Folks,
Yesterday I spent the day with Colin at CAT. The short story:
Best driver training I've ever had.
The longer story:
Back in the early 00s I had a TVR Tuscan, which as anyone who's owned a TVR will tell you, are a knife edge. So I learned to drive it properly. As mentioned earlier in this thread, over the years I've had loads of driver training, done track days, time on ice, etc etc. I like to think (as we all do!) that "I can drive". I wouldn't put myself as 'a great driver' (ha!) but I would say I'm 'above average'. But, I'm also very open minded to learning new things, and am of the opinion that I can always learn something new from training.
I booked a bespoke day with Colin, opting for the performance course in the morning, in my own C2S, and a spot of drifting in their Caterham for the afternoon. As with Gareth's experience, we started the morning over a cuppa with a chat about what I wanted to achieve. I told Colin that I'm doing four track days this year in the 911 and that I'd like to be able to drive it quickly, but be able to minimise mistakes (like one I made at Silverstone in the pouring rain last November where I wasn't quick enough to collect up the back end stepping out at Abbey and promptly went grass mowing).
The morning then proceeded with some on limit braking, a bit of steering testing, some work on the high speed bowl (I've driven quickly in the past – over 165mph on derestricted German autobahns – but nothing prepares you for doing 135mph on the upper lane of the Millbrook bowl. Probably the scariest thing I've ever done in a car) and finally knitting it all together on the handling circuit (which is tight!).
Within the first ten minutes of chatting with Colin over the tea I'd learned something new! (I did not know the 911 aerodynamics over circa-120mph shifted the pressure point more forward of the car centre, which is unlike many other cars but makes total sense for weight balance. You get to experience this fact happening in real time on the bowl). I learned the single most useful braking thing nobody has ever told me before, amazingly, and instantly perfected my on-limit braking – both right and left footed. By the final lap of the handling circuit I'd got the tyres 'chirping' in the bends – a sure sign I was on the grip limit and quite a buzz to both find and recognise.
I think what made Colin's training so much better than all others I've had over the years was the 'top 1%'. That magical detail which gets the very best out of a situation. It's his explanation of why things are the way they are that permitted me – with a bit of an engineering brain anyway – to fully understand what the car was doing and how to use that information whilst driving. And from our conversations throughout the day it's evident that Colin will totally tune what he tells clients based on their requirements (he knows A LOT and could happily blow your brains out with detail if you so desire. Or, he can tell you enough to make it useful without saturating you. In other words, his people skills are top notch).
I probably don't need to say much about drifting a Caterham. Besides the fact I couldn't stop grinning.
It's also worth going just to experience Millbrook. What a location. It's so secretive you will have covers put over your mobile phone cameras – both front and back – at the entrance gate! It's amazing what you see there. As a petrolhead I'd go so far as to say the place is actually exciting. I asked if we could have a drive over the mountain loop at the end of the day – that's worth doing because so many films and TV programs have been over it, it's quite fun to see for real.
I really don't think anyone would ever regret spending time and money with Colin. If you want to get the most enjoyment possible out of your car – and I've come to recognise even the lowly Carrera has capabilities way past my skills – he'll arm you with the best skills you can get.
--Mark
