Advanced driving courses

[flappist]

As the title suggests this is a thread about advanced driving courses.

Every new FPV buyer is offered one of these gratis although it is rather limited and basic.

They range in price from a couple of hundred dollars up to several thousand.
I have put both my daughters through a basic course and have done lots of them myself over the years and found them to be very helpful.

So:

Who has actually done one or more of these things?

And (surprise surprise) there is a poll

[4Vman]

Ive done about 8 from memory, the best one was the Mercedes day which is complementary when you buy a Merc, they let you loose at Sandown for some flying laps at the end and if you're lucky (i was) they have some AMG toys to play with too.

To be honest you need to do these courses every so often to refresh your skills because to be honest new taught skills that arent instinctive need to be practiced so they become reactive in an emergency.

While it has to be a bonus i seriously doubt most people would recall the emergency skills learnt from just 1 course in a split second reaction situation.....

[block58]

There's no option for 'I would like to do one but I am too young'. I would probably be the only one in that category, though. feelsbadman.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by block58

There's no option for 'I would like to do one but I am too young'. I would probably be the only one in that category, though. feelsbadman.

Do you have a license? Then you can do one.

If not then do a go-kart course, it all helps

[block58]

Originally Posted by flappist

Do you have a license? Then you can do one.

If not then do a go-kart course, it all helps

Learners.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by block58

Learners.

Well you are still doing basic driving training.

You can do advanced later.

[04redxr8]

3 skidpan days, and 3 track days. Will be doing more. You can never learn enough. Not only do you get to learn more, but you also get to have a lot of fun.

[block58]

Originally Posted by flappist

Well you are still doing basic driving training.

You can do advanced later.

Hmmm... interesting. I know that my parents got a "Free defensive driving course" with their AAMi insurance for under 25s but I dont know whether that covers learners.

It states that it is safe for children but I've been told by family etc. that everybody is "somebody's child" (eg. you are your parents child no matter what age you are) but they are probably wrong. No harm in calling up and inquiring.

@Neale thanks for the info+link, unfortunately I'm not in NSW though.

[Neale]

Originally Posted by block58

There's no option for 'I would like to do one but I am too young'. I would probably be the only one in that category, though. feelsbadman.

They do driver training courses at the Marulan Driver training centre in different age groups

8-15 (150cc buggies on dirt track)

15-20 (own vehicle)

then also Advanced or Defencive driver training for everyone else.

heres a link
http://www.mdtc.com.au/giftshop/index.php

[sneaky]

Will do one soon as I think it will help me was my answer. hoping to buy a xr6t next year and will probably sign up for myself and my wife when i buy the new car

[Polyal]

Im yet to do to many because I am waiting for a decent car to do it in.

I did the AAMI one, that is the basic of basic, only did it for the premium reduction. I did a Ford one and that was lots of fun but I didn't really learn anything per se....did a bit of dirt sliding etc that I obviously haven't done on public roads.

Come end of next year though I plan to do some good ones at least once a year, for me.

So I dont know where to vote, I found it ok, but not crap.

[V8 Man]

I've done 3, first one about 16 years ago, after I'd had my licence about 12 months. Definately agree that you need to practice the skills learnt to ensure they become automatic when needed.
Interestingly the instructor in that first course suggested going to a supermarket carpark late at night or early in the morning to practise, these days you'd probably get your car impounded for doing that.

[SSD-85]

I would love to 1: have time to, and 2: afford to go to these. Im always keen to make myself a better driver.

[FgNewbie]

In the 80s and 90s doing driving courses was more like a hobby for me. I did something at least 4 times a year.

Various companies. Various cars & trucks. Various locations inc dirt, road, track. Various types & levels of advanced driving inc roadcraft and carcraft.

They were all brilliant and I'd happily do them all again. I highly recommend courses for any one and every one.

Except for tuition/course costs and excessive wear (when using my own car), the only other cost I copped was a bit of body damage after an incident doing lap dashes.

I've never formally raced. It didn't interest me and now I'm past it (edit: not past it, just off the boil).

One observation: there was always at least one cowboy with the wrong mindset that came unstuck either on the track or on their way home. A little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous tool.

[GTP owner]

I have done a variety over the years, from the basic learners to the full race practice sessions. You do need to keep practicing the skills at the track though. But the skill set is very different for racing vs street driving. This is why the evidence for their effectiveness is in doubt. Some evidence indicates an increased risk on the road, while others suggest the opposite. I won't go into the pros and cons, but I like to do track days on occasion with Tex and F6, and i like to be in front, so these type of courses appeal to me.
I will be putting the kids through them when they are old enough to drive, as we get ice and snow on very bendy roads here in Tas, and I would lile them to be able to knwo when they could get into trouble, and what their car is likely to do.
The final note is that each car behaves differently, so you need to drive to the car. Our disco is a very different beast in the wet compared to the xr6t, so the course needs to be done in the vehicle in which you drive. Doing one course in a nissan pulsar will not help you that much if you buy an f6.

