PistonHeads Driving Day - Shaftesbury, Saturday 10th August

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

It's a fact that, whilst discussing driving online can be interesting, it's a poor substitute for getting out on the road and actually doing it.

There have been a couple of previous PH driving events based in Cambridgeshire, but the most recent was in 2008 and I don't think there's been anything since. I'm proposing that we start to remedy this with a day of driving and discussion based in Shaftesbury (in Dorset, on the A30) on Saturday the 10th of August.

The format I'm proposing is:

We'll be based at a pub that will be open for breakfast at 8:30, and we can return to for lunch. Participants will be grouped into twos or threes and then take turns to each drive their own car over a choice of routes, ranging from 40 to 80 minutes for each drive. After everyone in the group has driven, they retire to the pub for discussion and refreshment.

There's no requirement or expectation to drive other vehicles, or let other people drive yours. It also doesn't matter what your car is - the point is the driving, not the vehicle. Previous experience of Advanced Driving isn't required either, just a willingness to think about what you're doing in the car and talk about it.

This kind of thing has been running on Advanced-Driving.co.uk for many years, and generally works very well. As organiser, I'll be attempting to match up groups of drivers with varying experience so that everybody gets to learn something, and we all have an enjoyable time.

I'm aware that the location won't be ideal for lots of people, but it's got to be somewhere, and it does have some really good roads right on the doorstep. Anyone whose normal driving consists mainly of commuting in town will really appreciate the difference.

Any questions, just ask.


Note for the Mods - this post approved by P. Garlick.

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

Name	Possible / Definite
S. Gonzales Esq.	Definite

[dombooth]

Name	Possible / Definite
S. Gonzales Esq.	Definite
dombooth	Possible

[Craikeybaby]

Name	Possible / Definite
S. Gonzales Esq.	Definite
dombooth	Possible
Craikeybaby	Possible

[MC Bodge]

S. Gonzales Esq. said:

I'm proposing that we start to remedy this with a day of driving and discussion

Excellent idea!

S. Gonzales Esq. said:

based in Shaftesbury (in Dorset, on the A30) on Saturday the 10th of August

Ah, not exactly local

[mazdatezzer]

Presume this will be concurrent with the ADUK day already planned for this date and venue?

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

Yes, but with a slightly different structure so participants get to drive with more people. We know that the format, location and routes work well.

[mazdatezzer]

So, as I'm already signed up for this date as an ADUK'er, presume I don't need to sign on here as well?

[TackMEU]

I need to confirm with work, but this sounds like a jolly wheeze.

So a possible for me!

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

Terry - no harm in being listed here too:

Name	Possible / Definite
S. Gonzales Esq.	Definite
dombooth	Possible
Craikeybaby	Possible
mazdatezzer	Possible
TackMEU	Possible

[raymanh]

Name	Possible / Definite
S. Gonzales Esq.	Definite
dombooth	Possible
Craikeybaby	Possible
mazdatezzer	Possible
TackMEU	Possible
raymanh	Possible

[yellowjack]

Having never done anything like this before, I'm slightly nervous. I'll also have to clear it at home, as SWMBO ha many things booked over the summer, but I'm up for trying something new...

Name	Possible / Definite
S. Gonzales Esq.	Definite
dombooth	Possible
Craikeybaby	Possible
mazdatezzer	Possible
TackMEU	Possible
raymanh	Possible
yellowjack	Possible

[Ki3r]

Wish I still had my car! Would have loved to have joined everyone.

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

yellowjack said:

Having never done anything like this before, I'm slightly nervous. I'll also have to clear it at home, as SWMBO ha many things booked over the summer, but I'm up for trying something new...

No need for nervousness - it'll be pretty informal.

The way to get the most out of days like this is to be open to discussion about alternative approaches to things. Other drivers will be doing things differently, and there's every chance you'll see something that you'll end up adopting for your own driving.

[brisel]

What roads were you thinking of using? It's a shame I'm busy at work then as its only just up the road from me.

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

I haven't finalised the routes yet, but it's a safe bet that there will be lots of driving up and down the nearby Zig Zag Hill. I always find all those hairpins quite hard work, but the road that leads from the top is one of my absolute favourites.

Amongst the others to be included will be the road to Sturminster Newton, a loop to Blandford, and possible a longer run down towards Cerne Abbas.

[yellowjack]

Well, I was just about to post a 'non-availability' notice regarding the 10th August. I'd convinced myself that there was something booked that weekend.

BUT.

Turns out that, at the moment, it's the only free weekend I've got in August. Y Not festival the weekend before, family christening in Wales the weekend after (A4069 nearby ) and Reading festival the week after that. 'Possible' is now looking like 'probable'.

[Mr Grayson]

I don't see my colleague's name mentioned in the list of possibles ...

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

That's possibly because your colleague is on another forum, but I'll also add you here, just to make things interesting.

I'll be asking the 'possibles' whether they'd like to commit to becoming 'definites' at the beginning of August.

Name	Possible / Definite
S. Gonzales Esq.	Definite
dombooth	Possible
Craikeybaby	Possible
mazdatezzer	Possible
TackMEU	Possible
raymanh	Possible
yellowjack	Possible
Mr Grayson	Possible

[brisel]

S. Gonzales Esq. said:

I haven't finalised the routes yet, but it's a safe bet that there will be lots of driving up and down the nearby Zig Zag Hill. I always find all those hairpins quite hard work, but the road that leads from the top is one of my absolute favourites.

Amongst the others to be included will be the road to Sturminster Newton, a loop to Blandford, and possible a longer run down towards Cerne Abbas.

B3089 which starts a few miles north of Shaftesbury fantastic for overtaking & cornering opportunities. A30 is slower but A354 is mostly straight. Old Shaftesbury High Road from Blandford northwards is better than the A350. Looking further south the B3081 beyond Tollard Royal & Sixpenny Handley is epic past Cranborne towards Wimborne. The Cerne Abbas A352 is good in places but slow closer to Dorchester if you get stuck behind someone.

Sorry if I'm teaching Grandma how to suck eggs!

I hope that the day goes well for you.