ADVANCED DRIVING EUROPE, Advanced Driver Training

 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.      However, there is always the exception!

Whilst driving with the owner of a Super light Lotus recently, I was rather taken aback at the way in which he handled the car.    Physically he was a large, rather overweight man, but to say that he was "uncouth" with the steering, the clutch, the accelerator as well as the brakes, is putting it mildly.

Even though I had cause a couple of times to  check his harsh use of this lightweight car, he continued to drive it as though it was a heavyweight vehicle that had to be hauled and man-handled along the road.   

On two occasions he broke the speed limit, even though we were in extremely heavy traffic and on a  damp and slippy road surface.   

 His knowledge of the car was excellent, in fact, above average, but his lack of sensitivy  /response to the car's behaviour and his  agressive way of driving  were seriously worrying.     

I was not unduly surprised, when, at the de-briefing,  he admitted that previously, he had been a long-distance truck driver.    

Some of you I realize are truck drivers with a superb safety record, but, there are at least as many who are causing real problems to other road users.    This is due mainly in how they handle their vehicles (road as well as commercial) and I regret to say, their oblivion to the rules of the road.  

Remember, trying to stop a truck at even 70kph is quite a different matter to stopping that lightweight sports car!  And as we all know, crashing trucks cause horrific accidents.   So if you have heavy feet and hands and feel you are the king of the road..........think again....... 

Follow me on Twitter@Expertdriver  and drive well and safetly.

ADRIAN.

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.    

 However, driving very rapidly, requires quicker footwork than normal , and this is where it is useful to master the use of the Heel and Toe technique, in order to be able to brake, blip the throttle and change down , all at the same time.

Mastering this technique means that because the car is now set up correctly  and in the correct gear , a driver can get through a set of bends, a chicane or some other obstacle, safetly and, in super quick time! 

To engage the Heel and Toe method, ( depending on the make of the car - usually an older model) the  ball of the driver' right foot is used to hold down the brake pedal while the driver's heel/side of the foot,  blips the throttle sharply.   This is executed in conjunction with the driver de-clutching firmly and making a swift and exact down-shift through the gears,  in order to set up the car  when negotiating hairpin corners, etc., etc.

Most modern cars/single seaters (with their sequential gear-boxes) do not require the use of this technique - but it is useful, if the driver is driving an older car and it reduces wear and tear on the gear-box.

I spent much of yesterday introducing several track-day drivers to this special technique.  Although they had all heard about it, none of them had actually had anyone show them how it is done.    Obviously they will have to practice getting their co-ordination right (and that can be done in a stationary car)  but once mastered, this gives a driver a  useful driving advantage over other drivers who do not know how to Heel and Toe.   

Enjoy your driving and remember to follow me on Twitter@Expertdriver

       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 a group of people to-day, though, who do not know, understand or even care about the vehicles that they rely on to get them to work, school, college or shopping!   

In the good old days of (as some seemed to believe) "money for nothing",  car maintenance was considered by a certain sector of society, as being somewhat "beneath" them.....        I have, however, noted a growing and healthy demand by an increasing number of people, for basic information regarding keeping their mechanical horse in at least mobile, condition.

Believe me, modern cars are reliable, efficient and will get you wherever you want to go in relation to your use of them.    

 They do not, though, run well when the oil needs to be changed or topped up.   They do not go at all when the tank runs dry of diesel or petrol......   Oil and air  filters do get clogged up occasionally and require to be changed and batteries run down - sometimes as with diesel engines, quite suddenly.   

That spare wheel, well when did you last check it out?    Plugs - for petrol engines and glow plugs - for diesel engines - need to be changed; the latter quite often in some makes of cars.  Have you recently examined your car's alloy wheels with their low-profile tyres?     On bumpy or badly-maintained roads, both of these soon suffer quite severe damage and will need to be replaced.   Such roads also adversely affect your suspension and therefore the handling of your car.

Having an Mp3 player is fine, but some of the (less than essential ) electronic gagdetry fitted in many  of to-days' vehicles can be a  drain on that battery.   So, do you have a set of jump leads ready to connect to another car, should this happen to you?     And, have you got a spare electronic (or otherwise)  key or card, for your car should this get lost or even stolen?

Look after your car and providing you are a sensible driver, it will look after you.

 Follow me on twitter@Expertdriver.   

Kind regards,  ADRIAN.