Under 17 car club

Spent half of today at Castle Combe promoting RoADAR to the assembled membership of this club. It's becoming a regular fixture for us, but this was the first time I've been. Very impressive. About 50 or 60 youngsters driving their parents' cars in perfect safety and very well.

I was driven by a 16 year old "Grade 1" driver (they're allowed to drive on their own), around the circuit, and she was better than many an adult driver I've been driven by. Smooth clutch control, neat and precise steering, confident but not overly so, a pleasure to be a passenger to.

The circuit is laid out for "traffic" rather than racing, in two lanes, with "roundabouts" and "junctions" created with cones of different colours. Everybody seems to learn the meaning of the cones very easily, and treats the layout like a real road system. There are speed limits ranging from 20 to 60, and overtaking zones for the more advanced drivers. It all seems to run itself, although there are a few marshals roaming around to ensure the rules are followed, and to replace errant cones. Away from the main circuit, further coned areas were in use for skills tests and parking practice. Watching 12-16 year-olds smartly weaving around cones and reversing into "garages" against the clock, was good entertainment for the afternoon.

The instructors are mainly parents of the youngsters attending, all volunteers, although there is a smattering of both serving and former Police officers present - Wiltshire Police were represented by two traffic officers with a tasty Mondeo in battenbergs. We were invited to offer our services as instructors, and may take this further in the future.

If you have youngsters champing at the bit to drive, and you want to join in and enjoy the reward of bringing on some very talented young drivers, this may be for you. Sounds like a plug, but it's just the thoughts of a very impressed witness - I wish I'd known about it earlier. They enjoy the basic roadcraft instruction at a number of venues, but also get to drive more exotic machinery, ranging from 38 tonners to Caterhams. Wasn't like this in my day (worse luck).

The venues are mainly in the South Central area, but they are looking to expand Northwards if suitable venues can be found.

under17-carclub.co.uk for more information. I believe there's a waiting list, so if you're interested, think about it soon.