VW Driving Experience 2014

[tigger73]

+1

The Progression and Evolution courses follow a very similar format. The other major difference is the group size in the Evolution is 2 per car whereas the Progression is 3 per car. So effectively you're getting 50% more driving time in the Evolution (and hence the higher cost).

Also the exercises in the Evolution are done at slightly higher speeds (emergency stop/swerve from 80km/hr instead of 60km/hr) and some slightly more complex manoeuvres with cones on the skid pan.

At Phillip Island the extra drive time equates to 3 laps in the Evolution course for each car vs 2 laps in the Progression course. Also as Ryan_R points out in the Evolution course you'll get to drive the AWD Golf R and in the Progression course this gets replaced with the base GTI (GTI PP is used for both courses).

I think that they may make you go through the Progression course first. That way they know what you have covered and what you haven't (unless the course you did was run by the same group).

Either way there's not a significant difference between the courses - you'll enjoy both. If you haven't done any driver training for a few years you'll still get a lot out of the Progression course.

[Tiggy]

Am taking the course in PI, can anyone suggest a decent place to stay overnite? Have never been to PI so wouldnt have a clue as to how the place looks like. Nothing fancy would be good? Also, what's an acceptable attire, considering it'll be early Spring then?

[Ryan_R]

Dress for the cold, you'll often be standing trackside and you're right on the coast with decent winds. Maybe even bring a coat just in case.

Maybe look for places to stay in Cowes?

[AdamD]

Am taking the course in PI, can anyone suggest a decent place to stay overnite? Have never been to PI so wouldnt have a clue as to how the place looks like. Nothing fancy would be good? Also, what's an acceptable attire, considering it'll be early Spring then?

When tigger73 and I went over last year, we stayed here:

Silverwater Resort - Phillip Island Accommodation

Good price, very comfortable, and a 15-minute drive to the track. Would recommend.

As for clothing, as Ryan has suggested make sure you take a jacket or a jumper - but make sure it's easily removable as things can get warm inside the cars, especially when you're concentrating hard at 210+km/h on your fast laps.

[tomcat225]

I registered for the Philip island progression course ( whatever the monday date was )... should be good fun

[Ryan_R]

To those that were wondering about the (expensive) Audi program... epic fun. Well worth the spend if you enjoy your cars and driving (and you were fairly confident with the VW driving days).

Cars I drove (from memory)
S3 8V
S4
RS4
SQ5
S5
RS5
TTRS
RS6

I was also passenger to Steve Pizzati in an R8 V10 for a hotlap. No instructors in the car either which was a little weird - 2 people per car. The instructors have their own car to lead you from session to session, and you follow them for the afternoon hotlaps.

Activities:
Brake and swerve (don't know which direction to swerve until last second)
Oversteer car control
Emergency lane changes (aka elk test)
Timed Motorkhana (on wet skidpan)
Hotlaps

Good amount of time spent at each session (of course you always want just one more go to perfect it, although I can quote Luke Youlden as describing my drifting (oversteer session) as "perfect").
A prize is awarded for the fastest motorkhana time
Someone gifted me a 1:43 RS5 model as well.
Lunch was great.

Anyway I'll leave things at that. If I've tempted any of you guys to save up for this then Phillip Island is the best place to do it.
Maybe next time a few of us can go do the ice driving course in Austria together

What I found a little surprising, was that of the 14 of us, I was the only participant who had experience at the PI circuit before. Some were from interstate, but maybe Audi used Sandown or Winton in previous years.

[AdamD]

I think you've sold me on doing this next year Ryan! Sounds like it's definitely worth the outlay.

[Ryan_R]

Here's what I managed to record. They didn't have video cameras in these cars.

[tigger73]

There's a few tickets still available (just released) for the Sydney event: 2. Select a course - Bookings - Volkswagen Driving Experience

[tomcat225]

Got the progression course Monday at PI looking forward to it... bit of rain forcasted though

[Ryan_R]

Don't forget to dress for the cold/windy conditions. You'll spend a bit of time outside the cars on the side of the track.

[tomcat225]

Don't forget to dress for the cold/windy conditions. You'll spend a bit of time outside the cars on the side of the track.

Will do.. Do they allow spectators if I bring someone along ??

[Ryan_R]

iirc they are charged @ half price and you need to let them know 7 days in advance.

[tomcat225]

iirc they are charged @ half price and you need to let them know 7 days in advance.

Yiikes that just to watch in the stand ! She can stay home lol



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[tigger73]

I really don't think it would be that interesting as a spectator as the participants are out on the track for most of the time moving between the various exercises being run.

There would be a bit of time in-between lapping sessions, however unless she was a photographer and can get taken around by the VW van to get shots of you in the car it would be an expensive breakfast/lunch and pretty boring to be honest.