Welcome to the Australian Ford Forums forum.

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and inserts advertising. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features without post based advertising banners. Registration is simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.

Please Note: All new registrations go through a manual approval queue to keep spammers out. This is checked twice each day so there will be a delay before your registration is activated.

Go Back   Australian Ford Forums > General Topics > The Pub

The Pub For General Automotive Related Talk

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 13-01-2010, 07:22 PM   #1
ToCo
Drives a Ute!
 
ToCo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: NW Tassie
Posts: 1,018
Default John Bowe Driving Courses.

Hey guys, I have recently bought an XR8 and think it would be wise to have some defensive driving lessons and being 19 so do the parents. Been thinking about the John Bowe courses (Symmons Plains),
I would like to hear some opinions on what people have thought about their experiences if they have had this training.
I couldn't see any prices on the website either, if someone could help there, would be great. I am thinking about going for the Advanced Course.

Thanks.

Todd.

__________________
2004 XR8 UTE SOLD
ToCo is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 13-01-2010, 07:37 PM   #2
GTP owner
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
 
GTP owner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: TAS
Posts: 2,551
Default

Done them and loved them - it was not only fun, but it was great to learn real defensive driving and car control skills. It is the best way for you to learn how not to kill yourself in the car.
If you get the opportunity, do the high performance day at baskerville. Best day ever. Symmons plains is not technically difficult enough, so you don't get as good return on your money
__________________
XA coupe 8.8sec @ 150mph http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthr...coupe+drag+car
BA GT-P for the shed
Mustang GT for the other half
E3 chubsport - fully fat (and slow), sitting there waiting for me to get sick of it and sell it.
BA XR6T for a daily
NT Pajero for the bush
XB 4 door project- swallows a BF xr6 turbo

My dad is a generous bloke. He gave away his dead car batteries free of charge....
GTP owner is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 13-01-2010, 08:08 PM   #3
lubby1
Regular Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Sydney
Posts: 128
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by GTP owner
Done them and loved them - it was not only fun, but it was great to learn real defensive driving and car control skills. It is the best way for you to learn how not to kill yourself in the car.
If you get the opportunity, do the high performance day at baskerville. Best day ever. Symmons plains is not technically difficult enough, so you don't get as good return on your money
I agree with GTP you cant go wrong
lubby1 is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 13-01-2010, 07:49 PM   #4
ToCo
Drives a Ute!
 
ToCo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: NW Tassie
Posts: 1,018
Default

Thanks for that GTP, I just checked out the circuit, does look a bit more challenging that Symmons. Just trying to find the Driving courses, you wouldn't happen to have a link would you?
Pretty keen to do this now.
Thanks for the reply.

Todd.
__________________
2004 XR8 UTE SOLD
ToCo is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 13-01-2010, 07:54 PM   #5
GTP owner
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
 
GTP owner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: TAS
Posts: 2,551
Default

try this one
http://www.johnbowedriving.com/pages...l/default.aspx
__________________
XA coupe 8.8sec @ 150mph http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthr...coupe+drag+car
BA GT-P for the shed
Mustang GT for the other half
E3 chubsport - fully fat (and slow), sitting there waiting for me to get sick of it and sell it.
BA XR6T for a daily
NT Pajero for the bush
XB 4 door project- swallows a BF xr6 turbo

My dad is a generous bloke. He gave away his dead car batteries free of charge....
GTP owner is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 13-01-2010, 07:56 PM   #6
GTP owner
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
 
GTP owner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: TAS
Posts: 2,551
Default

Feb 5 and 7 is the drive to arrive course. The hipo course is usually once per year, and is not up yet. perhaps call them to register interest
__________________
XA coupe 8.8sec @ 150mph http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthr...coupe+drag+car
BA GT-P for the shed
Mustang GT for the other half
E3 chubsport - fully fat (and slow), sitting there waiting for me to get sick of it and sell it.
BA XR6T for a daily
NT Pajero for the bush
XB 4 door project- swallows a BF xr6 turbo

My dad is a generous bloke. He gave away his dead car batteries free of charge....
GTP owner is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 13-01-2010, 08:23 PM   #7
SM1DY
LIKE A BOSS 351
 
SM1DY's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Gold Coast
Posts: 2,779
Default

I did the Holden defensive driving course that is at Pimpama on Gold Coast, and that was a bloody fun day in itself, so I can only imagine how good it could have been if we weren't hurling round the track in those death traps they call car.

Really, any one the driving courses that are offered are well worth.
SM1DY is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 13-01-2010, 08:23 PM   #8
SM1DY
LIKE A BOSS 351
 
SM1DY's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Gold Coast
Posts: 2,779
Default

I did the Holden defensive driving course that is at Pimpama on Gold Coast, and that was a bloody fun day in itself, so I can only imagine how good it could have been if we weren't hurling round the track in those death traps they call car.

Really, any one the driving courses that are offered are well worth it.
SM1DY is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 13-01-2010, 08:29 PM   #9
ToCo
Drives a Ute!
 
ToCo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: NW Tassie
Posts: 1,018
Default

Cheers, I was looking on the site before but couldn't see the prices, found them now.
$235 is a pretty good price for Drive to Arrive. Was expecting a lot more.
Does the High Performance package involve all of the Drive to Arrive stuff too?
What would you suggest I do first?

Todd.
__________________
2004 XR8 UTE SOLD
ToCo is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 14-01-2010, 08:11 AM   #10
desGT
Regular Member
 
desGT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 317
Default

I have done a number of courses, one of which was the John Bowe course at Sandown. The instructor got a phone call (mobile!) and basically abandoned the lectures. Was not impressed.

However, yes, do an advanced driving course. They should be mandatory.
desGT is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 14-01-2010, 09:15 AM   #11
Rev28K
re
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Victoria - where being slow & incompetent is considered being "safe"
Posts: 1,323
Default

I’ve done the drive to arrive course and a few of the circuit courses.

You need to do the DtA course before you do the dedicated circuit courses.

For what it’s worth I thought that the DtA course I did was slightly better than the basic Murcott course.

The circuit courses are good and have helped me get better and more consistent lap times. I did find that I was better off providing my own lap timer and printing off a map of the circuit to record lines, turn in points, etc.
__________________
Scuderia Rev: Otto the tow pig - 2007 3.0 litre Coupé, vernünftig schnelle aber kein peilstab, Bathurst 2007 und 2010 zwölf Stunde Gewinner Jaffa the angry ant - mid 70's Honda 市民の, 73 と立方インチ LSD Elle "the body" shell - early 70's Datsun フェアレディ coupe. いい体は彼女の内側、内側と土台を待つ
Rev28K is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 14-01-2010, 12:17 PM   #12
b2tf
not here much anymore
 
b2tf's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sthn NSW
Posts: 22,918
Default

A lot of the accredited courses can also help you out with insurance too - discounts for having done the courses etc.

I'm very keen to do some this yr.
__________________
2024 F150 XLT
b2tf is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 14-01-2010, 05:57 PM   #13
ToCo
Drives a Ute!
 
ToCo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: NW Tassie
Posts: 1,018
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by b2tf
A lot of the accredited courses can also help you out with insurance too - discounts for having done the courses etc.

I'm very keen to do some this yr.
Would love it if I could get some discounts on my insurance, 2.5k was a kick in the pants for me haha. Will most likely book the Drive To Arrive course in the next week or so.

Todd.
__________________
2004 XR8 UTE SOLD
ToCo is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 14-01-2010, 06:10 PM   #14
FPV8U
BOSS 5.4L Enthusiast
 
FPV8U's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,943
Default

Did the Drive to Arrive last year and will be doing high performance this year, first experience was fantastic.

Last edited by FPV8U; 14-01-2010 at 06:24 PM.
FPV8U is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 14-01-2010, 08:22 PM   #15
DayTE
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
 
DayTE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 666
Default

Like the others have said. It's well worth the cost of doing these courses. I've done the Drive to Survive/Arrive course at Symmons and had a blast. And also learnt a few different things.

Will be also looking at doing a Hi Po course later on in the year.
__________________
2002 TE50 Build No 165
DayTE is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Reply


Forum Jump


All times are GMT +11. The time now is 07:37 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Other than what is legally copyrighted by the respective owners, this site is copyright www.fordforums.com.au
Positive SSL