Best Drivers

[slowinfastout]

1stly, here I am not looking for names inparticular.

I would like to know those of us who have experienced to sit next to a real star driver.

You know the type. The person who introduces themselves and then drives in a way we all wish we could.

So. who are these guys and where can I get more exposure to them?

[waremark]

Are you talking road or track? Are you looking for professional coaches who you could pay to be coached by? Or are you just asking for anecdotes?

[RobM77]

The most impressive drivers that I've sat next to come by chance sadly, rather than arrangement. That time when you attend a sponsored track day or corporate event, and a professional racing driver's been hired to showboat in a road car. What always impresses me is not how they drive, but how much they have in reserve when they're doing it to just chat calmly and not even look where they're going

[p1esk]

RobM77 said:

The most impressive drivers that I've sat next to come by chance sadly, rather than arrangement. That time when you attend a sponsored track day or corporate event, and a professional racing driver's been hired to showboat in a road car. What always impresses me is not how they drive, but how much they have in reserve when they're doing it to just chat calmly and not even look where they're going

Oh that's easy. People in films do that all the time.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

[RobM77]

p1esk said:

RobM77 said:

The most impressive drivers that I've sat next to come by chance sadly, rather than arrangement. That time when you attend a sponsored track day or corporate event, and a professional racing driver's been hired to showboat in a road car. What always impresses me is not how they drive, but how much they have in reserve when they're doing it to just chat calmly and not even look where they're going

Oh that's easy. People in films do that all the time.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

[Strangely Brown]

slowinfastout said:

So. who are these guys and where can I get more exposure to them?

Easy, pretty much any Class1 certificate holder and you should be able to get exposure to them through your local IAM/RoADA group.

I was fortunate enough to spend Sunday mornings at the Sussex Police Driving School with my local group where we were taught how to teach as well as how to drive. The highlights were always the demo drives which, as well as showing you something to aim for, made you feel rather humble and really put your own meagre improvements into perspective.

Edited by Strangely Brown on Monday 24th November 10:47

[kennym999]

Strangely Brown said:

slowinfastout said:

So. who are these guys and where can I get more exposure to them?

Easy, pretty much any Class1 certificate holder and you should be able to get exposure to them through your local IAM/RoADA group.

I was fortunate enough to spend Sunday mornings at the Sussex Police Driving School with my local group where we were taught how to teach as well as how to drive. The highlights were always the demo drives which, as well as showing you something to aim for, made you feel rather humble and really put your own meagre improvements into perspective.

Edited by Strangely Brown on Monday 24th November 10:47

Thanks, now im beginning to blush. I am a class 1 and offered my services to my local IAM group but was told that they didnt have enough demand in my area (this topic has already been covered). I think the sign of a good driver is ones that make you feel very comfortable as a passenger no matter what speed the car is travelling it and also on the road a driver who can sho great restraint when travelling in built up areas or awaiting overtaking opportunities.

[RobM77]

kennym999 said:

Strangely Brown said:

slowinfastout said:

So. who are these guys and where can I get more exposure to them?

Easy, pretty much any Class1 certificate holder and you should be able to get exposure to them through your local IAM/RoADA group.

I was fortunate enough to spend Sunday mornings at the Sussex Police Driving School with my local group where we were taught how to teach as well as how to drive. The highlights were always the demo drives which, as well as showing you something to aim for, made you feel rather humble and really put your own meagre improvements into perspective.

Edited by Strangely Brown on Monday 24th November 10:47

Thanks, now im beginning to blush. I am a class 1 and offered my services to my local IAM group but was told that they didnt have enough demand in my area (this topic has already been covered). I think the sign of a good driver is ones that make you feel very comfortable as a passenger no matter what speed the car is travelling it and also on the road a driver who can sho great restraint when travelling in built up areas or awaiting overtaking opportunities.

That brings up an interesting point actually. I agree entirely, but it's interesting how this varies between passengers. I, and I'm sure you too, could drive with two passengers in the same way and have one scared and one totally relaxed and comfortable. The perceptionm experience and common sense of the passenger is the main reason for this. For example, when passing parked cars if nothing appears to be coming the other way I always leave a bit of room for someone to open a door or a pedestrian to step out from behind a higher vehicle, but obviously I balance this against other risks (I wouldn't do it near an unsighted junction for instance). This comforts my more perceptive friends, but scares the hell out of my girlfriend, who sees the dashed white line down the middle of the road as something not to be crossed. She thinks I'm not paying attention and have just wandered over the line accidentally! My Dad's another example - he can't stand the way that I vary my speed subtley as I drive. You wouldn't think a passenger would notice this, but I gently let my speed slip down if there's a hazard up ahead, or a vanishing point. He dislikes this style of driving, and would prefer me to hold a steady speed the whole way down a road.

[kennym999]

Sounds if your dad isnt interested in advanced driving. If we all just drive along at the same speed even when there's hazards then you risk going into autopilot. when Im passing parked cars I like to give them as much room as is safely possible, even if that is on the opposite side of the road. After all, an important factor in advanced driving is giving yourself the time and distance to react to any hazard (seen or unseen).

[RobM77]

kennym999 said:

Sounds if your dad isnt interested in advanced driving. If we all just drive along at the same speed even when there's hazards then you risk going into autopilot. when Im passing parked cars I like to give them as much room as is safely possible, even if that is on the opposite side of the road. After all, an important factor in advanced driving is giving yourself the time and distance to react to any hazard (seen or unseen).

