*That* corner revisited
Discussion
Every now and again you come across a corking corner.
I found one yesterday in Bucks on a hundred mile B-road blat around, practising my corners. It is located on the B-road to Ludgershall from the A41 (near Bicester) (see map if the technology works).
The corner follows a few sweeping corners left and right, and starts off as a gentle left-hander that looks like it will open up. It gets a little tighter, and looks like it will open up. Then the view does indeed open up.
The view is 20 yrds of skid-marked road, with chevrons at the end and a very blind right-angled right hander. It's fairly flat scenery - but enough hedges to conceal the layout. There is no hazard sign.
Obviously I stuffed it up first time, got out of shape cutting the corner, and on the brakes mid-entry so I did the lap back to the A41 and had another go.
Knowing it was there, and the layout, I then stuffed it up a second time. This time the Gods of traffic sent a Golf to come round the corner simultaneously in the other direction to keep my line honest. But still entry was too hot
Then I went home.
Anyone with problems going-in too fast to corners, come and get in the queue to have a go.
>> Edited by 7db on Saturday 18th March 11:42 to fix pic
>> Edited by 7db on Saturday 18th March 11:44
>> Edited by 7db on Saturday 18th March 11:44
I found one yesterday in Bucks on a hundred mile B-road blat around, practising my corners. It is located on the B-road to Ludgershall from the A41 (near Bicester) (see map if the technology works).
The corner follows a few sweeping corners left and right, and starts off as a gentle left-hander that looks like it will open up. It gets a little tighter, and looks like it will open up. Then the view does indeed open up.
The view is 20 yrds of skid-marked road, with chevrons at the end and a very blind right-angled right hander. It's fairly flat scenery - but enough hedges to conceal the layout. There is no hazard sign.
Obviously I stuffed it up first time, got out of shape cutting the corner, and on the brakes mid-entry so I did the lap back to the A41 and had another go.
Knowing it was there, and the layout, I then stuffed it up a second time. This time the Gods of traffic sent a Golf to come round the corner simultaneously in the other direction to keep my line honest. But still entry was too hot
Then I went home.
Anyone with problems going-in too fast to corners, come and get in the queue to have a go.
>> Edited by 7db on Saturday 18th March 11:42 to fix pic
>> Edited by 7db on Saturday 18th March 11:44
>> Edited by 7db on Saturday 18th March 11:44
Hi 7db!
Going into a corner too fast completely messes you up - as you mention. I find that it ends up giving you the fast-in slow-out, where what you really want on a road you cannot see clearly round and with the view itself limiting is slow-in fast-out. That keeps you 'flowing'.
Regarding keeping your line 'honest' (you ref the Golf) - was it a left hander or a right hander? If it was a right hander then you should have been on the extreme LEFT of the corner (i.e. almost in the gutter, but not enough to comprimise grip) to enable the furthest view round the corner (end point analysis).
Disclaimer; You all know my experience of driving (it's been discussed in depth here now!) so I don't say this as a qualified person, merely as my observations and experience have taught me.
Anyhow...nice topic, and a good discussion point!
Tony
Going into a corner too fast completely messes you up - as you mention. I find that it ends up giving you the fast-in slow-out, where what you really want on a road you cannot see clearly round and with the view itself limiting is slow-in fast-out. That keeps you 'flowing'.
Regarding keeping your line 'honest' (you ref the Golf) - was it a left hander or a right hander? If it was a right hander then you should have been on the extreme LEFT of the corner (i.e. almost in the gutter, but not enough to comprimise grip) to enable the furthest view round the corner (end point analysis).
Disclaimer; You all know my experience of driving (it's been discussed in depth here now!) so I don't say this as a qualified person, merely as my observations and experience have taught me.
Anyhow...nice topic, and a good discussion point!
Tony
Whoops just realised you mentioned it is a left hander; so I assume you were out to the right hand side of your carriageway and it was the golf coming round the corner I presume cutting his corner which kept you on your feet.
Sounds like you have a nice 'blatting route' there. What's the full route you use?
Sounds like you have a nice 'blatting route' there. What's the full route you use?
The nasty bit of the corner is the right-angled right-hander (visible in the centre of the map to the right of the word "Barn"
. But it's the gentle but tightening fast left-hander that unsights it that causes the problems*.
Ideally would have been in the left gutter for the right-hander, but was waaay too hot, so was increasing the radius of the turn. And as Stressed Dave would never tell you without me admitting it first, I have developed a slight aversion to the left-hand gutter, which I'm trying to stamp out.
Obviously the problem is going in too fast to the left-hander, without being able to see through it to the right-hander. Slow enough in would leave the right entry speed to the right-hander to be well positioned and on the power to drive through it in the gutter.
However - slow enough is very slow - probably 20-30mph to a very gentle left-hander. Going any faster than this leaves you (me) locked up on exit, trying to get down to the 10-15 max entry for the right-hander.
It's a lovely corner, and I might have to go back there in the wet this week sometime.
Tony - have you reviewed my notes on your Tuscany drive yet?!
* actually what causes the problems is the driver choosing to drive too fast into the tightening left-hander. It's not the corner's fault.
. But it's the gentle but tightening fast left-hander that unsights it that causes the problems*. Ideally would have been in the left gutter for the right-hander, but was waaay too hot, so was increasing the radius of the turn. And as Stressed Dave would never tell you without me admitting it first, I have developed a slight aversion to the left-hand gutter, which I'm trying to stamp out.
Obviously the problem is going in too fast to the left-hander, without being able to see through it to the right-hander. Slow enough in would leave the right entry speed to the right-hander to be well positioned and on the power to drive through it in the gutter.
However - slow enough is very slow - probably 20-30mph to a very gentle left-hander. Going any faster than this leaves you (me) locked up on exit, trying to get down to the 10-15 max entry for the right-hander.
It's a lovely corner, and I might have to go back there in the wet this week sometime.
Tony - have you reviewed my notes on your Tuscany drive yet?!
* actually what causes the problems is the driver choosing to drive too fast into the tightening left-hander. It's not the corner's fault.
Revistited this corner at the weekend. At dusk, with damp roadsurface, my approach was a little more cautious, and nailed it good and proper. Feel very happy about that!
Despite my previous assertion, there is in fact a row of trees - although they are located where no sane person would imagine that the road could possibly go.
They are in fact, next to the road.
Despite my previous assertion, there is in fact a row of trees - although they are located where no sane person would imagine that the road could possibly go.
They are in fact, next to the road.
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