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There's a wealth of details about our experience days on this page - how they work and what you can expect from the day, and a list of the currently available dates. Have a read thorough this page, and then when you are ready to make a booking, read our "How to Make a Booking" instructions, and then you can pay online using the Buy Now button on the right, or you can pay by cheque. Full details including payment methods are in the instructions - be sure to read them before making your booking.
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Midland Red Bus Driver Experience Days from the Wheels Museum of Transport Heritage project provide a unique opportunity to get behind the wheel of a classic bus with our Driving Insturctors, learning forward and reverse moves, and then taking to the 'open road' private road circuit at the fabulous Mallory Park in Leicestershire.
On our Gold sessions, you join us for the whole day. A classroom session sets the scene, comparing bus driver training of the past with the present day, There's a time for historical reflection on the history of what was the UK's largest provincial bus operator, Why the Midland Red Training School was one of the best and most thorough available, then our day covers safety items, medical and licence checks. Then it's a Driver's Vehicle Safety check and vehicle familiarisation, and into the seat for some careful gear-changing whilst getting used to the size of a large public service vehicle. All day refreshments and Lunch are included for trainee drivers and their guests.
Private sessions with your own instructor and a chosen bus can also be arranged, are also available on other dates. (Weekend dates are not generally available).
We don't compromise on quality - Our organisation is living the memory of a fondly remembered company of great repute.
We demand high standards - Our buses and coaches are "real" in-service vehicles so we show you how to drive them to give them long lives.
You get a great value day out with us - Personal, professional and knowledgable service and attention to detail.
and actually achieve something too ! Realise a Childhood ambition - Drive a Bus - with a certificate to prove it.
You will be able to see the enjoyment of your fellow participants achieving something that they've always wanted to do - just see the smiles on their faces ! So, buy your experience voucher - then if you are unsure of the date you wish to join us, you can arrange that later by email. The Bus Driver Experience Day vouchers are valid for six months.
Our classic British-made buses and coaches and our experienced staff with uniformed and experienced Driving Instructors, all go to make your day out a most memorable occasion.
HERE ARE THE DATES so far for 2013. These are all GOLD Experience days - the best Bus Driver Experience available!
| Monday 18th February | |||
| Monday 18th March | |||
| Monday 22nd April | Tuesday 23rd April | ||
| Monday 20th May | |||
| Monday 10th June | Tuesday 11th June | ||
| Monday 22nd July | |||
| Monday 5th August School Holiday dates |
Tuesday 6th August School Holiday dates |
To Book your Bus Driver Experience please see the article at the top of this page.
If you already hold a Bus Driver Experience Voucher (perhaps bought for you as a present), please email us to arrange a date subject to space available. Don't let your vouchers expire - they are valid for six months. Please have an alternative date available in case your first choice is not available. e.g. March 18th has only one "Trainee Driver" space remaining as at 1st January 2013. - guest spaces are not limited but must be pre-booked.
Many of you may know of the annual Bus Driver of the Year event - this is where Bus and Coach Drivers from Companies all over the UK get together for a Competition of high standards of driving over a designated course. The Winner receives a trophy and publicity etc.
The Midland Red "Trainee" Bus Driver of the Year event is open to anyone who has been on both our Bus Driver Experience Day and special offer Repeat Day. These trainee drivers will have sufficient experience to undertake the tasks set by our Instructors to have a chance of winning the event.
The Midland Red "Trainee" Bus Driver of the Year event will be held in Autumn 2013 so there is still time for your application to be considered or for you to return for a Repeat visit to qualify if you need to.
A special engraved Trophy will be presented to the winner which they will keep for a year and return it for presentation to the following year's winner.
Our
Midland
Red GOLD Bus Driver Experience Days provide a unique opportunity to get behind the wheel of
classic
buses with our Driving Instructors. It's a fully inclusive day, with classroom sessions including a comprehensive background to the early days of
Midland Red, and comparison discussions of the pros and cons of learning the
Midland Red way versus modern-day training. All this besides
taking to the private 'open road' of the famous Mallory Park Circuit
in Leicestershire, and enjoying a rather nice lunch locally at The Windmill
Restaurant at Brascote.
