Mike Cooper DRIVERTUITION.COM  Update 22 July 2010

The Driver Tuition Website

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Mike Cooper Drivertuition - ONE OF THE ONLY UK Companies legally able to offer fully insured performance instruction on the road in our or your performance vehicle

AIG offers car insurance

Newly qualified driver or ADI? - CLICK HERE

What we provide: One-2-one intensive driver (or rider ) coaching for road and track

UPDATES:  

13July - half day training session. 1 to 1 at Oulton Park 4th August in our track Toyota MR2  - contact for special rates.

11June - Mike achieves Grade 6 ADI assessment on Fleet DSA checktest - highest grade achievable.

London client driving packages on your doorstep. Bruntingthorpe track/test facility available, including option to drive your car legally at over 200mph.

Recent Feedback: "Mike, thank you again for congenial company and a most informative and useful session today. I shall enjoy practicing in my Elise." BR 29Apr

"Mike, just a message to thank you for a great day out driving yesterday, great roads and a great car (Panda - believe it or not) ! There was a lot to take in during the day but it was immensely enjoyable." SR  

Recent sessions range from: Audi R8, 996 Turbo, C4S & 997 2S, Maserati 4200GT, Honda CTR & NSX, E46 M3, VW Golf GTI MK1, M3 E46 CSLRacecar, MR2 challenge car....

THE IMPORTANT BIT: IF you really wish to become a far more competent driver, with a significantly greater understanding of what is really going on; whether you drive a racecar, own or are about to purchase a performance vehicle, or want to drive more smoothly, more accurately; then read on. What we offer will benefit you significantly. If you are just looking to drive a few laps in a Ferrari, or want to go as sideways as possible then you need to look elsewhere.

If you race - or participate at trackdays - we get you safer, smoother, quicker. Guaranteed: We work extensively with race drivers and can help you find extra speed as well as smoothness, benefiting wear rates, safety and your stress levels. We coach drivers in many series from BTCC to, Le Mans classic, sprint series to hill-climbs.

Most people don't gearchange right or understand brakes. We show and explain how...

On road, we make you more in control of car and the environment; calmer, smoother, safer, enable better progress and, surprisingly, save fuel and tyres: Simply the most effective modification you will ever make to your car.

On road or track we change methodology, perceptions and approach. You become better, more in-control, happier with the total picture. If you've just jumped into the likes of a Gallardo, a 430 or a GT3 you'll understand why this is important and key to appreciating your investment. Confident control.

The Physics, the psychology and physiology, the techniques. It'll be an eye-opener and quite different from the usual track or road instruction. An approach that's proven and very illuminating. We DON'T do track experience packages. We do facilitate significant learning. There's quite a difference and we have little interest in the Murcielago down the runway package; or the kind of drive where the car is thrown into the corner and then hope for the best....

We have excellent relationships with clients who contact us regularly to further hone their drive. Driving development is the key; we get you better.

(For more information on our services, after you have read what we offer, please return and fill in our feedback page here or email the site. )

Instructors Dave Robinson & Mike Cooper

 at Silverstone with Chris Burbidge & CLUBGT members

A FEW TESTIMONIALS...........

Hi Mike Thanks for a great day yesterday, very enjoyable and informative. PC 28 June.

...I will reiterate progress has been remarkable and if you are up for it I am keen to continue building the blocks... MP June 2010

"Hi Mike...Great feedback from everyone, they all learned a lot and think you’re amazing teacher.  Most wanted a whole day in the car! Corporate training giving everyone a couple of hours instruction into producing a quick but safe drive. Mar 2010

"The difference between you and me is that you find more front end grip - how do you do that?" Question posed early in the day by an ex-karting champion, driving his Aston Vantage. We answered the question! Nice car by the way - great pedals.

Thanks for the session Mike - just shows what you can do with 100 horsepower:-) Great day. Look forward to getting my car on track. Thanks 20/1/10 R.B.

