Can you really handle your TVR ?
Discussion
220 I'm sitting here thinking that if a lot more TVR drivers, or for that matter, any performance car drivers, really knew how to "handle" their cars,it would have a dramatic effect on the number, and nature of the accidents we keep hearing about, so many are avoidable with just a little training, some may not be.
The trouble is, I don't know a single bloke,or very few, who are prepared to admit that they are poor or average drivers, let alone be seen " In training". Yeah, everybodies up for a track day, hooning around and having fun, while praying like
that they don't do something stupid that will reveal their real ability, but how many would go and get proper training. "It costs too much", "I know what I'm doing", "They won't be able to teach me much", we've all heard or used these excuses or simular as a way of avoiding the issue, but it's not big, and it's not clever. I'm not trying to preach or put people down, I'm just refecting on the sadness,suffering, and heartache that may have been avoided if our ego's didn't have the upper hand in this most sensitive of area's.
What do you think? Am I talking out of my exhaust.
Yes, definitely. Did a Ride/drive 4 hour assessment a couple of months ago. I've been riding motorbikes for over 25 years/250,000 miles, driving cars for over 20 years, and I was frankly amazed at how much I learnt (thanks Alex).
I'm going to do the full day next year, and may well have "top-up" 4 hour ones after that.
Having said that, riding bikes definitely increases your road awareness.
maggit
I'm going to do the full day next year, and may well have "top-up" 4 hour ones after that.
Having said that, riding bikes definitely increases your road awareness.
maggit
Most driving enthusuasts I've met are always willing to learn more. In fact - I'd say its what seperates them from the numpties.
The vast majority of performance car owners are either driving enthusiasts or marque enthusiasts. The marque enthusiasts are no danger because they want to enter the car in a concours and want it pristine. The driving enthusiasts aren't dangerous because they're willing to learn and, provided they don't prang in the first few months, actually get training, improve and then can handle their machines.
Its the ones who by 'em because they're expensive I worry about. You know - the sort that bought a Porsche off the Company Car list because it was that or an S-Class Merc.
These guys REALLY should have got the Merc - its a fabulous car, won't get you into trouble and every aid imaginable to prevent you from stuffing it up.
I did meet a bloke (an optician) who simply could not believe that the IAM could teach him anything about road driving. Thankfully he drove a Merc.
Not saying anything bad about Mercs. Ace cars. Very relaxing to drive and very, very safe.
The vast majority of performance car owners are either driving enthusiasts or marque enthusiasts. The marque enthusiasts are no danger because they want to enter the car in a concours and want it pristine. The driving enthusiasts aren't dangerous because they're willing to learn and, provided they don't prang in the first few months, actually get training, improve and then can handle their machines.
Its the ones who by 'em because they're expensive I worry about. You know - the sort that bought a Porsche off the Company Car list because it was that or an S-Class Merc.
These guys REALLY should have got the Merc - its a fabulous car, won't get you into trouble and every aid imaginable to prevent you from stuffing it up.
I did meet a bloke (an optician) who simply could not believe that the IAM could teach him anything about road driving. Thankfully he drove a Merc.
Not saying anything bad about Mercs. Ace cars. Very relaxing to drive and very, very safe.
You can never have enough training, ever.
There is one thing that unifies all colours, creeds, races and religion and thats we all think we are better drivers than we actually are.
Don, as an aside, would you be interested in the HPC?
>> Edited by Plotloss on Friday 14th November 08:56
There is one thing that unifies all colours, creeds, races and religion and thats we all think we are better drivers than we actually are.
Don, as an aside, would you be interested in the HPC?
>> Edited by Plotloss on Friday 14th November 08:56
Everybody needs training.
I think the one thing that separates good drivers from bad drivers is that a good driver will recognise (a) his limitations (b) the limitations of the car and more importantly (c) the risk of killing someone else if you get it wrong.
There's always someone out there who is willing to go faster than you and they're welcome to it. Last thing I want is to be pushing the car hard and suddenly have someone pull out in front of me and have to unsettle the car by braking. It's one thing to be able to say you can indulge in a bit of heroic oversteer on a track but if you're doing it on a public road when there is other traffic round to suffer if you get it wrong is just stupid.
Surely the whole point is to remain within the limits of your car. If you regularly exceed them, buy a better car.
I think the one thing that separates good drivers from bad drivers is that a good driver will recognise (a) his limitations (b) the limitations of the car and more importantly (c) the risk of killing someone else if you get it wrong.
There's always someone out there who is willing to go faster than you and they're welcome to it. Last thing I want is to be pushing the car hard and suddenly have someone pull out in front of me and have to unsettle the car by braking. It's one thing to be able to say you can indulge in a bit of heroic oversteer on a track but if you're doing it on a public road when there is other traffic round to suffer if you get it wrong is just stupid.
Surely the whole point is to remain within the limits of your car. If you regularly exceed them, buy a better car.
Don said:
Its the ones who by 'em because they're expensive I worry about. You know - the sort that bought a Porsche off the Company Car list because it was that or an S-Class Merc.
These guys REALLY should have got the Merc - its a fabulous car, won't get you into trouble and every aid imaginable to prevent you from stuffing it up.
