OULTON INSTRUCTOR Feedback Please

[paul.davis]

Please let me have any "constructive" comments about our ARDS instructors Austin and John at Oulton Park Trackday , or the process by which you used /booked them . We tried a "free pit lane" approach this time - did it work better than the Cadwell booking system??

 

Paul

 

Zeeeeeeetec . . .

[KenEvans]

I didn't use one of the instructors Paul because I was busy initiating and instructing my son (as best I could), but I'd like to say thank you for an excellent, comprehensive and informed briefing.

 

If this service is available at the next track day I do then we'll both have a go now I at least know my lad handles the car confidently.

 

Ken

[Mrs Mav]

 

Have heard the instruction was excellent and a great help for those who used it, but unfortunately Martin never got to use the instructor due to what happened during the down pour. Never mind there will probably be other times, won't there?

 

Thanks again for a great day.

 

Viv

[Slipper man]

My brother used Austin and found that he made a huge difference to his enjoyment of the day. I would thoroughly recommend taking up the instruction offered on our days.

 

By the way, thanks Paul, Geoff, Barry, Adrian and all the others for organising a great day. After my last 2 track days (not L7club days), it was great to be on the track with people driving safely!

[naddy]

As Ken said, v. good briefing

 

The 'informal' instructor system seemed to work well. Austin helped me twice, firstly on the first half of the first session when I'd no idea where I was, then on the whole of the very last session - almost totally dry by then and helped my confidence a lot on several parts of the circuit. Very grateful.

Wasn't at Cadwell, so I couldn't directly compare - sorry!

 

 

[Richard Ince]

Hopefully Austin used the intercom that we have purchased for Le Sept.

[Red Ticker]

Paul

 

Although I didn't get to use either instructor on this occasion I have been out with Austin before (with intercom) and learned a lot. I did talk to Austin but was unable to fit a session with him in, but not through lack of Austin trying.

 

I though that the system used on Friday was easier to manage. Instruction with an intercom is so much beter than without and the additional technology package you had on offer looked fantastic.

 

I vote for more of the same.

 

Martin

[Barbara Swift]

As well as being a fantastic racer Austin is a great instructor that's why we took him on Le Sept last year and are taking him again this year. cool.gif

 

As Richard said we bought a set of intercoms for Le Sept and he brought them to Oulton, good move eh! thumbsup.gif

[Richard Ince]

I understand Wheeltorque have employed him for Spa in September and the Autumn Blast.

He also taught me to drive!

[Paul Thompson]

The system worked well. I had a session in the rain with Austin and found the intercom a great improvement. I cannot understand why more people do not make use of the instructors - much more cost effective than any upgrade- certainly gave me the confidence to have one of the best blats I can remember in the last session when it was nice and dry and I had changed to decent tyres.

[BWJ777]

Went for the Full Monty with Camera, engine management, GPS tracker , etc with John

 

Found it very usefull, good repore, easy to talk to and trust (very important through Druids)

Worth every penny,

as he told me I was the Best Driver in the Whole Wide World......... (........NOT)

back to the real world, bloody good fun!!!

very good indead, book them again, more track days at Oulton Park PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!

 

Bruce id=purple> , Self Drive ROLLER COASTER id=purple> Owner cool.gif R300 FUN id=purple>

[Wallbanger]

I have to say that I tried to use John twice. But he seemed more interested in setting up someone car with the camera that coming out on track with me. However, other people that I spoke to did appreciate the tuition.

[Mike Molloy]

Sorry, have to disagree. I normally take a session of instruction at any track day I attend, and usually find it very useful. At Oulton, however, I was so slow in the wet it wasn't worth it, and when it did dry out I couldn't find/didn't recognise the instructors.

 

I would much prefer to sort out a specific time and meeting place in advance. Avoid all the "ooh, he was here a minute ago" uncertainty and faffing about.

 

Just my 5 cents worth.

[Andy Clayson]

Despite the announced free-format, when I spoke to Austin we agreed for him to coach me in the second session because I wanted to remind myself of the circuit before getting down to some proper instruction. Needless to say he was caught be someone else before he could join me but in fairness,he was seeking me out when I found him subsequently and we went out immediately after lunch. I think I'd rather have a booking system than free-format, but given the advice he gave me, I'd settle for either.

 

One further point, I was so busy concentrating on instruction and track that despite checking my mirrors regularly (I thought), I do recall badly blocking one car during the session. My apologies to that driver - my brain was clearly too small to cope!

 

MUST REMEMBER TO LOOK IN MIRRORS MUST REMEMBER TO LOOK IN MIRRORS MUST REMEMBER TO LOOK IN MIRRORS...

 

Andy

[Andy Clayson]

Forgot to mention - the instruction was excellent and I would recommend it to anyone.

 

Andy

[paul2002]

My limited experience of the staff at Oulton has been great, very helpful. On a regular track day, how much does it cost to have an instructor sitting in ?

 

I went on a Caterham experience day a couple of weeks ago and had a great time (Hence my recent investigations for purchasing one).

 

Paul

 

Edited by - paul2002 on 8 Jul 2002 15:45:54

[Ron]

I think the pics are for rubberneckers

Could'nt help the grin on my face

Eh? why would there be a grin on your face after an accident like this. Pathetic! And so common amongst 'Caterham' owners along with their badge snobbery. No real Seven owner and enthusiast would feel that way. You will fit in well on this site!

 

Humph!

 

 

Edited by - ron on 8 Jul 2002 13:46:13

[sjwb]

Paul2002,

1) It was NOT brand new

2) Hardly a write off

3) Why should you find it amusing

4) I do hope that you never experience such a downfall and be subject to a Porsche owner hardly being able to surpress a grin. For I promise you one thing; if you had smacked the armco in a Se7en at that rate you would be looking at far more that a damaged bumper and fender!

 

Steve B

 

Edited by - sjwb on 8 Jul 2002 13:54:28

[paul2002]

Apologies, Gone.

 

Edited by - paul2002 on 8 Jul 2002 16:10:18

[Red Ticker]

Mike

 

I have to take a diffrent opinion to you on instruction in the wet.

 

I had my first session with Austin in the wet (on another trackday) and he helped me enormeously. I was very aprehensive but he helped me be smooth with my driving and to start to get a feel for the levels of grip in the wet. I still have a long way to go to move my driving to anything near the cars limits but have found that instruction in the wet is just as valuable as dry driving. Given the weather I personally seem to attract to track days this is no bad thing at all!!!

 

Martin

[paul.davis]

OK it seems instruction is generally popular and useful in wet and dry - I would still like some more feedback on "book em up in advance" versus "find em in the paddock" . . . . give it up!

 

Paul

 

Zeeeeeeetec . . .

[Angus]

I used Austin in the wet in the morning. I found him excellent. I did not know the circuit at all - in fact I spun at Nikerbrook on the 3 familiarisation laps, so some instruction after that was very welcome. It added to my enjoyment of the day tremendously and helped me to go quicker (relatively !) earlier.

 

Paul, regarding the booking system, my view is that you dont want to make it too easy. If we publisise it extensively, then two instructors is not many and will get booked up very quickly, leaving a lot of disappointment. Better to leave it low profile, then only the really determined will succeed in booking, leaving less unhappy people. If we want to promote instruction, then we will need more instructors.

 

Regarding the intercom system, I found it only partially successful. It was difficult to hear and on occasions cut out altogether. This may have been down to the very wet conditions though, and a vast improvement on handsignals.

 

Finally, may I add my thanks to Paul, Adrian, Geoff, Barry and the other organisers for another superb club trackday.

[paul.davis]

Good to see you on the track again Angus, and trying hard by the end of the day. Those brakes smell . . .

 

Thanks for input on booking system - anyone else with a preference??

 

Paul

 

Zeeeeeeetec . . .

 

Edited by - paul.davis on 9 Jul 2002 14:19:16

[Paul Thompson]

IMHO we should encourage people to use the Instructors, especially those who have not attended a track day before. It therefore makes sense for them to be pre-booked, why not when initally booking the day . This would reduce the pressure on the registration desk. It must also be better for the Instructors to be able to plan their time.

[caro]

This was my first L7Club track day, and only the second time i have been on track in my husband's Caterham. It's also the first time I have been on this forum! (thanks Jane for pointing me to it).

 

Firstly, thank you to the organisers, we had a great day, the briefing was excellent (liked the extra for first timers) and good to meet some friendly 7ers.

 

Being rather nervous, I wanted some instruction if I was going to drive, but it took me until just before lunch to find Austin and ask for some time (but please don't think I spent the whole morning looking, I went out as a passenger twice and chatted etc). We agreed the first green session after lunch but owing to a mix-up over where to meet, he'd gone out with someone else and I joined the track late with Husband as a passenger/instructor (tricky!). Austin came to find me straight after the session and apologised, and made great efforts to give me instruction time. So, although I agree it's better not to make booking too formal, perhaps a little more thought over making it clear where to find the instructors to arrange time and where to hook up with them to go out on the track would be good.

 

I want to emphasise that Austin was very helpful, I felt I learned a lot from him and was much less nervous with him in the car telling me what lines to take - and the intercom was superb, i could hear every word, unlike my only other Caterham track experience with incomprehensible hand signals which i couldn't see anyway because I spent the whole time looking in the mirror trying to get out of the way of Superlights on slicks.

 

I suppose the problem is, with only two instructors, they are going to be much in demand on green sessions, but i did appreciate the grouping as it avoided the problems i mentioned above, and while i'm on the subject, apologies to anyone who felt I didn't get out of their way properly; I'll learn! I would definitely ask for instruction again in the future.