Advanced Driver Training - ACT/NSW

Patty · Postby **Patty** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 2:07 pm

daffyflyer wrote:But do, PLEASE make sure you have enough oil

x2, unless you want a crash course in how to do an engine transplant.

CoffeeBoss · Postby **CoffeeBoss** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:49 pm

I have done a skidpan day with Driving Solutions and it was a worthwhile day out. Good variety of exercises, and they took time to go beyond the basics of over/understeer and encouraged power-over, lift-off and handbrake techniques.

I have previously organised two Ian Luff Stage 2 days for the [http://forum.altezzaclub.org.au]Altezza Club[/url] when I was presiding there. The Ian Luff guys do a great job, particularly with car clubs. Many of our drivers hadn't done Advanced Driving, but since we booked it as a private group/function, they combined Stages 1 and 2 together. So, about an hour of classroom in the morning, and then skid pan and slalom exercises all day. All timed as well, which is a big bonus in a car-club situation. They basically run it like a gymkhana.

Of course, Ian Luff runs out of Oran Park, which closes in the middle of January. However Luffy is working closely with the committee behind the replacement site, which one person has told me will be a very similar track-layout to the current Oran Park (gawd i hope so).

The Ian Luff days also had a broader spread of theory coverage compared with Driving Solutions. So not just driver fatigue, braking modulation, DUI but also practical road craft such as how to set mirrors for no blind-spot.

I also hear good things about Aaron McGills drive days. I've heard it said that he was a disgruntled former Ian Luff employee

He used to post his skid-pan days up on the Auto Sports forums though, and after cancelling a bunch of days due to lack of interest, I haven't seen any posted up there for some time. Website says it's under construction though, so maybe he is still operating:

Aaron McGill Auto Motion Australia offers advanced and defensive driving courses.
For more information, contact Aaron McGill Auto Motion Australia on (02) 4872 2622.

Can I just say also that the lack of interest in courses like these within car clubs is a bit of a soap-box of mine. I was much more competent from day 1 out on the track because I had taken some Advanced Driving courses. The training also made me a much more defensive driver on the roads. I cannot stress enough how good Advanced Driver training days are.

xen · Postby **xen** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 11:20 am

They for the info CoffeeBuff. I got a defensive driving course and advanced driving course for Christmas (wonder where they go that idea from :mrgreen:

). It's with Fifthgear, hopefully be doing it in January. So at the same time I will talk to them about a group buy for a track-day session, or a custom advanced driving course and let everyone know what they say.

tumble · Postby **tumble** » Tue Jan 26, 2016 1:15 pm

Bump. I'm looking for a defensive driving course in NSW or the ACT. Preferably (but none of these are essential):

* a recent recommendation (some of the above recommended courses are not run any more)

* near Sydney or, even better, Wollongong, although I can go as far as the ACT

* road skills more than track skills, although both are interesting

* less than a whole day, unless it's near Wollongong

Thanks!

tumble · Postby **tumble** » Tue Jan 26, 2016 2:02 pm

This is the sort of program I'm interested in. It's run by ARDC.

http://www.sydneymotorsportpark.com.au/ ... e-stage-1/

Has anyone tried it, or something similar?

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Tue Jan 26, 2016 2:33 pm

Some of the Ozclubbies folks did Bozman's Trackschool at Wakefield earlier this month & found it excellent:
http://www.trackschool.com.au
search.php?keywords=&terms=all&author=bozman&sc=1&sf=all&sk=t&sd=d&sr=posts&st=0&ch=300&t=0&submit=Search

tumble · Postby **tumble** » Tue Jan 26, 2016 3:35 pm

Thanks, 93_Clubman. (Is that your real name?!)

Looks like there won't be another one of those for a while, so more suggestions still welcome.

tumble · Postby **tumble** » Tue Jan 26, 2016 3:44 pm

Hm. Also ... I will not be turning down the opportunity of a track day next time I can make it to one, but what I'm looking for most urgently is defensive driver training, and that seems to be only part of the agenda on track days, right?

Guran · Postby **Guran** » Wed Jan 27, 2016 8:56 am

Wow this is reviving a very old thread. Nothing wrong with that and well done for searching.

There are no defensive driver training courses operating in Wollongong that I am aware of. Certainly no dedicated facilities other than Huntley hillclimb which is not suitable for what you're after.

The MX-5 Club of NSW now offers motorkhanas on a skidpan at Eastern Creek and driver training at Marulan Driver Training Centre. There will be 3 of each in 2016.

http://nsw.mx5.com.au/motorsport/motorkhana
http://nsw.mx5.com.au/motorsport/driver-training

Both of these full day events incorporate 1-on-1 coaching by a very experienced MX-5 supersprinter/racer. You can stay the whole day or leave early if you like.

The ARDC course you mention is much like the old course run by Driving Solutions (which still exists but operates at a different location). They are VERY basic with the focus being on braking under low friction conditions (wet concrete) to activate ABS, and swerving to avoid "obstacles". You will learn all of this at a motorkhana and it's much more fun too. And MUCH cheaper.

I highly recommend you try a motorkhana first.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Wed Jan 27, 2016 10:32 am

If you're happy to travel to the ACT, TISC offer road orientated courses regularly:
https://www.suttonroad.com.au/index.php ... ng-88.html

tumble · Postby **tumble** » Wed Jan 27, 2016 9:19 pm

Thanks, Guran and 93_Clubman. Very helpful.

RS2000 · Postby **RS2000** » Thu Jan 28, 2016 8:52 am

Ian Luff still runs defensive & performance courses at Eastern Creek drag strip
http://www.drivetosurvive.com/

Cheers

tumble · Postby **tumble** » Thu Jan 28, 2016 8:35 pm

Thanks, RS2000. That looks great.

Are you recommending the program, or Ian Luff, or both? If you're recommending the person rather than the program then I guess I should check that it's always him who teaches it (it's not clear to me from the web site).

RS2000 · Postby **RS2000** » Fri Jan 29, 2016 10:27 am

I'm not affiliated in any way, but Ian Luff has been involved in driver training for a long long time, & has a good reputation.

I did his defensive & performance courses 11 years ago, & I remember having 3 trainers at different times:
Ian Luff himself,
John Boston (now runs Trackschool & still is a hired gun for World Time Attack etc),
Driver (can't remember name) in national Porche Cup at that time.

I can only presume that he still coaches & employs good drivers/trainers.
Cheers