Advanced Driver Training

[quarkgun]

Hey Guys,

I've wanted to do an advanced driver training course to improve my skills and understanding of my car and how best to handle it.

I was wondering what the recommendations are in regards to training companies etc around Sydney.

Also, are there any SAU affiliated places? Or could we perhaps organise a NSW club training day?

Keen to hear feedback

Marcus

[Sl!m]

It's not exactly advanced driver training day, but SAU NSW track days and Texi Days are good because they are usually set up so that you have an experienced driver in the car with you when you go out as a newbie and they give you tips on how to drive around the track.

in fact........ we have a texi day coming up so for the price of an entry it's worth a look

linky http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/Te...da-t270833.html

[quarkgun]

Yeah mate, i'm already signed up for the Texi

While the SAU days can be very informative, and the guys i've had with me in the car can be very helpful, at the end of the day the focus is really on track time. On driver training i'd expect to have a lot more focus on technique and the theory behind it. Not to mention they'd have prepared scenarios for you to encounter to induce over/understeer and provide instruction on dealing with it etc.

[Cassbo]

For my 18th and 21st birthdays I was given an advanced driving course, level 1 and level 2 respectively

Level 1 was held by a company called Murcotts and was held at the same place as we are holding Texi in August. Was good fun and taught the basics of emergency stopping and collision evasion.

Level 2 was held by Eastern Creek Driver Training at the Eastern Creek wet skidpan. OMG THAT was fun! It briefly touched on the basics covered in Level 1, then went on to slide prevention and control. I want to do it again so I can do a proper figure 8 drift without looping it

[N1GTR]

Texi is a great start, like Sam said - for the price you cant go wrong.

After Texi id be going to anything run by John Boston. He's a deadset bloody legend, and his level of car control is just ridiculous. The man has a permanent smile on his face and is really good at what he does.

[evil_weevil]

Hate to say it, but the texi isnt an advacned driving course., it will be fun, it will be timed, but sorry, I dont see it as a course.

The best ones out there...

anything by peter finlay, murcotts, ian luff, John Boston

and not sure if he still is around, but Aaron McGill's automotion

the first 3 guys and their companies offer at least 3 stages of courses. As Cass said - theres stage 1 and 2 and once you have done them, you can go and do stage 3.

you can then go on and do a 2 day course with Peter and Luffy, which then is more track orientated and can allow you to get your CAMS PC licence but these are quite expensive but certainly worth the money if you are going down that way.

Even some of the tracks and places, like EC, OP and HART (in St Ives) have their own courses and instructors.

It is certainly worth doing, good on you for looking into it mate!

[Sl!m]

I didnt say it was a course chris. I also said it wasn't driver training.

[sydking]

i know a few people who when getting there insurance done, are offered to get it cheaper if they take the advance driving course at quakers hill, its payed by the insurance company aswell.

[Bozman1]

Hi Marcus

What has been said is all pretty true.

I can let you know all of the days that I am at if you like, just shoot me an email...not a PM.

I know all of the guys that run courses, and work for most not all of them.

Murcotts stage 1's (defensive) are ok but there stage 2 (skid and slide) is a waste of time. They are no longer able to use Eastern Creek and use Quakers Hill and Oran Park. You do not even do slide control in there stage 2!!

Peter Finlay only does Stage 1 and Stage 3 (track day) course at Oran Park. I got my race licence from him back in 1989. He is an old school teacher (really) and is very old fashioned in his teaching. He does not do any sort of skid days.

Driving Solutions (James Stewart) at Eastern Creek run pretty much everything that you could think of or want. They use Eastern Creek for all of there course's.

Ian Luff runs most of his course's out of Oran Park and does pretty much everything.

Is McGill still alive?! Runs very few course's and is unknown with his ability to me.

You could come out to Rallyschool and come and have a play on the dirt as well

I work for www.Drivingsolutions.com.au, www.ianluff.com.au' www.Rallyschool.com.au, www.eventsoneill.com.au and www.Autosports.com.au and am a full time driver for www.Hiluxheroes.com.au.

