Skid Pan Course at Thruxton Race Track
This year I have had an early Christmas present, a 3 hour skid pan training course. Skid pan training is not only valuable life-saving knowledge, but also immense fun!
The day started inside at the Thruxton race track skid pan course for briefing. Briefing takes through the issues that you need to understand such as why we skid, what type of skids there are, but most importantly, learning to accept that they are always the fault of the driver. Once briefing is out of the way and all the debating on the last issue I mentioned is out of the way, its time to head out onto the course.
There is no need to risk your own vehicle on the course, though you can at another time if you wish. Three old Ford Sierras are provided with over inflated bald tyres. You probably will not want to take your own pride and joy out on the course, not only is the floor covered in constantly spraying water, but also in thick oil which the instructor replenishes throughout the session with a large grin upon his face.
The first part out on the track consists of a ride in the instructors car as he explains what he will expect you to do to learn to react to the different situations such as a front or rear skid, or how to bring the car out of a spin. The main objective here is to drive in as much control as you can and prevent yourself from skidding.
There were eight people on this session, so three in the first two cars and two in the final car. Each person taking turn to drive with all cars on the track at once. The instructor, as he points out, will not be in the car while we drive, he cannot teach from in the car as learning is based on reactions, instead he wanders around the track commenting on performance and generally walking in the way and testing your reactions, nutter!
After sliding around the oily track, it's back inside for debriefing and tea or coffee. The next session involves braking technique, which for me personally was the best practical experience. The layout has a run up, a brake sign about half way and further on three cones representing either side of the road, and one in the center, the idea to stop the car without hitting it. After the corner there are a row of tyres to weave in and out of for the return journey to the start for the next go.
On the first go you are to apply the brake as hard as possible and depress the clutch. This brings you to a tyre scrapping and skidding stop, during this time trying to steer. You learn instantly that all turning control is lost, the steering wheel goes light and the car continues straight forward until it stops. From then on you are to apply cadence braking (on the brakes, off the brakes and so on) which gives you back possibly enough control to find an escape route and avoid the cones placed on the course as vital hazards not to hit. On each return of the lap you get slide in and out of the cone bases on the floor. Purely for entertainment and great fun. After a couple of laps the instructor moves the brake sign forward making the critical stops much more demanding. During this your performance is commented on and its up to you to learn to feel the cars responses and to react accordingly to the situation.
At the end everyone is debriefed and awarded a certificate of training. The course is not only fun, but also a real eye opener. I would recommend it to all who drive on the public highway, even if you think you know it all. Yearly refreshers are recommended and I would agree with this, you can not put a price on safety.
Rating 10/10
Craig Diment, December 2000.