Another good day out with Reg Local
Discussion
As some of you may have read in my recent thread, I'm about to book my first RoADAR/RoSPA test. The various observers at my local group are happy I'm at the required standard, but from previous experience over the last couple of years going out with our Reg and a couple of other class ones, I knew I still had plenty of rough edges to knock off and plenty more things to learn.
Since I've just taken delivery of a new car (Škoda Superb 2.0 TSI 220 DSG) I wanted to break it in properly and learn how to get the most out of it, especially as it was my first auto. I also wanted a second opinion on my driving before booking my RoSPA test. Who better to show me the ropes than Reg?
We met up at 1pm this Saturday and I have to admit I re-read his excellent book and re-watched his YouTube videos beforehand to swot up. After pulling in to the arranged meeting place, I admired Reg's new car and private plate (see his Twitter @RegLocal), while he admired my new 'boat' and its VRS engine. We set off for a 10 mile jaunt of mixed roads so Reg could assess my progress - or lack of - from our last session (about a year earlier), and then headed out for the Yorkshire Moors and into the Lakes.
Having earlier asked for Reg's input on my commentary, he suddenly asked me to give him a few minutes of it just as we approached a roundabout off the M6. I wasn't expecting it. Being in a totally unfamiliar area (as well as, being honest, somewhat anxious at doing well in front of someone I respected so much) I managed to give a reasonable effort... while missing the requested roundabout exit completely. I was so busy throwing all my mental capacity at making the commentary decent I'd completely forgotten to go where we were going haha! I felt like a right spanner, but Reg rightly pointed out things like this can and will happen on test. The trick is to brush it off, laugh at yourself and carry on. Missing your exit like a mong won't fail you, but going to pieces and driving like crap thereafter will...
We drove on and hit some amazing de-restricted B roads with plenty of twists and turns as well as changes in elevation, camber and road surface. As Reg put it, 'This road has everything'. He wasn't messing! With some tweaks to my cornering technique the car really started to feel settled. It was initially quite difficult getting used to controlling a car through a DSG box. Yes, around town they're point and squirt. On the back roads at pressing on types of speed, with more corners than a polyhedron, it's quite a different matter.
I'd only covered a couple of hundred city miles in the car over the week I'd had it. Suddenly finding yourself barrelling over the moors, downhill on a wet road towards a hairpin left hander, at the top of a mountain, with a half mile drop over the edge and no barriers to speak of, your every instinct is to brake on approach... hard. Reg calmly saying "No, no. OFF the brakes. Gas, more gas, MORE GAS as you turn in!" while every fibre of your being is screaming that the inertia of the car will throw you off the cliff-edge is quite an experience! Yeah the limit point's running, but it just feels unnatural to power into a corner like that in something so big.
I thought we were going to die at one point haha... Well not really, but it did teach me more about my own driving psychology and about the car than just about anything else that day. After a year in my Mazda 6 2.0 I'd become very familiar with its handling, direct steering and playful chassis. It also had a nice manual box to direct. Finding yourself in 1,450KG of barge with an auto box that loves being in 5th gear at 30mph was a big learning curve.
Sport mode improved the following corners immensely, and the accelerator was now a lot more direct and responsive. I also broke through the fear barrier, which was handy. As I said it taught me a lot. In the Mazda I'd have no hesitation in chasing running limit points at full throttle and right to the redline without a second thought. The Superb is a great car, especially with the growling TSI, but it does feel a lot number and weightier than the Mazda (even though it actually isn't). Being so new I realised I was being very cautious and untrusting of it, and the ride was suffering. After a bit of coaching from Reg on braking down earlier but for less time, then hitting the gas earlier on turn in, things really started to move along. I realised the big bugger cornered much better on its P7s than I'd anticipated, and I started to trust that if I piled on the drive as I turned into even sharp corners the car would duly hunker down and pull itself around without complaint.
Powering through seemingly endless corners, trimming offside and back again where possible, the whole road seemed to start simply floating by. Overtaking the occasional tractor and an obligatory OAP in a Honda Jazz, while threading one bend into the next, I was really starting to enjoy this and genuinely started to feel like I was achieving something! It was so satisfying to be able to tune into the road and the car, and it almost felt like the thing was driving itself.
