I attended a full day at the Audi High Performance Driving Course at Killarney race track in Cape Town. I don’t know if it was because of that speeding fine I got, but my boys at Audi Centre Cape Town felt I couldn’t carry on driving the R8 or the TT without attending the course. It sounded like fun, and anyway, it also allows a reduction in insurance premiums. I’m FINE with that!

It was on a Friday (the whole day 08h30 to 16h30) and I realised at that moment that we have NO idea that, at any given time in our week, normally people like you and me could be SCREAMING around a race track during working hours! And that’s exactly what I did! Not that I have “working hours” per se, but you know what I mean!

Wernich, from Audi Centre Cape Town ensured that I was settled and then bolted then moment the head instructor walked into the room.

I turned to the front and that’s when it all fell into place.

Do you remember this guy from Top Gun?

“Viper” – from Top Gun

Of course you do. His name in the movie was Mike Metcalf (callsign: Viper) and he was the instructor at the Top Gun fighter pilot academy.

That was basically the vibe I got at the beginning of the day. I sat there in my chair as the head instructor, John Simpson (same vibe as Viper) explained the day’s schedule. I looked around and sized up the other people attending. I couldn’t help but wonder, who was the best of the best?

I caught the end of something he was saying – “in case any of you are wondering who the best is, it’s not you – it’s these guys right here.” As he pointed to the professional driving instructors standing beside him.

Viper runs us through the day’s lineup

The Audi Top Gun pilots

“These men will be taking three of you in each car and they will gauge your strengths and weaknesses. Listen to them and you will learn a lot.”

Nice vibe..

My team mates, Lorinda and Allan and I got the best instructor of the day, Gary. Try and get him when you go – he’s an ex-racing champion. I get on well with ex-racing champions so I knew we would have a good day.

I beg your pardon? You want to know my involvement with ex-racing champions.

Seriously, do I have to?

Okaaaaaay, if I MUST!

  
Michael Schumacher asked if he could record this moment.
“No problem,” I said, “as long as you get my Judrons in the shot.”

So anyway, back to the Audi High Performance Driving Course. I can categorically state that I have never become so enlightened in just eight hours, as I was at Killarney that day. I did the fixed-wing glider course once – and that took a week. Not a lot of people have that kind of time.

Besides hurtling around the track at (by the end of the day) at 180 km/h and TEARING into corners, the learning that went down was something to behold! In this one test, they show you how where the car stops if you slam on brakes at 60 km/h. Then, after marking that off, they do it again at 120 km/h. Do you know how much further the stopping point was?

Just a bit more the original distance?

Twice the original distance?

No my friend, it’s something like four or five times the distance!

These are the kind of things you get exposed to which result in your insurance premiums going down. Because you leave a better informed and more skilled driver.

The guys also take you through technologies like ABS and ESP and explain to you exactly how they work. But they don’t just explain, they get you to try it out yourself. slamming on anchors at 100 km/h, violently turning from one side to the other, trying to roll the car – stuff like that. It’s pretty hairy stuff but totally in control at all times.

That’s the one beautiful thing about the day, is the slickness of the whole operation. Not for one second did I worry about my safety – such is the calming effect of being around professionals like these.

And THIS is the result!

Seth becomes a Top Gun pilot

Oh yes! Not to be silly or anything, I would prefer it if you called me “Maverick” from now on. Thanks very much.

Check out their vibe at the official Audi High Performance Driving Course website for these training days – www.4rings.co.za

Besides the reduction in insurance premiums, this is a brilliant way to spend a day and learn at the same time. I couldn’t imagine a better team building initiative for companies out there looking for something different.

Here are some pics from our day.

Thanks again to Audi Centre Cape Town for such an incredible experience. And remember, if you’re in the market for a new car, give them a shout. I’ve got the TT and the R8 and can’t say enough about them. Go for a test drive – apparently they’re got some HOT new S4’s in..

You don’t get better service and, if you give me a shout before, I can probably organise you a cheeky little discount to make your buying experience even more fun! CLICK HERE