Advanced & Performance Driving - The Book!
Discussion
I've been posting on here for over 8 years now, on and off and a few years ago, someone suggested that I should collate all my previous posts and edit them together into a book.
It sounded like a good idea, but like many things which sound like a good idea, I put it off for ages.
But then I discovered how easy it is to self-publish an ebook, so I thought I'd give it a go.
After a few weeks of editing in my spare time and a lot of prevaricating about what order I should put the posts (chapters) in, it's finally finished.
A few things to bear in mind. Firstly, I'm not an author, so this is very much an amateur attempt and should be read as such. Neither am I a professional editor, publisher or proof reader, so please do not expect fabulous graphics and rich text.
Secondly, if you've been around these forums as long as I have, you'll have read it all before, although I have rewritten the posts to make them relevant to the book, and to include information which I had subsequently posted as answers to questions.
I have not produced the book in an attempt to make my fortune and the price is deliberately low in an attempt to appeal to as many readers as possible.
Anyway, in Kindle ebook format, here's the link:
http://tinyurl.com/kx7cjby
If you got an Amazon voucher for Christmas, there are worse things to fritter £2.99 on!
Oh, and Mods - I did contact the site admin before posting this thread.
It sounded like a good idea, but like many things which sound like a good idea, I put it off for ages.
But then I discovered how easy it is to self-publish an ebook, so I thought I'd give it a go.
After a few weeks of editing in my spare time and a lot of prevaricating about what order I should put the posts (chapters) in, it's finally finished.
A few things to bear in mind. Firstly, I'm not an author, so this is very much an amateur attempt and should be read as such. Neither am I a professional editor, publisher or proof reader, so please do not expect fabulous graphics and rich text.
Secondly, if you've been around these forums as long as I have, you'll have read it all before, although I have rewritten the posts to make them relevant to the book, and to include information which I had subsequently posted as answers to questions.
I have not produced the book in an attempt to make my fortune and the price is deliberately low in an attempt to appeal to as many readers as possible.
Anyway, in Kindle ebook format, here's the link:
http://tinyurl.com/kx7cjby
If you got an Amazon voucher for Christmas, there are worse things to fritter £2.99 on!
Oh, and Mods - I did contact the site admin before posting this thread.
Many thanks to everyone who has bought a copy. It's now the 12th bestseller in the "Automotive" section of the Kindle bookstore!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Best-Sellers-Kindle-Store-...
I'll be giving it a little refresh in a week or two, updating it with my track day posts and addressing a couple of formatting issues. I'll make sure that the updates are available to anyone who has already bought it, so no-one will miss out.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Best-Sellers-Kindle-Store-...
I'll be giving it a little refresh in a week or two, updating it with my track day posts and addressing a couple of formatting issues. I'll make sure that the updates are available to anyone who has already bought it, so no-one will miss out.
Beyond all my expectations, the book is currently the number 1 bestseller in the Kindle automotive section. Ahead of Jeremy Clarkson, the Stig, the Highway Code and Roadcraft!
Who'd have thunk it?!
http://tinyurl.com/kx7cjby
Who'd have thunk it?!
http://tinyurl.com/kx7cjby
waremark said:
That's absolutely amazing Reg, well done - and well deserved. How many sales does it take to become no 1 (does your followership here and now on ADUK get you that far?)? Are you going to make real money from it?
Well, I won't be giving up my day job yet, that's for sure!Sales are in the low 100s at the moment - it is the number one seller, but in the "automotive" section of the Kindle store, so we're not talking massive sales, but far, far in excess of my expectations - I though t I'd shift half-a-dozen or so in the first month, So I'm really very pleased. The majority of sales have, I think, followed the announcement on PH, but I'm tweeting now as well, and sales seem to respond to my tweets, so maybe that helps.
If sales continue as they are, I might just be able to take Mrs Local away for a few days later in the year on the profits.
I have some further plans - the book will be updated and "tidied up" in a few weeks with a few extra chapters and some loose ends tied up (don't worry if you've bought it - the updates will be available free of charge for those who have already bought the book). There is also an opportunity for Amazon to produce a print version of the book with no outlay on my part, but it will need a comprehensive re-edit and the price will be significantly higher, but hopefully no more than a tenner.
Thanks to everyone who has bought a copy!
I'd appreciate people's suggestions for further chapters.
When I update the book, I'm going to include a final chapter on cornering (I never really felt I'd finished cornering so I'll cover lines through corners and balancing steering & throttle) and a final chapter on motorways - if you read all the motorway stuff you'll realise I never covered motorway exits and I'm worried there may be people endlessley circling the M60 with no idea how to leave!
I'm also writing a section which describes police driving courses in detail, finishing the trackday chapters, giving my version of how to apply the Roadcraft system of car control and a piece I've been thinking about for a while covering how different roads have different "rythms".
As with everything else in the book, I'll be posting each chapter in this forum over the next few months so everyone will get a chance to read it for free eventually. If you've already bought the ebook, you'll get all the new chapters for free as soon as I've released them, and if you'd prefer a real, live, paper and print book, that'll be available too
But have I missed anything? Is there anything else you'd like me to cover? Anything you've always wanted to know but were afraid to ask?
