Jon was kind enough to take me for a spin around Knutsford back in Feb. Much appreciated.

So far I've only got as far as buying a copy of roadcraft though , maybe this winter I'll make the step up to advanced driving.

A big thanks to Jon for my taster session last night - highly recommended and very thought provoking.

I am very interested in following this up and will be getting in touch with my local area Rospa group.

Just thankful I didn't eat both donuts before trying to get into the SLK!

Got to thank ScoobyChris for taking me out yesterday. it was very interesting and eye opening and i will be continuing.

THanks again Chris:thumbup:

I was lucky enough to have been taken along to an HPC/Advanced driver day recently and it was, with not much exaggeration, a life changing experience.:eek:

Having spent a lot of time hanging around my local racetrack, (Dad’s - you’ve gotta love’em) I was brought up around fast machinery and racing lines. I stood and watched grown men bathe in the ecstasy of spending all day driving and testing and driving some more, fine tuning the vechicles and perhaps more importantly, themselves, to be a better working machine. Time passed, I got my driving test and proceeded to lose interest, driving was a means of transport, cleaner that the bus and cheaper than a taxi.

Years passed and driving a means to an end, then I met a fellow ‘petrol head’, but he different to most other car fans I knew, my blokee wasn’t just interested in watching F1 on the box, or even wandering round the grandstands of racing areans, up and down the country. He drove, he drove well, and enjoyed it.

So one sunny Saturday we went along to one of these tester days. I was petrified!

I was the only person there who wasn’t in possession of an Advanced driving qualification.

But that wasn’t an issue. I was driving a strange car, in a strange location and it didn’t matter. The format of the day was straight forward and everyone was really friendly. I was, and still am, totally in awe of my instructor and together we made fair progress on ‘knocking the rough edges off’ my driving. I was encouraged and coaxed with hints and tips and their ability to slap my hand just hard enough when I went for the gear change a tad too early was spot on

We left the day having made some new friends, having had brilliant time and brimming with gossip as we had be separated for most of the day.

But it wasn’t until a short time later that I realised that some thing HUGE had happened to me that day.

I WANTED to DRIVE again, and I don’t mean from A to B, tootaling about driving, I mean proper driving. I had gained a childlike enthusiasm for it, and now I strive to drive in a safe manner, to the very best of my ability, and I want to do it constantly, not just when I feel I need to.

I’m NOT an amazing driver, and I’m still relearning the basics but I want to be better and that day has given me the get up and go to make that happen. I am always on the look out for some way to improve.

My Roadcraft has gone from propping up the bedside table to being well thumbed and I am finally getting what those men felt in the paddock years ago and thats a PASSION for DRIVING and boy do I reckon it’s the best feeling in the world?!

SO if you are near any of these guys and you think you might just want to see what it’s all about then you need to give them a ring, if nothing else it’s an hour or two away from the telly!! :D

Excellent post there, Lynny

Chris

Indeed thanks Lynn. Good to hear you're hooked.

Well since the taster thread is getting a bit congested, I've created this thread for all your feedback. Keep em coming!

Hmm ok well I guess I'll start:

Observer - ScoobyChris

Very useful session, I'd had a couple of hours before at the HPC young drivers day, so had some rough ideas of where my driving needed most improvement.

A good route with a mix of roads (even if we did miss a turn) and a chance to try things out on a variety of conditions.

Excellent chance to get out and see how the route could be driven before I had a go myself.

The only slight spoiler was the lack of daylight come the second run, but I don't think I can complain about that

Thanks Chris.