Noddy question ...
Discussion
Is there anything to be gained from having a nodding dog or pair of fluffy dice?
I'm trying to judge how smooth my driving is, especially as I'm practising rev-matching - it's easy with a passenger as I can see how much they move (or get jerked* in most cases
) as I change gear, but as most of my driving is solo I find it difficult to tell.
I'm aware my examples are a distraction, so is there an alternative method to use?
I'm trying to judge how smooth my driving is, especially as I'm practising rev-matching - it's easy with a passenger as I can see how much they move (or get jerked* in most cases
) as I change gear, but as most of my driving is solo I find it difficult to tell. I'm aware my examples are a distraction, so is there an alternative method to use?
*Not that kind of jerked ...
henrycrun said:
Does anyone remember Jackie Stuart on TV in the 70's(?) promoting smoother driving in the demo car fitted with the large dia dish mounted on the bonnet with the tennis ball? The aim was to keep the ball in the dish. Verry difficult
I don't remember that particular one, but there have been various such examples suggested as reminders to keep striving for smooth and gentle driving. One of them even advocated having an almost full glass of water fixed in the car. I always felt that one to be completely unrealistic, unless it was simply for the purpose of a short drive in a straight line on a very smooth level surface. There is no way one could keep the water in place with that one, given the state of modern roads, however well you were to drive.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
henrycrun said:
Does anyone remember Jackie Stuart on TV in the 70's(?) promoting smoother driving in the demo car fitted with the large dia dish mounted on the bonnet with the tennis ball? The aim was to keep the ball in the dish. Verry difficult
yeah there was an article in car and car conversions (??) about it
i think its in his book about high perfoamnce driving which is tucked away as he autographed it for me, that was ooooh when his son raced f3
gosh that was years ago
LordGrover said:
Is there anything to be gained from having a nodding dog or pair of fluffy dice?
I'm trying to judge how smooth my driving is, especially as I'm practising rev-matching - it's easy with a passenger as I can see how much they move (or get jerked* in most cases) as I change gear, but as most of my driving is solo I find it difficult to tell.
I'm aware my examples are a distraction, so is there an alternative method to use?
I'm trying to judge how smooth my driving is, especially as I'm practising rev-matching - it's easy with a passenger as I can see how much they move (or get jerked* in most cases
) as I change gear, but as most of my driving is solo I find it difficult to tell. I'm aware my examples are a distraction, so is there an alternative method to use?
*Not that kind of jerked ...
You'll know you're "smooth" when passengers fall asleep when you're driving.
As Mrs. WG and my good friend Diff Lock do.
The great problem with driving smoothly is that it annoys other drivers.
As you come off the throttle pedal planning your approach to a hazard, they cannot understand why you didn't approach at speed and then brake hard.
Because, surely, flat out, brake, is quicker than observe, plan, ease off, then, if safe, go?
WhoseGeneration said:
LordGrover said:
Is there anything to be gained from having a nodding dog or pair of fluffy dice?
I'm trying to judge how smooth my driving is, especially as I'm practising rev-matching - it's easy with a passenger as I can see how much they move (or get jerked* in most cases) as I change gear, but as most of my driving is solo I find it difficult to tell.
I'm aware my examples are a distraction, so is there an alternative method to use?
I'm trying to judge how smooth my driving is, especially as I'm practising rev-matching - it's easy with a passenger as I can see how much they move (or get jerked* in most cases
) as I change gear, but as most of my driving is solo I find it difficult to tell. I'm aware my examples are a distraction, so is there an alternative method to use?
*Not that kind of jerked ...
You'll know you're "smooth" when passengers fall asleep when you're driving.
As Mrs. WG and my good friend Diff Lock do.
The great problem with driving smoothly is that it annoys other drivers.
As you come off the throttle pedal planning your approach to a hazard, they cannot understand why you didn't approach at speed and then brake hard.
Because, surely, flat out, brake, is quicker than observe, plan, ease off, then, if safe, go?
But Shirley the quickest is - plan, flat out, ease off, brake, then, if safe, go.
I'm wary of upsetting other drivers by my attempts at smoothness, but from what I've observed it doesn't seem to be creating a problem. In most cases people who begin by tailgating me soon seem to drop back a bit and start behaving better, so I suspect they come to realise that we're making fairly decent progress after all.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
TripleS said:
WhoseGeneration said:
LordGrover said:
Is there anything to be gained from having a nodding dog or pair of fluffy dice?
I'm trying to judge how smooth my driving is, especially as I'm practising rev-matching - it's easy with a passenger as I can see how much they move (or get jerked* in most cases) as I change gear, but as most of my driving is solo I find it difficult to tell.