[XCwillo]

i wunna do wun so i can do sum maddddd skids and doughies in the gravaallllll in my heeaaapsss sick commodoree

*ahem*
I mean
I'd love to do one, its just a matter of finding a 5 speed box so i can get my car to brissy without molesting the planets fuel supply

[flappist]

Originally Posted by XCwillo

i wunna do wun so i can do sum maddddd skids and doughies in the gravaallllll in my heeaaapsss sick commodoree

*ahem*
I mean
I'd love to do one, its just a matter of finding a 5 speed box so i can get my car to brissy without molesting the planets fuel supply

You only need to get to Gympie

www.roadcraft.org

And a 5 speed is going to make very little difference in your XC.

[XCwillo]

Originally Posted by flappist

You only need to get to Gympie

www.roadcraft.org

And a 5 speed is going to make very little difference in your XC.

Oh well hey that looks like the go-diddly!

And i meant i needed the five speed because 4 gear at 11 k's is revving its revving rather high, I'd just like the extra gear so i dont run out of petrol by Maryborough

Quick question, what school do/did your daughters go too? Might know them

[flappist]

Originally Posted by XCwillo

Oh well hey that looks like the go-diddly!

And i meant i needed the five speed because 4 gear at 11 k's is revving its revving rather high, I'd just like the extra gear so i dont run out of petrol by Maryborough

Quick question, what school do/did your daughters go too? Might know them

Well I used to drive my XC (4.1 4 speed) from Torbanlea to Rockhampton and then back to Gladstone on a tank of fuel and it still had all the pollution crap on it. Put a lower ratio diff centre in it.

Girls went to Nambour SHS.

[04redxr8]

Originally Posted by flappist

You only need to get to Gympie

www.roadcraft.org

And a 5 speed is going to make very little difference in your XC.

Do they still allow P platers to do courses there? We had a club day there in September this year, and they would not allow our P platers to participate.

[geckoGT]

Originally Posted by 04redxr8

Do they still allow P platers to do courses there? We had a club day there in September this year, and they would not allow our P platers to participate.

They have allowed L platers to participate before so I do not see why not.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by 04redxr8

Do they still allow P platers to do courses there? We had a club day there in September this year, and they would not allow our P platers to participate.

Yes they have a P plate course.

Club days tend to be a bit more "enthusiastic", maybe their insurance did not cover.

[Coyote mk3]

Originally Posted by flappist

Yes they have a P plate course.

Club days tend to be a bit more "enthusiastic", maybe their insurance did not cover.

Our club was told that they had some P-platers at club event/s who decided there was no difference between the road and the skid pan and when pulled over by police told them they had been at the skidpan earlier.

Therefore no one without an open license can participate in a club event.
Seems even a driver training place brands us no-good P-platers with the same stick.
I had participated last year on my L's and the year before with no license.
Wouldn't have a bar of it. NO P-PLATERS!!

Last year on my L's I did Slalom and wet braking in my car, oversteer/understeer in both turbo fwd, new rwd V8 and my 6cyl rwd
All very different cars, and a great experience.

I am planning on doing a course next year when I have the money, however little sour with Road Craft at Gympie so I will most likely try to do it at Mt Cotton.

[geckoGT]

Lots

4 Army driving courses, 1 ambulance course and multiple club skid pan and track days.

Kind of refresh my skills every day at work.

[Stefan]

There is no Option in the pole for 98% of the driving population ie

NO, never really thought about it.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by Stefan

There is no Option in the pole for 98% of the driving population ie

NO, never really thought about it.

Yes that is true, but then 98% of the driving population are not members of AFF either. We are mostly car enthusiasts.

[Stefan]

To all the advocates, how many Advanced Driving Courses have your girlfriends/wives done. Especially ones carting around your kids everyday.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by Stefan

To all the advocates, how many Advanced Driving Courses have your girlfriends/wives done. Especially ones carting around your kids everyday.

Wife, 1 basic plus many "private lessons" by me.
Elder daughter 1 basic but I suspect will do a few more in the future courtesy of QPOL , younger daughter booked in early next year (she has only been on Ps 2 months).

I bought them both a roadcraft P plater course as a present to celebrate their passing their drivers' licenses.

[FPV8U]

Have done the basic JB course so far, was hoping to do their basic track course this year but ran out of time and money, hopefully next year i'll be able to get around to it.

Found it really good, but as 4Vman said without further practice the skills will be lost in a matter of time so wouldn't bother if you didn't plan on doing it atleast every 2-3 years.

Originally Posted by Stefan

To all the advocates, how many Advanced Driving Courses have your girlfriends/wives done. Especially ones carting around your kids everyday.

Ive already said to my partner that asoon as she has her new car i'll be sending her down for atleast basic training so she can feel how the car reacts in emergency situations.

[SM1DY]

I've just done one at the Holden performance driving centre at Yatala on the Gold Coast (saw Paul Morris when I was there). Found it insightful and I still use quite a few of the things they taught me, but expectedly I've let some slip from my memory.