We eventually covered, I think, four or five separate counties and even drove through a picturesque snowstorm on the mountains in the Lakes. I also got the hang of getting the DSG working for me on overtakes (no, as it turns out you don't need to keep your foot planted after kickdown - especially with an engine that will throw you into three figures in double quick-time. Oops.). We got back four hours later and I'm not afraid to say I was exhausted - mostly mentally! The car is bloody filthy and coated in road salt from sill to roofline, and now has a more healthy 700 miles on the clock. I could literally feel the tightness of the engine at first but as we pressed on and gradually pushed harder through the bends it started to loosen up a bit and become more compliant. It should be a little peach in a few thousand miles.
I could write for hours, such was the immense amount of experience I gleaned from that half day's tuition. Reg never blows his own trumpet on here and is a humble and kindly chap even in real life, so I thought I would save him the trouble and post up my findings. I'm genuinely sorry if this embarrasses you Reg, but I had a fantastic day and just wanted to share it with some like-minded people.
Hand on heart, I've learnt more about myself, driving, car control - and not to mention geography, local history and automotive engineering - this weekend than I think I have in the last 10 years combined. Reg's gentle but direct manner, experience-led teaching style and his frankly immense bank of knowledge have to be experienced to be believed.
As I said to him on the day, the two rides I've had with him have been the quietest and most challenging drives of my life. It's astonishing how much mental capacity you can use when you really pay attention to your driving; so much so that I'm pretty sure Reg thinks I either wasn't listening to, or ignored, at least half of the interesting stories he was telling me! Not so, but it's incredibly difficult (for me) to concentrate on driving to this level as well as thinking about conversation. Inexperience, surely, and a very telling realisation. As soon as I started speaking the speed fell off, I dropped back from the car in front or I'd start missing things. It's even worse for me as I'm more deaf than not, and my damaged aural nerves don't pick up speech properly. As such my brain has to 'feel' the 'shape' of words and sounds, then lay them over previous experience of what various words are shaped like, and find the best fit as to what I probably just heard. It's an automatic process, but mentally taxing, and mixing it with driving is an absolute pain for me! Hence, the quietest drives of my life haha.
I went from feeling pretty confident in my abilities (to RoSPA level), to feeling like an absolute learner, to feeling rather pleased with my progress all in a few hours. Reg has a really strange knack of being able to see you drive for ten minutes and instantly knowing what you need to improve, and how you can do it. Unlike other tutors I've driven with, though, he does it in such a way that you feel like you did it all yourself. Although that might sound stupid, I hope you know what I mean. At no point was Reg condescending, castigating or ridiculing. It was very much a case of "That's great, but if you just try this.... There you go." and suddenly the drive goes up a notch yet again.
So, thanks ever so much again Reg. You're a true gent, an extraordinarily good teacher, and a 'bloody nice bloke, yah'
to boot. If anyone finds themselves wanting an assessment or to kick their drive up a few gears, I can't recommend a day out with Reg enough. The fact he was an instructor of police class ones for so long really shows, and if RoSPA taught me one thing it's that to reach a certain standard of driving you really ought to be learning from people who are above that standard, not just at it.
As for me, I'm booking my test with a bit more experience under my belt and hoping that I can do the man justice. I'll be back out with you again soon Reg, to really learn how to drive. Cheers!
Since I've just taken delivery of a new car (Škoda Superb 2.0 TSI 220 DSG) I wanted to break it in properly and learn how to get the most out of it, especially as it was my first auto. I also wanted a second opinion on my driving before booking my RoSPA test. Who better to show me the ropes than Reg?
We met up at 1pm this Saturday and I have to admit I re-read his excellent book and re-watched his YouTube videos beforehand to swot up. After pulling in to the arranged meeting place, I admired Reg's new car and private plate (see his Twitter @RegLocal), while he admired my new 'boat' and its VRS engine. We set off for a 10 mile jaunt of mixed roads so Reg could assess my progress - or lack of - from our last session (about a year earlier), and then headed out for the Yorkshire Moors and into the Lakes.
Having earlier asked for Reg's input on my commentary, he suddenly asked me to give him a few minutes of it just as we approached a roundabout off the M6. I wasn't expecting it. Being in a totally unfamiliar area (as well as, being honest, somewhat anxious at doing well in front of someone I respected so much) I managed to give a reasonable effort... while missing the requested roundabout exit completely. I was so busy throwing all my mental capacity at making the commentary decent I'd completely forgotten to go where we were going haha! I felt like a right spanner, but Reg rightly pointed out things like this can and will happen on test. The trick is to brush it off, laugh at yourself and carry on. Missing your exit like a mong won't fail you, but going to pieces and driving like crap thereafter will...
We drove on and hit some amazing de-restricted B roads with plenty of twists and turns as well as changes in elevation, camber and road surface. As Reg put it, 'This road has everything'. He wasn't messing! With some tweaks to my cornering technique the car really started to feel settled. It was initially quite difficult getting used to controlling a car through a DSG box. Yes, around town they're point and squirt. On the back roads at pressing on types of speed, with more corners than a polyhedron, it's quite a different matter.
I'd only covered a couple of hundred city miles in the car over the week I'd had it. Suddenly finding yourself barrelling over the moors, downhill on a wet road towards a hairpin left hander, at the top of a mountain, with a half mile drop over the edge and no barriers to speak of, your every instinct is to brake on approach... hard. Reg calmly saying "No, no. OFF the brakes. Gas, more gas, MORE GAS as you turn in!" while every fibre of your being is screaming that the inertia of the car will throw you off the cliff-edge is quite an experience! Yeah the limit point's running, but it just feels unnatural to power into a corner like that in something so big.
I thought we were going to die at one point haha... Well not really, but it did teach me more about my own driving psychology and about the car than just about anything else that day. After a year in my Mazda 6 2.0 I'd become very familiar with its handling, direct steering and playful chassis. It also had a nice manual box to direct. Finding yourself in 1,450KG of barge with an auto box that loves being in 5th gear at 30mph was a big learning curve.
Sport mode improved the following corners immensely, and the accelerator was now a lot more direct and responsive. I also broke through the fear barrier, which was handy. As I said it taught me a lot. In the Mazda I'd have no hesitation in chasing running limit points at full throttle and right to the redline without a second thought. The Superb is a great car, especially with the growling TSI, but it does feel a lot number and weightier than the Mazda (even though it actually isn't). Being so new I realised I was being very cautious and untrusting of it, and the ride was suffering. After a bit of coaching from Reg on braking down earlier but for less time, then hitting the gas earlier on turn in, things really started to move along. I realised the big bugger cornered much better on its P7s than I'd anticipated, and I started to trust that if I piled on the drive as I turned into even sharp corners the car would duly hunker down and pull itself around without complaint.
Powering through seemingly endless corners, trimming offside and back again where possible, the whole road seemed to start simply floating by. Overtaking the occasional tractor and an obligatory OAP in a Honda Jazz, while threading one bend into the next, I was really starting to enjoy this and genuinely started to feel like I was achieving something! It was so satisfying to be able to tune into the road and the car, and it almost felt like the thing was driving itself.
We eventually covered, I think, four or five separate counties and even drove through a picturesque snowstorm on the mountains in the Lakes. I also got the hang of getting the DSG working for me on overtakes (no, as it turns out you don't need to keep your foot planted after kickdown - especially with an engine that will throw you into three figures in double quick-time. Oops.). We got back four hours later and I'm not afraid to say I was exhausted - mostly mentally! The car is bloody filthy and coated in road salt from sill to roofline, and now has a more healthy 700 miles on the clock. I could literally feel the tightness of the engine at first but as we pressed on and gradually pushed harder through the bends it started to loosen up a bit and become more compliant. It should be a little peach in a few thousand miles.