Hi, just a note to thank you for the track tuition yesterday - great day. SR 12/7/09 Where a totally standard road car was shown to be quicker round the track than a similar but "modified for race series" version.

Many thanks for yesterday. We both thought it a very thought provoking and extremely valuable. Now, all we have to do is put it into practice!!.....a really valuable and worthwhile session. DS 21/7/09 Oulton Park

Hi Mike,  Thanks for all the feedback. I really enjoyed the day. We competed at Llandow yesterday, a really fast sprint course. We came first and second in the class....we must have another day. Cheers B 19/7/09

Hi Mike, Just to say I came third at our last outing, only 0.3 sec behind my team mate and I beat the rest in our class. Something must have rubbed off! Rgds B 24/6/09

Thanks for yesterday - great day. Knackered and so much to take in!  Will remember the GT3 overtake for quite a while!!! Let me know when your next 'ring trip is" TR May 09

"Thanks for Bedford. Seems so simple and obvious ...... shows you how you can get into trouble so easily if you don’t. I didn’t think I could transfer that to the road that easily but something like the 550 (Ferrari) with so much torque needs it," Track techniques translate across to the road.  May 09

"I was very glad of the training we did with you" - two of our clients returning unscathed from the Nurburgring, giving enthusiastic feedback on one of our special "ring" road preparation courses. Apr 09

 "Had a fantastic day and have already recommended your services on the Mustang Owners forum" Mallory Park April 09

"A pleasure to meet you and thanks for a great day of tuition! I'm thoroughly knackered mentally but have learnt lots!!" - Road day Megane R26 April 09

"Thanks a lot for yesterday - we had a great time and could not believe how much we learned - driving will now be a far more involved experience as we try to hone the skills we began to learn yesterday. Were totally knackered last night.  Coming down the hill at the end of the day was a great example of how much of a difference a quality drive can make - the young lad in the tuned up 2.0T Audi was giving it his all to try and put distance between us - loads of noise, black smoke and tyre squeal as we serenely followed and kept pace without a any fuss at all - only used 4th all the way down! Didn't seem to be able to loose the fella in the Fiat Panda though... (our 100HP Panda following the 225 Megane) Will continue to practise and hope we will be able to arrange another day some time in the future - maybe on the track with the M3?" Road instruction day Feb 09

We really do make a real and immediate improvement to your driving, or riding; As two instructors of over 30 years of combined teaching ( as well as racing)  we have the experience in getting you to understand the idiosyncrasies and dynamics of high performance vehicles; we show you the glitches and transients in your drive that you may have never noticed. These create issues. We take your understanding and appreciation of driving to a higher level; explain the physics; translate it to the drive.

The aim is "a swift, safe and effortlessly smooth flow" to your drive or ride, whether you're on a race-track or road, in a racecar or on a motorbike. We observe the way you currently drive, analyse it and then guide you into making easily implemented changes to your drive. You spend time with us; you improve; simple as that.

Whatever your level - if you race; or perhaps you want to improve your heel and toe technique, carry more corner speed or brake later, understand your car's dynamics, how you unwittingly generate slip angles, how the front of the car washes out on corner entry. We engage all of these. Perhaps as a competing hillclimber, you want to be inch-perfect, avoid loss of momentum, want to understand true turn-in points. Has anyone ever taught you how to really look at a corner - surely it's obvious? You've just done your ARDS but you've left feeling there's got to be more to it than that?

SO: What effect does adding throttle have on tyre-wheel slip angle? Does it matter? Which do you move first on a gearchange, hand or which foot? Does it make a difference? How tense is your right forearm on a gearchange? Anyone ever told you what you are really doing with the car when you drive it a bit quick? Like introducing a rotate into the car on the up-change. And that's just a tiny part of what's going on IN the car. We'll tell you everything you never knew you were doing. And that's before we start looking at managing the environment we are about to take the car into...

Pick up the 'phone for a chat. Or we ring you back. Costs nothing....

