GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk5 => Topic started by: andrewparker on 19 August 2008, 21:43
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I was wondering how many of you guys had any form of advanced driver qualifications or training, and if so what and where did you do it?
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No advanced driver qualifications, but I've done some track training and rally training at Silverstone. :cool:
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No.. no education or so.. but a few laps around Nürburgring, and another few around the Swedish tracks.. :evil:
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I've got a driving course to do next fri/sat, as a result of my little incident :smiley:
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I'm starting my IAM one when I get my car done :)
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I've had blue light training at work. I've also done several track days in my car and some of them with instruction.
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Went up to Silverstone for a road skills course a few years ago which I enjoyed and found useful.
Want to do something like this next - http://www.driverdp.com/hancourse.asp (Link originally posted by RR :cool:)
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I'm starting my IAM one when I get my car done :)
Where are you doing that?
p.s. I'm in Huddersfield too :cool:
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....IAM/(AIM?) courses tend to be a bit 'luck of the draw' - You might easily get an instructor who is rigid and anti anything above 70 mph.
I've done a CarLimits course - One-to-one on an airfield exploring the absolute limits - 1 spin, 1 set of tyres, 11 mpg. And a full and exciting day with Drivetrain on public roads - Big John has trained Police 'blue lighters' and is highest grade qualified - He doesn't encourage you to go slow though!!
I want to do DDP next (as Steve refers to) - Big John sometimes trains there and I can arrange him again. VW Racing have said they're going to give me some education later this month.
I hope I haven't made it sound all about high speed - It's about focus and awareness and knowing your car - One reason why I never listen to music nor the radio while driving, nor a hands-free phone! I don't care two fux if anyone finds that boring.
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I'm starting my IAM one when I get my car done :)
Where are you doing that?
p.s. I'm in Huddersfield too :cool:
I'm doing it up in Golcar I believe when the car has had all the work done!, I Just want a bit more road related guidance really tracks are all well and good and have done a few trackdays and instruction days. It's more getting to know my car better as well :)
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I'm a Senior Observer in the IAM and also taught on our skidpan. Red Robin is correct in that with the IAM you may get someone who is very rigid, but when you sign up for a course and you contact your local group, you can suggest that you are an 'enthusiastic' driver and you would like your observer to be someone more, um, progressive :wink: I can assure you the IAM is full of us little rebels and my policy is maybe more progressive than most, but then I've never had an associate who's failed yet!
The track day and the IAM really go hand in hand, but are quite different things in that the track day shows how to control your car when things go a little wrong, whereas the IAM uses roadcraft to prevent things from going wrong in the first place. Any fool can drive quick and go off at the first corner, that requires only luck as guidance and it's only a matter of time before that runs out, the real skill is to be able to drive quickly and smoothly within the conditions and your vehicles capabilities.
As a free plug if anyone in Shropshire fancies the IAM course have a look at our website and I may see you shortly www.advancedmotorists.org :smiley:
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....Really good to have your valuable input, Incitatus :smiley:
An additional good idea is to also read "Roadcraft - The Police Driver's Handbook". It doesn't tell you how to drive like a Policeman/woman but confirms and teaches the principles of good roadcraft. Personally I think that money spent remapping your driver brain should be a priority over remapping your car's ECU brain.
I'm gonna check out that Shropshire link!
....Hey!! You've got a pic of a red Mk5 GTI on your site! :grin:
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I did my ARDS test for National B and progressed to National A through 10 race finishes. That allowed me to compete in Europe but I had to take an IMSA and FIA test to drive sports cars in Endurance events.
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....Hey!! You've got a pic of a red Mk5 GTI on your site! :grin:
There's one on the news pages too, I wonder who could be responsible for the website... :laugh:
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Well worth giving the IAM a go cos my wife did it a few years ago as she got pissed off at me always moaning about her driving. ( I hold licence's to drive anything on the road)her driving improved so much and her confidence went sky high afterwards.I even let her drive my cars and will travel as a passenger with her nowadays :grin: :grin: :grin:
Also I know a young lad up here who promotes the IAM to folks of a similar age to himself.He now works full time for the IAM.He's a "real" driver and not what anyone would think of as an IAM teacher.He drives a heavily modified Ibiza Cupra and likes nothing better than to give it some beans :cool: :cool: :cool:
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The track day and the IAM really go hand in hand, but are quite different things in that the track day shows how to control your car when things go a little wrong, whereas the IAM uses roadcraft to prevent things from going wrong in the first place. Any fool can drive quick and go off at the first corner, that requires only luck as guidance and it's only a matter of time before that runs out, the real skill is to be able to drive quickly and smoothly within the conditions and your vehicles capabilities.
