Realising I am crap at driving my car 'fast'
Discussion
- please move to different forum if required*
So, after some advice or pointers for things to do, places to go, training to get etc etc
thanks
Depends how local you are but I would absolutely recommend a CATDT course at Millbrook proving ground Bedfordshire.
https://catdrivertraining.co.uk/track-driving-acad...
I did the performance course with my modified GTR and it without doubt the best money I have spent on driver training, improving my speed, perception, safety and knowledge. Colin Hoad was just fantastic. Encouraging you to go fast whilst explaining exaclty what the car is doing and how it is reacting to your inputs. Covers everything from threshhold braking, throttle & steering inputs at steady-state grip limit and compliance steering, Cannot recommend it enough. Made me a far better, far quicker, far safer driver in 8 hours of tuition.
https://catdrivertraining.co.uk/track-driving-acad...
I did the performance course with my modified GTR and it without doubt the best money I have spent on driver training, improving my speed, perception, safety and knowledge. Colin Hoad was just fantastic. Encouraging you to go fast whilst explaining exaclty what the car is doing and how it is reacting to your inputs. Covers everything from threshhold braking, throttle & steering inputs at steady-state grip limit and compliance steering, Cannot recommend it enough. Made me a far better, far quicker, far safer driver in 8 hours of tuition.
A couple of observations:
Car handling skills != Road driving skills They're an integral part but IME (of dealing with the results of getting it wrong - I used to be a forensic scientist specialising in road accident reconstruction) the latter are way more important as it's rare you're going to have the space to deploy stunning car control skills.
CAT's prices appear (from my knowledge of what HPC charge) higher than HPC. One is staffed by civilians, the other by former Police advanced instructors. If the latter don't know about driving 'fast' without interacting with scenery... I've never heard complaints about either company.
FOAD I've dropped about £12k in HPC's pocket over the last 29 years, probably more. Worth every penny and then some.
Car handling skills != Road driving skills They're an integral part but IME (of dealing with the results of getting it wrong - I used to be a forensic scientist specialising in road accident reconstruction) the latter are way more important as it's rare you're going to have the space to deploy stunning car control skills.
CAT's prices appear (from my knowledge of what HPC charge) higher than HPC. One is staffed by civilians, the other by former Police advanced instructors. If the latter don't know about driving 'fast' without interacting with scenery... I've never heard complaints about either company.
FOAD I've dropped about £12k in HPC's pocket over the last 29 years, probably more. Worth every penny and then some.
StressedDave said:
A couple of observations:
Car handling skills != Road driving skills They're an integral part but IME (of dealing with the results of getting it wrong - I used to be a forensic scientist specialising in road accident reconstruction) the latter are way more important as it's rare you're going to have the space to deploy stunning car control skills.
CAT's prices appear (from my knowledge of what HPC charge) higher than HPC. One is staffed by civilians, the other by former Police advanced instructors. If the latter don't know about driving 'fast' without interacting with scenery... I've never heard complaints about either company.
FOAD I've dropped about £12k in HPC's pocket over the last 29 years, probably more. Worth every penny and then some.
Thanks Dave, that's interesting to know.Car handling skills != Road driving skills They're an integral part but IME (of dealing with the results of getting it wrong - I used to be a forensic scientist specialising in road accident reconstruction) the latter are way more important as it's rare you're going to have the space to deploy stunning car control skills.
CAT's prices appear (from my knowledge of what HPC charge) higher than HPC. One is staffed by civilians, the other by former Police advanced instructors. If the latter don't know about driving 'fast' without interacting with scenery... I've never heard complaints about either company.
FOAD I've dropped about £12k in HPC's pocket over the last 29 years, probably more. Worth every penny and then some.
Anyone can drive a fast car fast.
It takes real skill to drive a slow car fast.
The way to obtain the skills, is to sell your M4 and buy a Daewoo Matiz or a City Rover or a Fiat 126.
The most fun car I've owned was a Fiat 126. Slow, underbraked, no comfort. Compromised handling.
The car in which i learnt how to overtake properly was an AX 1.4D
Both cars required planning and guts to get anywhere in a reasonable time.
It takes real skill to drive a slow car fast.
The way to obtain the skills, is to sell your M4 and buy a Daewoo Matiz or a City Rover or a Fiat 126.
The most fun car I've owned was a Fiat 126. Slow, underbraked, no comfort. Compromised handling.
The car in which i learnt how to overtake properly was an AX 1.4D
Both cars required planning and guts to get anywhere in a reasonable time.
Pit Pony said:
Anyone can drive a fast car fast.
It takes real skill to drive a slow car fast.
The way to obtain the skills, is to sell your M4 and buy a Daewoo Matiz or a City Rover or a Fiat 126.
The most fun car I've owned was a Fiat 126. Slow, underbraked, no comfort. Compromised handling.
The car in which i learnt how to overtake properly was an AX 1.4D
Both cars required planning and guts to get anywhere in a reasonable time.
I get the thinking but there are so many opportunities you simply cannot take with that sort of thing. Perhaps get a bike instead.It takes real skill to drive a slow car fast.
The way to obtain the skills, is to sell your M4 and buy a Daewoo Matiz or a City Rover or a Fiat 126.
The most fun car I've owned was a Fiat 126. Slow, underbraked, no comfort. Compromised handling.
The car in which i learnt how to overtake properly was an AX 1.4D
Both cars required planning and guts to get anywhere in a reasonable time.
You shouldn't be needing "guts" for advanced driving. A driver with lots of guts will outpace any advanced driver until he spills them all over the road.
Totally agree fast on road driving is a completely different discipline to track driving. The former is usually limited by visibility, the latter by grip.
