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As in previous years, the High Performance Club will be running a Young Driver's Day in 2011. This is aimed at younger drivers (under 26) holding a full driving licence and who are not already HPC members. The aim of the day is to introduce the Club and advanced driving skills, and to allow participants to improve their own skills in a friendly, fun environment. It will be based, as previously, around a hotel in Oxfordshire, and will include both classroom sessions and the opportunity to drive with and be driven by, members of the Club. The cost will once again be £30, to include lunch. If you are interested, please register that interest here. This event is always extremely popular and places are limited, so don't delay! Various Briskoda members have attended YDD in the past, and I think without exception, have all enjoyed themselves immensely. If you have questions, please post them in the thread and I or another member will endeavour to answer them.

To the OP :no: The brakes on a car consist of a metal disc with some friction material pressed against it to transfer energy from the disc to the pads. Eventually the components wear out through the friction. The clutch in a car consists of a metal disc with friction material pressed against it .... What's going to happen to the clutch if it's used as a brake?

Ah, OK. That must confuse the crap out of oncoming motorists!

I assume you know you've got a dead foglight?

Looks just fine to me. I'm not a subscriber to the ever increasing wheel size theory. Interested to know how wheels can be "too small for the car" ... anybody remember the size of the wheels on the classic Mini? :p Smaller wheels in winter will give better handling as well as less chance of kerb scars. My Alfa is now wearing 16s instead of its normal 17s (many people have 18s or 19s), shod with Hankook Icepts, and it looks just fine (must be about a foot longer than a Yeti). I'm looking forward to some slippery weather later in the year.

Pinned as requested.

I have a headset somewhere but I HATE wearing stuff like that. Even wearing headphones at work (necessary because of my stupid colleague who never stops talking) is something I try and avoid where possible, and I've tried lots of different sorts. Thanks for the input though. I did wonder if any of them would be any good. I guess I could go for a full kit again, but I'm getting tired of pulling cars to bits and struggling with incompatible wiring looms trying to make them work together.... :(

I imagine lots of people have got one of these - little mic/speaker jobby that clips to the sun visor and connects to your phone via bluetooth. Any recommendations? There is a plethora of makes and prices on eBay, and while obviously there are well-known manufacturers like Parrot and Jabbra, do the cheap ones work as well, or nearly? There are, for instance, solar powered ones, which appeal to my laziness and sense of eco-awareness. Thanks

You don't need to understand the particular "science" behind a so-called "invention" to know whether or not, it produces results in the real world. Marketing difficulty is probably inversely proportional to the step difference between the "invention" and current technology, so yes, of course the wackier your idea, the harder it it's going to be to market. You must have known it was impossible to receive any opinion from anyone using an item not yet in production. Therefore that is plainly a ridiculous assertion. The request for rational discussion was not directed at one individual but at everyone who has posted any personal remark in the thread. I recognise that is more than one individual. The request stands. This is the way Briskoda is moderated - for the benefit of all, not as any kind of personal censorship, unless you choose to make it so...

Masster, this type of invention has been around for a great many years, and none of them has ever been proven to improve mpg or performance. Therefore people are understandably cynical about them. I would suggest if you feel they can help you, that you buy some (when they are available), test them, and report back to the forum in a scientific way your findings. Speculation like this is bound to have two sides, the believers and the unbelievers. But because there is no proof, speculation is all it is. All, please discuss in an impartial manner with no personal content, or the thread will be closed. Thanks.

The post started off asking about "who was at fault, or more at fault?". However, as has been well illustrated by the various replies, who is "at fault" isn't really the key issue here, so much as "how could we have managed the situation better?". While the line at the end of a slip road is indeed a give-way line, it is generally recognised that it is neither safe nor desirable for traffic to have to stop on the slip road, so there is an implicit suggestion that traffic on the DC / motorway should help those joining somewhat, if it is in their power. The Highway Code makes no explicit reference to this, it rightly places all the onus on the joining traffic. So in strict HC terms (none of this is law apart from the give-way line at the end of the slip road), the joiner was "at fault". That said, it's a good time to remind ourselves of, (or introduce) Stephen Haley's contention that "driving is a team sport", meaning that if we all cooperate with each other, we can all arrive safely and in good time at our destinations, with less conflict and stress to ourselves. Buying a copy of his book "Mind Driving" might be a good next step for the OP, in that it might make you think slightly differently about your driving. There are other similar principles in there, such as "being predictable", which help to improve your safety and that of those around you. Well done for posting the question - it shows you care about your driving, and devote thought to it, which makes you fairly unusual among drivers.

Well, we may meet there, Jason

Well, a thoroughly enjoyable day was had by all. It was good to unravel the misteree ... Hopefully Ree Jnr did enjoy himself, and I know Mr Ree learnt a new term. It was nice to meet you again after so many years, Mr Ree.

Have to say I struggle with the concept of a 1.2 3 cylinder petrol engine that'd be happy in 5th at 40 mph ... how many revs is it doing under those conditions?

Looks like y'all had fun - I was driving sedately round the Shropshire area today

Welcome. I hope the S-Type goes to a good home!

Also you have to bear in mind the amount of noise probably made the speed look deceptively high. Starting a post with the words "Idiots like that" is adopting a fairly strong position. Hardly surprising if others don't agree. Let's keep the discussion on the topic - which was a fast motorcar, that's all.

Finally :p

Did this as part of a fantastic weekend earlier this month. Then spent the afternoon hooning round Skye in an M5 - hard to beat for grin factor

I'm not sure there's anything in the RTA about multiple lap(s) of a roundabout. If you want to avoid being pulled, I would suggest following the rules of Roadcraft and Police driver instruction. Approach the roundabout "planning to stop, looking to go". This means that you are ready to stop at the give way line, if something unexpected happens, but are ready to go if the opportunity arises, in the right place on the road, at the right speed and in the right gear,at all times*. Use observation all round on the approach, navigating the roundabout, and the exit. This means looking past the roundabout in front of you, into all exits as you approach and negotiate them, and using any cross views that may help you to merge with the flow of traffic. Remember to check all mirrors - RVM on approach, OSM on entering the roundabout, RVM again, glance into exits as you pass them, NSM, RVM, OSM on exit. GO! If a traffic officer stops you after you've carried out all the above, explain the procedure you followed, and that you were happy that your checks revealed no risks. If they see that you are following the same procedures as they would, they will assess your driving in a different light, hopefully. Remember the road is shared with all the other road users out there. If we can make safe, unobtrusive progress, it can be as rapid as you like, providing it's safe and doesn't upset or antagonise others. *EFA

I could always do with some extra tuition

Wow, must be a while since I've seen Owen! Is he doing it at a circuit, or on the road?

Last chance guys. This is now just about full...

All's well that ends well Glad you got it sorted.