TVR Driver Training Recommendations
Discussion
Looking for recommendations for training stuff to understand the handling of my Chimaera better, in a road context.
What can it do? What won't it do? How to get the most out of it without killing it or me. What to do if I provoke it. How to provoke it?
I've done some stuff with the guys behind the 'driver tuition' website before - now that was useful, got me started down the AD route. But I don't think I'm after AD stuff exactly, else I'd just give Reg Local a call.
Is the Car Limits stuff any good? Don Palmer gets a good rep but I think that's out of budget.
What can it do? What won't it do? How to get the most out of it without killing it or me. What to do if I provoke it. How to provoke it?
I've done some stuff with the guys behind the 'driver tuition' website before - now that was useful, got me started down the AD route. But I don't think I'm after AD stuff exactly, else I'd just give Reg Local a call.
Is the Car Limits stuff any good? Don Palmer gets a good rep but I think that's out of budget.
One of the biggest dangers with these cars is the engine braking effect of the high torque engine driving the rear wheels. The problem is that due to the light weight rear end it is easy to cause the rear wheels to rotate slower than the road speed when changing down. This causes loss of rear traction and that can have devastating and unrecoverable results. The Cerberas have a reputation for this, change down to overtake and next thing you know is that you are backwards in the central reservation. You need to learn how to manage engine speed so that the clutch isn't required to take up any drive-train speed differential during down shift. The potential for rear traction loss is far greater when roads are green or wet.
Additionally try to complete braking before turning into a bend and don't accelerate aggressively out of a corner. There are no drive aids to look after you so you need to learn carefully where the limits are.
Other than that I'd advise you get it out on a trackday where you can discover the limits in relative safety
Additionally try to complete braking before turning into a bend and don't accelerate aggressively out of a corner. There are no drive aids to look after you so you need to learn carefully where the limits are.
Other than that I'd advise you get it out on a trackday where you can discover the limits in relative safety
bobfather said:
One of the biggest dangers with these cars is the engine braking effect of the high torque engine driving the rear wheels. The problem is that due to the light weight rear end it is easy to cause the rear wheels to rotate slower than the road speed when changing down. This causes loss of rear traction and that can have devastating and unrecoverable results. The Cerberas have a reputation for this, change down to overtake and next thing you know is that you are backwards in the central reservation. You need to learn how to manage engine speed so that the clutch isn't required to take up any drive-train speed differential during down shift. The potential for rear traction loss is far greater when roads are green or wet.
Additionally try to complete braking before turning into a bend and don't accelerate aggressively out of a corner. There are no drive aids to look after you so you need to learn carefully where the limits are.
Other than that I'd advise you get it out on a trackday where you can discover the limits in relative safety
Thanks, should probably add I'm 4000 miles and 18 months in after a 20 year 'thing' for these cars so well aware of those issues and not a sniff of trouble so far wet or dry.Additionally try to complete braking before turning into a bend and don't accelerate aggressively out of a corner. There are no drive aids to look after you so you need to learn carefully where the limits are.
Other than that I'd advise you get it out on a trackday where you can discover the limits in relative safety
Its more about exploring limit handling in a safe setting. Car limits seems ideal, but is the one corner not a bit limiting? No pun etc
I would recommend one of the frequent half day or full day "Introductory trackdays" at Blyton Park, nr Retford, Notts.
The TVRCC sometimes book exclusive TVR sessions there, ask Tony Hodgson of the S.Yorks Region if he is planning another one soon.
First you all attend the safety briefing, then you are all led round the circuit on a sighting lap to give you an idea of the track, after which the first group start their little stint.
Professional driver instruction is available, the track is very safe with large run-offs. There is plenty of space if/when you spin, and very little chance of coming close to any armco.
There are only 2 or 4 cars on track at any time, spaced at intervals to keep a good separation between them, so it's very safe. You do turns of 4 or 5 laps, then let your car ( and yourself! ) cool/ calm down whilst the next group take there turn. It's great for spectating too!
Helmet hire is available or you can take your own.
Blyton is also great fun! It's amazing how much your understanding of the car's limits improve, and how fluent your driving becomes and how much quicker your ( untimed ) laps become in just a half day session.
The TVRCC sometimes book exclusive TVR sessions there, ask Tony Hodgson of the S.Yorks Region if he is planning another one soon.
First you all attend the safety briefing, then you are all led round the circuit on a sighting lap to give you an idea of the track, after which the first group start their little stint.
Professional driver instruction is available, the track is very safe with large run-offs. There is plenty of space if/when you spin, and very little chance of coming close to any armco.
There are only 2 or 4 cars on track at any time, spaced at intervals to keep a good separation between them, so it's very safe. You do turns of 4 or 5 laps, then let your car ( and yourself! ) cool/ calm down whilst the next group take there turn. It's great for spectating too!
Helmet hire is available or you can take your own.
Blyton is also great fun! It's amazing how much your understanding of the car's limits improve, and how fluent your driving becomes and how much quicker your ( untimed ) laps become in just a half day session.
I am learning the Chimera's habits on the road and the one thing have yet to find is this heavy engine braking!! In fact I commented to QBee that it seemed to have little engine braking and seems to have less than my MGF.
Now I drive on the gears it was how was taught to drive and was also taught to change down before bends and drive through them not on a trailing throttle or brake in the bends. Now as I said i am still getting to know the Chimaera and have only been driving her for a month but in that month we have covered over 4,000 miles and encountered rain, frost, heavy torrential rain and hail plus sunshine. Also unmade roads, loose stone, and very poorly made roads.
One thing that i have noticed is the difference tyres can make as when i collected her she was fitted with near new Toyo Proxies on the 16" spiders i recently swapped wheels to the set of 16" Spiders that i bought as a spare set that came with a set of Bridgestone S-02's in 225/50 R16 and 225/55 R16 on them. Cannot locate the date of manufacture on them so can only go by what Keith told me and and he said they are recent tyres so am running them and keeping the Toyos which have clear DOM showing on them for later. The Bridgestones seem softer in the sidewalls and require a slightly different approach to the driving compared to the Toyo's though have only driven a few miles on them as yet..
Now I drive on the gears it was how was taught to drive and was also taught to change down before bends and drive through them not on a trailing throttle or brake in the bends. Now as I said i am still getting to know the Chimaera and have only been driving her for a month but in that month we have covered over 4,000 miles and encountered rain, frost, heavy torrential rain and hail plus sunshine. Also unmade roads, loose stone, and very poorly made roads.
One thing that i have noticed is the difference tyres can make as when i collected her she was fitted with near new Toyo Proxies on the 16" spiders i recently swapped wheels to the set of 16" Spiders that i bought as a spare set that came with a set of Bridgestone S-02's in 225/50 R16 and 225/55 R16 on them. Cannot locate the date of manufacture on them so can only go by what Keith told me and and he said they are recent tyres so am running them and keeping the Toyos which have clear DOM showing on them for later. The Bridgestones seem softer in the sidewalls and require a slightly different approach to the driving compared to the Toyo's though have only driven a few miles on them as yet..
Ride Drive used to be the training provider of choice for many for TVR drivers, but unfortunately they are no longer around. I spent a full day with a Class 1 serving police driver through Ride Drive to improve my driving a few years ago.
However, Ride Drive also provided a series of articles in Sprint a few years ago - if you can get hold of these, they will be really helpful before you actually push the limits of the car on a track (or road).
However, Ride Drive also provided a series of articles in Sprint a few years ago - if you can get hold of these, they will be really helpful before you actually push the limits of the car on a track (or road).
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