There's no predetermined agenda beyond your own aims/objectives. We spend time with you, your driving/riding improves significantly: Road or Track. Simple. No pressure, no test, no failing.

We have organised one-off events, can handle logistics to visit almost any circuit or venue you wish and will facilitate almost whatever driving scenario you care to do. For this reason we have some very satisfied major clients.  You tell us what your aim is; we create an effective solution. From race drivers to footballers. With a client base in the UK, Europe, and now the States and even Russia we go the extra mile to help develop your drive.

Who do we cater for? Everyone who comes to us is provided with the training that they themselves desire. As an example, our recent clients have included track sessions in their own vehicles (M3 V8, Audi RS4, Elise series 2 and Exiges seem to have been popular choices recently - even a Shelby 500 Mustang!) and our M3s, road sessions in cars varying from Renault Clio R27 and Megane R26, Civic Type R, BMW V8 M3, Z4M, 993, 996 and 997, 360 & F430, S-class Mercedes and a varied mix of tuned cars from a very quick EVO to a little MX5. From the Lake District to Germany: And from performance car hire companies, to Radical racers to very nervous motorway drivers.

Typical feedback from a recent client - "Hi Mike,  just wanted to drop you a line to say thank you for yesterday. I thoroughly enjoyed the day and your company and would be keen to organise another driving day over the next few months. As we discussed, I was aware of some of my driving flaws (not as many as you kindly pointed out!) but didn't have the knowledge as to what I needed to do to improve these. What I found really pleasing about yesterday was that often it was only small adjustments or simple technique changes that you showed me which predominantly ironed these out. I have really taken on board your tips and advice and already I am slowly starting to notice a change in my driving style, smoothness and overall awareness. Thanks again."

Photo - recent Nurburgring training session

There's a significant amount of information on these pages, giving examples of what we do. But, if you have any queries, just ring, text or email. Tel/Text on +44(0)7947 198 957. Call on +44(0)1925 211 944, Email on enquire@drivertuition.com

Whether in car or bike we can provide advanced training to meet your needs.

Whether high performance Porsche or Ferrari or a humble hatchback we give you a  very powerful insight into what you ask of the car and the road in your drive. We look at how you position your car, how you consider your risks, balance the vehicle on power, under braking or through corners and how each of these aspects can be developed further. It's a very interesting day; driving, watching, evaluating: Tiring but satisfying!

As RoSPA Advanced Instruction diploma instructors, as well as fleet/DSA certification, we can take you to IAM advanced or RoSPA advanced Gold standard, or above. Whether you want certification or not at advanced level, the choice is yours. We also have significant performance and track experience, enabling you to understand what you are asking of the car in terms of vehicle dynamic loadings. This takes the day above normal advanced instruction.

If you want to take your own driving or riding to an advanced level without the tests - great. We always support improved standards.

"That makes things so much easier I can't believe I  wasn't doing that before" - a client discussing a technique just demonstrated (24 Nov 06)

OPTIONS FOR OUR ADVANCED COURSES INCLUDE tuition in you CAR or a vehicle supplied by us

[We are fully comprehensively insured for any full  licence-holder to experience performance instruction on road, in our vehicle or yours, whether a Fiesta ST or a 360 Modena)

There is a whole range of skills under the heading of "advanced" driving. Some people want to feel more comfortable on busy roads, to remove the nervous apprehension they feel on the down ramp of the motorway; some want to perfect the art of heel and toe or double declutching. Others want to be able to drive their car, perhaps like the high performance Porsche GT3 here, better, smoother, to drive more confidently. For some the last thing they want is a test. For these people the Institute of Advanced Motorists -IAM - or RoSPA approach may not be ideal.

In fact, during the session we will explain why certain aspects of standard IAM or Police driving methodology do not work when the rate of progress is increased beyond a certain point. But you can only change the system when you understand why it is there and why you may need to "dis-apply" it.

Whether a confident or nervous driver, experienced or just passed, what we offer is a very open approach to improvement in driving. If you want to take your driving to a higher level we help get you there. IAM pre-test or RoSPA tuition sessions always available. Check the advanced section for course information. Also, we can reduce your insurance premium on your performance vehicle. Talk to us about discounted insurance deals on performance cars when you take one of our Roadcraft courses.

Dave giving Porsche 911 GT3 track instruction around Oulton Park in a clients vehicle

Roadcraft - the police driving manual - forms the basis for all of our advanced driving tuition; but our teaching always maintains a flexible, pragmatic approach

Track and Performance driving options?

With us your will find flexibility the name of the game. On- road driving or racetrack tuition.  Typically our clients use their own vehicles but, depending on the venue, we can provide a car. These sessions can be from half, full or multiple days. For track opportunities we utilise trackday slots with a range of organisers, but actively support Jonny Leroux at Bookatrack, Chris and Darren at Circuitdays and Graham Clarke and his colleagues at RMA.

Where we provide a vehicle we have typically used an E36 BMW M3 for instruction, as it provides enough performance to be interesting but is benign enough to accept less than ideal inputs. We now have a race-ready MR2 spyder for instruction. We significantly coach in clients' own cars, the Porsche 996 & 997 variants of the 911 being a popular choice, as well as Nissan 350Z, various Ferraris, Lotus and Ariel Atom, Honda NSX, Megane R26R, Mitsubishi Evo X and many others.

You get expert instruction: We don't aim to scare the whatsits out of you or impress you with how fast we are. Instead we aim to develop your drive and understanding of the car. Neither do you sit around for half a day waiting for your 6 minutes of "Ferrari experience". We teach you for 100% of the time; learning whilst at the same time enjoying yourself. You may find it tiring, but also exhilarating! You won't find small print limiting you to "6 miles of track driving" as you will on certain "experience" sites.

Renault Clio Trophy at Three Sisters - Lancashire

In a typical day's track instruction you will be actually track driving under instruction for anything from 40 to 70 laps, depending on the circuit. That's a lot of improvement time!

BMW M3 at Bedford Autodrome

Whether racer, would-be or nervous "trackdayer", the gift-for-the-spouse or just an enthusiast, this is far more effective than spending money on your car. It really does work well and you WILL NOT be disappointed. And the advantage it gives you stays with you when you change cars. Learn the most effective way to brake and turn in to a corner so that the car does all the work for you, where to work the car and where definitely not to. It's all very interesting and not relevant only to the track that you happen to be at on the day.

A typical shared two person trackdays provides each of you with around 30 driven and instructed laps - that's around £15 a lap: Pretty good value compared to the experience days where on some you only get 2 or 3 laps. And you learn so much that you can take away from the day.

A wide range of instruction options are available - ring for details as we offer very bespoke driver training. Check out the performance section. It's worth a look. For car groups we can offer an instructor to be with you for the day to share amongst your drivers.

Paul taking instruction around Donington racetrack

Recent client comments

"We've just added 15 mph to our corner speed in the FQ340" - AJ

"Thanks again for yesterday – I have been grinning all day!" - OJ

"I've taken tuition a dozen times or more before at different circuits and, simply put, learned more today than all the others put together. You presented some really interesting ideas that make a significant difference. The greater understanding of the physics of the drive that you presented was particularly beneficial, as was the psychology lesson!!  The amusing part was your assessment regarding the car setup - my race engineer reckoned you must have been secretly sitting in on our debriefing from last week. Please advise availability for future sessions. Again, many thanks. -## Aug 08

"You described so calmly and accurately the errors that guy in the M3 we passed was making on your demo drive. It's such a shame he put the car on the roof before we got a chance to talk to him" - Donington Jul 08, where instruction is cheaper than a new shell.

