Silverstone Rally School anyone?

Anyone interested in a morning at the Silverstone Rally School? I have made some tentative enquiries about doing their Introductory Course for a group session in April. I'm thinking in terms of a Friday morning session, followed by a pub lunch. The normal cost is £145 for the rally course, and they have agreed a group rate at £125 including VAT and insurance etc. Lunches would be paid for on the day. The session starts at 9.00 and finishes at 12.30. They are limited to a group of 12 people, and both myself and Rodney would be going, so that leaves 10 places up for grabs. Club members and non-members are welcome. This isn't a PCGB organised event "" I'm just doing it off my own bat for forum members. 996ers take preference, after which it's open to anyone. You can get more info on the course at http://www.silverstonerally.co.uk/ . In order to secure a place we would have to pay a 50% deposit, so I would need a definite commitment asap, followed by a deposit as soon as we have 12 participants. Post a reply if you want to put your name down. 4th or 11th April are the most likely options, and state your preference only if you can't make one of the dates.

Richard, I'm definitely up for this, although I can imagine you may well get 12 996ers! So count me in if you will accept a 993er. Preference for the 4th. Mark

The web site says: The Introductory Course A half day course designed to provide a fun and exciting introduction to the sport of rally driving. The course begins with an informal tutorial in our classroom area where your instructor will brief you on the basic principles of rally driving , including power sliding and handbrake turns. Following the tutorial session, you will take the co-drivers seat for a brief in car demonstration of the subjects covered in the classroom. Then it's your turn behind the wheel and a chance to put into practice the tuition you have received so far. Each customer has three practical driving sessions in our safe practice area, learning the techniques used by modern day rally drivers. To complete the session, there is a choice of either taking to the wheel again, but this time on a full loose surface rally special stage, with the instructor talking you through the circuit from the co-drivers seat. Alternatively, you can choose to take the 'hot seat' ride, where you will take the co-drivers seat whilst the instructor drives you through the full special stage at authentic rally speeds. Guaranteed to provide you with an adrenalin rush! In closing, the instructor will summarise the sessions activities and answer questions and offer advice, along with presenting every driver with a Silverstone Rally School Certificate. The introductory course commences at 9.00am and concludes at approximately 12.30pm They may have 10 cars, but they would split us into groups of 6 for the driving, with an instructor for each group. We take it in turns, presumably.

This sounds great fun Richard! Add me to the list please!! Let me know how you want deposits, etc. Would this count as a "track day" as regards insurance do you know? Cheers David

Not if we are using their cars!! The Rally School is just opposite the main circuit at Silverstone, but is completely independent.

Count me in (and my wife too if we are being 'inclusive'!) All the best Des

Well it seems like this isn't as appealing as I thought is might be, judging by the amount of replies. Also, and more worryingly, I've heard from someone who has friends who went on the course and said that there wasn't really enough time in the car, and too much classroom tuition. Being on a weekday probably didn't help either. Therefore I've decided to call it off. Perhaps I'll look into an alternative for a weekend later in the year, so if you have any ideas let me know.

Nice try though - it was certainly a good idea in principle. By the way, were you parked at Cookham station the other night - there was a nice blue coupe with savanna and private plates. I was on the way home from the daily grind, I live up the road. All the best Des

I don't think I was parked there, but I'm often around that area as I live just down the road, near the river in Maidenhead.

Hi Richard, As mentioned to Rodney that was my feedback too; I did it some 5-6 years ago as a red-letter day but I felt I did not learn anything which I would use in the real world as the rally cars (Peugeot rally car) just slid around the muddy dirt track and you got a couple of laps of the short track in the morning and a few more in the afternoon. It was fun for the brief time we got to drive it but I would recommend something like Pro-Drive in your own car.

Hi Richard, I got as far as checking out their web site - my impression was also not much time in the car - especially for a half-day only session. The day-long one looked better, but too much dosh for me at the moment. Rgds, Martin