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Sept 14, 2016 14:09:56 GMT
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I was talking with Blown_Imp about my experiences at track days and general driving, lamenting that I'd like to be better, and that the driver training you get on track days isn't quite what I wanted. It is good, but I figured there is something better. He pointed me at CAT Driver Training which run out of Millbrook proving ground. Seeing as he is someone who has connections with all sorts of top flight motorosports including F1 I figured it was worth looking into. Here is the deal, if I can get 6 people together to do a full days training it will cost £400 per person. Obviously this isn't for everyone. However I know we have a number of people that compete in motorsports here, and I'm sure we have more than a few people that would like to improve overall driving. From the blurb : Activities designed for the different circuits are: - Learn threshold braking from high speed on the Mile Straight
- High speed driving, potentially to the maximum of your car, on the banked circuit of the High Speed Circuit
- Drive the demanding Alpine Route circuit with its hills, and variety of corners from hairpins to long and sweeping
- Take on the tight, twisty and challenging Handling Circuit
- Put a car through its paces on the open spaces of the Steering Pad/Mile Straight Apron
An instructor will accompany you on all the circuits, and the objective is to teach you how to get the best from your car and develop your performance driving skills in a controlled environment and at a pace you are comfortable with. Included in the day are: - Professional in car tuition
- Access to 5 unique circuits at Millbrook Proving Ground
- Lunch and refreshments during the day
- Timed end of day shoot out
- Full emergency services on hand all day
- 1 hour 40 minutes driving time with your personal instructor
Now notice what I bolded up there your car. You can use Millbrook with an instructor there to teach you to get more out of your own car (or you can use ones the company has if you just want to get general better car control). There is no noise limit. There are other courses they do too : Cornering Masterclass and Group Drifting & Over Grip Limit Handling Course (limited to 4 people) ... but I think the main course looks to be the best all round. To me this sounds awesome, however I've been known to want to do things that the forum isn't keen on in the past ... so would anyone be up for this?
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tofufi
South West
Posts: 1,458
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Sept 14, 2016 14:37:27 GMT
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I'd just like to say, my work uses CAT at Millbrook for our driver training, and the training is both top quality and good fun. Certainly with what we do, we get excellent feedback on what we do well and what could be improved too. And the Millbrook alpine route is fantastic to drive, and has featured in a range of films.
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Sept 14, 2016 14:40:53 GMT
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That begs the question of where you work now tofufi
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Sept 14, 2016 14:41:45 GMT
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Would the site like to sponsor me for the day :-)
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96 E320 W210 Wafter - on 18" split Mono's - Sold :-( 10 Kia Ceed Sportwagon - Our new daily 03 Import Forester STi - Sold 98 W140 CL500 AMG - Brutal weekend bruiser! Sold :-( 99 E240 S210 Barge - Now sold 02 Accord 2.0SE - wife's old daily - gone in PX 88 P100 2.9efi Custom - Sold
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MrSpeedy
East Midlands
www.vintagediesels.co.uk
Posts: 4,789
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Sept 14, 2016 16:06:55 GMT
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Read title of thread. Expected this; I know, my head is not right!
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tofufi
South West
Posts: 1,458
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Sept 14, 2016 16:14:05 GMT
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That begs the question of where you work now tofufi Same place as before - working in vehicle testing and certification .
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Last Edit: Sept 14, 2016 16:14:32 GMT by tofufi
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Sept 14, 2016 16:43:15 GMT
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Read title of thread. Expected this; I know, my head is not right! Me too
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Last Edit: Sept 14, 2016 16:55:50 GMT by claymore
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Sept 14, 2016 17:14:00 GMT
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Yeah I thought that as I wrote it. Group trip to Diggerland is also required clearly
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richr
Part of things
Posts: 119
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Sept 14, 2016 17:42:04 GMT
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Read title of thread. Expected this; I know, my head is not right! You and me both
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Paul Y
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,948
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Sept 14, 2016 17:48:33 GMT
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Having spent a lot of money on driver training over the years I can say that if you do go to Milbrook it will be the best £400 you have ever spent. Are you using the wet handling track and going round and round in circles bit? If you are make sure you wash your car off as soon as possible. Should you leave it the clean up costs can run into hundreds. Ask me how I know..... Do you have a date in mind for this? P.
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Sept 14, 2016 17:52:06 GMT
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Dates needed, and yes, I'd most definitely be up for this Wouldn't be my car though, as I doubt they'd be fast enough
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1993 Fiat Panda Selecta 2003 Vauxhall Combo 1.7DI van 2006 Mercedes Kompressor Evolution-S AMG SportCoupé
"You think you hate it now, wait til you drive it"
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PhoenixCapri
West Midlands
Posts: 2,685
Club RR Member Number: 91
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Sept 14, 2016 18:00:34 GMT
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Would highly recommend this to anyone, have done this and other similar courses with work and they really do help your driving, often in ways you don't realise until you suddenly need the skills some grey, damp Tuesday! Plus its a lot of fun
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eternaloptimist
Posted a lot
Too many projects, not enough time or space...
