Millbrook - Sunday 17 May 2009

[Mike Pink]

If you've read the R10 regional reports in PPost recently or been at one of our Monthly Meetings, you should already be aware that we have arranged a couple of half-day "taster sessions" with CAT Driver Training at Millbrook Proving Ground.[]

The cost of the half-day is £99 per person, based on 6 people sharing the session (using CAT's own cars), and includes lunch and refreshments.  Please bear in mind that it is more of an "experience" session, rather than a full-blown performance driving day - you will not be behind the wheel all session there will be some time either in the passenger seats or out of the car.  The price reflects this - a typical personal session can cost north of £300 [8|] (......and you may choose to book one of those after you have tried this []).

Our hosts for the day at CAT Driver Training, which is based at Millbrook and run by Colin Hoad and his wife Jo.  They were at last year's Intermarque Gathering.   Colin is a very experienced instructor and gets to travel internationally to "help" (ie coach) is clients.  

EDITED: There is now only ONE afternoon space left.  Please watch this space for updates if anyone drops out.

So far I have the following bookings:

Morning:

• Me [8D]

• Jon Miller

• Chris (aka Spyderman)

• David Crowther

• David Shepherd

• Paul Ebbs

Afternoon:

• Adam Miller

• Steve Hall

• Guest of Steve Hall

• Chris Hevey

• Helen Hevey

If think that you have already said "yes" to me and your name isn't on the list , please let me know asap by emailing me at R10@porscheclubgb.com  .

I will need to collect cheques in the next few days to secure the bookings.  They need to be made payable directly to CAT Driver Training, but sent to me to co-ordinate the booking.

 

[chris.hevey]

Bagsy two in the afternoon! - Chris & Helen Hevey

 

[Mike Pink]

Update

Can whoever asked me for the last slot on the afternoon session make themselves know to me? I can't recollect who it was. Sorry[8|]

Also, we now have one space left in the morning due to Ian Meredith having to cancel.

Answers by 14 April please.

 

[Mike Pink]

Latest update: All morning slots gone. One space for the Afternoon available.

 

[pse_SC]

Great day at Millbrook - marvellous facility. Had been looking forward to seeing it and was as good as expected. The CAT people are really nice and I had a great time. So sorry you couldn't make it, Mike [](thanks for arranging it).

Had a nice drive on the banked circle at around 130mph in the 993, too[].

 

[spyderman]

I learned that I'm not a very good driver and need more training!

Echo Paul's comments on the tuition - Colin Hoad is very knowledgeable and a good teacher. Would recommend CAT to any other Region or Register who might be considering a group session like ours.

You should have seen the rain, Mike!

 

[chris.hevey]

Great day, great value! We learnt a lot considering the relatively little "wheel" time we had individually. It was particularly suited to less experienced people like me who haven't done track days etc.

I think if people had realised the finale was the option to take your own vehicle round the 2 mile banked ring at 130mph, there might have been a few more takers! Regrettably the SC is running-in and limited to 3,000 RPM, so pootling round the ring at about 70 would have been pointless.

We did it in CAT's Mondeo, which was absolutely fit for purpose, believe me! Up there on the bank at 130ish a couple of feet from the Armco is "somewhat engaging" regardless of vehicle. Maybe more so in a car like that because you're pedal to the metal. It might even be frustrating in a nice RS or something where you still have loads left at that speed: 130 is the "Health & Safety" limit. Maybe not - it's still 58 metres per second at an unnatural angle with the wriggly steel flashing past your right ear. It's five lanes wide, with the fifth having a noticeably more pronounced bank than the rest of the bowl and it does require a bit of bottle for a novice to move up onto it. Got to be done.

Helen, who's more of a movie buff than a petrol head, said it felt like a scene out of "Days of Thunder." She stopped short of saying Colin looked like Tom Cruise though...

 

[Mike Pink]

Glad you all enjoyed it - despite the weather. Shame I missed out through my own bad planning []- having organised it and paid my entry I was keen to be there[8|].

I agree, if we had known that people could run their own car at the end we might have had a greater take-up. We didn't until the last minute. But if there is interest in us organising another I'm happy to set it in motion - especially for those who have not had much performance-driving instruction to date..

 

[spyderman]

ORIGINAL: chris.hevey

Up there on the bank at 130ish a couple of feet from the Armco is "somewhat engaging" regardless of vehicle.

It did rather have a "wall of death" feel to it. I couldn't make myself do more than 112 - I won't post what a certain C4S achieved!

 

[johng]

180 maybe 185 is around the fastest I have experienced round the bowl - McLaren, XJ220, few Porches, Lotus Carlton, de-limited Audi's (can't remember what else we have tested now). The limit is how long the tyres can take the side-load and overheat - now THAT get's your attention!

Johng

 

[chris.hevey]

Apparently Tiff Needel needed three sets of tyres when he set the "offical" bowl record of 195, although we heard someone did 205 unofficially.

Helen said Colin could take her PT Cruiser round. They were both killing themselves laughing at the idea while I was trying to concentrate on my go.

 

[johng]

If I remember rightly when I timed the "Tiff" run in the McLaren he got to 195 but it was not an average around the whole lap (could be mistaken though) - I would be dead impressed to see 205 mph as a lap average! I can't think of anything outside of an F1 car (or similar) that would stick, even then it would need a lot of work with geometry and suspension.

 

[spyderman]

It felt rough as a dogs, er, backside on the bowl - wonder if its kept deliberately that way - or can they not afford to fix it?!

 

[johng]

It used to be really smooth, but I guess the land under has settled and caused bumps - I can't see anyone doing any mega-speeds now. I went round in Feb in a de-limited Audi RS6 and couldn't really hold it flat, peaked 182mph - a few years ago it would have been easy