I was lucky enough to get an invite from Notts OPC to drive the 911 range at Millbrook on Wednesday. The weather was on my side. I was hosted at a nearby hotel where I was met by Martin from Notts OPC who greeted me and saw me right with refreshments prior to being introduced to the driving instructors. Having never been to Millbrook before I was in for a very pleasant surprise, its like a rich boys play ground off a James Bond set!
I drove the manual 997 C2 there and then drove around the Alpine circuit. I then went onto experience its straight line acceleration on the mile straight (the 3.8 is noticable over my 3.6)and then punish the ceramic brakes. More of those later....
I then drove a C4S cabriolet on the adhesion area, in short different levels of grip on a variety of surfaces sprayed with water, similar sketch to a skid pan in part. The point of this was to show the cars stability when braking on wet and slippery surfaces demonstrated by doing emergency stops on half slippery half dry surface, the cars do not deviate, PSM in action. Then on the same area a chance to feel the viscous action on the four wheel drive shifting power from rear to front when accelerating hard on a low grip surface. It was this that made me realise I had never exploited this function in my C4S!
Then onto the high speed bowl to experience 160mph and some throttle steering control hands free. Following this and at my request the instructor took me around the handling circuit to show me the potential handling of the car-it went far beyond my expectations absoloutely incredible grip when cornering at speed, unbelievable.
I then jumped into my penthouse drive of the day, a 997 GT3. Some more laps of the high speed bowl and then back onto the mile straight....more now about the ceramic brakes. I managed to get 166mph before hitting the brakes for an emergency stop at the 300 yard marker. 166mph to standstill in 180 yards! It did take a little resolve in keeping my foot hard to the floor with the steep banking at the end looming up at 160mph+ and I think as much courage from the instructors to sit with a stranger powerless if they were to freeze! Phenominal stopping power with no fade whatsoever, I now see the value of the ceramic brake option. It has to be said, I luuuuuuv the GT3!
The whole thing was very enjoyable and laid back with a nice spot of lunch laid on at the hotel afterwards. I thought it was very sad that some with invites failed to show (and very rude) depriving others of the opportunity. The spaces are limited but I strongly recommend to anyone offered the chance to go. Fantastic day out, many thanks to Notts OPC and Martin for the hospitality!
I drove the manual 997 C2 there and then drove around the Alpine circuit. I then went onto experience its straight line acceleration on the mile straight (the 3.8 is noticable over my 3.6)and then punish the ceramic brakes. More of those later....
I then drove a C4S cabriolet on the adhesion area, in short different levels of grip on a variety of surfaces sprayed with water, similar sketch to a skid pan in part. The point of this was to show the cars stability when braking on wet and slippery surfaces demonstrated by doing emergency stops on half slippery half dry surface, the cars do not deviate, PSM in action. Then on the same area a chance to feel the viscous action on the four wheel drive shifting power from rear to front when accelerating hard on a low grip surface. It was this that made me realise I had never exploited this function in my C4S!
Then onto the high speed bowl to experience 160mph and some throttle steering control hands free. Following this and at my request the instructor took me around the handling circuit to show me the potential handling of the car-it went far beyond my expectations absoloutely incredible grip when cornering at speed, unbelievable.
I then jumped into my penthouse drive of the day, a 997 GT3. Some more laps of the high speed bowl and then back onto the mile straight....more now about the ceramic brakes. I managed to get 166mph before hitting the brakes for an emergency stop at the 300 yard marker. 166mph to standstill in 180 yards! It did take a little resolve in keeping my foot hard to the floor with the steep banking at the end looming up at 160mph+ and I think as much courage from the instructors to sit with a stranger powerless if they were to freeze! Phenominal stopping power with no fade whatsoever, I now see the value of the ceramic brake option. It has to be said, I luuuuuuv the GT3!
The whole thing was very enjoyable and laid back with a nice spot of lunch laid on at the hotel afterwards. I thought it was very sad that some with invites failed to show (and very rude) depriving others of the opportunity. The spaces are limited but I strongly recommend to anyone offered the chance to go. Fantastic day out, many thanks to Notts OPC and Martin for the hospitality!
