Winter driving in Castle Combe

I know winter is nearly over (we hope) and it might seem a long time ago that Chippenham’s roads resembled an ice rink but I recently took part in a Skid Pan driving course at Castle Combe race track and it was so much fun I thought I’d recommend it.

No doubt you’re familiar with Castle Combe’s racing circuit – it’s quite famous. But there’s plenty of ways you can have a go on it yourself, without being a racing driver.

As well as the usual track days, such as sports cars, land rovers, go karts etc, the guys at Drive Tech are offering educational driver training.

Sound dull? Well it’s not, it might be informative but it’s also really good fun.

The Skid Pan is essentially just a slippery piece of track, which they coat in a special liquid to create an icy surface.

And if you’ve ever hit a patch of black ice or snow you’ll know how hard it is to control a car. So this course teaches you how to do just that.

The instructors are former police drivers, so they know a thing or two about keeping hold of your vehicle in dangerous situations.

And they don’t preach or teach in a classroom fashion (although there is a bit of that) instead you’re let loose on to the track to throw the car about, knock into cones and feel what it’s like to lose control.

They then explain how to stay in control and you get another chance to hit the track, and put what they tell you into practice.

As well as emphasising that the day should be fun, Drive Tech also feel strongly that courses like this one should be a compulsory part of driver training.

The theory is, that training young drivers more will make them better drivers and will reduce the number of road deaths.

This in turn will reduce insurance premiums for the younger age group and will probably have an effect on all motor insurance premiums.

 

Check out www.drivetechltd.co.uk for information about the Skid Pan course and all of their other track days.