Put In My Place

[jcochrane]

On Saturday I spent the day just north of Oxford on a coaching seminar with the HPC. There was some classroom work but much of the time was spent on the road. I was paired up with a senior member of the HPC and a professional coach, an ex. traffic officer from Thames Valley. We did all the driving in my car: a few days old Peugeot 1.6 diesel.

I thought I didn’t do too badly when I drove but the senior HPC member was much better, then the traffic officer took over. Within moments he was driving well but then he got the feel of the car. After half an hour he had it sussed and what a drive. Words cannot do justice to that drive, awesome. Pace, balance, flow, smooth as silk. It was bad enough knowing I could never pull of such a drive but he was driving so within himself and able to chat away as if meandering down a quiet country road.

I have much to learn.

[JamesAllport]

If that was Simon, I wouldn't feel too bad. You now feel how the rest of us have felt for some time...

J.

[jcochrane]

If that was Simon, I wouldn't feel too bad. You now feel how the rest of us have felt for some time...

J.

Cheers James. Yes it was Simon. It helps to know I'm not alone.

[gannet]

and then there are some others of us who look to you to pick us up on our driving...

[vonhosen]

Simon ?

Simon H ?

[jcochrane]

Simon H, but how come you know him?

[vonhosen]

Simon H, but how come you know him?

Ahh, I know lots of people.

[Mr Cholmondeley-Warner]

I had a good day too, but I wish I'd been in your car

[jcochrane]

Thanks Dave, I should have made the connection.

Not wishing to rub it in Nick but you did miss a real treat.

[martine]

and then there are some others of us who look to you to pick us up on our driving...

And there in lies the phrase: "it's all relative"...I guess somewhere there must be the ultimate advanced driver who everyone looks up to...?

[waremark]

And there in lies the phrase: "it's all relative"...I guess somewhere there must be the ultimate advanced driver who everyone looks up to...?

I don't think so. I think there are such significant differences in style and approach among the truly outstanding drivers that there would be no agreement about an ultimate driver.

[Horse]

I thought I didn’t do too badly when I drove but . . . then the traffic officer took over.

After half an hour he had it sussed and what a drive. Words cannot do justice to that drive, awesome. Pace, balance, flow, smooth as silk.

. . . I could never pull of such a drive

I have much to learn.

OK, so let's have some more detail of that 'much to learn'

What was he doing differently?

How was he doing it?

How could you tell what he was doing 'better' - what 'yardstick' is there to measure each of the differences?

If you can think like that then you can work towards closing the gap.

[firstmk1]

I didn't do so well in my last drive... my pair were far more interested in the car we'd managed to blag than feeding back on anything I was necessarily doing behind the wheel

Maybe the fact that we were able to concentrate fully on said vehicle was feedback enough? Or maybe you were just the necessary evil in Mr T's excellent blag

[7db]

The glinting dome? Able to chat? Surely not...such a quiet fellow...

[jcochrane]

OK, so let's have some more detail of that 'much to learn'

What was he doing differently?

How was he doing it?

How could you tell what he was doing 'better' - what 'yardstick' is there to measure each of the differences?

If you can think like that then you can work towards closing the gap.

It's not quite that simple. Even if the precision and consistency could be matched there is still that extra element that can't be defined. Like a top artist in any field they bring something to a performance that makes it stand out..a special energy.....what it is nobody can tell but they will recognise it when they see or hear it.