Let me know. I'm laid up with flu at the moment so it'll give me something to do in between bouts of dying.
When I update the book, I'm going to include a final chapter on cornering (I never really felt I'd finished cornering so I'll cover lines through corners and balancing steering & throttle) and a final chapter on motorways - if you read all the motorway stuff you'll realise I never covered motorway exits and I'm worried there may be people endlessley circling the M60 with no idea how to leave!
I'm also writing a section which describes police driving courses in detail, finishing the trackday chapters, giving my version of how to apply the Roadcraft system of car control and a piece I've been thinking about for a while covering how different roads have different "rythms".
As with everything else in the book, I'll be posting each chapter in this forum over the next few months so everyone will get a chance to read it for free eventually. If you've already bought the ebook, you'll get all the new chapters for free as soon as I've released them, and if you'd prefer a real, live, paper and print book, that'll be available too
But have I missed anything? Is there anything else you'd like me to cover? Anything you've always wanted to know but were afraid to ask?
Let me know. I'm laid up with flu at the moment so it'll give me something to do in between bouts of dying.
Variomatic said:
Holding out for the paper version here but other half has been tipped off in case it's available in time for my birthday 
I'll do my best - when is your birthday?With reference to the print version, it should be possible to produce it in 6" X 9" for just under a tenner, but thats with black & white photographs, so I'm trying to make sure that all the pics work in B&W. The alternative is to use colour pictures, but its significantly more expensive - close to £20 which I think is prohibitively expensive.
Would anyone pay £20 for a colour print copy?
R8VXF said:
I think at the moment I am at the stage of I don't know what I don't know if you get what I mean. I am looking forward to further updates though
Shouldn't be too long now. In the meantime, if you're looking to improve, try to break it down into individual "things" to practice every time you drive. If its gearchanging, start by just slowing the change down a bit. If its braking, just practice feathering the brake just before you stop to smooth it out. If its steering, just practice starting the turn smoothly and settling the car on its springs before applying more lock.You can already drive, so there isn't really much you don't know - just take regular, small steps and you'll soon see an improvement.
R8VXF said:
I do tend to find I do need to fully lift off the accelerator to get the revs to drop as a Supercharged 6.2 litre V8 can be a little slow to drop the revs.
Try lifting off the accelerator just before pressing the clutch - you might find the engine is more willing to lose revs slightly more quickly.R8VXF said:
I just need to learn smoothness as the MiL isn't particularly impressed when I hoon it in the VXR8 
Rule number 1 of advanced driving - never take your Mother-in-law with you.LordGrover said:
I nearly got some work done, but now I'm going to have to read this. 
I see your number one fan has given a one star review.
Yes. On the basis that I'd misplaced an apostrophe and used "compliment" instead of "complement" in the blurb, that clown gave the book a one-star review. He hasn't even bought the book! I see your number one fan has given a one star review.
That's the internet for you...
If you thought I'd gone back into hibernation over the last couple of weeks, I've actually been unwell, but I've used my time productively and completed the update to the ebook.
I've produced a better-looking cover and re-written the introduction, which I was never completely happy with.
I've also added ten new chapters to the book:
An additional chapter on motorways, which describe how to leave the motorway correctly.
A couple of extra chapters on cornering, where I explore cornering lines and how to drive through the corner.
A few chapters where I describe police driver training and the different courses available to officers.
A chapter on horn use.
A chapter on the zone of relative safety.
Now, the updated version of the book has been available in the Kindle store for the last week, but I've been having a battle with Amazon about making the new content available to people who have already bought the book.
Amazon have taken a week to review the updates and emailed me this morning to let me know that the content will be available to current owners free of charge, so, if you've already bought a copy, all you need to do is log into your account on the Amazon.co.uk website, click on the "Your Account" button next to the search box, and then click on "Manage Your Content and Devices" in the drop-down box.
You should then be presented with a list of all the kindle ebooks you've purchased, and there should be an option to update your copy of my book.
Amazon have been pretty unhelpful so far - they should email all current owners to inform them of the update, but they told me this morning that the updates were "quality corrections" and they would not be emailing current owners about the update. I'm in the process of challenging this decision.
Could a current owner please have a go and let me know if they have successfully downloaded the update? Thanks.
And for those of you waiting for a print version, I've been using Createspace to edit the content into a print version - a much harder and time consuming piece of work than I'd ever have imagined.
The edit is now complete and uploaded and I just need to make a few small amendments to the cover. It should be completed and uploaded to Amazon this evening.
There is a review process to go through, but I'm hoping to have the print version selling through Amazon within the next week. It'll be £9.99, so I managed to get it completed for under a tenner.
I'll keep you updated.
I've produced a better-looking cover and re-written the introduction, which I was never completely happy with.
I've also added ten new chapters to the book:
An additional chapter on motorways, which describe how to leave the motorway correctly.
A couple of extra chapters on cornering, where I explore cornering lines and how to drive through the corner.
A few chapters where I describe police driver training and the different courses available to officers.
