Mike Cooper driver tuition  Last update 22 March 2011

Mike Cooper Driver Training

One to one driver coaching - road and track tuition

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

Newly qualified driver or ADI? - CLICK HERE

Race Driver or traffic cop?

The ethos: To facilitate you becoming a far more competent driver, with a significantly greater understanding of what is really going on around you? If you drive a racecar, own or are about to purchase a performance vehicle, or just want to drive more smoothly, more accurately; then what I provide will benefit you significantly.

If you're a race driver or use your car at trackdays, we get you smoother, more accurate and thus quicker: Guaranteed. I work extensively with amateur and professional race drivers alike and can help you develop extra speed and smoothness: benefiting wear rates, safety, stress levels and lap times. This is the racedriver part.

You will learn to appreciate aspects such as development and relaxation of yaw rates, how to obtain the perfect turn-in. understanding what is cornering, really?

Traffic Cop: Road training includes elements of the above, but also introduces methodology used in Class 1 police training, to get you to understand and appreciate aspects that typify the Volvo T5 traffic officer approach: Managing traffic is as relevant on the grid as it is in a busy motorway or in a town centre. Sadly, sometimes maligned by the "performance" driver, but makes such a difference to your perception of the risk/speed balance; and your stress levels. You really owe it to yourself to understand the systems and apply the ones that work. You'll also learn where and why we abandon elements of this style. But it should be informed choice rather than ego-induced dismissal.

Recent road and track sessions show the range of client vehicles,  Aston Martin, Ferrari 360, 430, 599, Porsche various 964, 993, 996 and 997 GT3s RSs, Lotus Exige etc. etc. Currently also coaching class-leading race drivers in a variety of series from classic sports-cars to touring cars, sprint to hill-climb.

Driving on road, you become more comfortable with the car and the environment; calmer, much smoother, safer, demand less from the car but enable far better progress; even save you fuel and tyres: Very simply this is the most effective modification you will ever make to "your car", whether it be a 997 or a Golf GTi; Mondeo or Modena.

It involves a change methodology; but also perception and approach. You become better, more in-control, happier with the total picture. If you've just put yourself into the likes of a Ferrari 430 or a Porsche 911 GT3 you'll understand why this is important and key to appreciating your investment.

Whether driving the Aston Martin or Mini Cooper it makes a difference.

The physics, the psychology and physiology, the techniques. It'll be quite an eye-opener and quite different from the usual track or road instruction. An approach that's proven and very interesting. Mixing psychology - people dynamics -  with vehicle dynamics is not something trainers often do.

A road session - the aim: to introduce the perspective of a Class 1 Police drive, the Volvo T5 traffic car managing surrounding inattentions and incompetences. Understand this style and emulate it. The closest you'll get to class 1 training without a uniform. If you haven't considered space, vision and visibility when changing velocity (acceleration and braking) then you loose the ability to control risk. Not good.

But then bring in racedriver levels of balance, lightness of touch, minimisation of the critically timed inputs. Then you're on the way to becoming a decent driver.

All this is a million miles away from the track experience packages. I aim to facilitate learning, having been teaching for over 25 years. There's quite a difference and I have little interest in the kind of drive where the car is thrown into the corner and then hope for the best...........

I maintain a good relationship with my clients, a significant percentage of whom return to hone and develop their drive. Driving development is the key.

(For more information please visit the main driver tuition website )

Location isn't an issue. UK or abroad. All training is discussed for required outcomes and to suit.

Ring for details -  +44(0) 7876 576 320

Mike Cooper B.Sc Hons. Physics, Post grad Education, ADI, DSA Fleet, RoSPA Gold, IAM & RoSPA Advanced Instructor, Lancashire Fleet, ISO Assessor

CLIENT TESTIMONIALS:

Hi, just a note to thank you for the track tuition yesterday - great day. 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 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

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

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

"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.

"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.

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

"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

"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

For further information, availability and prices ring, text or email

Tel/Text on +44 7576 576 320.   Email