I have waited to write this appreciation of the Total Control Masterclass I did with you recently, wanting to first get my wife’s response to my driving! So, yesterday in the DB9, we drove through the dales and towns: there were no complaints, this result is clearly a very good thing!

Previously, it would have been: “could you slow down”, “I am feeling sick”, “too fast around bends”, et cetera. I am a smoother and better driver now – all thanks to you Ivan! This “traveller” is moving towards being a proper “driver” at last. We will certainly be spreading the excellent service that you deliver around our Aston Martin group.

All the best.

L. Ellison

I found the course really useful and thought provoking and definitely set at the right pace. It may push you out of your comfort zone, but never your car’s. The 2 Day Total Control Masterclass is fully adapted to your pace and skill set and there is no push to do something you are not comfortable with. The professional one-to-one tuition over the 2 day period is really useful as you will learn a lot more about your car and improve your driving skills and general safety awareness. I enjoyed the 2 days and personally learnt a hell of a lot, firstly about what I didn’t know, and then, how to correct and improve the gaps.

I highly recommend the course to anyone who has a new sports car (or even and old one!). It is both enlightening and downright fun, and I learnt a lot more about my driving skill set and the capabilities of my Mustang, so that I now enjoy driving even more. It was indeed an adventure! I have been asked by many people how the course went and quite frankly, I have highly recommended it to everyone. It is a great course and pitched exactly the right way for me.

J. Bolger

Thank you very much indeed for your patience and coaching on Saturday. While being slightly appalled at how much I’d slipped over the years, your training was superb and I felt like I had made huge progress during the course of the day. I spent a lot of time yesterday putting into practice techniques such as correct thumb positioning, trail braking where appropriate and reprogramming myself to look so much further ahead. The difference is tangible and I feel much more confident in both myself and my M3. I would say that my car and I have gone from uncomfortable small talk to chatting like old friends.

I know I’m an appalling person to have to teach, but you were a fantastically patient coach, for which I’m extremely grateful. I plan to let these initial learnings bed in and then revisit in a few months’ time to extend them with wet handling and on-road training through the Total Control Masterclass. Thank you once again, and I look forward to seeing you again soon.

D. Thompson

I really enjoyed the Total Control Masterclass. I thought that the Millbrook day to focus on the skills followed by a day in which the skills were put into practice on the open road was a very efficient way of teaching me new techniques to improve my car control.

My driving is now definitely quicker and safer having taken the course. I think about driving in a different way. I see the roads differently and the way I position the car and adjust its balance is something I wish I had learned a long time ago.

The course was definitely worth doing and I would thoroughly recommend it.

M. Bates

You presented this course in a very professional and structured format, which I didn’t fully appreciate at the time because I was enjoying myself so much. Whilst being challenged, I never felt I was being asked to undertake anything more than I was comfortable with.

As well as understanding and appreciating the XKR’s needs I came away with a great deal of knowledge for everyday use. I would highly recommend this course, thanks again Ivan.

K. Cage

When I first got my SLK 350 I found I was driving very carefully, as lots of people told me that, because of the power, I could lose the back end if I wasn’t careful. After a few weeks I felt it was stupid to own a performance car and drive like I was, so decided to do something about it.

I am so very pleased I discovered Total Car Control and Ivan, who taught me to be safe and have fun in my car. I had a day split between Millbrook and on the road, which was a fantastic experience. Ivan is a calm, knowledgeable and clear tutor and I am, without doubt, a better/safer driver now. Being able to understand what my car can do has given me confidence in both my own and the car’s ability.

I can’t believe how many bad drivers there are on the road, and I didn’t really notice before! The guidance on how to influence other drivers’ behaviour has been invaluable. Every day I strive for my space bubble – difficult in London at times! I am happier and safer now and absolutely adore driving my car. I tell everyone I can about my brilliant time with Ivan and I thoroughly recommend Total Car Control. Thank you Ivan.

K. Tompkins

First thing to say is that I did totally enjoy the Dynamic Handling Masterclass with you. It’s the first time I have ever done anything like it and, as I said at the outset, if I could come away feeling more comfortable and confident in my ability to control the XKR I would be very happy. And that is exactly what you delivered for me. For that, I have a lot to thank you for.

I learnt many, many things in the day – some pretty scary to start with but as the day progressed things which had seemed alien at first became much more natural. Even left foot braking! And that is something which I have persevered with in normal driving and in doing so I feel much more in control, and as you predicted it has made my driving style a lot smoother. Looking back on the course, the stand-out experience was the mini alpine section. Terrific fun and also learnt a lot about car positioning, apex spotting and braking. I can still replay your guidance in my mind which is a real indication of the quality of your teaching.

You asked about ideas for possibly improving the day. I struggled with that, as on reflection I do think you have the mix of activities and progressively tougher challenges pretty much spot-on.

D. Wheeldon

Just completed an amazing day with Ivan at Millbrook and what a fantastic day. Thank you for such an involving, informative and extremely enjoyable day. After spending the day with you I can fully confirm everybody else’s comments and feedback!!!!

Fantastic guy with fantastic training, feel like I’ve learnt a massive amount. Hopefully see you again in the future for round two.

D. Garside

Once again, many thanks for your Masterclass in Dynamic Handling at Millbrook. I thought the whole day was both enlightening and well structured, enabling me to get a lot out of it and to understand much better the way to drive my new BMW safely and enjoyably.

Having the chance to explore my own limitations and the much wider boundaries of the car under your tuition was a unique opportunity that will impact on my driving style and leave me with some great memories.

If I were to pick one highlight it would be the banked circuit, which was just such an unexpected surprise and a real thrill. Overall, a great experience.

C. Hilton

The course was very beneficial and much of the instruction has stuck with me. I have modified my driving style along the lines of your guidance and my confidence and pace has actually stepped up significantly while increasing my approach to safety at all times.

Thanks again for your valuable insights and instruction.

A. Almozaini

Just a quick review of my two days with Total Car Control… All I can say is that this is a must for all car owners and especially with high BHP cars. The course was fantastic with learning the limits of my 675LT on a controlled test track and then putting it all together on A & B roads.

It has made me a quicker but more importantly safer driver, with the knowledge of what I am doing making the car settled and stable. TCC should be compulsory and I urge people to let Ivan teach you one on one so that you can become a better driver.

S. Bailey

My primary need was to develop confidence in my first fast car, and wanted to ensure I didn’t gain false confidence. I wanted to learn the limits of the car (e.g. when it will lose traction round a corner). Everything on the test tracks of Millbrook was relevant and made me aware there’s much more to learn about driving than I was aware of. I had a lot of fun and learned some of the limits of the car. Emergency braking and avoiding on the Mile Straight is something I try to keep in my mind – I might need it one day. The most useful track by far for me personally was the figure-8, where we explored under and over steer. I definitely learned a lot on that one.

Out on the public roads on the second day gave me the most value as my head was swimming with info to take away at the end. I’ve since done 5000 miles in 3 months and have a very different driving behaviour thanks to our sessions. In particular, I have a much broader awareness all around me and plan early for other road users’ actions: I drive fast when there’s space and play safe in the proximity of other cars.

I was recently pulled over by the police when driving rapidly. The officer noted that I was respecting other drivers and slowed right down when passing cars, only speeding up when it was clear. He didn’t even tell me not to speed, just complemented my Jag and then sent me on my way – my old style of driving would have got me a ticket no doubt, so thanks!

On a personal level, my first impression was that you have lots of experience and are very affable, friendly and down to earth. You engendered trust very early and made me feel at ease even though I was clearly a total novice and it would have been easy to make me feel intimidated. This was very important, as it enabled me to ‘override’ my own instincts and follow your direction when assessing and planning fast bends etc, against my own initial judgement. I then learnt a new way to think about driving – result!

J. Erven