Blog entries

ADRIAN'S ADVICE : SAFETY AND AGRESSIVE DRIVING DO NOT MIX...

Adrian — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 22:14:50 +0100

Over the years I have found that the vast majority of high-performance sports cars tend to be quite good drivers. Not all of them have the ability to make the most of their vehicles, but as a general run, they are neither abusive of their cars nor are they agressive towards other road users. &nbsRead More...

Advanced Driving - HEEL & TOE TECHNIQUES

Adrian — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:28:25 +0100

One of the techniques a driver of a racing/rally/track-day car, likes to master, is that of Heel and Toe driving.

Normally, one accelerates and brakes using the right foot, with the left foot concentrating on controlling the clutch pedal. Read More...

ADVANCED SAFE DRIVING

Adrian — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 19:49:37 +0100

With the colder and wetter days closing in as well as earlier darkness, all motorists and riders must be more viligent than ever. Driving on side lights is now deemed the norm for poor weather conditions - but don't think that dopey joe/josephine, in front of you, has actually seen you..Read More...

ADRIAN'S ADVANCED DRIVING - GOODWOOD

Adrian — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 22:00:07 +0100

I am just about recovering after a superb weekend at Glorious Goodwood. This retro motor racing event truly lived up to its name, with the sights, sounds and smells - Castrol R - taking control of one's senses! The atmosphere was electric and believe me, the ground actually shakes when those monster Read More...

ADRIAN'S EXPERT ADVICE - HOLIDAY DRIVING

Adrian — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 22:18:36 +0100

We are now well into the holiday season and that means increased traffic - a large amount - on the roads. Unfortunately some of the vehicles being dragged out for this season, have had little use during the past year. This includes caravans and camper vans.

Judging by the interesting driving I have encountered in the lasRead More...

Adrian's Advice - Back to Basics.

Adrian — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 19:53:01 +0100

I greatly admire the men and women who drive (and maintain) old cars such as this early Mercedes. These old bone shakers require endless care and attention and, receive same from their dedicated owners, who are a mine of information of every aspect of their precious steeds.

There is aRead More...

Adrian's Tips - ADVANCED DRIVING BEHAVIOUR

Adrian — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 19:23:08 +0100

Being an Advanced driver does not mean that you only drive an exoctic machine such as Alpine Renault, above. In fact, the majority of Advanced Drivers drive everyday cars, such as you and your family members use, to go to work, etc. However, and there is a rather big, however.... the way the Advanced Driver behaves in his/her car can be quite differeRead More...

Advanced Driving Tips on Tuning your Car.

Adrian — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 19:47:54 +0100

There aren't that many of us who own a Ford GT 40 (nor even a replica) but many of the same rules apply to supercars as to normal models when it comes to tuning points and using it for circuit, etc., use.

Of course, there is no point whatsoever in tuning nor even lightening your car, if you, the driver are overweight. This is, alas, a point often overlooked by drivRead More...

ADRIAN'S EXPERT ADVICE - HOLIDAY TIME

Adrian — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 16:09:09 +0100

Many of you will be planning on taking your car/bike/camper van, etc. on holiday, but have you actually checked that it is not going to give you any trouble during this time?

Holiday traffic, particularly on the Continent, can be horrific so be wise and ensure that your vehicle has had a proper service beforehand and that it is equipped with items such as a reflective triangle, a Read More...

ADRIAN'S EXPERT ADVICE DRIVERS - DO NOT IGNORE YOUR TYRES...

Adrian — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 19:22:05 +0100

As some-one who regularly takes part in track days, tyres, play a very important in how my car handles.

However, I drive a racing car and (depending on the weather conditions) bring a set of wets (untreaded): intermediates (lightly treaded) and dry (fully treaded) tyres with me to each meeting.

What concerns me are the drives who occaRead More...

Adrian's Advice - CLEAN CAR, BETTER DRIVER.

Adrian — Fri, 20 May 2011 20:23:51 +0100

One of my pet hates is to see a driver's front or rear windscreen cluttered up with unnecessary, dangling, jigging objects. These distractions are often accompanied by an appaling cacaphony of thumps and booms coming from some over amplified sound system.

You all know exactly what I mean!

When did you ever see the windscreen of any professional driver, fRead More...

Adrian's Advanced Driving Tips - KNOW THE RULES...

Adrian — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 19:42:38 +0100

Whenever I run a training session, one of the first things I check with my student is their knowledge of the rules of the road. I can almost hear you groan, but interestingly enough (if boring) really good drivers do, in fact, know and apply, the rules of the road to their daily driving!

Another check I run byRead More...

Adrian's Advice - DRIVE WELL, DELIBERATELY...

Adrian — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 17:40:41 +0100

Being a good driver is not an automatic choice. In fact, it is the very reverse and this was really brought home to me during the week when I was involved with some advanced driving classes with a variety of drivers.

The drivers taking part ranged from superb to very good: from very good to o.k: from o.k. to tolerable: from tolerable to bad anRead More...

Adrian's Info. BIKES 'N CARS

Adrian — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 22:01:30 +0100

This week, my first piece of information is for all Bikers. This is in reference to the now famous "Blessing of the Bikes" otherwise known as the "Madone des Motards". This is an event held on the 14th and 15th August each year here in France. The aRead More...

Adrian's Comments: DRIVING ENJOYMENT

Adrian — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 18:37:03 +0100

No matter what you drive, if you don't enjoy driving it, you may have a problem. I say this because when I am doing an advanced course with some-one, if they aren't savouring every minute of the programme, they are not learning anything worthwhile !

I am, of course, aware that driving to-day, spending long hours in heavy traffic with the ensuing eRead More...

DRIVERS..........I S T H I S Y O U ????

Adrian — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:11:43 +0100

In a recent blog I discussed drivers who failed to stop at stop, etc. signs. Perhaps you are one of these drivers? If so, read this and see if you can justify your law breaking.

On Sunday, in Ireland, one of my sons was knocked off his motor bike and injured, by a motorist who failed to stop at Read More...

Adrian's Advanced Driving Tips - ADVANCE YOUR DRIVING SKILLS

Adrian — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 19:44:04 +0100

Being involved in advanced driving and motor-sport in general, I am aware instantly, when someone sits in the driver's seat, of the type of driver they are.

Drivers fall into a number of categories. Be honest with yourself, and see which group applies to you, as a driver.

Some people are agressive. They drive as if they are at wRead More...

Adrian's Advcanced Driving Tips - DRIVING with your FEET...

Adrian — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 16:24:06 +0100

You may think this a strange title for a blog dealing with Advanced Driving, but, watch any film or video that displays the action of a professional driver's feet and you will see what I mean.

The majority of car drivers use their right foot to control the accelerator and the foot brake and the left foot controls the clutch. If though, you are invoRead More...

Adrian's Advice - ADVANCED DRIVING SKILLS

Adrian — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 15:10:13 +0100

An interesting feature, here in Brittany, from the road-user's point of view, is the non-useage of traffic lights.

This means that the driver or biker, rather than being told to stop by a red light, has to use their personal judgement and experience, to safetly negotiate (often via a round about) their way across the extremelyRead More...

Adrian's advice - CARS? KIT-CARS???

Adrian — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 21:54:49 +0100

One of the things I occasionally do, is to help people build their kit-cars. For me, these are not particularly difficult projects, as I have an engineering background and also a fascination with all things mechanical. I also enjoy the quite challenging aspect of these builds and the fact that kRead More...