Ride Drive

Author
Discussion

chrisb8cpd

Original Poster:

52 posts

262 months

Tuesday 23rd July 2002
quotequote all
Has anyone attended the Ride Drive full day course recently? If so, what did you think of it in terms of value for money, training techniques etc.
Did you do the 1/2 day road / 1/2 day track.

Chris D.

yum

529 posts

274 months

Tuesday 23rd July 2002
quotequote all
do a search of previous threads. It has been coveredseveral times before.

I was negative after a indifferent experience, others have been more positive. It depends who you get.

R

chrisb8cpd

Original Poster:

52 posts

262 months

Tuesday 23rd July 2002
quotequote all
Thanx. Will Do.

simpo one

85,627 posts

266 months

Tuesday 23rd July 2002
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But try telling the Plod who gets you for speeding that you've been on a special course (and can therefore negotiate a straight clear road safely at 35mph) and see how much difference the training makes...

tvrforever

3,182 posts

266 months

Wednesday 24th July 2002
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Both me & the misses had a day each with julian - top bloke, top instruction fully recommended (in fact I'm waiting for a date from him for a track session)...

Cheers

chrisb8cpd

Original Poster:

52 posts

262 months

Wednesday 24th July 2002
quotequote all
tvrforever

Where are you in the UK - County?

tvrforever

3,182 posts

266 months

Wednesday 24th July 2002
quotequote all
Bucks - so real local to them which helps as well... Both Julian & Graham are great guys, who are realistic about driving on public roads and are TVR fans...

email me if you want more info etc...

robkola

1,589 posts

265 months

Wednesday 24th July 2002
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I did two half days with Cliff after I got my Chimaera, ~150 miles each session tackling A roads. First session got quite intensive as they hammer it into to you to get rid of (in my case) 20 years of bad habits, and to truly understand why you should be driving this way. By the second session you love the fact you drive so much more efficiently.Very good IMHO. Though would love to do the same courses in wet weather!

yum

529 posts

274 months

Wednesday 24th July 2002
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I was interested in the last post. Maybe I'm a fantastic driver with no faults, but I just had a nice day out with a nice chap on some nice roads. I was expecting more of a structure and to pick up some useful tips. I got none of the structure or the tips that the laast poster got.

If RideDrive were sensible, they would give me another go with someone else, because I seem to always pour the cold water on what they do. Why did I miss out on the type of session that everyone else seems to have? When I challenged them afterwards, I got told that I was a good driver and so it wasn't really applicable. I may be big-headed, but not enough to believe that one!

It is all down to the individual instructor. I would take personal recommendations on the person, not just the company. their structure (if there is one) means nothing if it isn't implemented.

R

pbrettle

3,280 posts

284 months

Wednesday 24th July 2002
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Did my half a day course in the wet (well some was dry) and it really boosted my confidence while driving quickly in the wet. Though it is somewhat disconcerting when a serving police officer is saying "faster, faster" and your brain is saying "slower, slower"....

Well worth the money.

Cheers,

Paul

rivergirrl

857 posts

282 months

Wednesday 24th July 2002
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I did the half day last July after I got the Chim. I did the full day 1/2 road 1/2 track in November.

The half day made me realize I wanted to do the full day with road&track! The full day was superb, and taught me the limitations of the car. You can push these cars a little, but you have to learn where the fine line is. It is with this knowledge that you know to not push it on public roads, and to understand just how these machines behave in different conditions. Hmmm...I feel another session coming on...

Go for it!! It's well worth the money

>> Edited by rivergirrl on Wednesday 24th July 10:17

PetrolTed

34,429 posts

304 months

Wednesday 24th July 2002
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quote:

Maybe I'm a fantastic driver with no faults, but I just had a nice day out with a nice chap on some nice roads. I was expecting more of a structure and to pick up some useful tips. I got none of the structure or the tips that the laast poster got.

If RideDrive were sensible, they would give me another go with someone else, because I seem to always pour the cold water on what they do.


Give Julian a call and explain that you don't feel you had value for money. He seems a decent chap.

madcop

6,649 posts

264 months

Wednesday 24th July 2002
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Yum
Send me a mail from my personal profile explaining what happened and who did your session.
I know Julian very well and used to be Graham Owens partner for 4 years (as in crew mate not bed). If you send me the details I will forwards them on to Julian and see if he can do something about it. I know he will be concerned that you feel let down.

Cheers
Steve.

yum

529 posts

274 months

Wednesday 24th July 2002
quotequote all
quote:

Give Julian a call and explain that you don't feel you had value for money. He seems a decent chap.



we corresponded at the time, and i don't think there's any advantage in it. He has had my feedback.

I'm not suggesting that people don't do the day, but to establish what exactly it is that they are buying and set out the rules of the game in advance.

R

madcop

6,649 posts

264 months

Wednesday 24th July 2002
quotequote all
Just by way of interest yum, Were you asked what you actually wanted to achieve during the session or did you tell your instructor what you wanted to do?

I recently took a guy out in a T5 volvo who had been an IAM member for a number of years. I quickly realised that he was at a very good standard anyway and after a couple of hours polishing what he already had, we started to really put him and the thing through their paces.

Many people come to these courses with a huge range of ability from awful to excellent. Some of them have a very quick learning ability, some don't.

If any of you take on one of these courses, it is an idea to state to the instructor, your relevant experience,qualifications and what you actually want to acheive. Providing it is within the rules of engagment, then you will both know where the bench mark lies.

JSG

2,238 posts

284 months

Wednesday 24th July 2002
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MadCop,

Nice to hear that you tailor your sessions for customer stisfaction

simpo one

85,627 posts

266 months

Wednesday 24th July 2002
quotequote all
So, Madcop, why bother with all this when popular fiction tells us that all we have to do to be 'safe' is observe the number painted on a tin sign? Accidents are fine as long as we have them slowly, right? That's the 'official' police line anyway. Unfortunately they know - if they have any brains - that they're talking bollocks but have been politically lobotomised.

Until a further qualification allows me to use my initiatve and match my speed to the surroundings without contibuting to Mr Brown's already bulging purse, I'll save my money, switch my brain off and drive round in convoys at 29mph just like everyone else. But that's why Britain's drivers are getting slower AND worse. Me, cynical? Pah.

madcop

6,649 posts

264 months

Wednesday 24th July 2002
quotequote all
quote:

Accidents are fine as long as we have them slowly, right? That's the 'official' police line anyway.




No accidents are not fine at any speed. Accidents cause severe disruption and huge costs to the rest of the population. That is the Police official line.

quote:

Unfortunately they know - if they have any brains - that they're talking bollocks but have been politically lobotomised.



I cannot see the scar anymore


quote:

Until a further qualification allows me to use my initiatve and match my speed to the surroundings without contibuting to Mr Brown's already bulging purse, I'll save my money, switch my brain off and drive round in convoys at 29mph just like everyone else. But that's why Britain's drivers are getting slower AND worse. Me, cynical? Pah.



You may have initiative and great skill as may many (or not) of the PH community.
However there are millions of drivers out there who don't. Some dont even switch their brain on. Everything is on auto pilot while they are thinking about the many other tasks they have to do that day, Some even do them whilst they are driving.
A huge number of the population drive only because it is the cheapest and most convenient way of getting from one place to another.

Just one example is during term time with the Mums school run. Unfortunately until they become as like minded and skilled as you, then the limits are perfectly appropriate.

>> Edited by madcop on Wednesday 24th July 17:54