Well put. That's what I was trying to say!
I see a fair few guys who have the " I drove a Ferrari round Silverstone, so I'm an awesome driver" attitude, usually this is closely followed by "Watch out for the blue Saxo, he nearly killed me/them/someone/himself" been spread around the pits.
I still maintain that it's not what you drive, it's how you drive. Just look at White van men fastest thing on the roads!
I Will take your advice about the less progressive instructor :)
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Robin just bought the new version of that book from Amazon, I've never even heard of it how bad is that! Only a tenner :)
Amazon Link (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Roadcraft-Essential-Police-Drivers-Handbook/dp/0117021687/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219266292&sr=8-2)
This looks good as well might buy that too :grin:
Mind Driving (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1873371160/ref=pd_luc_sim_01_03)
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Robin just bought the new version of that book from Amazon, I've never even heard of it how bad is that! Only a tenner :)
Amazon Link (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Roadcraft-Essential-Police-Drivers-Handbook/dp/0117021687/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219266292&sr=8-2)
This looks good as well might buy that too :grin:
Mind Driving (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1873371160/ref=pd_luc_sim_01_03)
....My edition of "Roadcraft" is 2007. I paid about £15 and am still reading it. It's really well illustrated too. I haven't heard of the other book but it looks like it may duplicate a bit.
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The track day and the IAM really go hand in hand, but are quite different things in that the track day shows how to control your car when things go a little wrong, whereas the IAM uses roadcraft to prevent things from going wrong in the first place. Any fool can drive quick and go off at the first corner, that requires only luck as guidance and it's only a matter of time before that runs out, the real skill is to be able to drive quickly and smoothly within the conditions and your vehicles capabilities.
I still maintain that it's not what you drive, it's how you drive. Just look at White van men fastest thing on the roads!
The worst things for speed are van drivers who carry all their speed into hazards .... you look silly trying to catch a van when, driven by the right nutter they are more difficult to catch than a GTi driver who whilst speeding still loves their car !
I've done 10 weeks driver training at work courtesy of my job (Traffic Police :rolleyes:) and loved every minute of it .... the thing is, as it's road based I am now probably slower than I ever was - but hopefully safer :wink: Put me on a track and I would be lost - but have a feeling I would enjoy it :evil: :evil: :evil:
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I've done 10 weeks driver training at work courtesy of my job (Traffic Police :rolleyes:) and loved every minute of it .... the thing is, as it's road based I am now probably slower than I ever was - but hopefully safer :wink: Put me on a track and I would be lost - but have a feeling I would enjoy it :evil: :evil: :evil:
....I saw a TV prog not long ago where a group of experienced Traffic Police drivers were assessed by a track specialist instructor and they were lost at first. But naturally they picked up the different techniques after some instruction. The Police guys seemed very surprised at how poorly they did to begin with but they clearly enjoyed it.
I did a bit of white van driving for a while. Unmarked and overnight from South Coast to London and back and a lot of pressure to deliver fast and get back to base. I blame the employers for pressurising drivers. Those Merc vans can really shift! I got fed up with the unreasonable pressure and told them to stuff it!! I'm not going to risk my life and others on the road just for some fat cat sat in an office.
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I've got Santa Pod training.. :grin:
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Well worth doing the IAM test, especially the bike one.
Carefull you dont turn into "Road Captain" after passing the test. Dive around in white cars with high viz coats on display.
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Just a free plug in that if anyone is in the Shrewsbury area tomorrow (6th) I will be on our Shropshire IAM Mobile Display Unit at Halfords on Meole Brace Retail park, so if you're thinking about doing a course come along and have a chat and you'll see we're not all flat cap wearers! :grin:
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I did my driver improvement course last friday and saturday, from something that was negative I tried to go into it with a positive attitude, and I'm glad I did, it was very informative and interesting. Taught me alot, alot of stuff you think you know but you don't really, it was a defensive driving based course with alot of driving involved. Lots of little tips which will really help in the future. Came out of it with some really positive comments from the instructers recommending I take my driving further and do more advanced stuff :smiley:
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i have been thinking about doing an advance driving course, to make myself a better driver as the golf will be a massive jump from my last car.
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I have nothing other than my own superior driving ability! :laugh: