Discussion
I did the 1/2 day course locally, here in Hampshire.
I believe they use current Class 1 Traffpol drivers.
My session was all about maintaining 'good' progress on today's roads. It was exhausting, really felt mentally drained after the tuition, but learnt a lot. I intend to book the track based session in the New Year to find/explore my and the car's limits. Well worth doing IMO....and although traffic officers, they almost expect you to drive - when conditions allow - above the national limit. They certainly don't eyeball the speedo continuously!
Nick
I believe they use current Class 1 Traffpol drivers.
My session was all about maintaining 'good' progress on today's roads. It was exhausting, really felt mentally drained after the tuition, but learnt a lot. I intend to book the track based session in the New Year to find/explore my and the car's limits. Well worth doing IMO....and although traffic officers, they almost expect you to drive - when conditions allow - above the national limit. They certainly don't eyeball the speedo continuously!
Nick
Went on the half day session last month in my daily drive and learnt a lot, but it was mentally challanging. The guy who took me out was a blue-light instructor, and certainly knows his stuff.
Well worth the money. http://www.ridedrive.co.uk/
Well worth the money. http://www.ridedrive.co.uk/
I have done a full day with airfield hour and a (long) half day with an hour on Goodwood skid pan (in their car as it would wreck yours) and it is a brilliant day out but very tiring.
'Making progress' is the basis and it really enhances your levels of concentration.
Wait til you have to do a running commentary and then see how bad you were compared to your 'instructor'.
He will also verbally abuse mobile speed check officers as you go by but no recriminations so far.
you will be expected to be ready to overtake at every safe opportunity and I messed up overtaking 5 cars in one go on a striaght dwonhill as I was a couple of seconds late and did abut 25 yards over the white line into a corner but only got a humourous telling off as in...'you c****d that up didnt you, now get moving'.
It has improved my driving across the whole spectrum and is thoroughly recommended.
'Making progress' is the basis and it really enhances your levels of concentration.
Wait til you have to do a running commentary and then see how bad you were compared to your 'instructor'.
He will also verbally abuse mobile speed check officers as you go by but no recriminations so far.
you will be expected to be ready to overtake at every safe opportunity and I messed up overtaking 5 cars in one go on a striaght dwonhill as I was a couple of seconds late and did abut 25 yards over the white line into a corner but only got a humourous telling off as in...'you c****d that up didnt you, now get moving'.
It has improved my driving across the whole spectrum and is thoroughly recommended.
now that was fun... 200 miles later and a tank of fuel i get your better than average which i think is pretty damn good as coming from a class 1 police driver....
he said he didnt have to grab the seat at all... i thought that was bad but he said that was good. progressing at a safe speed for the road and car been driven was the instruction so i did...
had the back hanging out a few times but as it was because i wanted it to that was good throttle control..... some good overtaking done... as say if your going to miss a opportunity there better be a good reason. well recommended. thanks Richard
he said he didnt have to grab the seat at all... i thought that was bad but he said that was good. progressing at a safe speed for the road and car been driven was the instruction so i did...
had the back hanging out a few times but as it was because i wanted it to that was good throttle control..... some good overtaking done... as say if your going to miss a opportunity there better be a good reason. well recommended. thanks Richard
Edited by boss1uk on Thursday 18th November 18:05
Didn't I see one of there "Top" guys on 5th gear?
Slaughtered by vicky butler henderson on the short circuit at Bruntingthorpe. VBH for God sake!!!
And of course THAT was legal. Wouldn't want to see your insurance claim in an RTA.
Get on track where there's Marshals, equipment...and no traffic!
(and you PAID for that? OBEM )
Edited by Guillotine on Friday 12th November 22:59
Top man for the Marshaling...cheers dude. 
IAM for the road £90?
Pro Instructor for the track on the track / skid pan / airfield.
All the circuits do it now along with many track/field organisations eg motorsports events .
anything else...stupid.
BTW nice of you to take responsibility for the incident that would have cost you your licence, but I feel you would have got it in any case as I'm quite sure that Ridedrive won't be insured for encouraging that sort of driving on a public road.
But thats cops for you, OK when they do it...there's a post on TVRCC where a guy did something similar and is in fear of losing his licence. I guess the Traffpol that pulled him wasn't on the Ridedrive payroll?
IAM for the road £90?
Pro Instructor for the track on the track / skid pan / airfield.
All the circuits do it now along with many track/field organisations eg motorsports events .
anything else...stupid.
BTW nice of you to take responsibility for the incident that would have cost you your licence, but I feel you would have got it in any case as I'm quite sure that Ridedrive won't be insured for encouraging that sort of driving on a public road.
But thats cops for you, OK when they do it...there's a post on TVRCC where a guy did something similar and is in fear of losing his licence. I guess the Traffpol that pulled him wasn't on the Ridedrive payroll?
I did the 8 hour day on Monday. We ended up doing about 250 miles most of it on A roads.
At the end of the day I was realy pleased with the progres I had made being able to flow the car from one bend to the next rather than the track approach of flat out then brake hard and turn in.
IMO well worth the day off work, a nice relaxed day and I improved my driving and hazard perception.