CBT to bike test 33 BHP licence,  unlimited licence DAS, Intensive, Instructor courses

Bikes  Click on the link for motorbike training to take you to the dedicated rider training website. With a full range of residential motorbike training courses from CBT to test, Direct access DAS bike courses, motorbike hire and pre-booked tests there is an option for every learner biker. A full range of motorbike training course options available. For motorcycle training enquiries only telephone the office on: 01254 698907,click on the link, or complete the online booking form .

"If it's good enough instruction for an ex-World Superbike Champion it should be pretty OK for you too"

 "Residential bike training courses for all levels of experience"

For women drivers and  lady drivers

Female Drivers: Unlike some establishments there is no gender bias to our instruction. We have had many lady drivers and riders as clients who really value the straight, non-patronising approach we take: In fact some of our very best drivers on track and road have been ladies, young and not so young!

"I never realised before how much the braking can affect cornering "  - MK - Feb 06

 (talking about her progression from braking to turn-in)

If you want a day improving your skill or driving style, perhaps learning to drive a performance vehicle you have recently acquired, then talk to us; or you fancy taking your car on track, without wanting the environment to be in any way threatening or pressurising; again, call us. You will really enjoy your day/session.

Mel - first instruction lap around Donington Park

Tel/Text: +44 (0)7947 198 957 - If Voicemail -as we're usually busy driving - please leave a message & include when you want us to ring you back.

Karina helmeted up for her first laps around Donington Park circuit

 If you've just passed your driving test why not consider taking further training, such as a passplus or advanced driving course....

When you pass the DSA driving test this means that you have reached a certain, safe standard, assessed on a standard DSA test route. If you haven't reached this standard yet, click here. Once you have reached the test standard most people stop taking instruction and think they just need practice. But, you can only practise what you know; yet there's so much more to know. Modern Formula 1 drivers constantly take instruction - even Kimi has taken hours and hours of tuition this season - and we ourselves at drivertuition.com always take any chance to gain further experience and knowledge of driving when the opportunity arises. So, don't presume you're too capable to learn.

 If you're a newly qualified driver passplus makes a lot of sense. 40% of drivers in their first year have an accident. Don't be part of this statistic; take a passplus course, where you will widen your understanding of roads, vehicles and traffic dynamics.

Learners NEED instruction on motorways. Always insist on a course with practical motorway instruction.

The picture to the right is of a car that was once someone's pride and joy. It's a horrible picture, but a real insight into what happens when it all goes terribly wrong. Taken on the M60, a dangerous stretch of road and one that we use on our PassPlus route - and make no excuses for- it shows just what can happen even in clear conditions: A full licence holder, holding a qualification that requires no training for motorways.

To the left, same motorway, different day, another fatality. Our police and fire colleagues meet inexperienced drivers every day of the year.......

Currently, motorway driving is neither taught nor assessed as part of the current driving test, which is simply ludicrous. Take one of our passplus or advanced courses, which are individually tailored to suit every driver we teach, and gain some invaluable experience and knowledge. Click here for more details.

"People who put their car in that position must be stupid" - KR May 06, after her eyes were opened to the risks on motorways

Remember PassPlus doesn't require a test and can give significant discounts with many insurers - check out the insurers who support this course on the PassPlus page.

The overriding aim with all our driver or rider training courses or exclusive events is to provide quality tuition and a memorable experience, but at a fair price. You get professional instruction, we get results. We give 100%. The only catch is that we ask you to do the same. We want enthusiastic drivers. This doesn't mean good. It doesn't mean perfect. It means you want to get the most out of the day(s). You want to improve; A bit like us. We want the next course to be better than the last: And that needs you to work as hard as us. 

If you fancy learning to drive better, give us a ring. We provide a personal, professional but friendly service that can be tailored to whatever you need. Wherever it takes us, from one end of the country to the other, or overseas to the European circuits, no problem.

If you want a specific location and want us to take care of the logistics that is no problem. Just give us a call. We cater for track sessions all over the UK and into Europe. This bespoke aspect of our training is valued by many of our clients.