I'm aware my examples are a distraction, so is there an alternative method to use?
I'm trying to judge how smooth my driving is, especially as I'm practising rev-matching - it's easy with a passenger as I can see how much they move (or get jerked* in most cases
) as I change gear, but as most of my driving is solo I find it difficult to tell. I'm aware my examples are a distraction, so is there an alternative method to use?
*Not that kind of jerked ...
You'll know you're "smooth" when passengers fall asleep when you're driving.
As Mrs. WG and my good friend Diff Lock do.
The great problem with driving smoothly is that it annoys other drivers.
As you come off the throttle pedal planning your approach to a hazard, they cannot understand why you didn't approach at speed and then brake hard.
Because, surely, flat out, brake, is quicker than observe, plan, ease off, then, if safe, go?
But Shirley the quickest is - plan, flat out, ease off, brake, then, if safe, go.
I'm wary of upsetting other drivers by my attempts at smoothness, but from what I've observed it doesn't seem to be creating a problem. In most cases people who begin by tailgating me soon seem to drop back a bit and start behaving better, so I suspect they come to realise that we're making fairly decent progress after all.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
Observe is where in your scenario?
"Shirley" is not Advanced Police trained, IAM or ADI.
"Shirley's" approach is possibly more suited to the world of competition?
"Flat out" is never applicable to open roads.
Closed roads are a different matter.
WhoseGeneration said:
TripleS said:
WhoseGeneration said:
LordGrover said:
Is there anything to be gained from having a nodding dog or pair of fluffy dice?
I'm trying to judge how smooth my driving is, especially as I'm practising rev-matching - it's easy with a passenger as I can see how much they move (or get jerked* in most cases) as I change gear, but as most of my driving is solo I find it difficult to tell.
I'm aware my examples are a distraction, so is there an alternative method to use?
I'm trying to judge how smooth my driving is, especially as I'm practising rev-matching - it's easy with a passenger as I can see how much they move (or get jerked* in most cases
) as I change gear, but as most of my driving is solo I find it difficult to tell. I'm aware my examples are a distraction, so is there an alternative method to use?
*Not that kind of jerked ...
You'll know you're "smooth" when passengers fall asleep when you're driving.
As Mrs. WG and my good friend Diff Lock do.
The great problem with driving smoothly is that it annoys other drivers.
As you come off the throttle pedal planning your approach to a hazard, they cannot understand why you didn't approach at speed and then brake hard.
Because, surely, flat out, brake, is quicker than observe, plan, ease off, then, if safe, go?
But Shirley the quickest is - plan, flat out, ease off, brake, then, if safe, go.
I'm wary of upsetting other drivers by my attempts at smoothness, but from what I've observed it doesn't seem to be creating a problem. In most cases people who begin by tailgating me soon seem to drop back a bit and start behaving better, so I suspect they come to realise that we're making fairly decent progress after all.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
Observe is where in your scenario?
"Shirley" is not Advanced Police trained, IAM or ADI.
"Shirley's" approach is possibly more suited to the world of competition?
"Flat out" is never applicable to open roads.
Closed roads are a different matter.
Oh hell, that's too serious for me. Sorry.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
Hi all
On the basis that I regulary have passengers nodding off, I can draw 4 conclusions:
1. I bore them to death!
2. Driving on a motorway with little traffic.
3. Driving an automatic that day!
4. Can change gear reasonably well.
Seriously, I found three things to be of great help in teaching my-self to change gear smoothly prior to my IAM test. Firstly, to slow down the change and make the action more deliberate, whilst employing the correct hand position on the gear lever - I aimed for 2 seconds, clutch down to clutch up. Secondly, not to wear shoes with a thick sole as there is a certain 'feel' to be utilised through the pedals - I soon learnt what was or was not a smooth change without nodding passenger heads. Thirdly if possible, hang a key ring from the Interior mirror. It will swing around reacting to the drivers inputs. Far safer than water, tennis balls etc whilst driving in public!!!
I also regularly drive cars with the older style mechanical-hydraulic self-shifters without electronic control. It is possible to make a smooth auto change even smoother with practice. The trick is to know when the car is about to cheange itself (or my manual change) and slightly ease back on the throttle until the change has occured. Works for me. Anybody else do this or have any other ideas?
On the basis that I regulary have passengers nodding off, I can draw 4 conclusions:
1. I bore them to death!
2. Driving on a motorway with little traffic.
3. Driving an automatic that day!
4. Can change gear reasonably well.
Seriously, I found three things to be of great help in teaching my-self to change gear smoothly prior to my IAM test. Firstly, to slow down the change and make the action more deliberate, whilst employing the correct hand position on the gear lever - I aimed for 2 seconds, clutch down to clutch up. Secondly, not to wear shoes with a thick sole as there is a certain 'feel' to be utilised through the pedals - I soon learnt what was or was not a smooth change without nodding passenger heads. Thirdly if possible, hang a key ring from the Interior mirror. It will swing around reacting to the drivers inputs. Far safer than water, tennis balls etc whilst driving in public!!!