Well then, like me, you'd scare my girlfriend and attract strong criticism Bizarre considering your qualifications! but true.. My point is that whilst I agree with you that the passenger feeling safe is a great indicator of the driver's ability, is does usually depend on the passenger's knowledge. Another good point is that I bet all the little extras in your driving that make it safer (rev matching, road positioning, balancing the car in the bend, taking the right lines, maximising your visibility, maximising your visibility to others, matching speed with distance to stop etc etc), all go largely unnoticed by most people. Strange but true It can be rather thankless all this advanced driving can't it?

[PeteG]

It can be thankless, but it's worth it when someone with next-to-no interest in cars or driving goes "thanks very much, that was a nice smooth drive".

[frspro]

Most definitely NOT on a public road but I have been priviledged enough to have been sat in the co-drivers seat of a works Focus WRC with Colin McRae, Tapio Laukkanen, and Mark Higgins (a very enjoyable perk of a previous job). In all three cases I stepped out of the car thoroughly amazed and suitably humbled by not just the speed at which they drove but more importantly the precision with which they were able to position the car and speed of their reactions in continually adjusting to changing levels of grip etc. The other stand out characteristic was that all of them seemed to be missing whichever connection it is in the brain that registers fear, Tapio for example driving a car setup for gravel stages on a tarmac track was briefly caught out attempting to negotiate an extremely fast righthand bend at the same speed he would have on tarmac springs and tyres - whilst I'm thinking oh s*** and looking to see what we're going to hit, he's corrected the spin is grinning from ear to ear and saying "that was fun!"

[RobM77]

frspro said:

Most definitely NOT on a public road but I have been priviledged enough to have been sat in the co-drivers seat of a works Focus WRC with Colin McRae, Tapio Laukkanen, and Mark Higgins (a very enjoyable perk of a previous job). In all three cases I stepped out of the car thoroughly amazed and suitably humbled by not just the speed at which they drove but more importantly the precision with which they were able to position the car and speed of their reactions in continually adjusting to changing levels of grip etc. The other stand out characteristic was that all of them seemed to be missing whichever connection it is in the brain that registers fear, Tapio for example driving a car setup for gravel stages on a tarmac track was briefly caught out attempting to negotiate an extremely fast righthand bend at the same speed he would have on tarmac springs and tyres - whilst I'm thinking oh s*** and looking to see what we're going to hit, he's corrected the spin is grinning from ear to ear and saying "that was fun!"

I'm a complete coward with most things in life yet I've been racing for years now without ever feeling in the slightest bit scared in the car. Strange that - I'm clearly not alone

[Dr Jekyll]

On the road, sitting next to John Lyon was an experience. The problem is it's supposed to be a demo drive, but the standard is so high you marvel at it rather than notice the technique being demonstrated.

On the track it has to be Sabine Schmitz in the ring taxi. On the approach to the first tight corner it became apparent that she had picked this day to go completely mad and approach it at such a speed there was no way she could possibly get round. Somehow she did get round and from then on it was the least frightening taxi ride I have ever had. She ignores the laws of physics while making it look easy.

[p1esk]

PeteG said:

It can be thankless, but it's worth it when someone with next-to-no interest in cars or driving goes "thanks very much, that was a nice smooth drive".

I've had that a few times, but the credit usually goes to the car, and not me.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

[p1esk]

Dr Jekyll said:

On the road, sitting next to John Lyon was an experience. The problem is it's supposed to be a demo drive, but the standard is so high you marvel at it rather than notice the technique being demonstrated.

The next time somebody fixes up a ride with John Lyon I would like to come along too, and I'll share the cost with you.

I really think it's time I witnessed some of this mind blowing stuff, and then I may have to apologise for some the scepticism I've expressed in recent times, and I'll be quite happy to do that.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

[Strangely Brown]

Dr Jekyll said:

On the road, sitting next to John Lyon was an experience.

Indeed it was. John Lyon is the only person (of that peer group) who has seriously scared me. It was during the half-day preliminary to the HPC (course, not club) and he started out by giving a demo drive in my car. He started an overtake, which I would *never* have gone for and when he discovered that the car didn't have as much go as he thought it was down to the one opposing to back off or we would have been toast. Seriously unimpressed.

I did learn a fair bit that day but his demo drive has left a big smear across my view of him ever since.

[Dr Jekyll]

p1esk said:

Dr Jekyll said:

On the road, sitting next to John Lyon was an experience. The problem is it's supposed to be a demo drive, but the standard is so high you marvel at it rather than notice the technique being demonstrated.

The next time somebody fixes up a ride with John Lyon I would like to come along too, and I'll share the cost with you.

I really think it's time I witnessed some of this mind blowing stuff, and then I may have to apologise for some the scepticism I've expressed in recent times, and I'll be quite happy to do that.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

No doubt it depends where you are starting from, but as someone who hadn't been with anyone higher than a ROSPA Gold before it was extremely impressive.

[RobM77]

I've got to admit, I've sat with some good drivers on the road, but strangely many of the worst drivers I've sat with have been RoSPA Gold or IAM qualified. Equally, most of the best have been qualified to this level. Can anyone explain that variance?

[StressedDave]

One word - ego...

I suffer from it as much as the next man, but to my mind there is a difference between being a good driver and having a piece of paper that says you are a good driver. The piece of paper means you were on that occasion good enough.

Some of the great instructors suffer from the God-complex... the fervent belief that they can never make mistakes and that they merely have to bend over to make the sun rise The best make mistakes, the best of the best apologise for them...