Safe Speed Forums

Hi, has anyone here done any of the HPC courses
http://www.high-performance-course.co.uk/
I am thinking of doing one to help my driving and also to aid me with my job.

At present i am a Fire service driving instructor in both LGV and Cars, i am on the LGV instructors register and also an ADI, i have been instructing EFAD's for 2 years and been an EFAD driver for 15 years. I would like to see what anyone on here thinks of the courses and if it would be worth the money to attend. Thanks

As far as 'job' goes, do you feel improvement is needed in driving skills or teaching ability?

Perhaps try to narrow down areas where you would like to enhance your skills, and rather than a particular company and what they can do, target effort at the best course & provider for that skill?

Rather than 'traditional' training, have a read of Sir John Whitmore's 'Coaching for Performance'. Very good book.

Well i dont feel i need any more skills to provide the training which i give. And any course i did would not allow me to do what i can do at work already with regard to Blues and Two's. I will be paying for any course myself and i am sure that most people can learn something extra. Which is what i am aiming to do, really i am curious as to what is taught in the HPC courses and how it would differ from my own previous training and experience.

I know HPC folk on both sides, trainers and trainees. I haven't done the course.

I think you'll find that the observation and roadcraft things are very much as you have been taught, (but every instructor has his own tips and many are useful) but handling and control skills are more blended - for example brake gear overlap might be encouraged (I hope!). In the non-HPC courses you have already done there are various elements designed to accomodate the talentless - in HPC talent should be encouraged and fully developed.

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Thanks for that, that is the sort of thing i was hoping it would be like. I know what you mean about talantless lol.. i am wanting to learn as much as i can and can then decide what to pass on in my work and what to keep for myself. I have always prided myself on the fact that i want to improve all the time and HPC looked like the best option rather than some of the more shall i say "toatally by the book" courses.

have just dne a 1/2 day pre Master driving course (to get into HPC) and it was great, BGOL wasn't encouraged but it was allowed to be used if i could justify it. Flexibility was enocouraged and the 1/2 day was very good. I cant wait to do the 2 dayer in August hopefully.

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I did a half day drive with Hugh Noblett who is one of the HPC "gatekeepers".

He was very keen on avoiding BGOL, unless very good reason for it.

I enjoyed the half day drive, 12 years after passing IAM test there were a few things that i had let slip ( BGOL among them ) and he soon picked me up on them.

I am now waiting for date for my ROSPA test, and once i feel ready i fully intend to go back to Hugh and try for HPC.

Rick448, was your course with Hugh/Cadence?

Yes i went out with Hugh. He said i could go for the MDC whenever i wanted, but unfortunately it will be August until i can get the time off

He told me i would still pass IAM test, but needed improvment for ROSPA Gold - so thats my next target before going back to Hugh, hopefully later this year.

Have had a few runs out with ROSPA Leicester group observer and he feels i am ready for test, just waiting for examiner to get in touch to arrange test date.

Looked into HPC some years ago after reading a series of John Lyon articles in "Performance Car" magazine, also read a book he did in conjunction with Porsche. Was put off trying HPC by the expense, but also the impression that had to drive a Ferrari to join - and the feeling that i would never reach the standard.

Now, some years later, the time has come where i can afford to give it a go, and while i am still not sure about reaching the standard - if i don't try, i will never know. Still don't have a Ferrari! My Mondeo will have to do.

Good luck in giving it a go You should be fine in your Mondeo, my Skoda Octavia Vrs will hopefully do me proud

Thanks.

Octavia RS is about top of my list for next car. Are they as good as i have heard? Local Police now have them for Traffic duties and they look the part.

My Mondeo is 2.5 V6 version and while no real complaints about its performance it does not feel as if has the quite mid range performance of a previous car - Sierra XR4x4. Sierra was down by about 20bhp on the Mondeo, but peak torque was 1000rpm lower down rev range and the gearing a bit longer so for most overtaking opportunities on A roads 3rd was automatic choice. In the Mondeo 3rd runs out 5-10mph lower down and 4th doesn't always give immediate response. I am considering the Skoda as i understand they have a good, wide power band.

The Skoda is a very good motor, i have mine remapped to about 230 bhp. (according to the rolling road) and have a boost controller so i can run it at standard and turn it up when i want. Well worth £700 ish. The car handles ok as standard but i have uprated the rear Anti roll bar (£199 ish) and it transforms the handling. For what you pay for these they really take some beating. Put it this way, my brother drove mine and the next dat swapped a BMW 320i for one.