I also regularly drive cars with the older style mechanical-hydraulic self-shifters without electronic control. It is possible to make a smooth auto change even smoother with practice. The trick is to know when the car is about to cheange itself (or my manual change) and slightly ease back on the throttle until the change has occured. Works for me. Anybody else do this or have any other ideas?
jaguarnut said:
Hi all
On the basis that I regulary have passengers nodding off, I can draw 4 conclusions:
1. I bore them to death!
2. Driving on a motorway with little traffic.
3. Driving an automatic that day!
4. Can change gear reasonably well.
Seriously, I found three things to be of great help in teaching my-self to change gear smoothly prior to my IAM test. Firstly, to slow down the change and make the action more deliberate, whilst employing the correct hand position on the gear lever - I aimed for 2 seconds, clutch down to clutch up. Secondly, not to wear shoes with a thick sole as there is a certain 'feel' to be utilised through the pedals - I soon learnt what was or was not a smooth change without nodding passenger heads. Thirdly if possible, hang a key ring from the Interior mirror. It will swing around reacting to the drivers inputs. Far safer than water, tennis balls etc whilst driving in public!!!
I also regularly drive cars with the older style mechanical-hydraulic self-shifters without electronic control. It is possible to make a smooth auto change even smoother with practice. The trick is to know when the car is about to cheange itself (or my manual change) and slightly ease back on the throttle until the change has occured. Works for me. Anybody else do this or have any other ideas?
On the basis that I regulary have passengers nodding off, I can draw 4 conclusions:
1. I bore them to death!
2. Driving on a motorway with little traffic.
3. Driving an automatic that day!
4. Can change gear reasonably well.
Seriously, I found three things to be of great help in teaching my-self to change gear smoothly prior to my IAM test. Firstly, to slow down the change and make the action more deliberate, whilst employing the correct hand position on the gear lever - I aimed for 2 seconds, clutch down to clutch up. Secondly, not to wear shoes with a thick sole as there is a certain 'feel' to be utilised through the pedals - I soon learnt what was or was not a smooth change without nodding passenger heads. Thirdly if possible, hang a key ring from the Interior mirror. It will swing around reacting to the drivers inputs. Far safer than water, tennis balls etc whilst driving in public!!!
I also regularly drive cars with the older style mechanical-hydraulic self-shifters without electronic control. It is possible to make a smooth auto change even smoother with practice. The trick is to know when the car is about to cheange itself (or my manual change) and slightly ease back on the throttle until the change has occured. Works for me. Anybody else do this or have any other ideas?
I have no experience of modern automatics (apart from brief periods of driving a few new Mondeos a year or two ago, but I don't suppose they are the most sophisticated of the current crop) as our last one was a Jaguar Sovereign V12 automatic, sold in 1995! With that car I found I could prompt it to change gear when I wanted it to by careful adjustments to throttle opening. This could be done with upchanges and downchanges thanks to a bit of throttle jiggling. It just needs a bit of careful experimenting, seeing what happens, and then developing the technique from there.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
Good point TripleS. I do sometimes do this also and it does work. Out of the three autos I have, the two on the road are equiped with the "Randle-Handle" or "J" gate and I tend to manually change gear using the left side of the gate rather than use kick-down or allowing the 'box to do it's thing. In some situations, I feel that I can give the car a certain advantage by using my eyes and seat-of-pants. Purely my style of driving perhaps, but I know my IAM Group examiner favours this!
When I bought my '97 XJ it had a wonderful mobile hands free kit fitted using a bracket attached to the gear change frame that avoided drilling holes in the trim. Good news as I did not want such a kit fitted. However what I found difficult to believe was that it was in such a position that one could not use the manual side of the box at all!!! The previous owner (another Jaguar enthusiast) said he never felt the need to manually change gear with an automatic. Hate to be in front of him on a steep downhill section of winding road!!!
When I bought my '97 XJ it had a wonderful mobile hands free kit fitted using a bracket attached to the gear change frame that avoided drilling holes in the trim. Good news as I did not want such a kit fitted. However what I found difficult to believe was that it was in such a position that one could not use the manual side of the box at all!!! The previous owner (another Jaguar enthusiast) said he never felt the need to manually change gear with an automatic. Hate to be in front of him on a steep downhill section of winding road!!!
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