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General => Shows, events, track days, motorsport => Topic started by: Rolfe on 10 July 2009, 10:47
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Got a new Mk 6 on order. Been looking at various YouTube clips demonstrating various features, and very impressed with some of the track manoeuvering on show. I've never flung a car around like that, and I'd like to be shown how.
I had motorcycle training from people who were real enthusiasts, but I had my last driving lesson aged 18 the day before I passed my test. I think the motorcycle training is actually a handicap, because there's stuff you just don't do on a bike if you want to live, which is SOP in a car.
I've got some holiday coming up, and I'd like to know if there is anywhere offering training days on a track to learn some of this stuff. It occurs to me that it might be good to do it with my Peugeot GTi-6 which is headed for the scrappage scheme, but still performs pretty well - that way if anything goes wrong it's not the end of the world. So sooner rather than later.
Anyone know where I could find details of anything like that?
Rolfe.
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Go to a trackday in the pug and get the intructor to go out with you, job's a gooden.
Nick
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Wot Nick said.
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Hmmm, just seen a Top Gear test of the Pug (from 1998), and it obviously oversteers something vicious. (Which Clarkson thought was great, well, good luck to him.) Having seen that, I think I'll pass on this idea!
Rolfe.
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My brother has had 2 Pug trackcars. The 306 S16 and the 306 Gti-6. Both have handled very well, just what you would expect from a FWD car. Understeer was more of a problem than oversteer.
Don't forget that the only driving style that Clarkson knows is oversteer, and he does that because it looks better on the telly.
Take your Pug on a trackday and have fun finding its limits.
Paul
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My brother has had 2 Pug trackcars. The 306 S16 and the 306 Gti-6. Both have handled very well, just what you would expect from a FWD car. Understeer was more of a problem than oversteer.
Don't forget that the only driving style that Clarkson knows is oversteer, and he does that because it looks better on the telly.
Well, it's true that in over 11 years it's never done that to me. But then I don't corner like a lunatic.
Take your Pug on a trackday and have fun finding its limits.
Paul
Well, if I knew how to find out where and when and how much and stuff like that....
Rolfe.
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try
www.trackdays.co.uk
or
www.bookatrack.com
If you are in Scotland Knockhill do speed Sundays where you can pay for one session. Or do a google search for rally and driving schools in your area. I've got a friend who does rally driving style tuition in their own cars, teach you basic driving / rallying techniques and then some fun stuff like finding the limits and J turns etc. Bit too far for you from Scotland though.
Cheers
Paul
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try
www.trackdays.co.uk
or
www.bookatrack.com
If you are in Scotland Knockhill do speed Sundays where you can pay for one session. Or do a google search for rally and driving schools in your area. I've got a friend who does rally driving style tuition in their own cars, teach you basic driving / rallying techniques and then some fun stuff like finding the limits and J turns etc. Bit too far for you from Scotland though.
Cheers
Paul
How far away from Scotland are we talking :)
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Somerset, but these things are run by various differant companies up and down the country. In Wales you can do a similar thing in rally prepared Mk2 Escorts. Do a google search for Rally Schools.
Paul
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That's really helpful! (Yes, Somerset's a bit far.... :sad:)
Someone else mentioned the work "Knockhill", and I googled it. Looks excellent, and not far at all. I think I'll book a performance driving hour in the Peugeot, and see how it goes. If the idea of doing that to the Mk VI doesn't seem to dreadful, I could always try another day later in the new car.
Rolfe.
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Your 306 would make an excellent track car. I really don't know what you're mithering about. I certainly wouldn't listen to anything the curly-haired freak has to say when judging the handling on your car. Pug 306 was much feted in the driving press for having excellent handling.
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It's always been fine with me and I've been driving it for over 11 years - but on the other hand, I've never tried to go round corners the way Clarkson does!
It's only got away from me twice. Once was early one Saturday morning, late March a couple of years ago, just after the clocks changed so it was "really" only 6.30am. Going round a roundabout where the sun hadn't got on the road, and I found myself spinning out of control. Immediately thought, this is going to be a write-off and I can't afford that new car at all right now! However, came to rest on a patch of rough grass none the worse except for a little bit of loose trim. Road hadn't been salted and I'd hit black ice. I don't see how any other car would have done any different.
Second time was March this year, just before its MOT check was due. Another roundabout, nothing wrong with the road, but the rear wheels lost grip. The car went on going round the roundabout past the exit I'd intended to take, but didn't leave the road. I collected my scattered dignity and proceeded right round again to get the exit I wanted. Three days later I took it in for the pre-arranged check to be told my rear tyres were as bald as Yul Brynner. Can hardly blame the car for that either. In fact it managed to get me out of that pretty well.
I'm thinking of taking it to this course next month, give it a bit of fun before the scrappage deal kicks in.
http://www.knockhill.com/vouchers/1st-gear-performance-driving.php (http://www.knockhill.com/vouchers/1st-gear-performance-driving.php)
Could be quite good for my driving skills, especially as the Golf I'm getting will be a DSG so I won't be able to brush up on my gear-changing on it!
Rolfe.