I could write for hours, such was the immense amount of experience I gleaned from that half day's tuition. Reg never blows his own trumpet on here and is a humble and kindly chap even in real life, so I thought I would save him the trouble and post up my findings. I'm genuinely sorry if this embarrasses you Reg, but I had a fantastic day and just wanted to share it with some like-minded people.
Hand on heart, I've learnt more about myself, driving, car control - and not to mention geography, local history and automotive engineering - this weekend than I think I have in the last 10 years combined. Reg's gentle but direct manner, experience-led teaching style and his frankly immense bank of knowledge have to be experienced to be believed.
As I said to him on the day, the two rides I've had with him have been the quietest and most challenging drives of my life. It's astonishing how much mental capacity you can use when you really pay attention to your driving; so much so that I'm pretty sure Reg thinks I either wasn't listening to, or ignored, at least half of the interesting stories he was telling me! Not so, but it's incredibly difficult (for me) to concentrate on driving to this level as well as thinking about conversation. Inexperience, surely, and a very telling realisation. As soon as I started speaking the speed fell off, I dropped back from the car in front or I'd start missing things. It's even worse for me as I'm more deaf than not, and my damaged aural nerves don't pick up speech properly. As such my brain has to 'feel' the 'shape' of words and sounds, then lay them over previous experience of what various words are shaped like, and find the best fit as to what I probably just heard. It's an automatic process, but mentally taxing, and mixing it with driving is an absolute pain for me! Hence, the quietest drives of my life haha.
I went from feeling pretty confident in my abilities (to RoSPA level), to feeling like an absolute learner, to feeling rather pleased with my progress all in a few hours. Reg has a really strange knack of being able to see you drive for ten minutes and instantly knowing what you need to improve, and how you can do it. Unlike other tutors I've driven with, though, he does it in such a way that you feel like you did it all yourself. Although that might sound stupid, I hope you know what I mean. At no point was Reg condescending, castigating or ridiculing. It was very much a case of "That's great, but if you just try this.... There you go." and suddenly the drive goes up a notch yet again.
So, thanks ever so much again Reg. You're a true gent, an extraordinarily good teacher, and a 'bloody nice bloke, yah'
to boot. If anyone finds themselves wanting an assessment or to kick their drive up a few gears, I can't recommend a day out with Reg enough. The fact he was an instructor of police class ones for so long really shows, and if RoSPA taught me one thing it's that to reach a certain standard of driving you really ought to be learning from people who are above that standard, not just at it.As for me, I'm booking my test with a bit more experience under my belt and hoping that I can do the man justice. I'll be back out with you again soon Reg, to really learn how to drive. Cheers!
Awesome read up and very jealous as well.
I love reading Reg's posts on here to improve driving so to have a 1-2-1 session with him must be like hitting gold.
(Now, before i'm lynched - i am very aware there is a difference between track and road driving).
I've not long done a track experience at Oulton Park in a BMW M4 and that blew me away just learning how capable and how much more a car can do than you think. So I'd love to learn how to get the most out of my car on the road (still aware of the difference!) and it's capabilities there as i doubt i'm utilising it to the best of it's or my abilities.
Forever in the pursuit of that never found perfection. . .
Anyway, sorry for thread derailing, awesome post!
I love reading Reg's posts on here to improve driving so to have a 1-2-1 session with him must be like hitting gold.
(Now, before i'm lynched - i am very aware there is a difference between track and road driving).
I've not long done a track experience at Oulton Park in a BMW M4 and that blew me away just learning how capable and how much more a car can do than you think. So I'd love to learn how to get the most out of my car on the road (still aware of the difference!) and it's capabilities there as i doubt i'm utilising it to the best of it's or my abilities.
Forever in the pursuit of that never found perfection. . .
Anyway, sorry for thread derailing, awesome post!
Godbomb2908 said:
Awesome read up and very jealous as well.
I love reading Reg's posts on here to improve driving so to have a 1-2-1 session with him must be like hitting gold.
Give him a shout and see what he can do for you!I love reading Reg's posts on here to improve driving so to have a 1-2-1 session with him must be like hitting gold.
http://www.reglocal.com/93-2/
Godbomb2908 said:
Awesome read up and very jealous as well.
