Tomorrow afternoon (Saturday 15th) I will be attending a skid control training session at the Castle Combe racing circuit near Chippenham. I have never been to Castle Combe or any other racing track for a driving experience and wondered if you had any suggestions or tips on what I should look out for and be aware of.

I'm looking forward to the training session and theory of how to control skids properly (no not the sort that could appear in your pants ). I don't expect they will allow us to practice power slides, drifting or doughnuts but it should be fun and useful nonetheless .

From what I've seen (when I've visited the circuit), they have a purpose built skid pan and use BMW's and pretty much show you the ropes and then let you have a play. I suspect as you're paying, they'll be happy to teach you what you like

Obviously that was a couple of years back and it's probably all changed now

Chris

I've really GOT to get myself booked in one of these days - have a great day - no tips unfortunately other than enjoy

I've really GOT to get myself booked in one of these days - have a great day - no tips unfortunately other than enjoy

If you join IAM/RoSPA, they run these days at good discounts. I've just gotta find the time to go on one

Chris

Well I had a great afternoon out on the skid pan and it was a lot of fun. They had a small peanut shaped circuit that was slicked out and we had the opportunity to drive both a front-wheel drive (Rover 216) and a rear-wheel drive (old BMW 3 series) car.

They took us through the theory of skidding in each car, how to negotiate the skid using the controls of the car and then we practiced some braking techniques - cadence, ABS style braking and turning to zig zag out of harm's way.

At the end the group all had a time-trial around a new track to pull some handbrake turns and slides and despite a poor show in the Rover I got the shortest time in the BMW and finished third over all. I really enjoyed the rear-wheel drive power slides and it made me realise what fun drifting could be - although we were really there to control the skids.

I was all fired up for my journey home and although it's a dangerous mentality to be in, I had a thoroughly enjoyable and brisk drive home. The country road from Castle Combe back to junction 18 of the M4 (B4039/4040) is a right little belter and I had some great fun overtaking and burning up that road on this sun drentched day.

To top it all off I saw a lovely Lamborghini Murcielago on the racing track before I left. It sounded fabulous!