<-- exclamation point) :woohoo:

:stick: :)

propafol...bl*@dy hell! Comfortably numb!

[Gilly]

:hmmm: That's "grammar" Gilly :nana:

Oops, what a numpty I am :headbang:

That little slip must have been from the Propofol I was slipping into my cuppa...:beer: