mystery machine Posted January 29, 2009 Posted January 29, 2009 ...and before anyone says "Morrison's Car Park", I've found a few places that are tooled-up specifically for this sort of caper http://www.advanced-driving.co.uk/skid-pan-courses/ Looks like "AcciDON’T" have a few facilities in Scotland. I wondered if any of you guys had taken any skid pan training, and was it worth it? I've been driving for 15 years, but I reckon this is one area where a little 'controlled' experience could come in handy As a Scooby driver, I guess ideally I'd want to practise in an AWD vehicle. Also, I learn best by practical means, so some place that offers a good stretch on the pan (steady!) would be best. Cheers
geoffg Posted January 29, 2009 Posted January 29, 2009 Knockhill have one, check out their website. Geoff
scouk Posted January 29, 2009 Posted January 29, 2009 (edited) Mystery Machine said: As a Scooby driver, I guess ideally I'd want to practise in an AWD vehicle. Also, I learn best by practical means, so some place that offers a good stretch on the pan (steady!) would be best. I've throught about it for years, but never done it!.. Spoke to my local guy about gettign a group buy for a group of Scooby Drivers, but strangely wasn't interested Price was £65 IIRC (IAM members get a discount of 15%.. "allegedly".. apparently he changed his mind all the time as to whether or not that discount exists).. Used to be half that a few years ago when it first started!! Guy wasn't interested in giving any sort of group discount for SIDC, and very difficult to get a hold of.. Rarely returned calls (only once) then when I did get speaking to him, I got the distinct impression he had better things to do than speak to me about it.. Been tempted to give the Accidont people a call though. Edited January 29, 2009 by ScoUK
mystery machine Posted January 29, 2009 Author Posted January 29, 2009 geoffg - aye, I saw Knockhill listed there. Certainly close enough for me, I'll check that out - cheers. Have you used them for skid practise yourself then? ScoUK - that's a pity your local guy didn't go for the group thang, although from your experience he doesn't sound like the most reliable character. A group visit's an interesting proposition, but... Tam.
sparky_sj04 Posted January 29, 2009 Posted January 29, 2009 Hi mate, I've done the skid pan course at Knockhill last year... Starts off with collision avoidance and cadence braking using a Vectra with slick front tyres, and a switch to turn the ABS on and off, so you get a taste of both.. Then moves onto the proper skidpan and a bit of understeer and correction - still in the Vectra. After that you get into the Sierra (with slick rears) and do a bit on oversteer and correction. I think that's pretty much the course, but because i was the only one there and we had lots of time we did a fair bit of powersliding round the figure of 8 as well! That was amazing.. Needless to say the oversteer stuff (and the powersliding) was the best craic, but generally the course was pretty good.. suppose you never know if it's been a benefit until something happens on the road and you come out the other side - but can't do any harm!! Oh and the instructor was telling me one of the guys up there had a scooby and they took it on the skidpan, but the only was they could un-stick it was with the handbrake!!
mystery machine Posted January 29, 2009 Author Posted January 29, 2009 That sounds spot-on Sparky - especially as they covered both understeer and oversteer. Think I might look into that. What do they actually use for the surface of the skidpan? Cheers
iainc Posted January 29, 2009 Posted January 29, 2009 Did an Accidont course at the AECC in Aberdeen quite a few years back. IIRC JohnS managed to get a deal on it somehow... had something to do with a local charity IIRC. There was a bit of braking with/without ABS (as mentioned, in something like a Vectra), some more training in a similar car on a trolley type thing, so they could increase/decrease how "slippy" it was. There were a few other things added in that day too (blindfold driving, reversing with a trailer without mirrors, etc) but it culminated in a slalom type course that was laid out. Object was to get round it without hitting anything but as quickly as possible (time added for anything hit)... first couple of people out took it nice and slow and made sure they didn't hit anything, 3rd or 4th person out went at it like a maniac... looked so much fun doing it their way everyone else did the same. The nice slow driving made way for the car permenantly being sideway at great speed... usually accompanied by a huge grin from the drivers seat (and as many grinning back from the sidelines watching). All in all it was a crackin' day, and if there was another similar day happening again up this way I'd be at it in a shot. Its something that's well worth it, as even though there was a bit of messing about at the end of the day, everyone (I think) still learnt something from it.