I love reading Reg's posts on here to improve driving so to have a 1-2-1 session with him must be like hitting gold.
(Now, before i'm lynched - i am very aware there is a difference between track and road driving).
I've not long done a track experience at Oulton Park in a BMW M4 and that blew me away just learning how capable and how much more a car can do than you think. So I'd love to learn how to get the most out of my car on the road (still aware of the difference!) and it's capabilities there as i doubt i'm utilising it to the best of it's or my abilities.
Forever in the pursuit of that never found perfection. . .
Anyway, sorry for thread derailing, awesome post!
Glad you enjoyed the post mate. As said above drop Reg a line and see what you can sort out. He's a top instructor without a doubt. Although I didn't make a new thread about it, I passed my first RoSPA test with a Gold this month after some more teaching from Reg. You can't go wrong arranging a session out with him!I love reading Reg's posts on here to improve driving so to have a 1-2-1 session with him must be like hitting gold.
(Now, before i'm lynched - i am very aware there is a difference between track and road driving).
I've not long done a track experience at Oulton Park in a BMW M4 and that blew me away just learning how capable and how much more a car can do than you think. So I'd love to learn how to get the most out of my car on the road (still aware of the difference!) and it's capabilities there as i doubt i'm utilising it to the best of it's or my abilities.
Forever in the pursuit of that never found perfection. . .
Anyway, sorry for thread derailing, awesome post!
That's brilliant, cheers guys.
I certainly will. From what i've read i don't believe he's immensely far from where i live unless i've got myself mixed up or he's moved
Once again thanks, i've been lurking Pistonheads on and off for some time but now decided to become active with it.
So unfortunately you'll be seeing more of me!
I certainly will. From what i've read i don't believe he's immensely far from where i live unless i've got myself mixed up or he's moved
Once again thanks, i've been lurking Pistonheads on and off for some time but now decided to become active with it.
So unfortunately you'll be seeing more of me!
I had a driving day with Chris Gilbert last week. Regards the commentary he suggested listen to the direction given and then repeat it back. Two reasons, firstly the passenger is navigating so will hear that you heard correctly and intervene to avoid wrong turns. secondly, you are more likely to recall where you are going and will then relate it to the "system".
Good luck with the test
Good luck with the test
Godbomb2908 said:
That's brilliant, cheers guys.
I certainly will. From what i've read i don't believe he's immensely far from where i live unless i've got myself mixed up or he's moved
Once again thanks, i've been lurking Pistonheads on and off for some time but now decided to become active with it.
So unfortunately you'll be seeing more of me!
Your profile doesn't say whereabouts you are, but Reg's contact page (on his site linked above) shows he's in the Bolton area. It's not for me to give details, but if you think the general Lancashire / North West area you're not far wrong and you'll certainly cover some miles on the day anyway! Make some enquiries, I'm sure Reg will be able to accommodate you.I certainly will. From what i've read i don't believe he's immensely far from where i live unless i've got myself mixed up or he's moved
Once again thanks, i've been lurking Pistonheads on and off for some time but now decided to become active with it.
So unfortunately you'll be seeing more of me!
Driversmatter said:
I had a driving day with Chris Gilbert last week. Regards the commentary he suggested listen to the direction given and then repeat it back. Two reasons, firstly the passenger is navigating so will hear that you heard correctly and intervene to avoid wrong turns. secondly, you are more likely to recall where you are going and will then relate it to the "system".
Good luck with the test
Good advice, and thanks. I took and passed the test (Gold) this month, but it's certainly a handy tip for next time. Isn't Chris retiring from teaching this year? Quite sad, I'd have liked a day with him at some point but I've just missed out! Good luck with the test
rainmakerraw said:
Your profile doesn't say whereabouts you are, but Reg's contact page (on his site linked above) shows he's in the Bolton area. It's not for me to give details, but if you think the general Lancashire / North West area you're not far wrong and you'll certainly cover some miles on the day anyway! Make some enquiries, I'm sure Reg will be able to accommodate you.
