Off to Millbrook this week

[MINIme:)]

I'm really looking forward to this...:clap:

On Friday I'm going to Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire for a half day driving course. The place looks amazing, http://www.millbrook.co.uk/Assets/1_1506_030609_millbrook_tracks_brochure.pdf (shrink it down so you can see the whole pages - it opens badly on my screen) such a shame I'm only there for about 3 hours!! I would like to spend a week there :yes nod: Think the vardy guys spent a couple of days there, driving coupes around before the launch.


Lucky for me work were offering winter driving training, mainly for people who drive to site etc for work (which I don't) so I was lucky to get to do it. From what I gather it'll be skid control and awareness and I think it said automatic driver aids or something like that too. I'm presuming it's talking about ABS / DSC / DTC type things. There used to be a link on the webpage with more info on their available driving courses and training but it's gone :idunno:


Looking forward to it - and also looking forward to getting good answers and expert opinion to my questions over winter tyres. I know many of you swear by them but I was more or less advised against them by a road safety expert (epic driving expert called Selwyn Kendrick... rally organiser, trainers trainer, AA trainer, ROSPA, crash scene investigator, former driver for high profile persons, Rolls Royce chauffeur, Dakar rally etc etc etc the guy has a never ending stream of stories!). The guy knows his stuff, but although he answered my questions his answer was more along the lines of drive slowly or leave the car at home and less clear were his reasons for advising against. The feeling I went away with was that it had to do with them being very appropriate in some conditions, but conditions are always changing and for me, not being able to change back and forth between wheels or having anywhere to really store them close to hand like a garage. Additionally I think his feeling was that some people are too confident with winter tyres and therefore they can be dangerous by encouraging a false sense of security. A friend at work who had them said he found them very poor for grip if the weather wasn't cold enough for their optimum use. Right tyres wrong conditions and vice versa. Will be very interested in what these guys say :yes nod:

[Stewart]

Enjoy! It’s always good to get an idea of what to do if it all goes Pete Tong!

I actually had a close call this year coming through Glen Coe in heavy rain following at a safe distance a fiat 500. We came round a bend to find an old Passat with the bonnet up right at the worst possible blind point with the driver standing up a verge. The thing was he was oncoming to us but the fecking big Morrisons truck trying to pass him was on our side.

We actually had more time to react and slow down trouble was the Fiat went on the brakes as hard as it could without thinking about the car behind and even ended squint. I’ve never and I mean never been so glad to have my four new Rain expert Uniroyal’s on the car as I stopped what felt like inches from it. Not too sure my RF with only 2MM on the front would have made it.

Actually was impressed at the way the Mini came to a halt very quick and controlled.

As for the winter tyres, never been on them as I live at the top of a hill if it goes white out I don’t take the car out and it’s as simple as that. You can have the best winter tyres I feel in the world but its not going to help when the other guy looses it and hits you.

[MINIme:)]

eek! glad you were ok! :eek: you just can't predict what's round a corner or how other people will react. Nutters are bad enough but nutters in bad weather are even worse. I really hate driving in snowy or slushy conditions and avoid it if I can - I just drive bloody slowly basically or get the train! Have also aquaplaned a couple of times on the A9 between Perth and Stirling, where the road just undulates up and down and gathers water. Always wanted to be taught these skills so really hoping it will be well worth it. Colleagues have all said it was great fun too :smilewinkgrin: When it was on the website it was advertised as being about £150 as a winter special. I thought that sounded like a total bargain. Don't know where the info went though

[zimbo]

This sounds brilliant, totally jealous as I've always wanted to do something like this. You can never learn too much about being a safer driver on the roads for yours and everyone elses safety :yes nod: I think I'd be there about a week or so maybe as well after wanting to have a go at everything :lol:


I hope you an awesome time :thumbs up:

[AndyP & Lenore]

Good for you Joanna. I'm sure you'll love it. That PDF looks amazing.:thumbs up:

A.:D

[George Barbour]

I was there a few weeks ago with work [ we are building the new bus for London and Millbrook carry out the durability testing for all our new products ] You will love it .McLaren are testing the new sports car and Aston Marin are also using the track .
We were on the Oval [a five lane banked track 2 miles in circumference ] travelling at 120 mph on the upper lane and the test driver set the cruise control and took his hands off the wheel !!
On the 21degree test track you will see where the stunts were done for Casino Royale when the Aston barrel rolls .they destroyed three vehicles during filming.

Rules do not allow cameras but you will have a fab day - enjoy !

[Dundee Checkmate]

Well lucky you, I'm in Barnsley for a 3 day driving course with Mercedes Benz

[ELFMAN]

Well, how did it go??? Are you Pootling with Confidence now? :idunno:

[MINIme:)]

It was brilliant Euan, loved it. Didn't get to see much of the place apart from wee bits when we were first travelling to the training company's wee office and then down to the steering pad/mile straight. The place is awesome. They have hill routes with all different angled corners and gradient slopes - perfect for miniing. I'd love to spend time there with my own car, building a better feel for the handling so I could push myself a bit further. Just looked ace.

We were doing correction of understeer and oversteer on the steering pad while these ferraris and bentleys were being blasted along the mile straight next to us. Our car was on a frame so the instructor could lift the front or back for different levels of control loss. Then a wee blast along the mile straight to show us brake and avoid (basically telling us you can still steer round an obstacle at the same time as foot is planted on the brake in an emergency stop.) Instinctively most people will automatically lift their foot without realising when they turn, but you don't need to. You prob already know that but it was new to me :)

[weefossy]

Sounds like it was great fun and more than worthwhile.

[ELFMAN]

So you can now catch a Lift-off Oversteer Pootle with ease! :thumbs up: