finally!!!

M

markrmcommando

Full Registered User
After months of research and searching the forums i have decided to take the 7 day VIP protection drivers course with Bespoke driver training, unless........ someone out there has been on this course and does not recommend it?





Slow is smooth and smooth is fast
 
markrmcommando said:
After months of research and searching the forums i have decided to take the 7 day VIP protection drivers course with Bespoke driver training, unless........ someone out there has been on this course and does not recommend it?





Slow is smooth and smooth is fast
Click to expand...

Difficult to make your mind up is'nt it or is it ????? Hmmmm decisions decisions lol. Good luck either way mate.

NASH..
 
Presumably skills taught would include driving the principle's car and escort cars? Make sure you get this buttoned down because the skills are slightly different. Do they teach on armoured vehicles as well? Driving and using a B6/7 car will be very different to using a standard vehicle, not to mention armoured and non-armoured 4 x 4s. If the instructor is doing a lot of the demo work, walk away because it will leave you no time behind the wheel. You need to be behind the wheel as much as possible. Also find out if the school runs lowlight and night driving courses, both urban and non-urban. This includes for hard cars as well as the extra glass thickness can have an effect on light refraction.
 
You're welcome! I posted some comments on another thread [also on this forum - refer to Blackwaters, last page] in which I highlighted a whole degree of skills I think a good CP/VIP driver needs to have. You cannot of course do all of this in 7-days but break it down and use it as a reference point for future courses.

The one thing I will says is this - don't be taken in by all the dross out there. Just because someone has been in the military / police [wherever] does not mean he is an expert. Have a real hard look at their quals, who they have taught, references and more importantly, have they been in the industry. Don't get me wrong about highlighting ex-military / police. I was one myself for 15 years so I can say this :)

Course prices - this is a tough one because we all have limited budgets. But as my old man used to say, buy the very best you can afford and you will not go wrong. For driver training, higher prices ususally reflect the following:

1. proper facilities - skid pans, high speed areas, watered areas, change of surface areas
2. teaching cars - a variety of 2- and 4-wheel, maybe even front- and rear wheel drive, armoured sedans and 4 x4s and "crash" cars for offensive work
3. proper teaching and instructional facilities
4. insurance
5. instructors - good instructors charge [why shouldn't they? If you are good and universally recognised, then you have to pay a premium for learning from the best!]
6. meals etc on the course

Last but not least - have a really hard look and critique the course - either yourself or with some mates who have been on courses etc. How many modules are offered? I saw one 2-day course being offered in the US recently, where they would teach you 10-12 things!! And of these, at least 4 were / had to be classroom based. How much driving time does that leave you AND the instructor : student ratio was 1 : 3!! I am always wary of courses where route selection and planning are included. Don't get me wrong. This is an INVALUABLE and NECESSARY module but we used to teach our guys this over a week and that was just the basics. Not only do you have to do the work in the classroom but then you have all the practicals to do, rehersals, do they make you do it only during the day or do they require students to do a night planning exercise. How are you going to learn route planning, selection and timings in an hour? "Now I have taught you, so you must know?"

Anyway, I digress. Hope all this helps and keep me posted on what you finally opt for. Good luck!
 
Some good advice there Qlobal.

I am off to the US in the very near future to carry out another Armored driving course.Most of what you said above applies at the training ground I am going to, this will be my third time there "paid of course by uncle SAM";-).

Bespoke has a good reputation Markrm, I've not trained with them yet, but heard good things.

Good Luck
 
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Thanks very much Qlobal. Alot of usefull information you have showed me there, i am especially interested in doing the armoured driving course now after reading your advice maybe next year as i have already used one of my resettlement package for this year. i booked meself on the bespoke driver training course, go in April, then on completion look more in depth on armoured driving course.

For anyone who is interested i will be posting what ive been up to day by day whilst on the course for anyone who maybe interested in doing the course in the near future. Give people a heads up before commiting themselves.
 
Glad to be of service. When and if you think about doing an armoured vehicle course, then consider going to Germany to the BMW Security Driver Training Course. They run 3 levels and you will drive the armoured 7 Series, X5 B4 level and X5 Security Plus (AK47 level). The instructors all know what they are talking about re. standard car dynamics etc, some are police although not CP but they are very good and you will come away with ALOT of knowledge. You will also get ALOT of drive time. They are expensive but remember, they are providing a lot of things. Training is conducted just o/s Berlin in a place called Gross Doelln. For all you blokes serving in Germany during the Cold War [before the wall came down], this place is where the Russians had their largest airbase o/s Russia.
 
hi markrmcommando, ive been thinking for a while about doing bespokes vip prtection course, that would be good if you could do a day to day log hopefully it mite help me make up mt mind

cheers

Aaron
 
Markrm I'm doing the 5 day course in March so will let you know what its like but its been reccomended too me by someone who's done it and i've not heard a bad word about it as of yet.

Chesh'
 
Hi Ive done driving courses with Bespoke and they are top notch and you have bags of time behind the wheel They teach usable techniques and have a good pedigree in teaching CPOs , chauffeurs etc... Also some of the instructors work on the circuit and have done in the past. I fully endorse their courses.
 
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