Ahh no worries, i'm based in the Conga Eel Town (Congleton) in South Cheshire, so North West. . . Just. It wouldn't be too much hard graft to get to Bolton i'm sure. . . Although the M6 is, has and always will be a nightmare. So alternative routes to be found maybe?
Anyway, waffling as always, i'll drop him a line, thanks so much for your help.
Godbomb2908 said:
Ahh no worries, i'm based in the Conga Eel Town (Congleton) in South Cheshire, so North West. . . Just.
It wouldn't be too much hard graft to get to Bolton i'm sure. . . Although the M6 is, has and always will be a nightmare. So alternative routes to be found maybe?
Anyway, waffling as always, i'll drop him a line, thanks so much for your help.
M6 or M61 is still your best bet and by my calculations you're looking at about an hour travelling time each way if you were to meet him where I do. Just drop him a line and see what you can sort out mate, pointless me speculating. Have fun! It wouldn't be too much hard graft to get to Bolton i'm sure. . . Although the M6 is, has and always will be a nightmare. So alternative routes to be found maybe?
Anyway, waffling as always, i'll drop him a line, thanks so much for your help.
Reg Local said:
Drop me a line via my website - I won't bite!
Also, I'm giving a presentation in Congleton on 26 January, so you're welcome to come along.
Spooky i've just seen this i'm just about to drop you a line (was waiting until i was back at work). Also, I'm giving a presentation in Congleton on 26 January, so you're welcome to come along.
I'll catch the details from you that way. . . and i'll double check i'm not actually working that day.
Godbomb2908 said:
Spooky i've just seen this i'm just about to drop you a line (was waiting until i was back at work).
Do so.Reg is definitely a breath of fresh air when it comes to telling you what you need to know about your driving. I've managed to take a lot of what he taught me into my everyday driving, both at work, and in my day to day driving. Its a lot of work, and even the half day sessions are fantastic.
postcode said:
Do so.
Reg is definitely a breath of fresh air when it comes to telling you what you need to know about your driving. I've managed to take a lot of what he taught me into my everyday driving, both at work, and in my day to day driving. Its a lot of work, and even the half day sessions are fantastic.
Cheers matey i have done, although i've had to arrange for next year due to my shift layout Reg is definitely a breath of fresh air when it comes to telling you what you need to know about your driving. I've managed to take a lot of what he taught me into my everyday driving, both at work, and in my day to day driving. Its a lot of work, and even the half day sessions are fantastic.
but i can't wait already. A bit of thread resurrection. Living at the other end of the country made arranging a session a bit of a challenge
Finally succeeded in doing so last weekend in conjunction with a visit to friends in Chorley.
Arrived a little earlier than the appointed time and went for a walk to admire the view.
Returned to the car and shortly thereafter I clocked a car with a distinctive VRM gliding towards me.
I can endorse everything which has been said. Great instruction from a really nice guy.
A brilliant day and now I have to put all that I learned into practice.
A pity the roads where I live are such c
p in comparison with those we used.
I'll also have to get up with the dawn chorus to avoid being sat in a traffic jam. C'est la vie.
I'll worry about having to pay for the fuel when the credit card bill lands on the mat...
Finally succeeded in doing so last weekend in conjunction with a visit to friends in Chorley.
Arrived a little earlier than the appointed time and went for a walk to admire the view.
Returned to the car and shortly thereafter I clocked a car with a distinctive VRM gliding towards me.
I can endorse everything which has been said. Great instruction from a really nice guy.
A brilliant day and now I have to put all that I learned into practice.
A pity the roads where I live are such c
p in comparison with those we used. I'll also have to get up with the dawn chorus to avoid being sat in a traffic jam. C'est la vie.
I'll worry about having to pay for the fuel when the credit card bill lands on the mat...
Can relate to the OP's comments regarding the level of concentration, and how mentally exhausting driving can be, when you are really focused on trying to improve - having been doing a police driving course over this past fortnight (one week still to go). Amazing how much you pick up from a relatively short time with a good instructor.
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