And our clients include some of the most prestigious companies and individuals out there.....

Drivertuition hosts an event at the Nurburgring for journalists and TV and media chaps. Launch of the new Project Gotham Racing 4 game on the XBOX360 October 2007.

We have journalists, Microsoft staff, PGR4's designer and PR company JCPR Edelman staff on hand, all provided with the option of driving around the grüne hölle for real!

Our friend Sabine Schmitz, as ever, lends a hand and is a willing interviewee for the video guys.

ABOVE: Mike Cooper, explaining to our journalist friends what we're looking for in the drive,  before we can hit the track. Here Mike is discussing how the weather around the Nürburgring can seriously change the track conditions, with its significant altitude variation around the track - 334m or 1000ft!

First, above, on to the roads around the Eiffel mountains to practise some basic positioning and steering skills. Bike may be riding on the right but we're looking for best position for the hairpin ahead.

LEFT. With bike and car available, just like in the game, the Nurburgring can bite. Here the track's just closed as the weather takes a turn for the worse.

Game over is for real here!

Sabine Schmitz, the renowned Nurburgring expert and driver of the Nurburgring taxi, about to give me some useful pointers around the  Nordschleife - the 'ring. It all helps us keep ahead of the game, and give value to our instruction to you, our customers. See performance section for tuition options on driving the Nordschleife - the original  Nurburgring circuit.

(If you visit the Nurburgring, with us or independently, you can't do better than stay in the Hotel Am Tiergarten owned by Frau Schmitz, Sabine's mother and excellent host. Am Tiergarten has rooms which overlook the circuit and, with the Pistenklause bar and restaurant attached (adorned from floor to ceiling with racing signatures, pictures and artifacts from every racer you can think of) it definitely has to be visited.) For Nurburgring track tuition please see the performance section of our website.

Our customers range from just-passed 17 and 18 year olds to 40K mile business people. We give tuition to trackday heroes or motorsports wannabees, but also train nervous motorway drivers and help them to remove their fears.  If you have a need or desire to improve any aspect of your drive, in whatever field of driving, we can help to facilitate that need, in a way best suited to you. Whether you want to learn to double declutch, cadence brake, or just drive in a safer, more flowing style, come and talk.

Thanks for visiting and drop us an email to tell us what you think.

Regards

Mike Cooper ADI, ADI Fleet, IAM, RoSPA Gold and Diploma - advanced instruction , B.Sc Physics, Postgraduate teaching certificate,  ISO 9002 assessor

Quick lap in a Seat Leon Cupra - don't make the presumption that the Porsche 911 GT3 RS was catching up!!!!

We use many tracks in the UK e.g. Donington Park, Mallory Park, Oulton Park, Cadwell Park for our driving instruction in our vehicles or yours

Some previous event photos

Above: Action at Donington Park in the Seat Leon Cupra with a demo drive by Mike Cooper.

Left at the Nurburgring - more driver training - this time Dave Robinson is taking instruction from  Sabine Schmitz! It's a hard life but someone has to do it...

Right - Toyota F1 testing at Spa Francorchamps at the end of an RMA trackday.

Recent customer comments...

"...could never figure out what I was doing in corners that made the car feel so wrong. Now I understand. "

"The car ( 07 reg Nissan 350Z) felt like it needed a suspension upgrade before today.

This afternoon it's now so much nicer a car to drive I really like it the way it is!"

"I've crashed my last three cars. Now, I realise why!"

For all enquiries please ring (or text) +44 7947 198 957

As we are often running driver training courses at racetracks all over the country or in Europe we may not always be able to take all calls. So, it would be great if you could leave a voicemail or text message with contact number and your enquiry - we WILL always get back to you as soon as we can. Many thanks

If you have any comments or observations about our website please drop us a line. We aim to be informative and helpful and will always happily advise if you have any questions - we don't try and sell you what isn't appropriate. We would rather advise you on what's best for you.

Mike Cooper