Review of the day by Terry Plant: During the weekend 7/8 August 1999, a group of Observers from Solihull Advanced Motorists went to Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground.

"After a pleasant cross-country run Kris and I arrived in our motor home at a very wet Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground early on Saturday morning. Here we were met by Mark Kendrick, our dynamic group instructor for the weekend and by my two colleagues for the first session, Howard James and Brian Irons. (Incidentally we realised that originally Howard had been Brian's Observer just as in turn Brian had been mine.)"

"Bruntingthorpe was an ideal venue since here there were no normal road hazards; everyone could concentrate upon the car's handling and dynamics as well as its limits and its boundaries at much higher than normal speeds; whilst the circuit provided both width of track and safe grass verges."

"We were indebted to Peugeot for the loan of a splendid 406, 3litre saloon for the weekend. Twelve Observers took part, and these were organised into four groups of three, with each group session lasting for two and a half hours."

"Each group session began with a thorough half hour briefing from Mark, who paid due regard to individual needs before providing a summary of essential techniques to be understood and practised, and then emphasised the relevance of such techniques to the advanced motorist:

• 3-stage braking, threshold and trail braking, and in particular the car's ABS braking
• Gear changing
• The need for balance, smoothness and rhythm
• Front wheel drive and understeer (the Peugeot being an example)
• Sighting and lines in cornering
• Tyre grip trade off
• Collision avoidance, emergency lane-changes and pendulum effect
• A general understanding of the car's dynamics in all of the above

"After this comprehensive briefing it was time for practical participation. We then piled into the Peugeot for Mark's demonstration drive on the circuit - WOW !"

"After a number of extremely fast laps in which he demonstrated braking points, cornering entry, apex and exit points; he illustrated the other essentials already outlined in the briefing session. All began to make a great deal of sense - although this must have been the ultimate in white knuckle rides!"

"Following Mark's demonstration we each took the wheel in turn, and with his expert guidance and help we were amazed at the further skills and confidence we were able to achieve within the two hour practical period."

"The transfer from theory into practice was not only enjoyable and exciting, but a very valuable experience and one which we can all readily draw upon in the future."

"From all of the twelve Observers who took part in this exercise our wholehearted thanks go to Mark Kendrick for his excellent planning, organisation and untiring commitment throughout the whole weekend".