When I was in the Fire Service, we had to have EFAD training (Emergency Fire Appliance Driver).
I had to do extensive fast runs up and down the M1 with the instructor telling you to take the next exit at the last moment. These runs were done in a tuned Vauxhall Vectra and done both with and without blue lights & sirens. (This was to familiarise you with cars sometimes getting out of your way and other times ignoring you completely) We did reach some impressive speeds, and the instructor was always urging you to get to the Rev limiter in every gear.
They were also done through Sheffield centre during peak traffic times. (Now that was quite hairy!)
We were once stopped by the Police while doing a non light run through Sheffield. (Apparently there is a dispensation for driver training to be conducted in that manner) we were held at the side of the road for nearly 30 minutes until it was cleared up.
Then there was the skid pan training which was done at RAF Finningley, which is now Doncaster Sheffield International Airport.
This was done at first in another Vectra (borrowed from the police) with a cage fitted (and bald tyres on the car)) that had large castor wheels on each corner. The instructor had a control box and could lift any or all corners hydraulically at any time to simulate driving on ice. Once you had mastered that, it was a Fire Engine with the cage fitted.
Typically there would be the trainee driver and instructor in the front and 1 or 2 other trainee drivers in the rear waiting for their turn or relaxing after it.
I remember once having sat in the back for the first run of the day, and watching how it was (or more often - not) done.
When it was my turn, I instantly corrected each skid and hadn’t spun it once, so after @ 40 minutes of trying to catch me out, the instructor lifted all four wheels and as we merrily pirouetted down the runway the instructor smiled at me and said “right you clever b@stard control that!” He did then go on to say I had done the right thing which was to let the steering centre by itself as he said if you get into a four wheel skid on black ice, you need to know what direction the wheels are pointing at the point you start to regain grip.
I had a Ford Escort Sport at the time and I remember getting in trouble in an empty car park practicing drifting and handbrake turns into Parking spots one very icy morning.
During my career in the Fire Service, there were a couple of times when the training really paid off when I got a fully loaded 12.5 ton Mercedes Fire Engine into a slide and managed to catch it perfectly. I don’t think the OIC sitting in the front appreciated my skills too much though when I glanced over at him sitting there with a white face and knuckles gripping the seat.
It has certainly helped me in my driving ever since and I felt very privileged to be getting paid to do a course like that which I’m sure would cost any one else a fortune to do privately.
Got some Winter tyres for it just in time for the snow arriving. I have no intention of tuning my car, but I may end up changing the exhaust backbox as it's very droney - especially at certain speeds. Although very stiff compared to my previous cars, so far I'm very impressed with it. Hope you are too ?