For road driving Advanced Police Instructors are the best option- hence another strong recommendation for HPC. ASFAIK You can start off with a half or full day ‘taster’. If you like it and you end up doing the full course then this also covers airfield/track based car control/limit handling.
Or If you are based in the North West, RegLocal who posts on here and has lots of useful videos on his YouTube channel might be worth contacting. I’ve not met him but like the HPC instructors he’s also an Advanced Police Instructor.
Or If you are based in the North West, RegLocal who posts on here and has lots of useful videos on his YouTube channel might be worth contacting. I’ve not met him but like the HPC instructors he’s also an Advanced Police Instructor.
Somewhatfoolish said:
Pit Pony said:
Anyone can drive a fast car fast.
It takes real skill to drive a slow car fast.
The way to obtain the skills, is to sell your M4 and buy a Daewoo Matiz or a City Rover or a Fiat 126.
The most fun car I've owned was a Fiat 126. Slow, underbraked, no comfort. Compromised handling.
The car in which i learnt how to overtake properly was an AX 1.4D
Both cars required planning and guts to get anywhere in a reasonable time.
I get the thinking but there are so many opportunities you simply cannot take with that sort of thing. Perhaps get a bike instead.It takes real skill to drive a slow car fast.
The way to obtain the skills, is to sell your M4 and buy a Daewoo Matiz or a City Rover or a Fiat 126.
The most fun car I've owned was a Fiat 126. Slow, underbraked, no comfort. Compromised handling.
The car in which i learnt how to overtake properly was an AX 1.4D
Both cars required planning and guts to get anywhere in a reasonable time.
You shouldn't be needing "guts" for advanced driving. A driver with lots of guts will outpace any advanced driver until he spills them all over the road.
Totally agree fast on road driving is a completely different discipline to track driving. The former is usually limited by visibility, the latter by grip.
I have no doubt that the person being overtaken thinks I'm crazy, but I've even scanned the fields for tractors and won't bother if there's one in the field, just in case.
Pit Pony said:
Somewhatfoolish said:
Pit Pony said:
Anyone can drive a fast car fast.
It takes real skill to drive a slow car fast.
The way to obtain the skills, is to sell your M4 and buy a Daewoo Matiz or a City Rover or a Fiat 126.
The most fun car I've owned was a Fiat 126. Slow, underbraked, no comfort. Compromised handling.
The car in which i learnt how to overtake properly was an AX 1.4D
Both cars required planning and guts to get anywhere in a reasonable time.
I get the thinking but there are so many opportunities you simply cannot take with that sort of thing. Perhaps get a bike instead.It takes real skill to drive a slow car fast.
The way to obtain the skills, is to sell your M4 and buy a Daewoo Matiz or a City Rover or a Fiat 126.
The most fun car I've owned was a Fiat 126. Slow, underbraked, no comfort. Compromised handling.
The car in which i learnt how to overtake properly was an AX 1.4D
Both cars required planning and guts to get anywhere in a reasonable time.
You shouldn't be needing "guts" for advanced driving. A driver with lots of guts will outpace any advanced driver until he spills them all over the road.
Totally agree fast on road driving is a completely different discipline to track driving. The former is usually limited by visibility, the latter by grip.
I have no doubt that the person being overtaken thinks I'm crazy, but I've even scanned the fields for tractors and won't bother if there's one in the field, just in case.
the internet said:
*please move to different forum if required*
Had my M4 Comp for just over a year now and I am starting to realise I am really pretty crap at driving it 'fast'. Other than slowing for for bends and gunning it on straights I am a bit useless - I freely admit it !!!!!!
So, after some advice or pointers for things to do, places to go, training to get etc etc
thanks
Try this: https://www.awdrivertraining.co.uk/Had my M4 Comp for just over a year now and I am starting to realise I am really pretty crap at driving it 'fast'. Other than slowing for for bends and gunning it on straights I am a bit useless - I freely admit it !!!!!!
So, after some advice or pointers for things to do, places to go, training to get etc etc
thanks
jm8403 said:
Try this: https://www.awdrivertraining.co.uk/
Looks as though Andy Walsh formerly of Car Limits and First Lotus has started a new business. He was (and if it's him) presumably still is one of the best for limit handling. If you want to be an excellent and quick road driver, my recommendation remains a coach with a police advanced trainer background such as High Performance Course or Reg Local. The full HPC includes the same limit handling training as offered by AW.Andy will help you find out how quickly your car will go round a bend without falling off - but on most bends your speed is limited not by that but by being able to stop on your own side of the road in the distance you can see to be clear and can reasonably expect to remain clear.
Pit Pony said:
Anyone can drive a fast car fast.
It takes real skill to drive a slow car fast.
The way to obtain the skills, is to sell your M4 and buy a Daewoo Matiz or a City Rover or a Fiat 126.
The most fun car I've owned was a Fiat 126. Slow, underbraked, no comfort. Compromised handling.
The car in which i learnt how to overtake properly was an AX 1.4D
Both cars required planning and guts to get anywhere in a reasonable time.
lolIt takes real skill to drive a slow car fast.
The way to obtain the skills, is to sell your M4 and buy a Daewoo Matiz or a City Rover or a Fiat 126.
The most fun car I've owned was a Fiat 126. Slow, underbraked, no comfort. Compromised handling.
The car in which i learnt how to overtake properly was an AX 1.4D
Both cars required planning and guts to get anywhere in a reasonable time.
i have been driving for 38 years ! slow front wheel drive cars are not a problem.
i would rather learn control, positioning etc of a 450bhp rwd car from someone who's done it than learn from my own mistakes
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