Done the supercars, so let's go rallying!

[Del]

You may remember that my Missus got my a Supercar Experience voucher for Christmas last year. Well this year, I got some cash from my Mum, and as I have loads of stuff and not really needing any more, I thought I'd put it towards another experience, but rallying this time.
Has anyone done any of the rally school courses that are available? I believe the two in Wales, Phil Price and Forest Rally (run by the Higginses), are apparently top of the tree, but I'd appreciate any first-hand experiences from any of them.

[generallee]

I had a day with TI last year for my birthday www.tirallyschool.co.uk/ it was really, really good.

Some of the other folks there had been on supercar days and were grumbling about how they didn't really get to "properly" drive, just pootling around a track (at the supercar day, not rallying). They said how different (in a good way) it was having instructors who aren't too precious about their cars.

[Del]

Cheers! I've had a look at a few videos on their website, and the stage looks quite short. How much time do you get in the car, would you say?

[generallee]

They start off with a really tight, kidney-bean sort of shaped course to teach you the absolute basics (skidding and hand brake turns and that), and then keep extending it out until you end up with the course on the video. It looks a bit short, the video doesn't really do it justice, you get 3 or 4 attempts (I think) at the last, longest course, which is timed.

I have no idea how much time is actually spent in the cars (it all passed inabit of a blur), but I didn't feel like I was short changed.
I was worried before booking there would be loads of standing around, but actually the time out of the cars was quite welcome as there was so much to take in while driving. The instructor would be telling me what to do and where I am going wrong calmly, while I was mashing the pedals and sawing away at the wheel wildly, yanking on the handbrake and generally cursing.

I came away exhausted, but on a real buzz.

I would do it again.

PS I'm not affiliated with them, just had an absolute blast.

[1430MK1]

Hi,

First hand experience of Higgins Rally school circa 4 years ago now, looks like it's changed hands now... (so can't remember all the details!). It was fantastic, I'm not sure what you've read but they own a small section of forest which has been converted to a gravel / forest stage. Which when they aren't instructed, they rent out to rally teams for testing. At the time we had the option of a MK2 escort or an FWD Mitsubishi We (obviously) opted for the Mk2 escort over the Mitsi which meant our waiting a little longer for a date but well worth it. You meet at the Higgins residence / garage which at the time had a few RWD escorts in various states of repair and then you drive up a track into the forest.

There was a group of (from memory) about 6 of us on the day with 'seat time' being equally divided up. From memory, into 3 goes in the driving seat. It was a retired rally driver (rather than a Higgins) who instructed, the first couple of goes were instruction / practice on how to drive the car, use the handbrake, manouvre around a small open coned course etc. all leading up to a hot lap with the professional around the full course. They then let you drive the full course and time it with the fastest of the group taking a trophy home. The course goes from open gravel through tree lined forest sections

There wasn't a huge amount of waiting time between goes and there was a modest canteen / portacabin to wait in. The one thing that sticks in my mind is the safety briefing at the start, the instructor basically said if at any point I don't return within 10 mins, the number for the air ambulance is pinned on the wall!

As mentioned about, this was a while ago and it may have changed now but I would well recommend it and would love to go back too.

[commervan]

I did the Higgins 23yrs ago in a 16v golf on gravel and then saff cos on tarmac in hull and it was wicked still got the video now

[Del]

Holy thread resurrection, Batman!
So having still not done this, I've now found that there are three rally schools within twenty miles of my front door!
They are Bill Gwynne, Silverstone, and London Rally School.
Anyone done a one-day course at any of these?

[dieselmax]

I did the silverstone rally school one, which was good, very experienced driver tutor. They used subarus with the front prop removed for proper sideways stuff. Make sure you choose the one near silverstone, which is near silverstone circuit, but not the one that is actually on silverstone circuit. I think that is the better option, judging from other people's experience.

[norm75]

I’ve done London rally school a few years ago.
It was pretty spur of moment as was up for the Silverstone classic which is just after my b’day and booked it that weekend for the Monday on the way home.It was half day not full day course I did which consisted of laps around a square gravel yard with cones to practice throttle control and handbrake manoeuvres to get used to the car (escort rs2000) and then onto the short stage, which is basically up a twisty track, round a loop, and back down the track so it’s only one person on the stage at a time. You get two or three runs and the last is timed.

Unfortunately on my timed run someone prior to me collected a tyre at the side of the track and pulled it onto the racing line, They keep record of times for a month and I’d got scratch time or joint scratch time for the month and was quickest on the day but the instructor said going wide and too sidewards on that corner probably cost a couple of seconds.

Following the escort was a turn in an evo 8. I had booked to use an Impreza sti but it was being repaired which was a shame as I have an Impreza. Completely different driving style as to get a 4wd sideways on stage means stabbing the brake at last minute while turning into the corner and stamping on the loud peddle to get it to break traction. I liked it but the other guys that were there on the day were a little overwhelmed by the different driving style compared to the escort.

I did rally school at brands hatch over 20 years ago in a Sierra cosworth.

[darrenh]

both ?






serious answer, the other one i can think of is chris birkbeck rally school