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Post by charlotte on Jul 5, 2018 21:38:44 GMT
I last had an instructor next to me in a car about a squillion years ago.....and today, driving somewhat briskly across the Cotswolds once traffic had cleared, I realised that I'm actually not very good! Car is a 1992 Mk1, no ABS, no traction control, no nothing that I've grown used to in the last 10 years or so - and it's great, it's raw - and 60mph is quite fast enough....but I'd like to learn to corner better....not because I want to drive like a twat - but rather, because I don't! I think I brake too early and not hard enough. I didn't think I had any interest in track days - and I've a 1.6 auto which I have no intention of modifying beyond maybe a timing advance - so I'll be slower than most I guess....It's got 4 Falkens on the corners and the alignment seems fine, I'm fairly sure it's the idiot behind the wheel at fault!
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Post by Horney on Jul 5, 2018 22:00:34 GMT
I’ve seen people do trackdays in autos.
Welcome to the forum.
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jwmx
New Here
Posts: 8
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Post by jwmx on Jul 6, 2018 10:08:24 GMT
Could start with a driving tips website like this: HowToDrive.co.ukI'd be tempted to book a half day course with a track day or rally instructor to get comfortable being close to the limit. Also there are plenty of MX5 autosolo events, you could go along to an event like this one: mx5challenge which will be at castle combe and kemble airfield - might be able to get some help/tips from those guys. prob will go along myself just to watch as that's very close to me! |
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Post by Zed. on Jul 6, 2018 10:39:19 GMT
book a half day course with a track day or rally instructor to get comfortable being close to the limit. +1... I've competed in a few rallies - both driving & navigating & I have to admit that on my first rally as a driver (sometime in the last century...) I had previously thought myself as a reasonably quick (& brave  ) driver..... on the first stage, possibly the first lap I was caught & passed by a few cars  most embarrassingly, I was caught, passed & waved at by a friend that started 1 car behind me (start @ 30 second intervals) in his 1300 mk2 escort  - I was driving my 2L mk2 escort........ it didnt take long to realise where I was losing time, mostly as my navigator forcibly stopped me getting near the handbrake so less spinning-out into the scenery & actually managing to get forward motion (somewhat faster!!!) so everyone has room for (embarrassing) improvement....... go find a trackday & enter as a novice, or find a race / rally school & discuss what they may be able to help with  as another possibility, contact local motorclubs (the type that race / rally / sprint & hillclimb NOT max-power meet) as they may have members who are professional driving instructors & can give professional 'lessons' biased more towards spirited driving? Rich. |
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Post by wannabe on Jul 6, 2018 12:08:34 GMT
Track time helps with car handling knowledge, but you should also work on your roadcraft - how to read the road and the other users on it, in order to drive more slowly when needed but also more quickly when it's safe to do so.
By a copy of the Roadcraft book: www.amazon.co.uk/Roadcraft-Police-Drivers-Handbook-Foundation/dp/0117081876/
and also Reg Local's books: www.amazon.co.uk/Advanced-Performance-Driving-Reg-Local/dp/150853540X/ www.amazon.co.uk/How-Not-Crash-Reg-Local/dp/1530991404/
as they will give you a good knowledge of things to think about when driving - you can read a chapter then work on adding it into your driving over the next week
You should then check out the IAM:
www.iamroadsmart.com/courses
and RoSPA:
www.rospa.com/safety-training/on-road/advanced/drivers/
as they use Roadcraft as the basis for their training, and can offer coaching towards passing their tests within their (very reasonable) prices. They have fairly independently-run local groups so check out all the ones you might be able to get to (if more than one) because as with most things in life, the 'feeling' of a group is very dependent on who is in it and who is running it, and you might prefer one over the other!
The next step after that would be (IMHO) the HPC course
www.high-performance-course.com/
www.high-performance-course.com/faq
The HPC course is expensive (about a grand IIRC) but the end benefits are good - they do driver days at Millbrook Proving Ground (with the awesome Hill course that has the 'yump' you can get air over, where the James Bond Aston barrel-roll was filmed), you can get HPC insurance that means you can drive other members' cars (and they have some NICE cars!) and they even do things like Ice Driving courses in the Scandinavian countries!
And don't forget - it might cost a grand, but how much might you spend on a set of coilovers that can only be used on your current car, whereas that grand's worth of knowledge can be transferred to any car you drive, anywhere in the world?
HPC actually do a 'Young Driver Day' to get people interested and show what they are doing, as well as help pass some knowledge on -
www.high-performance-course.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14.
The next one on 28th July at The Holt Hotel, near Steeple Aston, Oxfordshire, so I think it's near your neck of the woods, charlotte ?
I highly recommend doing it!! And they are even a little bit flexible on age if you are a bit over the stated cut off of 26.
Do it!!
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Post by charlotte on Jul 6, 2018 16:36:24 GMT
Wannabe.....do you organise the thing on the 28th? I'm.....well, I've 10 years on the 26 yr olds....but I'm good with concealer!
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Post by wannabe on Jul 6, 2018 20:13:26 GMT
Wannabe.....do you organise the thing on the 28th? I'm.....well, I've 10 years on the 26 yr olds....but I'm good with concealer!
I wish I did! lol
I've been a couple of times in the past and stretched the age limit by a few years - I think it is worth giving them a ring / email, though, as they are friendly chaps and chapesses and it is an eye-opening day!
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Post by duncan on Aug 4, 2018 15:30:32 GMT
Hi Charlotte.
Your post makes an interesting read. I am a DSA Driving Advanced/Fleet Instructor and a fellow Mk1 Owner of the same vintage. If you would like any additional coaching local to home I would be more than happy to help. I live just outside Hereford so not a million miles away from you. If you would like to know more give me a call on 07913239176.
All the best, Duncan.
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Post by Rickster on Aug 4, 2018 16:07:38 GMT
Hi Charlotte, I highly recommend the Gurston hill driving school www.gurstondown.org/gurston-down-hill-climb-school/You've missed them this year but give it a go in 2019 It's loads of fun, short bursts of driving up the hill, a great mix of ages, abilities and car types Rather than someone barking instructions at you in the car, they watch from viewpoints and give you hints and tips Great day out |
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) driver.....
- I was driving my 2L mk2 escort........
le sigh