Still frightened of my Tiv?
Discussion
I've had my Griff 500 for about 6 months - mainly for my weekend driving pleasure. I've done about 2000 miles.
When I first got it I was very nevous each time I drove it. The sheer power, combined with zero safety aids. So far I've given it a healthy respect - and seldom ever push it very hard.
However, six months on and I'm still just as nervous each time I get in it. Is this normal? Shouldn't I have got over it by now. Or, is it very prudent to give the car such respect?
When I first got it I was very nevous each time I drove it. The sheer power, combined with zero safety aids. So far I've given it a healthy respect - and seldom ever push it very hard.
However, six months on and I'm still just as nervous each time I get in it. Is this normal? Shouldn't I have got over it by now. Or, is it very prudent to give the car such respect?
Must admit, I feel exactly the same way though I've 'only' got the 4.0 Chim. You hear so many horror stories on here of the back just suddenly breaking away etc that it does make you a little nervous about driving it hard. I still find on many backroad journeys I was doing them much faster in my old FWD Honda Prelude.
I think until I either get booked on a ride-drive course or can find a good safe area to practice finding the cars limits that I will continue to be nervous and unwilling to really push it except on the driest straight roads. At the moment I'm concentrating more on the noise etc than outright speed...
I think until I either get booked on a ride-drive course or can find a good safe area to practice finding the cars limits that I will continue to be nervous and unwilling to really push it except on the driest straight roads. At the moment I'm concentrating more on the noise etc than outright speed...
Not used mine much in the last couple of months but took it out for 20 minute blast on Saturday.
Gave it some stick and didn't feel 100% comfortable.
Don't normally feel like this.
I know though, once the drier weather arrives and I get driving it more regularly again, I will be cured.
Gave it some stick and didn't feel 100% comfortable.
Don't normally feel like this. I know though, once the drier weather arrives and I get driving it more regularly again, I will be cured.
srebbe64 said:
I've had my Griff 500 for about 6 months - mainly for my weekend driving pleasure. I've done about 2000 miles.
When I first got it I was very nevous each time I drove it. The sheer power, combined with zero safety aids. So far I've given it a healthy respect - and seldom ever push it very hard.
However, six months on and I'm still just as nervous each time I get in it. Is this normal? Shouldn't I have got over it by now. Or, is it very prudent to give the car such respect?
Its prudent. Never become complacent. Its keeping you alive and the car in one piece.
I admire your restraint - especially as in winter its necessary.
And finally - come on, Steve, go on some Advanced training. You'll feel more confident about the car after that. Start with us (IAM) as its cheap and good start - and then go see Don Palmer etc on an airfield and have a damn good hoon.
srebbe64 said:
However, six months on and I'm still just as nervous each time I get in it. Is this normal? Shouldn't I have got over it by now. Or, is it very prudent to give the car such respect?
I don't know if it's normal however, two years on, I'm still just as nervous* and incredibly excited!
But it sure makes you feel alive
*I had the engine cut out on me several times in the early days before replacement Lambda sensors and an ECU rectified the problem!
Don said:
I've had my Griff 500 for about 6 months - mainly for my weekend driving pleasure. I've done about 2000 miles.
When I first got it I was very nevous each time I drove it. The sheer power, combined with zero safety aids. So far I've given it a healthy respect - and seldom ever push it very hard.
However, six months on and I'm still just as nervous each time I get in it. Is this normal? Shouldn't I have got over it by now. Or, is it very prudent to give the car such respect?
Its prudent. Never become complacent. Its keeping you alive and the car in one piece.
I admire your restraint - especially as in winter its necessary.
And finally - come on, Steve, go on some Advanced training. You'll feel more confident about the car after that. Start with us (IAM) as its cheap and good start - and then go see Don Palmer etc on an airfield and have a damn good hoon.
Id plan to do the advanced training Don. Only tthing is, I've just enroled my 14 yr old into the under 17 drivers club and this is every Sunday. Therein lies my dilemma!
wise to be careful in this weather .. slippery as hell out there. cosmoschick said:
*I had the engine cut out on me several times in the early days before replacement Lambda sensors and an ECU rectified the problem!
I think I must have a Friday afternoon TVR, because it's been absolutely faultless (except for a negligible boot latch issue - sorted in ten minutes!)
I have a very healthy respect for the Griff at this time of year but even so, it's gone unexpectedly sideways several times, most alarmingly so when I was supposed to be going in a straight line!! I did an advanced driving/handling course on an airfield 2 weeks after buying the car and this has undoubtedly helped me when it's got out of shape. I'd recommend it to anybody without hesitation. Better to be safe than very sorry!!
All the best - Chris
>> Edited by Painey on Tuesday 15th February 17:15
All the best - Chris
>> Edited by Painey on Tuesday 15th February 17:15
srebbe64 said:
Id plan to do the advanced training Don. Only tthing is, I've just enroled my 14 yr old into the under 17 drivers club and this is every Sunday. Therein lies my dilemma!
We don't just do drives on a Sunday. We do them individually at different times and on different days.
Good for you taking your lad onto the under 17 club.
Its it every Sunday though?
If you are unsure as to whether or not the IAM will simply be too dull or not teach you very much I'd be happy to give you a "demo" drive sometime...you're not far away...and you can make up your own mind.
The IAM is a good start - but there's so much more after that you can do. All damn good stuff...
