“Doing anything Saturday ?” asked my friend David. I pondered. Jobs at home, wash the car, cut the hedge, mow the lawn, paper work, yes Saturday would be a very busy day. “Why?” I ask. “Fancy coming to the skid pan at Castle Coombe” he replies. Slowly cogs whirr in my brain. A very difficult decision has to be made and I need time, slowly I weigh the options and after a full two seconds I confirm, its skid pans on Saturday!
8.07 Saturday morning, enter Castle Coombe on the sat nav, I guessed at an hours trip, but Tom Tom indicates an extra 22minutes, I need to get a move on. Recently my driving has been quite sedate, partly to conserve fuel, partly to maintain my licence and partly because there is usually so much traffic, it’s hopeless trying to go fast.
My luck is in, the roads are pretty clear and I maintain a rapid rate getting to my destination sooner than expected, but Sat Nav being what Sat Nav is, its not the destination I need! Nine more frantic miles down single track roads and I’m there, phew!
Of the twelve participants I arrive last and the others, having had a briefing, are getting into cars on the skid pan area. Death defying Marshalls are spraying water onto the tarmac surface and sprinkling silicone powder to make it more slippery.
Two cars circulate, each with three people in, one an old white BMW, has rear wheel drive, whilst the other, a British racing green Rover, is a front driver . Engines rev and wheels spin as the cars career round, it seemed the lunatics had taken over the asylum, there were some complete nutters on board. I anticipate being lumped in with a couple of other dim- witts, wrong. I’m with two very pleasant young ladies Caroline and Joanne. Oh well I’ll just have to show them my driving prowess in as chivalrous a manner as possible.
We each have a go at sliding round the course, at times totally out of control but these girls seem to be able to get to grips with it, twirling the steering wheel and not giving it too much welly.
After a session at the wheel of each car it’s back inside for instruction and explanation of what we should be doing. Steer into the skid, don’t brake, dip the clutch, wiggle the steering wheel. Did anyone take it in, do they understand? We also discussed braking and steering and the benefits’ of ABS, this would be put to the test later
Back into the cars. Joanne is quite petite and has problems with the seat position and lack of power steering on the BMW but they both seem to have taken it all in and are now steering, declutching and wiggling the wheel like experts. Its quite interesting that both they and myself , have benefitted from the instruction we have received but friend David’s car has the lads on board, the red mist drops when they take the wheel and they continue to charge round like lunatics.
This session done we get into the BMW to test braking and steering without ABS. Full throttle then brake hard and try to turn, until the brakes are released the car careers straight on, even with the front wheels turned hard over. Next full throttle at a cone representing a Granny crossing the road, brakes hard on, skid, turn, straight on until the brakes are released, then the car turns. Phew the cone remains in place (not the case with all participants)
Next an old Vectra with ABS. Again we drive full chat towards the cone, brake hard, the ABS judders then we turn , because the abs is doing its stuff the wheels get grip and steer us away from granny showing how ABS can help in an emergency braking situation.
Finally we all have to drive off against the clock. Its twice around the course and reverse into a cone box to see who has learnt most and can control the car best. The young lads are still on another planet and seem to have learnt nothing, as they spin, skid, hit cones and career uncontrollably all over the place. I wonder how did they pass their driving test and am very glad they don’t live near us, surely they shouldn’t be driving on public roads. The competition builds, the secret is to go gently using all the skills we have learnt, Its going to be difficult to win this one I think. The ladies seem to have done well and I’m the last one to go, can I do it? I charge off but temper my driving as I get onto the slippery stuff, concentrate, go close to the cones, don’t skid, dip the clutch, steer gently, easy on the throttle. We have to do a full circle around a cone and then do the course in reverse, I lose time here but am reasonably pleased with my round as I reverse into the box.
Back in the viewing area and we receive the results of our endeavours. Third place went to a chap who did a good time but was penalised for hitting a cone, my efforts put me in second and Caroline, who had complained that she was at University and not driven since Christmas, won, proving I fear, that women can make better drivers than men!