Driving courses and handling

[SallyC]

Hi ... seems that I have started another overlapping thread on the general discussion page wthe the heading WOW, WoW Wowser. ... http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=828219&mpage=1&key=&#828235

I will now just update be adding to this thread.

As a summary I did a 'Roadcraft' day at Croft this week ... and it was brilliant, and I would like to share ....

There will be a IAM 'Roadcraft' day at Croft at the end of August or early September, the actual day will be decided this week, so I will let you know when I know. This is currently a public day, and I will be attending, but if there is enough interest from PCGB (40 cars) we could reserve the day for ourselves next week ... before it goes public. Either way I will be going again!

Cost will be £130 per half day session (3 hours) per car, which equates to 60 miles of track time (based on what I experienced this week). I did the morning and afternoon session ...and did 130 miles and 13.4 mpg ... which probably tells the story.

If you do a public day, its one driver per car per session.

If its a PCGB day ... we can have more drivers per car.

There were 5 Porsches on the day (but not PCGB members), all with the same big Grin ... and all expected back at the next public day.

I am happy to help organise ... I am in contact with the guy in IAM who runs these courses.

If we are going to make it a PCGB event... we need to have 40 cars committed by end of next week ...say the 17th May.

See you there ?

 

[garyw]

ORIGINAL: SallyC
we need to have 40 cars committed by end of next week ...say the 17th May.

I don't think anything moves that quickly in PCGB []

Sounds like an excellent day though..

 

[Stefan Wilczak]

Hi Sally

Sounds an excellent day and I would certainly come if Croft was not 250 miles and 4 hours from Gloucestershire. I went on the IAM site and notice that they use Thruxton as well - unfortunately it is sold out! Unless you know any different from your contact?

 

[SallyC]

OK so we can have an IAM Skills day at Croft on the 2 September that is tailored to suit PCGB members and their family and friends.

We need a minimum of 40 cars ..max 48 cars. with nominally 3 drivers per car (to be confirmed).

This is a fun day where you improve your driving and 'roadcraft' skills and get the opportunity to fully explore the potential of your car with skilled 'observers' from the IAM.

It is also the place for other members of your family or your friends to drive your Porsche in a managed, de-risked environment.

I see this as sitting a level below the Novice Track days that we run.

If you would like to participate please email me.

We have an option on this date until the 10th June.

Tim Norton (not Sally ... that is the name of my Car ..sorry!)

 

[jehhamilton]

Please could I be considered for this event.

Jim Hamilton.
C2S
5319RH
memb no.

 

[SallyC]

It would seem that the IAM based solution is not attracting too much interest ! So far I have had just one firm request ... so it looks like I will not be getting the 40 I would need to make it a PCGB event.

So I withdraw my offer for the 2nd September ... and perhaps revisit the opportunity at a later date.

I will however recommend the IAM 'Public day' on the 26th August at the Croft Circuit, details of which you will find on the IAM website in due course.

Tim.

 

[Lancerlot]

That's a pity Tim and I'm sorry there isn't more interest ATM.

I hope this won't deter you from having another go - maybe a bit later in the year when there's not quite so much call on people's time.

Thanks for giving it a try. Your efforts are greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Clive.

 

[dpoynton]

I was quite excited initially, but when I saw that this was on a Tuesday (2nd Sept.) I stopped looking.

D

 

[chaholl]

I've been following this thread and was sorry to see that the numbers weren't quite there to make it happen.

Here's another option for those that are interested:

I had the pleasure to meet Mike Cooper at Anglesey last week. Mike is one of the instructors at Porsche Silverstone as well as being the proprietor of drivertuition.com.

I'm based in Scotland so attending the Silverstone courses doesn't really work for me, also, I'm more interested in the track side of things as opposed to generally putting my car through it's paces on the road, so I've spoken to Mike about providing tuition at a circuit that's a bit closer to me. Now, and here's where the alternative option comes in, Mike has suggested arranging a test day at Blyton. Essentially, he'd arrange to book the track for our use and would provide the required tuition. Naturally to make such an endeavour work it'll require a few participants.

I have no dates as yet although I understand Mike is currently booked until September, but I wondered if there was any interest in this as an approach? If I can get some idea of numbers and dates then I can look into costs etc.

 

[SallyC]

The R4 region are running an event at Blyton on Friday. Have a look at the R4 site on this forum for details which will give you an idea of costs.

If it is as good as I expect ... yes I would like to do it again at the end of Sept ..ish .

IAM are doing a day at Croft on the 26th August too.

Tim.

 

[chaholl]

Thanks Tim,

The R4 event looks ideal - wish I'd noticed it sooner! I'll be interested to see how it goes. It is a shame we don't have a general forum for scheduling events such as this - I'm sure we'd manage to come up with many more.

 

[Lancerlot]

ORIGINAL: chaholl
The R4 event looks ideal - wish I'd noticed it sooner! I'll be interested to see how it goes. It is a shame we don't have a general forum for scheduling events such as this - I'm sure we'd manage to come up with many more.

We've tried promoting it in the General Discussion section, Calendar and Porsche Post, so I'm not sure there is much more we can do, since these are all the main areas of communication with Club members. Once there is specific event, it can also be included in the Club Events section.

Regards,

Clive.

 

[chaholl]

I suppose that's the downside of information overload - there just too much to keep track of and the bits that we might find interesting go overlooked in the deluge! I agree there isn't much more that can be done to promote stuff.

Having said that, I was thinking more of a forum for coordinating new events. As things stand at the moment we're very much stuck with the tried and tested. Coming up with something out with that seems to be pretty difficult - maybe we could use something as simple as a 'suggested events' section?

 

[Lancerlot]

ORIGINAL: chaholl
Having said that, I was thinking more of a forum for coordinating new events. As things stand at the moment we're very much stuck with the tried and tested. Coming up with something out with that seems to be pretty difficult - maybe we could use something as simple as a 'suggested events' section?

Not sure what form that would take or if there would been enough traffic through the site to warrant a separate forum . Most ideas for events start off at Regional or Register level and gain momentum if they become popular. Sometimes, good ideas just fail to take off for whatever reason. But that shouldn't discourage people from trying. []

Regards,

Clive.

 

[SallyC]

The Blyton Novice Track day yesterday was just brilliant (thanks Gavin). I managed to build on my Roadcraft skills and started to really explore just what a 911 can do on a track .... and finally discovered the pure joy of steering on the throttle ... Magic!!

The format and organisation worked really well.

I still think the IAM type roadcraft product is something different to the normal Track day format, and this Novice day run by R4. The IAM day helps understand the principles of car stability and car control which has improved my enjoyment and safety of my normal road driving and provided the base line for this novice track day.

The feedback from my instructor after the first 15 laps was that I was driving the car like a fast road driver which I was pleased with, I had control and I was operating within 80 % of the cars capability and I was safe ... and having fun.

The next 30 laps were doing something that I would never attempt on the road, doing something I am sure you can only do in a 911 .... and that is something you really must try !

I am doing the IAM Road Skills course to further improve and enjoy my Road driving. But I am also going to do more track days to get that buzz and surging adrenaline that in my experience only a 911 can bring.

 

[waxman]

Hi all
Jo hoad at CAT driver training milbrook has emailed me to say next performance track driver course is on Saturday 19 th JULY - max 6 participants - mixed car makes
I have just realised I am abroad then but others may wish to take part
Suggest those interested book early
Tony