Exciting, Educational, Nostalgic, Historical, and Fun
Great for Birthdays, Anniversaries or Corporate Gifts.
Join our growing list of budding Trainee Bus Drivers who come from just about every walk of life.
Picture 1: A Government Transport Official from Seattle came especially to drive a bus which he used to travel on in Tamworth before emigrating. Picture 2: shows a happy lady after driving our D9 double decker - she was treated to an experience as a Birthday gift by her daughter, a doctor in Birmingham. Picture 3: After a Birthday gift from his partner, is Adrian whispering a suggestion for his next birthday?
In addition to the above visitors, we've had Doctors of Medicine, Doctors of Engineering, Police Officers, Teachers, Accountants, Lorry Drivers, Council officers, Shop keepers, Factory workers, Social workers, Students, lots of retired folk, and even ex-pats who want to drive a British bus. Oh yes, we also get some retired Bus Drivers anxious to soak up nostalgic memories, and some modern-day bus drivers who sometimes get a shock to see how hard a bus driver's job used to be!
The D9 is not always in attendance on our experience days - in fact due to its rarity it is a very special occasion when it appears. Our regular vehicles on our Gold Experience Days are either our Classic Bristol RE or Leyland Leopard (single decker representatives) and the traditional Leyland PD2 double decker. Our Leyland Leopard and even the Royal Tiger Doyens sometimes appear, which gives the experience of both semi automatic and manual gear changes often available.
Email us on: buses@wheels.co.uk Call us on 077 3388 4914, or 02476 633624
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Bus
Driver Experience Days for Private Groups
Ideal for Team building, Corporate Days Out, Rewarding valued employees, special gifts for Groom or Best Man of Wedding events, or just a great incentive idea.
And for private groups and Corporate Driving Experience Sessions with ten trainee drivers and other groups we can arrange exclusive dates and at special prices - ask us for details.
Join our happy band of Bus Driver Experience "Trainees"
If you have always wanted to drive a bus or want to realise a childhood dream you'll find it hard to beat our Bus Driver Experience Days.
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The cost is £99 per participant for
Assessment only - a very short and concise session to check and assess your
suitability in driving/handling a large PSV.
GOLD Bus Driver Experience is our best course (£295) with more individual attention and up to two vehicles and two instructors, depending on the number of trainee drivers. Gold Experience packages start at 9.45 for 10am, and finish around 4pm, and include Lunch for the Participant and Guests. The price for Guests is £59 each. As you can imagine, the Gold Course is by far our most popular and is the best value especially with our repeat offer - only available for Gold sessions. For booking your GOLD Bus Driver Experience please see the article at the top of the page.
REPEAT VISITS - If you decide to come back after your Gold Bus Driver Experience - we have a very special offer for you currently available. If you return within one year of your first GOLD experience date (and any number of further times in a twelve month period) and you can enjoy another day with us for an amazing £99 ! This includes the full package which we have running on your chosen date, but doesn't include items like Lunch, the Midland Red Print or other gifts which you already have from your initial visit to us. However, Lunch is available for a contribution of just £7.50 on your return visit(s). The letter on the right is typical of the comments from repeat Driver Experience participants. As you can see, Trevor is a regular visitor and travels from West London area to be with us
Corporate and Private Group Experience Packages start from £99, with spectator (Guest) prices from just £35 for either an morning or afternoon session, or from £189 for all day Corporate or Private Group sessions with spectator (Guests) prices from £49. All Day sessions will include all day refreshments and Lunch for everyone booked to attend. You have the option of Lunch at a nearby rural hostelry which is home-prepared from locally sourced ingredients or enjoy a specially prepared buffet brought in by our local suppliers at an agreed time, or as agreed depending on numbers of people in your group. The all day sessions will include historical and technical discussion, licence and medical checks, vehicle familiarisation and safety session, and time in the cab - We will not compromise on safety related sessions, but some content of the sessions can be tailored to particular group requirements. and again depending on numbers, the time could be extended for larger groups. Principals or Organisers representing private or corporate groups should contact us directly for specific information relevant to your requirement. buses@wheels.co.uk
CLASSIC BUS DRIVING EXPERIENCE DAYS
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Our Bus Driver Experience packages are varied and include something for everyone.
