What's wrong with my driving?

[bigdog3]

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]

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?

[bigdog3]

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.

[bigdog3]

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

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 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

[bigdog3]

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]

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

[bigdog3]

Monkeylegend said:

You are a brave man

Brave or stupid

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

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

[bigdog3]

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 .

The A35 is just for fun 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

[bigdog3]

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

[bigdog3]

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

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

[bigdog3]

aponting389 said:

To be fair it is an odd thread, although your driving is fine

That's ok - I'm an odd bloke

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


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

[bigdog3]

dunc_sx said:

"Nobody calls me yellow"

I like a drive round a track but don't have any delusions of greatness (and I do realise it's far from a perfect lap), my 2nd fastest lap of the day at a normal car trackday at Knockhill.

• * This vid might be a bit loud so watch the volume before clicking ***

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61HXVn3OXLg

Dunc

Same lap time as Dan Cammish when he put his BTCC Honda Civic Type R on pole in 2018

[bigdog3]

ginettajoe said:

..... now we know you are definitely having a laugh!! There is no way in this world a Puma engine is going to rev, and pull those speeds in a Sierra!

No the A35 has the scrap Puma engine which we rev to 7200rpm and more sometimes.

Sierra is the serious racer. That has a Small Block Ford V8 with over 500hp. The car replicates Sierra XR8 - a batch were built in South Africa in 1984. The car is quick

[bigdog3]

HustleRussell said:

Makes a bit more sense now we know you’ve got a Puma engine and every other A35 has an A-series

Our A35 should be a bit quicker than Rae Davis's full race cars, like MB's. It managed 58.371 secs around Brands Indy and pulls 107mph into Paddock which isn't bad for an A35. That was back in 2013 but it's not been raced since. We've concentrated on the Sierra XR8 instead.

https://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=MGCC/2013/13185...

Plans are afoot to make the A35 quicker


BTW Andrew Jordon achieved 118.1mph at Intermediate 1 in their historic Austin A40 during the first St Mary's Race in 2017. Some of these A-series have lots of power.

https://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=GOODWOOD/2017/1...

[bigdog3]

boxsey said:

Well, I enjoyed watching that a lot! As a casual track day driver that gets no where near your son's lap times at Oulton (best for me is 2.03) my only comment about his driving is that his worst part of the lap is down the avenue into cascades. He brakes before the dip and loses a lot of momentum before the turn in. I've always been instructed to take the dip on balanced throttle (not flat) and then brake and use the compression to slow the car. But maybe that's because I've always been in a 911 or Cayman and it wouldn't suit the Sierra's brakes?

P.s. I've been round Spa in that RSR with Tony and in a GT3 with Aston. Really nice fellas and great drivers.

Tom's best time around Oulton is 1:56.281 back in 2016. But you're still quicker than our A35

Thanks for your driving comments. Sierra brakes are effective and balanced (355mm front discs). Cascades is a challenge in that car and it can get quite unstable and even spin under braking if you get it wrong. IIRC fastest entry speed was 116mph which resulted in going on the grass at corner exit. Will have to experiment further. Oulton is our favourite circuit

Tony and Aston are great guys and very competitive.

[bigdog3]

ginettajoe said:

The Sierra does look seriously quick, and would be capable of some quick times round Oulton Park if he spent more time on the power than he is off it! He needs to be more "sympathetic" on the accelerator, and carry more speed, rather than point and squirt! Lines generally were good, other than first chicane after Shell Oils hairpin.

Thanks that's good advice from an ARDS instructor. I'll pass on your message

[bigdog3]

Dynion Araf Uchaf said:

and then the same circuit in my race car which is a lap record - so clearly you can only post positive comments!

Congratulations on breaking the lap record Both cars look very stable and understeerry almost boring, so not at all like our two which want to bite your arse if you get in wrong. But impressions and videos can be misleading

[bigdog3]

AmosMoses said:

I'll throw some videos of me and my 197. Car is on PS4s otherwise its bone stock.
>>>
I'll lube up and wait for the abuse.

Excellent post - this thread is starting to gain momentum as intended. Let's keep it light hearted

[bigdog3]

tu9bas said:

In the spirit of receiving feedback you can see my first attempt at Goodwood earlier this year. Only started track days in March.

https://youtu.be/O8F44DN4j3M

Looked pretty good to me

Crude measurement and open to ridicule, but on a clear lap you managed 1:40 according to the video. That's identical to me in the A35. Wonder what your Focus ST will do in the right hands (not mine) ?

[bigdog3]

ecain63 said:

My first time at Thruxton was 2 weeks ago. Best I managed was a 1.40 before the rain came. Quite a daunting track that'll take some time to get used to the speed of those long curves.

https://youtu.be/tX4XIHfQPtI

Thruxton is a terrific circuit.
1:40 isn't bad for first time on this very fast track There's lots of time to come out of that, so have fun as your lap times drop