Track (or closed road) tuition. Who can you recommend ?

[PAJ]

I'm ready to get a bit of tuition, either on track, handling course or similar. I wonder if there any recommendations for somewhere or someone that can help me with this. I'm keen to learn more about the handling of the Atom, so could ideally do with someone who knows them. If this wasn't too much to ask, it would be nice if they were north west or midlands area.

As an alternative (and I guess this is the right part of the forum anyway) are there any track days on the cards ? Somewhere tight and twisty best for me, where I can explore the handling without too much speed

Paul

[Rocket Man]

thats an easy one Paul, just get Alister to take you out, he will loosen the parts that Heinekin can't

[Andrew300]

Hi Paul best man for the job would be Ariel test driver Si Clark, pm me and I'll send you his telephone number

[smokin]

I met up with Simon Lancashire at Donington yesterday (I was doing a shake-down of a Ginetta GT5 my mate and I have just acquired for racing). Simon was doing some instructing in an M3 but specialises in Atoms. He's done a lot of Atom tesing for Ariel and lots of Atom instructing. There's a heritage circuit at Silverstone that they use a lot for honing/hooning days but they do instruction at lots of circuits on track days. Haven't used him personally but he talked a good game.

http://www.therealgranturismo.com/
simon@therealgranturismo.com

p.s. guy busted rear right of his 3.5r on the day - a sad sight

[russty_james]

I'm booked on an Airfield driver training day in April with Carlimits at North Weald Airfield (Essex), I'll let you know if it's any good...

http://www.carlimits.com/script/viewEvents.php?type=airfieldtraining

They always seem to get great reviews and book out pretty quick and I also liked the fact it was on an Airfield rather than a track. At least you won't get black flagged for drifting as you would on a track day!

[Spikey_head]

Curborough is a great place to start out. I'm there on the 4th of June, if anyone else wants to come then let me know.

[Jasong]

I've had a few superb days with Ivan from Total Car Control in my AMG and my atom. He's not a racing instructor, but a day with him at Milbrook (he's one of the very few people that are allowed to teach there) is unbelievably good and helped me get more out of my car (and more importantly, myself) than I thought possible. Highly recommended.

[Toilet Duck]

I'm booked on an Airfield driver training day in April with Carlimits at North Weald Airfield (Essex), I'll let you know if it's any good...

http://www.carlimits.com/script/viewEvents.php?type=airfieldtraining

They always seem to get great reviews and book out pretty quick and I also liked the fact it was on an Airfield rather than a track. At least you won't get black flagged for drifting as you would on a track day!

I used to frequent their monthly "activity days", it's a great venue to safely loose control of your car without risk of damage/injury etc. Not had 1:1 tuition there but I've heard its very good, be interesting to hear your thoughts after you've been 

[russty_james]

Just returned from a tuition day at Carlimits and I have to say it was absolutely spot on... It's changed my perspective on driving and also what the Nomad is actually capable of doing! Peter also joined me in his Atom and it was interesting too see the two cars back to back.

It's a great location with plenty of cones for me to kill and ample run off areas for when it goes wrong (and yes it will)... The day was spent in a group of four people with one instructor covering multiple exercises throughout the day with the instructor rotating cars, they also had full radio contact.  I spent a lot of the day spinning and pulling off moves I thought not possible like braking around a corner at 80+. The moment things clicked and it started working was a great feeling.

Fantastic day out and well worth it if you get the chance.

One of their activity/tuition days would make a great exclusive club event if we could get enough interest, they'd definitely be interesting in hosting us for the day!

Timed Circuit (Great fun....)
http://youtu.be/FDovW4NF7_c-0#
High Speed Bend
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAYTb7cPisQ-0#
High Speed Bend (braking)
http://youtu.be/Y7SEVWMhy7w-0#

[Peter255]

That's me in the passenger seat for the timed cct.
And yes I was absolutely loving Russ giving it the full beans and hearing the charger shriek!
Brilliant fun! Definitely a highlight of the day.
http://youtu.be/FDovW4NF7_c-0#

The Atom was a lot harder to control in slides etc, due to vastly greater grip (track day tyres, Russ was on 50/50 semi-chunkies), and less progressive slides. So much so the instructor told me not to bother with some of the later exercises. But when timed the Atom was an absolute monster, and a good margin faster than the Nomad. However for both Ariel's around a short twisty cct (with un-even surface patches) it was not possible to put all the power down. I had to short shift out of 2nd as otherwise I was (as per Russ's vid) fish tailing like a mad man. Fun times tho. Gutted my GoPro failed me AGAIN so no vids from me!

[Bruce Fielding]

To answer the question, is that still Andy Walsh at North Weald? Although Mark Robbins (I think) also instructs there.

[russty_james]

Mark Robins does most the tuition these days, Andy Walsh seems to run the place but is more behind the scene.

[Gyro_Craig]

Great video clips RUSS - that looks serious fun! I would definitely like to participate in tuition with an exclusive club event.

Although watching the clips is making the wait harder for my Nomad - build date is August. I am visiting the factory next Friday which should help.....for a short while

[Alex Brandon-Smith]

Love this Russ. Saw Pete's video on FB and looked like a storming day. I'm up for this next time.

[Karl V]

Apologies for replying on an 18 month old thread, but I think I'm ready for 'the next stage'.

CarLimits seems about what I'd be interested in, but of course Si's skills...

Please do add me to any potential club outing for a skills day.

I also think a skid pan would be a hoot.