I did meet a bloke (an optician) who simply could not believe that the IAM could teach him anything about road driving. Thankfully he drove a Merc.
Not saying anything bad about Mercs. Ace cars. Very relaxing to drive and very, very safe.
These people are a worry doing XXX MPH with absolutly no driving tuition though. I dont think they should be relying on the car to get them out of trouble.
In general, I think people who are serious about their cars are generally a bit more serious about their driving (though there are plenty of exceptions). But the theory does hold in general - everyone with a company car at my work has been getting driver training (classroom, then road), and you should see the attitudes on some of them. It's been painful to see some of them, we had all the woman driver jokes, the heckling of the trainer, folding arms and refusing to listen, claiming it was all bo**ocks etc. Then you see the same people on the road and it's painful. 
In many professions there is a requirement laid down by a professional or trade body or a regulator to deem it necessary that the practitioner commits to and completes Continuous Professional Development.
An athlete or sportsman trains, and trains, and trains to get better.
Artists rehearse their music, lines or acts.
Why should the skills required to drive a motor vehicle, whether two wheels, four wheels or forty tonnes be any different?
Because in our culture it's a deity-given right to pass a totally inadequate basic test and qualify for the plateaudom of numptyism.
There are very few average Joes Public (that should perhaps be Dons!) on the street who literally and metaphorically pick their horizon up and look further than the bonnet terminitus that passes as the norm.
Our reward? The nanny state gives us airbags, and "safety" cameras - and numptyland cannot understand why it's being treated as a badly behaved child!
Grow up numpties!!!!!!!
Sorry, I'll get me coat and go quietly!
An athlete or sportsman trains, and trains, and trains to get better.
Artists rehearse their music, lines or acts.
Why should the skills required to drive a motor vehicle, whether two wheels, four wheels or forty tonnes be any different?
Because in our culture it's a deity-given right to pass a totally inadequate basic test and qualify for the plateaudom of numptyism.
There are very few average Joes Public (that should perhaps be Dons!) on the street who literally and metaphorically pick their horizon up and look further than the bonnet terminitus that passes as the norm.
Our reward? The nanny state gives us airbags, and "safety" cameras - and numptyland cannot understand why it's being treated as a badly behaved child!
Grow up numpties!!!!!!! Sorry, I'll get me coat and go quietly!
beano500 said:
There are very few average Joes Public (that should perhaps be Dons!) on the street who literally and metaphorically pick their horizon up and look further than the bonnet terminitus that passes as the norm.
I will second that.
A simple test is to put a lane one closure in on a straight bit of the Motorway with correctly spaced cones, then see who the Numpties are that drive right up to them then indicate and pull out.
It happens a lot more than you think and when you do sit back and think about it....its frightening.
Beano - top post!
Tony - Yep I'd agree with that! When I did RoSPA they showed us a University students reconstruction of the Hungerford (?) pile up on the M4 a few years back in the fog. They show you a video of the actions of the cars (using toy cars) and some of the things are quite astounding. Even without seeing the gory details its enough to make you stop and think what can happen.
Tony - Yep I'd agree with that! When I did RoSPA they showed us a University students reconstruction of the Hungerford (?) pile up on the M4 a few years back in the fog. They show you a video of the actions of the cars (using toy cars) and some of the things are quite astounding. Even without seeing the gory details its enough to make you stop and think what can happen.
Don said:
Not saying anything bad about Mercs. Ace cars. Very relaxing to drive and very, very safe.
........and on my way out of the door - I am sorry to nitpick but Mercs are no safer than forty tonne trucks for the line of people at the bus stop. they are at their safest sitting in the showroom.
I used to get sick of hearing people ask me if I didn't think motorcycles were "dangerous"!
Dangerous, FFS! Lions are dangerous, sharks are dangerous! Motorcycles, and Mercedes and TVR's are no more dangerous than a wet sponge (which admittedly could choke you or give you pneumonia).
It's the HUMAN BEING that's dangerous. I was never in much danger from a Mercedes in a showroom - but what's the odds that I am about to contemplate the risk factors associated with at least one numpty in a Mercedes between Watford and Ross-on-Wye
when I leave in a minute.........
(Calming thoughts before I go and fire up my dangerous TVR....)
Edited to add another shameless plug for Ride Drive
and the IAM and Rospa and all the other good people out there! >> Edited by beano500 on Friday 14th November 09:38
I'm one of the first to admit that my driving can swing from safe and confident to 
down right stupid at times. I would never go so far as to say I was a good driver though, 'confident and capable' don't necessarily equate to 'good' in my experience.
I would love to go on a Ride Drive course, the only thing stopping me is the price. How much is the 4 hour course?
down right stupid at times. I would never go so far as to say I was a good driver though, 'confident and capable' don't necessarily equate to 'good' in my experience. I would love to go on a Ride Drive course, the only thing stopping me is the price. How much is the 4 hour course?
More training is never a bad thing, BUT however much someone gets, if they do not like the sensation of sliding a very powerfull rear drive car then they may as well get something safer or never go near or over the limit - and what is the point of that!
Training can only teach you so much..
Training can only teach you so much..
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