The Texi Khana would be good to have a play but there is probably no 'real' tuition available as you are asking for. That is the big difference with all of the places that I work for, there is the theory and practical tuition.

You can actually go straight to the Stage 3 once you have completed at least the stage 1 with Luffy and Driving Solutions. Both of these companies run there own dedicated track days as well with instructors on hand. There track days are a little different from there Stage 3's, with less classroom theory and more available track time. You can grab the instructors if they are available for one on one theory if you like.

I have beem known to run my own track days as well when I find time, and help out the www.autosports.com.au track days as well when I am available.

[GTR-N1]

i know a few people who when getting there insurance done, are offered to get it cheaper if they take the advance driving course at quakers hill, its payed by the insurance company aswell.

^^^This process can be used in lieu of Stage 1 = Good Idea.

Then, with Luff, Boston etc, you can immediately step into Stage 2. They let you do it this way.

[quarkgun]

Thanks for the replies guys,

Thanks John, I was looking at the Ian Luff courses, and the driving solutions also seems pretty good. I guess it's just a matter now of finding a date that suits me

So if we say that the Ian Luff (IL) and Driving Solutions (DS) Stages 1 & 2 are pretty similar, how is the IL Stage 3 (performance driving) course. Is that the equivalent of "Race School" at DS?

As for the rally school, my brother in law came out about a month ago and said it was heaps of fun.

M

[quarkgun]

i know a few people who when getting there insurance done, are offered to get it cheaper if they take the advance driving course at quakers hill, its payed by the insurance company aswell.

That's alright! You'd have to be stupid to say no to that i reckon

[evil_weevil]

You'll find with younger drivers and insurance, that course is done through AAMI. Certainly a good thing an insurance company does!

John, re: McGill - unsure! is he still racing in the v8 lites?(konica series or whatever?)

And I need to book in with you John to get my PC licence for next year

[Duncan]

Peter Finlay only does Stage 1 and Stage 3 (track day) course at Oran Park. I got my race licence from him back in 1989. He is an old school teacher (really) and is very old fashioned in his teaching. He does not do any sort of skid days.

I did my second course with Peter Findlay, and he was excellent. Everyone who had a bad driving habit knew about it, and everyone had at least one problem . Learned heaps from his attitude of taking the basics seriously

Ian Luff runs most of his course's out of Oran Park and does pretty much everything.

did my original race course with Luffs....you learn heaps on any course but he was less strict on everything. although one of his instructors who had just sold his gtr was a pain in the arse probably a good choice if you are happy with a friendly enough sort of format

Is McGill still alive?! Runs very few course's and is unknown with his ability to me.

done a course with aaron too...good bloke and even less strict than the luff courses. not sure if he's still running them

having said all that, I learned heaps from every course I've done, and in fact i learn somethign every time someone gets in the car with me. Anyone who thinks they have nothing to learn about driving is an idiot.

there is no better way to make your car go faster than driving courses

[ultimatepowder]

Ian Luff's courses are awesome - I did stage one and two with him about 10 years ago, just after I got my licence. Cannot recommend his courses/company highly enough.

Couple of years ago, did stage 1 and 2 again (in a different car) with Aaron Mcgill (as a part of a stage 1-3 SAU group buy) - the first two courses were OK, but not up to the standard offered by Luff and his crew. Not the greatest of organisers or business people either - We prepaid, then between 2 and 3, he got a better offer, and moved the last day - if you couldn't make it, tough luck, no other time/day, no refund, thanks for coming - wouldn't even return phone calls- he seemed to have little interest in running the courses, and appeared to be running them to fill in time between racing - think he was having an off time then, as he had just written off a car (200sx rings a bell) and a sponsor had just pulled out? If he is still running, booking with him might be a bit of a gamble :S

Have done a day at Rally School , and a Driver Dynamics stunt day, which was also loads of fun. "Instructional" if you like getting airborne, or driving on two wheels - not sure it will get you any insurance discounts