The first thrashing

[Zirax]

Well I have just finished my first ever car training day. I went in as a total novice and explained this to the guy. This was set in an airfield carpark i.e. with no formal track defined.

The topic was pretty much improving car control. The day started with an emergency stop. From there it was onto a high speed left hand bend. Here you simply went left as fast as you could while maintaining control. Must of us span at this point. I think my first attempt at the sweeping left I did at 50 and spun. It was too much of "effing get in there"..... weeee slide & spin.

Gradually after a fair few spins, I was getting the hang of this and started creeping up the speed. After a dozen or so attempts I was at 65 and would allow the car to correct itself. So gently move to the left and allow the wheel to move a bit, otherwise you start getting the back out (or understeer if you use the throttle). Apparently I was cheating at first as if the car started to oversteer, I would press the throttle and bring it back inline. Its hard to explain but the people who have been racing should understand.

Next same corner but lifting off totally as you enter. The plan was to hold left and induce a slide. You would then turn into the skid and correct. However once it comes back inline, you need to straighten up otherwise you fishtale all over the place. I liked this, was fun I got the bad boy round with 70-75mph entry speed.

All morning the bod had been saying to go faster, essentially if I went over 75 then I couldn't make the turn. He reckoned that it would..... 80mph.... over the drain he went. I think he had trouble with the Elises doing it at 80mph. I'm still bloody happy that a 20 year old motor got that close tbh! I think if I was in Phils & Vix's stripped out one then it could be done.

He also gave me three runs at braking during the corner to bring it round. Bit narked as the others had a lot lot more time to do this. I couldn't nail just how gentle you need to be on the brakes to turn understeer to oversteer. Still having been only given three attempts I think I would have this nailed over a few more goes.

Next donughts, well not really. Put the car on full lock and start off gradually building speed going round and round. Eventually you will start understeering, now if you lift off then you can get the front to snap in. Bloody handy round bends but fun. You also had the part where you maintain a speed and then alter the steering so to go from grip and turn to understeer.

From here you get a mock "track" which involved some more cones. During this time you were thrown around while he showed you the circuit. Then you had three timed laps. My best was 1min 16secs which I was happy with. Only got one other time which was Mike's and it was 1 min 1sec or something. I did get told off for turning in early.


p.s. It did make me smile that the Ferrari 355 was a bag of bolts. It sounded awesome when it took off, show it a corner.... pffft. Even the instructor had trouble getting the thing under control in high speed bends

The tyres are dead, the outside edge is mullered. They could still be used but they are the wrong profile, 45. So off to the tyre man they go.

[Del Lardo]

Were you with Walshy @ North Weald by any chance?

[Zirax]

Yep

[Pebs]

Sounds like fun!

[Admiral Huddy]

Sounds awesome - I could have taken the day off and poped along

[Zirax]

Originally Posted by Admiral Huddy

Sounds awesome - I could have taken the day off and poped along

Never thought about that. Might have been boring not being in a car, however you would have seen us spinning, sliding and generally wrecking havoc all day Certainly sliding about gets the old adrenaline pumping.

[Del Lardo]

So most of this will be familiar to you
http://www.pertheus.co.uk/vids/AD.wmv

Were you on circuit one or two?

[Zirax]

Just had a watch circuit two. Except he was there the whole time. He was rushing to get us done by 4. We didn't do the slalom although we did practice the cross over technique.
The one finger technique I did try but the steering on mine was too stiff. Afterwards using your thumbs in the same way it was fine. It looks like there was a lot more of you though, only four of us.

[Jonny69]

Sounds like great fun in your own car

[Del Lardo]

Originally Posted by Zirax

Just had a watch circuit two. Except he was there the whole time. He was rushing to get us done by 4. We didn't do the slalom although we did practice the cross over technique.
The one finger technique I did try but the steering on mine was too stiff. Afterwards using your thumbs in the same way it was fine. It looks like there was a lot more of you though, only four of us.

On the training day the slalom isn't normally included. This was an activity day (done a trainign day previously) and there were 20 of us paying £20each (cheaper as it was a club sponsored day). The activity day is a cracking follow up as while you don't get very much 1on1 time with Walshy you do get lots of time to practice what you've been taught before. Felt like I got nearly as much track time on the activity day as I did on the training day as there are 3 areas and people are using them continually.