What's wrong with my driving?

What's wrong with my driving?

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bigdog3

Original Poster:

1,823 posts

179 months

Sunday 11th August 2019
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Both ericmcn and ash reynolds have been savaged after daring to post videos of their driving on PistonHeads. This thread intends to continue this theme but hopefully will solicit more positive responses. So only for the brave who are wiling to accept criticism in an open forum.

Videos can be driving any vehicle from bike, car, van etc and in any environment including road, track and rally stage.

I don't run a dashcam (maybe I should) so only videos of my driving are from the track. So here's some footage from Goodwood in an odd little car. Over to you guys - What's wrong with my driving?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS-CPFcDQF0


bigdog3

Original Poster:

1,823 posts

179 months

Monday 12th August 2019
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Well this thread has been live for over 4 hours but there's not even a whimper although the video view count has gone through the roof. There is some time to come out of the lap and I wondered if anyone would notice but they haven't yet.

Here's a race video from a quicker car at Oulton Park with my son at the helm. Any comments about his driving?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqrtypALTFs


That's my contribution. Anyone else willing to post a video of their driving and invite criticism? Are you brave enough?

Riley Blue

20,915 posts

225 months

Monday 12th August 2019
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After watching the first couple of minutes of the first video I was thinking, "Does he know what an apex is?" then I realised it appeared to be an open track day with all sorts on the track. Interesting to watch (and listen to) all the same. The A30/35 races I've seen are great fun.

Edited by Riley Blue on Monday 12th August 08:45

Monkeylegend

26,226 posts

230 months

Monday 12th August 2019
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bigdog3 said:
I don't run a dashcam (maybe I should) so only videos of my driving are from the track. So here's some footage from Goodwood in an odd little car. Over to you guys - What's wrong with my driving?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS-CPFcDQF0
On road footage with interaction with other road users is very different to somebody trundling round on a trackday with other cars moving over to let you pass,and we already have a thread for commenting on others driving standards on the open roads of the UK smile

How do you assess your driving in that video?

I am guessing that you think it is pretty spot on.

bigdog3

Original Poster:

1,823 posts

179 months

Monday 12th August 2019
quotequote all
Riley Blue said:
After watching the first couple of minutes of the first video I was thinking, "Does he know what an apex is?"
Thanks for the comment. Usually I'm struggling not to use too much curb with a late apex. Suspect your impression comes from the camera position which is on the far left of the screen.

Unofficial timing (but actually marshals) reckoned we we clocking regular 1:40 laps which is backed up by the videos. I was a bit miffed not to get down to 1:38.2 which Martin Brundle recorded in an A35 back in 2010. But a passenger was on board and it was my first and only time driving at Goodwood so shouldn't be too disappointed.

timbo999

1,287 posts

254 months

Monday 12th August 2019
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The worst driving on the track video is from the TVR (?) - he should have let you past just after the chicane, along the pit straight rather than hold you up through Madgwick. I've always wondered about the people who do this sort of thing on track... where does he think you've come from when you've obviously caught him up?

bigdog3

Original Poster:

1,823 posts

179 months

Monday 12th August 2019
quotequote all
Monkeylegend said:
On road footage with interaction with other road users is very different to somebody trundling round on a trackday with other cars moving over to let you pass,and we already have a thread for commenting on others driving standards on the open roads of the UK smile

How do you assess your driving in that video?

I am guessing that you think it is pretty spot on.
I was slower than Martin Brundle's quickest lap but carrying a passenger. If that's "trundling" so be it biggrin Max GPS speed was just over 112mph down Lavant. But that's nothing like as exciting as driving on the M25.

My driving isn't bad on that video but I'm always open to constructive criticism. Had to brake early for "No Name" because the approach is bumpy which made the car feel very unstable at around 110mph.

What do you think of my son's driving at Oulton? How and where could he improve? BTW he and I set almost set almost identical lap times in the Sierra but he is faster in some places and me in others. You are never too old to learn scratchchin

softtop

3,048 posts

246 months

Monday 12th August 2019
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I watched without sound, what engine have you gone in there?

bigdog3

Original Poster:

1,823 posts

179 months

Monday 12th August 2019
quotequote all
timbo999 said:
The worst driving on the track video is from the TVR (?) - he should have let you past just after the chicane, along the pit straight rather than hold you up through Madgwick. I've always wondered about the people who do this sort of thing on track... where does he think you've come from when you've obviously caught him up?
Made worse at Goodwood with their short track sessions. Couple of laps suffering baulking and you're back off the track again. One of several reasons why we haven't returned to Goodwood. Shame because it's a great circuit.

bigdog3

Original Poster:

1,823 posts

179 months

Monday 12th August 2019
quotequote all
softtop said:
I watched without sound, what engine have you gone in there?
80,000 miles scrapyard engine from a Ford Puma. It was dirt cheap, has never been apart but a ran a whole race season in 2012. We rev the goolies off it but it doesn't go bang thumbup

Monkeylegend

26,226 posts

230 months

Monday 12th August 2019
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bigdog3 said:
What do you think of my son's driving at Oulton? How and where could he improve? BTW he and I set almost set almost identical lap times in the Sierra but he is faster in some places and me in others. You are never too old to learn scratchchin
It is difficult to pass comment based on a couple of videos. You have already said that the camera angle made your apex positioning look worse than it actually was, but it looks like you could have used more of the road exiting corners, but again that could be down to the camera.

