Hi all

I am just posting up some feedback from an advanced drivers training course I did at Wakefield Park on Friday 27th June. The link to the specific course follows (but can check out all courses on offer as well.)

http://www.fifthgear.com.au/defensive.html#advanced

I was one of 6 people who attended; Dereck the trainer tries to keeps attendance numbers down. There were other drivers on the day doing their own thing, but groups are split by category and size of groups to keep on-track numbers minimised. The day is basically a sequence of advice and training from Dereck followed by as many laps of the track that you can fit into 20 minutes at a time. A small break to watch other cars and then the cycle repeats. I had either 5 or 6 sessions around the track and to say it was a blast is a massive understatement.

Dereck takes turn cycling through the cars and becomes a passenger in yours at one or more points. The techniques he gives you are awesome, and my handling of the circuit changed dramatically by the end of the day. Every one has their bad habits and he helps everybody with theirs to fine tune their abilities. By the end of the day I was catching up and pressuring turboed Nissans in my little Mx5 NC . Now that was a nice feeling. The track itself is awesome, personally I much preferred it over Oran park. You can have a track time meter fitted to your car and compare laps times with his on-board notebook as well.

Just watching the other cars race while you are having a breather is incredible. The range of cars on the day was brilliant; worked Rx7's, and old Rx4, Wrx's, Evos, 2x $180K fully-worked Mini Cooper S's (these babies FLEEEEW!), Lotus Elise's, a BMW Z4, Rx8's, a Cobra replica, it goes on. Unbelievable fun!. I would highly recommend it. The complete package is so worth it. Dereck is a really helpful and lovely guy who makes everyone feel comfortable and answers all your questions. Go for it!!!

 

Sounds great and I would love to come but I have taken too much time off work lately to attend sorry(includind next weekend at Wakefield).

 

Sounds fun.

Always good to have a decent, patient instructor who does more than shout at you and slap your hand away from things and doesn't pack out the session with too many cars (sound like anyone we know guys? )...

 

hmmmmm. Dont get me started!

I have spoken to Derek a few times and he is a stand up guy. I wish it was easier to get to wakefield

 

My wife....(good thing she dosen't read this threads)

 

I thought you'd know who I was talking about Andrew. Frankly, all he did was make me nervous and I was glad to get it over with and get out of the car. Just goes to show that having ability and being able to pass it on can be two different things. Anyway, enough - I don't want to name names here.