iainc Posted January 29, 2009 Posted January 29, 2009 ScoUK said: I've throught about it for years, but never done it!.. Spoke to my local guy about gettign a group buy for a group of Scooby Drivers, but strangely wasn't interested Price was £65 IIRC (IAM members get a discount of 15%.. "allegedly".. apparently he changed his mind all the time as to whether or not that discount exists).. Used to be half that a few years ago when it first started!! Guy wasn't interested in giving any sort of group discount for SIDC, and very difficult to get a hold of.. Rarely returned calls (only once) then when I did get speaking to him, I got the distinct impression he had better things to do than speak to me about it.. Been tempted to give the Accidont people a call though. Hmmm... he doesn't sound so good. Would be interested if you did get something organised in Moray though. I take it nowt's come of the airfield "project" yet?
ryan_gwa Posted January 30, 2009 Posted January 30, 2009 ScoUK said: I've throught about it for years, but never done it!.. Spoke to my local guy about gettign a group buy for a group of Scooby Drivers, but strangely wasn't interested Price was £65 IIRC (IAM members get a discount of 15%.. "allegedly".. apparently he changed his mind all the time as to whether or not that discount exists).. Used to be half that a few years ago when it first started!! Guy wasn't interested in giving any sort of group discount for SIDC, and very difficult to get a hold of.. Rarely returned calls (only once) then when I did get speaking to him, I got the distinct impression he had better things to do than speak to me about it.. Been tempted to give the Accidont people a call though. Sounds like awesome fun! Go-Karting is about the only 'on-track' that I have had to correct oversteer, not exactly realistic though. Dont see why Knockhill woudnt let a group discount happen? Its in their favour after all! Would be good to get SIDC group up! I would be right up for that. Ryan
scouk Posted January 30, 2009 Posted January 30, 2009 IainC said: Hmmm... he doesn't sound so good. yeah gave up trying after that.. But apparently he'll be at the Rallyeee event in keith later int eh year so maybe try and get somethgin organised.. In saying that, what you described about the Accidont "day" in aberdeen.. sounds WAY better, and much more entertaining! IainC said: Would be interested if you did get something organised in Moray though. I take it nowt's come of the airfield "project" yet? not yet... Plans are there, but it's waiting from soem sort of go ahead from land owners.. And apparently they are known for their.. erm.. not so quick responses.. Although they did donate the land for hte kart Track (Boyndie).. And they were supposed to have gotten the go ahead to build a aerodrome museum type place up at the the airfield so fingers crossed.. May try chase it up in the next few weeks, to see if anything has moved forward..
martin_allen Posted January 30, 2009 Posted January 30, 2009 Mystery Machine said: That sounds spot-on Sparky - especially as they covered both understeer and oversteer. Think I might look into that.What do they actually use for the surface of the skidpan? Cheers I did exactly the same thing, plus an on road session with one of the advanced instrucctors. The surface is just wet tarmac but the cars have slicks on so do slide a bit. Quite easy and a fair laugh although i was with some others and it is clear to see why some people have accidents - can't tell what the car is doing at all, they were spinning and stalling a lot where i went straight to the slides. Good afternoon but not sure on prices, mine was a voucher i actually won. 5t.
thewelsho Posted January 30, 2009 Posted January 30, 2009 sparky_sj04 said: Oh and the instructor was telling me one of the guys up there had a scooby and they took it on the skidpan, but the only was they could un-stick it was with the handbrake!! Should drive mine then! Freaking murder lately!