If you are nearly as fast two up as Martin Brundle is one up, I wouldn't worry about the personal views of a load on strangers on the internet who probably have their own internet agenda smile

These threads usually follow a pattern.

OP asks for comments, likes some but dislike others, disagrees with those he doesn't like and tries to justify his/her position. OP then gets shot down in flames by the baying mob, a few others jump in to condemn the baying mob, OP then flounces never to be seen again.

You are a brave man hehe

JamesL91

62 posts

127 months

Monday 12th August 2019
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Going to be hard to tell you, as from the camera angle it looks like you missed nearly every apex and I'm sure that's not the case.

You were passing people and if you had fun that's all that matters. If you're worried, maybe pay for some instruction. You'll get relevant, instant feedback then smile.

bigdog3

Original Poster:

1,823 posts

179 months

Monday 12th August 2019
quotequote all
Monkeylegend said:
You are a brave man hehe
Brave or stupid hehe

Interesting to get enthusiast's impressions when you have objective data for comparison (eg lap times and race results). Comments about trundling round amused me biggrin

Much harder to make sense of on-road dash cam footage scratchchin

bigdog3

Original Poster:

1,823 posts

179 months

Monday 12th August 2019
quotequote all
JamesL91 said:
You were passing people and if you had fun that's all that matters. If you're worried, maybe pay for some instruction. You'll get relevant, instant feedback then smile.
The A35 is just for fun biggrin Raced it at Brands in Sports v Saloons. Came 3rd in Saloons behind a couple of Civic Type Rs. Couldn't keep up with those damn Caterhams either:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O278na3S4qc

Agreed if you want to shave a few tenths off, get some instruction thumbup


Monkeylegend

26,226 posts

230 months

Monday 12th August 2019
quotequote all
bigdog3 said:
Monkeylegend said:
You are a brave man hehe
Brave or stupid hehe

Interesting to get enthusiast's impressions when you have objective data for comparison (eg lap times and race results). Comments about trundling round amused me biggrin

Much harder to make sense of on-road dash cam footage scratchchin
Trundling was probably a bit of an understatement.

As an impartial observer I would conclude you need to tighten up your apex's and loosen up your exits. Other than that it looked pretty tidy and quick.

Your son looks pretty handy as well.

HustleRussell

24,602 posts

159 months

Monday 12th August 2019
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bigdog3 said:
Unofficial timing (but actually marshals) reckoned we we clocking regular 1:40 laps which is backed up by the videos. I was a bit miffed not to get down to 1:38.2 which Martin Brundle recorded in an A35 back in 2010. But a passenger was on board and it was my first and only time driving at Goodwood so shouldn't be too disappointed.
bigdog3 said:
I was slower than Martin Brundle's quickest lap but carrying a passenger. If that's "trundling" so be it biggrin
Monkeylegend said:
How do you assess your driving in that video?
Trackday 'racing driver's excuses'

Unscientific timing of unscrutineered car compared to nine year old race lap records

Repeated name-dropping of ex-F1 driver

Claims of 112mph in a historic spec A35 around Goodwood when two-up

Monkeylegend said:
I am guessing that you think it is pretty spot on.
Confirmed hehe

Odd thread.

Edited by HustleRussell on Monday 12th August 12:47

bigdog3

Original Poster:

1,823 posts

179 months

Monday 12th August 2019
quotequote all
HustleRussell said:
Odd thread.
Please feel free to normalise this thread by adding a video of your driving to show us how it should be done driving

bigdog3

Original Poster:

1,823 posts

179 months

Monday 12th August 2019
quotequote all
HustleRussell said:
Claims of 112mph in a historic spec A35 around Goodwood when two-up
Just GPS data which is backed up by the gearing/revs. Perhaps we were only doing 80 mph...

Martin Brundle was quicker in Sector 2 with a trap speed of 114.7 mph. But perhaps that's all nonsense too. Oh st more name dropping hehe

https://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=BARC/2010/10372...


aponting389

741 posts

177 months

Monday 12th August 2019
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To be fair it is an odd thread, although your driving is fine

bigdog3

Original Poster:

1,823 posts

179 months

Monday 12th August 2019
quotequote all
aponting389 said:
To be fair it is an odd thread, although your driving is fine
That's ok - I'm an odd bloke biggrin

Would be good to see some track videos from other drivers but they don't seem brave enough hehe


nb This thread is intended to light-hearted fun and not taken seriously (a laugh just like the A35). Sorry if that wasn't obvious...

Edited by bigdog3 on Monday 12th August 13:44