Skid pan courses

Wig

I know the basics of how to counter steer into a skid etc, but I have nowhere to practice, and even so, would like somoeone beside me to teach me the ropes.

How much do they cost where to get one near South Wales if possible.

And are they worth it, i.e. I want to be doing 60+ mph and really lose it -the sort of event where rolling is a distinct possibility using their caged car of course - and do lots of skids (in a single attack) and bring it under control. I don't want to just pootle along force a single skid and correct it, that would not satisfy me.

pendulum

Basically you want to drive like a nutter and have a good time.
I don't think skid pans are really like that, everything is very controlled, low speed, low risk.
Best finding a frozen carpark with no CCTV...

Wig

Yes, in a controlled environment, too many obstacles in car parks and you cant go fast.

There is Llandow industrial estate nr Cowbridge but the surface there is really bad with pot holes and bumps, and even though it used to be an aerodrome the roadways inside are not wide enough for doing this sort of thing.

I want to do like they do on top gear, throwing it about.

Trebor16

They used to do skid pan training at Castle Combe race circuit in Gloucestershire, and a quick search has found this:-

http://www.drivetechltd.co.uk/

I doubt you will get them throwing you into skids at 60mph though. You can learn all you need at low speed in cars that have been adapted.

paddedjohn

www.intotheblue.co.uk
nearest to south wales is Wiltshire i think.

Weird_Nev

Wig wrote: »

Yes, in a controlled environment, too many obstacles in car parks and you cant go fast.

There is Llandow industrial estate nr Cowbridge but the surface there is really bad with pot holes and bumps, and even though it used to be an aerodrome the roadways inside are not wide enough for doing this sort of thing.

I want to do like they do on top gear, throwing it about.

They do trackdays at Llandow and the track surface is very good. Resurfaced 2 years back to MSA specs IIRC.

But it sounds like you want a "car limits" day. In your own car, under instruction.

The whole point of a skid pan is you're going slow, so everything happens slow, and you have time to react and train your muscle memory.

That said, at the Porsche experience centre they got us to chuck brand new Boxsters onto the Skid pans at about 60Mph. Fun. And £400+ a day if you pay, which I didn't.

fivetide

Sounds like you don't want skid pan at all. You want a rally driving experience. See who offers that near you.

5t.

Hodge4ever

Trebor16 wrote: »

They used to do skid pan training at Castle Combe race circuit in Gloucestershire, and a quick search has found this:-

http://www.drivetechltd.co.uk/

I doubt you will get them throwing you into skids at 60mph though. You can learn all you need at low speed in cars that have been adapted.

I've done a course there, very enjoyable but no chance of getting upto 60mph as the course is just too small (more like 25-30mph max). It was a figure of eight course driving a FWD & RWD car. First off, we were let loose with no formal guidance, then had a 'classroom' session pointing out what we should do followed by a repeat session to put the theory into practice.

Then we did some brake-test scenarios(sp) with ABS and without, and finished with a timed course with some prizes for the winners.

The cars were pretty tatty but the instructors were great and a good time was had by all!

As others have said, a skid-pan course might not be quite what you want\were expecting. HTH

ETA: It was a slippy surface track, not cars with rollers.

Trebor16

Hodge4ever wrote: »

I've done a course there, very enjoyable but no chance of getting upto 60mph as the course is just too small (more like 25-30mph max). It was a figure of eight course driving a FWD & RWD car. First off, we were let loose with no formal guidance, then had a 'classroom' session pointing out what we should do followed by a repeat session to put the theory into practice.

Then we did some brake-test scenarios(sp) with ABS and without, and finished with a timed course with some prizes for the winners.

The cars were pretty tatty but the instructors were great and a good time was had by all!

As others have said, a skid-pan course might not be quite what you want\were expecting. HTH

ETA: It was a slippy surface track, not cars with rollers.

That was the same format as when I did it back in 2005 with them. It was a very enjoyable afternoon, but also very informative. I especially enjoyed the timed course at the end!:D