David Rainbird Hornchurch Essex

Hi Julian,

After reading about performance⁄advanced driving days in Evo Magazine a few years back, I searched Google and found your site among others. I thought yours was the most informative and I really knew what i was going to get. A few years later, and I had the right car and the money, I fortunately found you again on Google.

The whole day was just perfect for what I wanted. Chris Hall was superb, with extensive knowledge and experience, easy to get along with, and talked a lot…… which was ideal because I let him do the talking while I was concentrating so much! Everything was explained so I knew exactly why I was doing it, and it all made perfect sense.

He has taught me techniques to use after the day, to continue honing my observatory skills; the commentary of my surroundings on the road is just so good at forcing you to observe everything you see. I let him know that I’m spotting new things during journeys on roads I am familiar with, which is very impressive.

My driving had definitely hit a rut in it’s quality, and massively improved observation was something that has made such a big difference, giving you the chance to plan your moves on the road, and the possibilities of what might happen up ahead.

I have always loved vehicles since I was born, and have wanted to get involved in some form of motorsport. Putting in some good lap times at go–karting pushed me closer to it, and I’ve wanted to do a track day, but didn’t have the confidence to jump straight in.

Spending the hour at the airfield with Chris was outstanding. A few sighting laps around the handling course, and then picking up the pace, and by the end of the session I’d remembered the corners and was pushing the car to it’s limits of pace and grip (now at my own risk of course).

Go–karting and teenage years playing racing games made me familiar with understeer, and how to react to it, and having the chance to experience it and control it on the limit of the car’s capability was outstanding. The most important factor in all of this was having Chris sitting there, holding on to the grab handle, instructing me on exactly what to do. As I gained confidence and familiarity his instruction lessened, which was great, as I knew I was doing it right!

On the way home, whilst worn out, things started to click into place. From the morning’s on road instruction, to the handling lessons on track, and a break to let things sink in a little. A string of a few good roads with little traffic allowed me to try commentary, as well as a few overtaking manoeuvres, and making progress on public roads in a much safer manner than I was previously.

I considered myself a good driver before the day, and I knew there was more to learn to make me better, and I was right. Fortunately, I contacted the right people, who paired me up with the right instructor, and now I can’t wait to clock up some miles enjoying driving and practicing the lessons I’ve learnt.

Thank you once again,

David Rainbird
Ranault Clio 182 Trophy