I've spent many years doing exciting things for my fun and intend to spend many more years yet. I was 20 when I had my Coventry Climax engined Lotus 7 in 1962, which taught me great respect for road conditions, as did my Velocette Venom. Over the years I've climbed, dived (sea and sky), soldiered, flown (and built) ultralights. Many lessons, some mistakes (lucky enough to walk away) but still alive.
Above all make sure your kit is in good order and you know how to use it, and where it's and your limits are. I have no qualms about exploiting the power of my 4L wet or dry. However I adapt my style accordingly. When I got the car I made sure I took it out in all weathers, starting out cautiously and building experience. Slow in, fast out is the rule, and very satisfying and exciting it can be. Brutal use of the right foot in second or third out of a bend in the wet and you will lose it, and deserve to. I drive my car every week, all weathers and urge you to do so. If you do not have 'previous' then I also urge you to get onto a track and start to explore the potential, dry and wet. There used to be a very good skid control course at Silverstone, which I found very helpful and confidence building. Above all do not be drawn or provoked into getting into situations on the road outside your experience - there's nothing that has to be 'proved'. However given the respect due, the road holding is very good indeed and you need not be nervous or apprehensive - use it, get used to it and have really great fun.
Sorry for the rather pompous lecture, but I do mean it sincerely
Jeff
Above all make sure your kit is in good order and you know how to use it, and where it's and your limits are. I have no qualms about exploiting the power of my 4L wet or dry. However I adapt my style accordingly. When I got the car I made sure I took it out in all weathers, starting out cautiously and building experience. Slow in, fast out is the rule, and very satisfying and exciting it can be. Brutal use of the right foot in second or third out of a bend in the wet and you will lose it, and deserve to. I drive my car every week, all weathers and urge you to do so. If you do not have 'previous' then I also urge you to get onto a track and start to explore the potential, dry and wet. There used to be a very good skid control course at Silverstone, which I found very helpful and confidence building. Above all do not be drawn or provoked into getting into situations on the road outside your experience - there's nothing that has to be 'proved'. However given the respect due, the road holding is very good indeed and you need not be nervous or apprehensive - use it, get used to it and have really great fun.
Sorry for the rather pompous lecture, but I do mean it sincerely
Jeff
Don said:
Id plan to do the advanced training Don. Only tthing is, I've just enroled my 14 yr old into the under 17 drivers club and this is every Sunday. Therein lies my dilemma!
We don't just do drives on a Sunday. We do them individually at different times and on different days.
Good for you taking your lad onto the under 17 club.
Its it every Sunday though?
If you are unsure as to whether or not the IAM will simply be too dull or not teach you very much I'd be happy to give you a "demo" drive sometime...you're not far away...and you can make up your own mind.
The IAM is a good start - but there's so much more after that you can do. All damn good stuff...
Okay - not just Sundays! What other days do you teach Don? I am very interested in developing my driving skills. I consider myself a good driver, I'm quite fast but I've never had an accident in 23 yrs of driving. However, I know there's much I could learn. As such, I'm pretty keen to pursue the IAM.
How our system works is that you join up as an "Associate". Once a month we have drives on a Sunday for all Associates. New to our system is that each Associate is given an Observer who is to give them at least one and possibly two drives during the month at times that are mutually convenient.
We used to have it that a single Observer was assigned to an Associate until they passed the "Test". Now the "1:1" (mutually convenient times) Observer changes once a month.
The idea is that Associates will get exposed to Observers with different "hot topics" and therefore get a balanced view of Advanced driving...otherwise you end up with people who can all pass the "Don Hughes School Of Advanced Driving" test rather than the IAM test.
As I say: if you like I can give you a demo drive unofficially sometime and you can decide if you want to pursue the IAM. Its cheap and a good introduction to Advanced driving. But, as I say, its only the beginning.
Someone, like yourself, who has 23 years of good driving record behind you should have *no trouble* picking up everything very quickly - some very good drivers have passed the IAM test with as little as four Observed drives.
The less talented have taken thirty drives or more! The average is eight to ten, I suppose...
My email is down at the moment, Steve, but when its back up (two days or so) feel free to 'mail me and I'll be happy to show you what we do. (Evenings, Saturdays ...)
We used to have it that a single Observer was assigned to an Associate until they passed the "Test". Now the "1:1" (mutually convenient times) Observer changes once a month.
The idea is that Associates will get exposed to Observers with different "hot topics" and therefore get a balanced view of Advanced driving...otherwise you end up with people who can all pass the "Don Hughes School Of Advanced Driving" test rather than the IAM test.
As I say: if you like I can give you a demo drive unofficially sometime and you can decide if you want to pursue the IAM. Its cheap and a good introduction to Advanced driving. But, as I say, its only the beginning.
Someone, like yourself, who has 23 years of good driving record behind you should have *no trouble* picking up everything very quickly - some very good drivers have passed the IAM test with as little as four Observed drives.
The less talented have taken thirty drives or more! The average is eight to ten, I suppose...
My email is down at the moment, Steve, but when its back up (two days or so) feel free to 'mail me and I'll be happy to show you what we do. (Evenings, Saturdays ...)
I have only been driving the Chim seriously since aug 04. I still get butterflies taking it out especially today in light snow this morning but I was very careful and drove for the conditions. It had dried nicely by lunch and it was brill out there. I did an advanced driving course with an instructor in my own car and luck would have it in very very wet conditions, he showed me that with the right control you actually find it very hard to lose. Gave me lots of confidence and well worth the money, will be doing it again soon.
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