Rally race ace shows how it's done

Emma Gilmore helps coach drivers at the AA skills and control course. Photo / Jacqui Madelin

There had to be a catch. One-on-one driver training with an international rally driver to show you the finer points of everyday car handling? But there was no catch. Emma Gilmore - second overall in this year's Asia-Pacific rally championship - has linked with the AA to supply a skills programme.

The 90-minute coaching session is aimed at daily driving, not rally skills. For some attendees the day we went to was a reminder of good driving habits. For others, it was all completely new.

One driver didn't know his Honda Odyssey had ABS brakes, or how to use them.

Arriving at Greenlane Showgrounds we were faced with some simple coned courses, and a Subaru SUV and Toyota hatch to practise in. Each had three aboard to discover safe braking and crash avoidance, and how to keep the car settled and gripping well at all times. We also learned exactly how a few extra kms on the speedo can affect your ability to stop - fortunately our errant pedestrian was a cardboard sheet, or we'd have required an ambulance.

Mind you, some egos needed bandaging by the end of the day - especially after trying the same exercises in our own cars. One over-confident SUV driver was surprised his figure-of-eight was faster without the tyre-squealing antics he'd thought were a sure sign of extra speed. "Anyone can squeal the tyres" Emma says, "it just shows you're closer to losing control. I've crashed on rallies; I don't recommend it. It's the last thing you want to do - whether competing, or driving on a public road."