A chapter on horn use.
A chapter on the zone of relative safety.
Now, the updated version of the book has been available in the Kindle store for the last week, but I've been having a battle with Amazon about making the new content available to people who have already bought the book.
Amazon have taken a week to review the updates and emailed me this morning to let me know that the content will be available to current owners free of charge, so, if you've already bought a copy, all you need to do is log into your account on the Amazon.co.uk website, click on the "Your Account" button next to the search box, and then click on "Manage Your Content and Devices" in the drop-down box.
You should then be presented with a list of all the kindle ebooks you've purchased, and there should be an option to update your copy of my book.
Amazon have been pretty unhelpful so far - they should email all current owners to inform them of the update, but they told me this morning that the updates were "quality corrections" and they would not be emailing current owners about the update. I'm in the process of challenging this decision.
Could a current owner please have a go and let me know if they have successfully downloaded the update? Thanks.
And for those of you waiting for a print version, I've been using Createspace to edit the content into a print version - a much harder and time consuming piece of work than I'd ever have imagined.
The edit is now complete and uploaded and I just need to make a few small amendments to the cover. It should be completed and uploaded to Amazon this evening.
There is a review process to go through, but I'm hoping to have the print version selling through Amazon within the next week. It'll be £9.99, so I managed to get it completed for under a tenner.
I'll keep you updated.
tulloch said:
Although I've read most if not all of the posts the book is well worth it, in fact cheap at the price. Thanks Reg.
Thanks for the kind comments! The update has quite a few chapters which I haven't yet posted in the forums. I will do, over time, but they're exclusive to the book for the time being.SK425 said:
Did you notice he'd missed out a closing quotation mark at the end of his rant?
No I didn't! To be honest, I don't think his drunken late-night grammar nazi-ism has harmed my sales much & I've corrected the blurb, so his review now makes no sense whatsoever. I've had some very nice reviews by several other readers, for which I'm very grateful and which comprehensively rebuffed the troll, so thank you to anyone else who has left a review.
I've just submitted a revised cover for the print book, which should be available within the week.
On to the next project now - a guide for newly-qualified drivers.
Flat6er said:
Any update on printing?
I have the kindle book in my amazon basket, but would prefer the hardcopy.
I'm still waiting for my proof copies to arrive. They're on their way from 'Murica - I'm a bit disappointed by the shipping time to be honest, although they did say they would arrive "on or before" 30 March.I have the kindle book in my amazon basket, but would prefer the hardcopy.
The book is uploaded and ready to go, but I know I'll regret it if I don't prrof read a paper copy before putting it on sale.
I'll update this thread as son as it's available - hopefully in time for Easter.
caiss4 said:
Just read it cover to cover and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's reassuring to know that the advanced training I received 35 years ago has not deserted me but looks like I could do with taking your advice on critical self-analysis to re-hone!
Oh, and on the subject of proof reading there is a single outbreak of 'license' at the end of the chapter on skid control
Good grief - I can't believe I missed that one. Especially as my day job is Licensing Manager and I probably write the word "licence" at least 10 times a day. I blame over-reliance on spell-checker!Oh, and on the subject of proof reading there is a single outbreak of 'license' at the end of the chapter on skid control
If you've enjoyed the book (or even if you haven't!) could I please ask that you take 5 minutes to submit a review on Amazon?
Cheers.
I've proof-read the print copy, made a few amendments and uploaded the amended file to Createspace for approval.
All things being equal, it should be available to buy via Createspace tomorrow evening, and via Amazon within a few days at £9.99. I'm very pleased with the quality - the cover is glossy and well-made and the paper is as good as anything you'd buy from Waterstones. Interior pics are black and white to keep the cost down, but the quality of the pictures is pretty good.
All things being equal, it should be available to buy via Createspace tomorrow evening, and via Amazon within a few days at £9.99. I'm very pleased with the quality - the cover is glossy and well-made and the paper is as good as anything you'd buy from Waterstones. Interior pics are black and white to keep the cost down, but the quality of the pictures is pretty good.
Quick update - I've uploaded my corrections to the print version and approved it for sale.
It's now available directly from the Createspace bookstore here:
https://www.createspace.com/5325093
It will also be availabe from Amazon within - according to Createspace - 3 to 5 days. The Createspace site is American and I've never used it to buy books, so I'm unsure about shipping costs or delivery times.
If anyone does choose to buy through Createspace, could you please let me know how you get on?
I'll update again when it's live on Amazon.
It's now available directly from the Createspace bookstore here:
https://www.createspace.com/5325093
It will also be availabe from Amazon within - according to Createspace - 3 to 5 days. The Createspace site is American and I've never used it to buy books, so I'm unsure about shipping costs or delivery times.
If anyone does choose to buy through Createspace, could you please let me know how you get on?
I'll update again when it's live on Amazon.
That was quicker than I expected!
The paperback version is now available via Amazon:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Advanced-Performance-Drivi...
They seem to be offering some reasonably quick delivery options too.
The paperback version is now available via Amazon:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Advanced-Performance-Drivi...
They seem to be offering some reasonably quick delivery options too.
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