by Gareth » Wed May 08, 2013 5:49 pm
I understand that some say to be advanced, driving has to be boring.
I presume they mean that the appearance is boring but underneath they might be working quite hard to provide an uneventful ride for their passengers. This is certainly a laudable aim in some circumstances, such as when one is transporting infirm or ill people.
I wonder if those who hold this view would also say that brisk acceleration, cornering lean and firm braking all should be excluded or, at least, minimised. I've fairly certain that the majority of IAM and RoADAR examiners wouldn't say so; collectively they appear to prefer a measure of flair and sparkle, which is pretty much precluded by drives that feel boring.
Could this approach & mindset be helping to make advanced driving unattractive in general? I'd suggest that older members of the IAM and RoADAR are more likely to proffer such a view, which could be why it is generally unattractive to younger drivers.
Long ago I realised many people like the feeling of accelerative forces. Indeed you often see it when they drive, as they purposefully yank at the steering wheel because they like the feeling of induced cornering forces, they accelerate and brake harshly for the same reason. Some like this to such an extreme they pay good money to go on rides that give them these sensations, writ large.
If some, here and elsewhere, proclaim that such feelings should be removed or reduced when driving, is it any wonder that advanced driving is uncool?
The alternative, as I see it, is to demonstrate how cornering forces, accelerating and braking, may be used to our benefit, how applying them skilfully, with smoothness, provides positive gains but that the forces themselves are nothing to be scared of or avoided, except in specific circumstances.
there is only the road, nothing but the road ...