After driving for over 25 years a little back to basics with advanced skills as well was just what i needed.
I think that most people no matter how good they think they are could benifit from some form of refresher after 10 or so years.
At the end of the day I was realy pleased with the progres I had made being able to flow the car from one bend to the next rather than the track approach of flat out then brake hard and turn in.
IMO well worth the day off work, a nice relaxed day and I improved my driving and hazard perception.
After driving for over 25 years a little back to basics with advanced skills as well was just what i needed.
I think that most people no matter how good they think they are could benifit from some form of refresher after 10 or so years.
pblake said:
...I was realy pleased with the progres I had made being able to flow the car from one bend to the next
That IS the track approach...pblake said:
...rather than the track approach of flat out then brake hard and turn in.
That isn't. I still have instruction, it's invaluable. My instructor has raced F1, has had 3 World Championships, Le Mans, IAMs Instructor, S class (highest) Track Instructor. Also Top grade Helicopters (if required) amongst other things.
As you say, it all depends on your base level but everyone should have some additional instruction, just make sure you are getting good quality instruction and good value. I'm sure you would have improved your driving substantially with IAM for alot less.
Not everyone is good at their job...let alone good enough to instruct at it.
I have been in two minds whether to pass comment on this thread, or to just leave it so fade into the background. The problem with these forums is, you are damned if you do and you are damned if you don’t. However, I think some clarification is in order.
The situation in law, when we deliver these sessions to you driving your cars, is that you are, by virtue of being a full driving licence holder, captain of your own ship and will always be. What that means is, you are in charge of your car and are responsible for anything that you do with that car.
It is true that many of my team are police officers in their full-time role, but when they are working with Ride Drive they have no hold over you and should not be regarded as being police personnel at all. The only relevance the police part in any of this is concerned is that of where these guys and girls got their advanced training from.
Every customer, upon embarking upon any Ride Drive session, is required to sign our Terms and Conditions declaration. One paragraph in that document in particular says (and this is direct copy and paste),
“Any person or persons undertaking any Ride Drive advanced driving programme will understand that by virtue of having passed a UK driving test they are in the eyes of the law a fully qualified and competent driver. Therefore, the Ride Drive advanced driving programme in which they take part is not a period of driving instruction, and as such they are under no moral, legal or any other obligation to follow any advice, suggestion or other encouragement to perform any manoeuvre, driving act or to follow any direction given by any representative of Ride Drive Limited, whether that Ride Drive representative be present in the vehicle or not.”
If a customer wants to exceed the speed limit that is up to them, and there is another clause in the form that says words to the effect of if you are caught for any traffic offence that is down to you. We are not interested. Just to remind, this is all laid out before we even get in the car.
The only control any of my team has will be they can demand to be let out of the car, as your refusal to do so could then amount to kidnap, silly as that appears when reading it here. We have no power to get you to slow down, which is the point I am making.
In closing, Ride Drive will at all times remain completely professional when working with its customers and has an overall commitment to improving road safety among the road driving (or motorcycling) community. Yes, there is a big emphasis on having fun on the road, as why should safety translate to stuffy and boring? If anyone wants to pay to complete any of our courses, and spend their day not listening whilst doing their own thing, the income is still useful whatever the motivation.
Jules
The situation in law, when we deliver these sessions to you driving your cars, is that you are, by virtue of being a full driving licence holder, captain of your own ship and will always be. What that means is, you are in charge of your car and are responsible for anything that you do with that car.
It is true that many of my team are police officers in their full-time role, but when they are working with Ride Drive they have no hold over you and should not be regarded as being police personnel at all. The only relevance the police part in any of this is concerned is that of where these guys and girls got their advanced training from.
Every customer, upon embarking upon any Ride Drive session, is required to sign our Terms and Conditions declaration. One paragraph in that document in particular says (and this is direct copy and paste),
“Any person or persons undertaking any Ride Drive advanced driving programme will understand that by virtue of having passed a UK driving test they are in the eyes of the law a fully qualified and competent driver. Therefore, the Ride Drive advanced driving programme in which they take part is not a period of driving instruction, and as such they are under no moral, legal or any other obligation to follow any advice, suggestion or other encouragement to perform any manoeuvre, driving act or to follow any direction given by any representative of Ride Drive Limited, whether that Ride Drive representative be present in the vehicle or not.”
If a customer wants to exceed the speed limit that is up to them, and there is another clause in the form that says words to the effect of if you are caught for any traffic offence that is down to you. We are not interested. Just to remind, this is all laid out before we even get in the car.
The only control any of my team has will be they can demand to be let out of the car, as your refusal to do so could then amount to kidnap, silly as that appears when reading it here. We have no power to get you to slow down, which is the point I am making.
boss1uk said:
…….i thought that was bad but he said that was good. hit 110 at on point and it wasnt even motorway.
With regard to the comment above, all I will say is I have spoken with the member of my team who delivered that day and it is fair to say he is been angered by the comment. He is disappointed in the customer, as he thought him to be better than to try and sensationalise a lesser event and for which said customer was admonished. We read Pistonheads too you know.guillotine said:
Didn't I see one of there "Top" guys on 5th gear?
Slaughtered by vicky butler henderson on the short circuit at Bruntingthorpe. VBH for God sake!!!
Ride Drive has never worked with Top Gear, Fifth Gear or any other gear, and therefore it may be better to do proper research before trying to rubbish something about which you have no experience.Slaughtered by vicky butler henderson on the short circuit at Bruntingthorpe. VBH for God sake!!!
In closing, Ride Drive will at all times remain completely professional when working with its customers and has an overall commitment to improving road safety among the road driving (or motorcycling) community. Yes, there is a big emphasis on having fun on the road, as why should safety translate to stuffy and boring? If anyone wants to pay to complete any of our courses, and spend their day not listening whilst doing their own thing, the income is still useful whatever the motivation.
Jules
Guillotine said:
VBH for God sake!!!
Yes, cause she's rubbish....... HmmmmVicki started racing karts when she was twelve in a race also featuring a certain D. Coulthard. After several years spent competing around Britain, at all of seventeen years of age she started her career as a racing instructor at circuits such as Brands Hatch and Silverstone, as well as spending a year living and working at Knockhill, Scotland. She has competed in series such as Formula First and the 2000 Pentel Ginetta Championship ( which she has guested in on several occasions since ). She has also raced in many other events, such as the Porsche Cup, Radicals, the Speyside Stages Rally, a combine harvester race, a 24 hour 2CV race and, on two occasions, as navigator for ITV's Formula One pit reporter Louise Goodman, in the Rallye Sunseeker. In 2001 she raced a Honda Formula Four-Stroke speedboat off of France.
At the 2004 British Grand Prix meeting at Silverstone, Vicki and her co-driver, fellow journalist Matthew Marsh, won the Maserati Trofeo race, an event described by VB-H as "one of the best moments of my life". She became the first woman ever to win a race in a Maserati.
Don't mess with VBH right
Mark
Regarding VBH...noy really having a go, but she maybe a minx with a licence but she aint Tiff!
JulesHe was a "TOP" Police pursuit driver...in uniform. Never said he was ride drive. Don't need to research when you speak from experience and information given.
Finally, Finally...the income steam maybe closest to the truth here, along with the we wash our hands of any responsibilty bit. Refreshing. I'll tell you how to drive your car at speed...but its got nothing to do with me if it goes wrong. The thought of instructing some at speed on a public highway makes me shudder. Nice pension supliment though, which is hardly required on a cop pension anyway. Kerching!
I was wondering how this would be "defended" I wonder if your customer is still "impressed"?
Ofcourse the correct response would have been "shouldn't have happened on a public road".
but she aint Tiff!Ride Drive said:
guillotine said:
Didn't I see one of there "Top" guys on 5th gear?
Slaughtered by vicky butler henderson on the short circuit at Bruntingthorpe. VBH for God sake!!!
Ride Drive has never worked with Top Gear, Fifth Gear or any other gear, and therefore it may be better to do proper research before trying to rubbish something about which you have no experience.Slaughtered by vicky butler henderson on the short circuit at Bruntingthorpe. VBH for God sake!!!
Jules
Finally, Finally...the income steam maybe closest to the truth here, along with the we wash our hands of any responsibilty bit. Refreshing. I'll tell you how to drive your car at speed...but its got nothing to do with me if it goes wrong. The thought of instructing some at speed on a public highway makes me shudder. Nice pension supliment though, which is hardly required on a cop pension anyway. Kerching!
I was wondering how this would be "defended"
I wonder if your customer is still "impressed"?Ofcourse the correct response would have been "shouldn't have happened on a public road".
Edited by Guillotine on Wednesday 17th November 20:33
I would recommend RideDrive to anyone, and will encourage both of my daughters to take a course too. Having driven cars for 25+ years, i bought my first TVR in Jan 2006. After driving it for about 3 months and 1500 miles, i took a full day RideDrive course, including an hour on the airfield, where i got to learn the behaviour of my car at and beyond normal limits - in safety. The instructor i had was just superb, and the lessons i learnt on the real roads, with real traffic and real every day hazards, have greatly contributed towards my enjoyment of driving ever since. Yes, i have taken the car on track, and yes i have taken instruction on track - but that in no way gives a good representation of the environment in which i will normally drive.
Keep up the good work RideDrive
Keep up the good work RideDrive
Ride Drive said:
“Any person or persons undertaking any Ride Drive advanced driving programme will understand that by virtue of having passed a UK driving test they are in the eyes of the law a fully qualified and competent driver. Therefore, the Ride Drive advanced driving programme in which they take part is not a period of driving instruction, and as such they are under no moral, legal or any other obligation to follow any advice, suggestion or other encouragement to perform any manoeuvre, driving act or to follow any direction given by any representative of Ride Drive Limited, whether that Ride Drive representative be present in the vehicle or not.”
Jules
Sorry, can't resist after reading this again...Jules
Read that a couple of times.
You are in charge, we (or anyone we know slightly) take no resposibilty for any (thing) advice, suggestion or encouragement to perform any information, given by us (in our advanced driver programme) either at the time or at any time later (ever)!
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