Posts: 2,578
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Sept 14, 2016 19:22:14 GMT
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Interested in this. Done a couple of track sessions, badly for the most part, and am keen to improve. My car would be a slightly tired Saab 9-5 Aero auto, like the idea of doing it using their boggo Mondeo....
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XC70, VW split screen crew cab, Standard Ten
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,244
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Sept 15, 2016 9:50:38 GMT
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I'd be interested for sure . When would this be? If I can get a few mods done to my car I'll use mine, otherwise I'm happy using one of their cars.
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steveg
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,586
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Sept 15, 2016 10:39:10 GMT
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Very interesting as I didn't know they did this sort of thing there, shame it's that expensive but I am sure it's worth every penny. I've been a passenger round the banked track and the straight but missed the alpine route, was told how much fun it was though.
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Last Edit: Sept 15, 2016 10:40:25 GMT by steveg
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Sept 16, 2016 21:13:55 GMT
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Not for me (location, cost, and the fact that my car is too slow to be allowed on the track ) but it's a great idea. I'd recommend it for anyone who wants to learn what their car is capable of I did something similar when I got my first superbike, went on a couple of rider-training days at my local circuit just to learn what the big beast could do - in a safe training environment. Not a cheap day out (£200 ish about 5 years ago) but 110% worth it! IAM also do car & bike training to a high standard (but all on-road so it's at legal speeds), I found it very useful. ps. I'd agree about the title being a bit misleading - maybe I'm biased as I've worked at Eimco & Komatsu in the past (imagine an oversized diggerland in the works carpark ) Pics (white Eimco / yellow Komatsu)
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Sept 16, 2016 21:29:35 GMT
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great idea, i think the price may be a bit of a restriction for some, erm going to have to google Diggerland
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,244
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Sept 18, 2016 20:35:19 GMT
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Not for me (location, cost, and the fact that my car is too slow to be allowed on the track ) but it's a great idea. I'd recommend it for anyone who wants to learn what their car is capable of I did something similar when I got my first superbike, went on a couple of rider-training days at my local circuit just to learn what the big beast could do - in a safe training environment. Not a cheap day out (£200 ish about 5 years ago) but 110% worth it! IAM also do car & bike training to a high standard (but all on-road so it's at legal speeds), I found it very useful. ps. I'd agree about the title being a bit misleading - maybe I'm biased as I've worked at Eimco & Komatsu in the past (imagine an oversized diggerland in the works carpark ) Pics (white Eimco / yellow Komatsu) What car do you have? IMO you'll be fine. Last year I thought the same about my Clio 172 when I went to Castle Combe during an Action day. Stupidly, I let past a 300BHP Sierra Cosworth, E55 AMG and a turbocharged MX-5. Fine I thought, with those chassis on them cars and the pace they'll walk over me. That was a big mistake. Sure, on the straights they were getting away but in the bends I was all over them, so much that because the sesssion was only 15 mins long I decided to coast half of the time; there was no way they would let me past, and on the straights there is no way I could overtake them. That, and why get bothered and annoyed? It was a lesson that day for sure! In the bends, behind them, I was not even remotely pushing the car to its limits. At Cadwell it was a similar story but I learned my lesson. Maybe the damp day helped but I ended up walking over a few people that day, including an Audi TT 225, various GT86s, 205 GTi and other things, including Caterhams ; maybe they were rich lads on a day out. A fast but unreliable Scooby and a Track prepped Mk2 Golf GTi however did show me up quite a bit in a few places. One of the Javelin MX-5s surprisingly also showed me up on a couple of occasions. I mean, sure, I was getting past him on the straights, but the bloke was a demon in the bends! There is a good 40BHP deficit too between an MX-5 and a chipped and modded 172. My point? It is not always the car . At Cadwell, the tuition certainly did help alot. Damn, I know they're not retro but I need another 172..
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Sept 18, 2016 20:54:17 GMT
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What car do you have? IMO you'll be fine. A mighty 1972 Hillman Hunter Estate Spec : about 1 tonne kerbweight + whatever's in the boot, claimed 70 bhp when new (a rebore & rebuild is overdue so very likley under 50bhp now), shod with traditional skinny 80 series 13" tyres Absolutley gutless but great fun on the twisty B-roads once it's up to speed (about 55mph) Not ideal for the track, but I appreciate your faith!
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,244
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Sept 18, 2016 21:01:10 GMT
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What car do you have? IMO you'll be fine. A mighty 1972 Hillman Hunter Estate Spec : about 1 tonne kerbweight + whatever's in the boot, claimed 70 bhp when new (a rebore & rebuild is overdue so very likley under 50bhp now), shod with traditional skinny 80 series 13" tyres Absolutley gutless but great fun on the twisty B-roads once it's up to speed (about 55mph) Not ideal for the track, but I appreciate your faith! I see your point, but meh, give it a go. It's not like all RRers will be there with the quickest machines. You can remember stuff going from car to car as well
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