You can make arrangements to bring Guests along to share your exciting day. Some all-day packages include Lunch locally too.
Full information is now available as PDF brochures - just click the image on the right to download your copy! The flyer explains briefly what is involved on Bus Driver Experiences so you can see if it is right for you or the recipient of the Experience. Just print it off for reference if you wish.
Driver Experiences are held at the famous Mallory Park Circuit - known as "the little circuit with the big view" and is great for spectators. It is a friendly track and is conveniently located near Hinckley in Leicestershire. It's easy to find from the M1/M6/M69 local motorway network. Full joining instructions are provided when your particular package date is arranged/confirmed.
The Bus Driver Experience Packages are great for presents and for Corporate Gifts, so when you buy an Experience Package we sent you an appropriate Experience Voucher - then when you wish to book a particular date, you simply contact us to choose from the dates available. Corporate Packages for groups of ten qualify for corporate discounts.
Generally we like our courses to be available to anyone capable, but we do have certain 'guidelines' for trainee participants. They should ideally be the holder of a Driving Licence for at least one year, be in good health, between 5'5" and 6'4" in height, under 18 stone in weight, and under 70 yrs of age, but if you are around these numbers please do ask for more information and we may need to ask you various additional questions. Participants must be 100% free of alchohol and drugs on the day of the experience and random testing is in force as it is with all Bus Drivers.
Do see our terms and conditions on the leaflet, and participants must complete a booking form. Decisions of the Driving Instructors regarding suitability and safety items etc is final.
Discounts are available for repeat bookings made within twelve months of the previous package or assessment.
If you would like to book a driver experience, print-off and complete our Driver Experiences Booking Form. Then post the completed form back to us with a cheque for the necessary payment, to the address on the bottom of the form, Call us on 02476 633624 or 077 3388 4914 to make a debit card payment.
We would like to thank the following for their part in the success of the day:  BUSES FOR DRIVING |
Planning something special? We have something which may fit the bill !
A Birthday surprise, A Thank You gift, a Team building session, or rewarding special employees? Let WHEELS / Midland Red Coaches help you. We have organised some of the biggest and best transport events in the area, and NOW we can offer you an individual experience or a group session, seeing what the life of a bus driver was like in times gone by! The chance to get behind the wheel of a classic bus was many a childhood dream. It can now come true. You can also bring along non-participating spectator friends or your partner, if you wish for a much reduced fee. The event will be led by experienced and qualified Driver Instructor, and will start with a briefing. This will involve us gathering information on forms from the participant; an explanation of our operations and how we work with our vintage and classic buses and coaches; information on Health and Safety issues whilst you are with us; and an on-vehicle safety check and briefing, explaining the type of bus, how it works, some Driving techniques, and emergency procedures. Then on a pre-prepared circuit we will help you traverse a number of obstacles, and even reverse the bus around a corner with cones using only your mirrors - as it used to be done! The Driving Instructor may ask you to start on an incline - a hill start !! But make sure you dont roll backwards as he may have placed a matchbox or a plastic cup just behind the wheel... and if you break it you may have to buy each of your colleagues and the Instructor a round of teas, again just as happened in the good old days! You will have an enjoyable time as it's something not available every day. Each packages is different and you will be rewarded with a participant's certificate and dependant upon the particular package there are mugs featuring the bus or buses you have driven, Limited Edition Midland Red Centenary prints, Group Photograph and some handouts to remember your day with Midland Red Coaches on your Classic Bus Driving Experience Day. If you are travelling from any distance, we can provide information to help you to arrange accommodation in local Bed and Breakfasts or Hotels. Wheels/Midland Red Coaches are supporters of all local Tourism Associations and many of their members have cosy and affordable accommodation, and others with more things to do and see whilst you are in our area. See what you would like to do on and around your visit. Checkout their website: www.visitnorthernwarwickshire.com www.visithinckleyandbosworth.co.uk www.visittamworth.co.uk We will aim to make your time with us worthwhile and a very special experience for you to enjoy.
e-mail us at buses@wheels.co.uk for available dates. |
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