mystery machine Posted January 30, 2009 Author Posted January 30, 2009 TheWelsho said: Should drive mine then! Freaking murder lately! It's probably just the time of year Welsho, i.e. the state of the roads. I've certainly felt mine has been less grippy these past couple of weeks - few wee shoogles here and there. You know what it's like, after the salt's been down for a few months it gets ground down and down until it ends up almost like a greasy covering over the road. And I'm convinced they spew more of that stuff onto the highways than they used to - litigation mitigation by the local councils, p'rhaps? Should have driven my previous (front wheel drive) motor last winter - I was getting wheelspin in third gear! (and the car hadn't been modded or 'owt). I got so pissed off with it, that's why I went for a Scooby, which - although not immune - is obviously MILES better
sparky_sj04 Posted January 30, 2009 Posted January 30, 2009 Mine actually went for a service and came back a day later feeling a lot more slippy!! weird.. I think they've put too much air in the tyres (purely speculation) and i'm back in Brazil now so can't check... defo a few slippy roads about the now though........
sparky_sj04 Posted January 30, 2009 Posted January 30, 2009 Mystery Machine said: That sounds spot-on Sparky - especially as they covered both understeer and oversteer. Think I might look into that.What do they actually use for the surface of the skidpan? Cheers Just wet tarmac dude.... fairly well sealed though... not like we get on the roads!!
mystery machine Posted January 31, 2009 Author Posted January 31, 2009 sparky_sj04 said: Just wet tarmac dude.... fairly well sealed though... not like we get on the roads!! Perfect
mystery machine Posted January 31, 2009 Author Posted January 31, 2009 Sorry, fivetide. I did read your post, but I was working at the time so couldn't reply. Thanks muchly for the useful info - it sounds spot-on for me Tam.
mystery machine Posted January 31, 2009 Author Posted January 31, 2009 Mystery Machine said: It's probably just the time of year Welsho, i.e. the state of the roads. I've certainly felt mine has been less grippy these past couple of weeks... Totally different story today, though - first proper dry conditions here for weeks - hullo!
martin_allen Posted February 1, 2009 Posted February 1, 2009 Mystery Machine said: Sorry, fivetide. I did read your post, but I was working at the time so couldn't reply.Thanks muchly for the useful info - it sounds spot-on for me Tam. no worries mate If you can drive a bit you'll have a laugh. Only thing i found was that they basically told you how to avoid things assuming you were in a manual car. There wasn't anything on actually controlling or sliding the car so don't be disappointed if it is a big group and you don't get any instruction like that. Bloke who was there when i went had a ferrari he'd crashed four times on track so wanted to know how to control the car. Thing is he just kept spinning the sierra. Couldn't understand how to feel what the car was doing at all, far more cash than talent! 5t.
mystery machine Posted February 1, 2009 Author Posted February 1, 2009 All good to know, thanks again fivetide. Aye, I'm definitely interested in gaining more experience actually controlling the car during a slide, regaining grip, etc. In general I think I've got a fair idea where my limits and the car's limits lie (wrt understeer at least) - as long as the road surface stays fairly predictable. Perhaps much like yourself, the reason for seeking a skid course is that, even with the best of intentions, one day I could find myself driving through diesel/gravel/shecht - and I'll want my 'plan B' to happen intuitively, without wasting too much time thinking about this exciting new experience of going sideways around a corner That's actually quite tragic about your man in the Ferrari - as you say, to have the kind of cash to afford a motor like that but not the ability to really enjoy it... In fairness, I suppose at least the guy was trying by coming along to the skid course
martin_allen Posted February 1, 2009 Posted February 1, 2009 Mystery Machine said: In fairness, I suppose at least the guy was trying by coming along to the skid course He'd had 3 bumpers @4k each... Rally school might be an interesting option for you as they'll do controlling a slide rather than stopping it dead. Not done one myself though but would certainly be interested. 5t.
scouk Posted February 1, 2009 Posted February 1, 2009 Not specific to skid pan trainiing but I beleive the guys a crail do a driving course of some sort possibly cheaper than Knockhill and bigger area for "playing"... Havent enquired about it yet, so dunno what all they do.. perhaps some of you guys closer know more..?
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