Driving with 'sparkle'

[TripleS]

Often the bit that shows sparkle is making that decision early and appropriately.

What I have often had difficulty accepting is the proposition that if you are any kind of driving enthusiast, aiming to be a good driver or an 'advanced' driver, then a high level of safe progress should be sought all the time: apparently because this is what 'advanced' drivers should do: always! Normal, leisurely driving should simply not be done.

I find it's useful to set myself challenges - that was part of the inspiration for the 'Games' - and, usually, that for me is 'smoothness'.

Although, since a week ago, it's getting the braking done sooner and using the throttle earlier . . . Damn these AD days out . . .

Oh, this thing about concentrating on specific objectives; yes, I quite often do a bit of that.

One thing is to try covering a decent stretch of open road at a good rate of progress, and without braking at all. Going back a few years I gave an example of that in a post here: 13.4 miles between Burniston and Sneaton, maximum speed ?? mph(1), with five overtakes and not one touch of the brake pedal. It's a cracking road.

Another of my 'tricks' is to see how little steering I can do to get round the corners, trying also to use the lightest possible touch on the steering wheel. If I ever find out how to fiddle with the slip angles, I suppose I should be able to do better with that. Hmm, might have to learn how to use an accelerator pedal for that bit.

(1) Last time round, I got a rocket for mentioning the actual speed. Honesty on my part, but maybe a bit too much detail.

[TripleS]

Around every corner lies a new challenge ...

Indeed. Just hope it's not me coming the other way.

[TripleS]

"What I have often had difficulty accepting is the proposition that if you are any kind of driving enthusiast, aiming to be a good driver or an 'advanced' driver, then a high level of safe progress should be sought all the time: apparently because this is what 'advanced' drivers should do: always! Normal, leisurely driving should simply not be done.

Apologies to you if I am still misunderstanding you. It's maybe nothing more than individual preferences in rather different situations.

Referring to the GDE matrix, it is part of my value system that I am always trying to drive well, and my personal model of good driving includes making good progress. I am not sure what your 'normal leisurely driving' looks like, but it is possible that I would see it as dawdling. I also try to drive smoothly and with sympathy for both car and passengers, so the good progress which I try to achieve is quite different from maximum safe progress - and at different times I attach different weights to the imperative of good progress. Back to what I posted a few days ago - assessment of sparkle is very subjective.

Hello, Mark, and thanks for your comments.

I don't honestly think my 'leisurely progress' could fairly be described as dawdling, but without getting together and seeing what it is we're talking about, it is impossible to judge what it amounts to. Admittedly it will not look very positive and progressive, especially to those orientated towards HPC standards, but I don't think much actual progress is necessarily being sacrificed.

Incidentally, I am talking about driving on single carriageway A and B roads outside of built-up areas, at speeds somewhat lower than the NSL. It could be as low as 45-50 mph at times - with fairly gentle acceleration between bends, and if any braking is required, it will be produced early and it'll be light touch stuff. Sometimes I might reach the NSL in places, but I still call that leisurely progress. In truth, any driving that stays within the confines of the NSL is pretty leisurely by my reckoning.

[revian]

Around every corner lies a new challenge ...

Indeed. Just hope it's not me coming the other way.

Would that be maintaining a view or gaining a view?

I find the better my drive the slower it seems (but isn't )... So those for whom fast is THE experience 'sparkle' may be disappointing?

[RenesisEvo]

Firstly, thanks all for a very interesting and thought-provoking discussion.

My biggest concern is not necessarily how 'we' define it, but how the person assessing you at the time does. It seem so incongruous to me to lay out a finite set of objective criteria, then throw in something as subjective and open to interpretation as 'sparkle'.

My local IAM group has organised a taster day for the IAM Masters, and I'm going along as I'd like to attempt the course. By far my biggest concern is that I could deliver a technically sufficient drive, but be failed on something arbitrary like not showing any 'sparkle'. I suspect my lack of confidence won't help, for a nervous-appearing driver, safe as they may be, is not likely to be looked upon favourably. I have asked an IAM regional quality manager about it but they managed to avoid answering my question in the reply.

I must admit to being in a bit of a pickle with all this, because to me it's not something you can learn or practice, seemingly you have it or you don't. I strongly suspect I don't.

[Mr Cholmondeley-Warner]

@revian - a drive with StressedDave would clear things up. Sharpness is what comes across rather than brute speed.
@TripleS - boy that's a lot of replies - you don't have to reply to every post, you know!
@jcochrane - I think your "gear up and 100% throttle" may be best suited to diesel cars, such as your current and recent steeds have been. I'm not entirely convinced about it as a universal panacea, myself.
@revian and TripleS - "corner" was a figure of speech.
@lingo - Dave summed it up really with "we know it when we see it" (in this post). At a lower level than his example, as our RoADAR group training officer, I do pre-tests for our associates. I get lots of them who have been taught by their tutors to drive in a safe, but rather dull manner. I remind them that (virtually) all the examiners are ex-Police advanced drivers or instructors, and they expect to be driven around the test route, not just carted from A to B. The examiner expects the driver to be in control of the car, using its capabilities to advantage. If I'm bored during the pre-test drive, sure as hell so is the examiner going to be during the test (I don't tell them I'm bored). Every one of the associates seems to understand that message, and I have a pleasing "conversion rate" of people whose tutors predicted a particular grade for them, but who go on and get something better. I take a little bit of the credit for that, between me and myself. Hope this illustrates a little.
@Martyn - you need to get out on some more AD-UK days

[RenesisEvo]

Well I have put myself down for Shropshire, but yes you are quite right, I do need to do more days. I still regularly go out with my local IAM group, but not many are quite as keen on the more dynamic approach to 'making progress' that is seen on ADUK days.

[revian]

Cheers MrCW...
I probably need a post RoSPA drive with someone sparkly... StressedDave is further away even than you... Weymouth... Lovely but far from most things...

[jcochrane]

@jcochrane - I think your "gear up and 100% throttle" may be best suited to diesel cars, such as your current and recent steeds have been. I'm not entirely convinced about it as a universal panacea, myself.

That's what I had thought (and used it all the time on all the low powered cars I'd owned) until driving our Banbury coach's 911 when he said that technique (100% throttle then easing back as required) to manage acceleration works for any car including his and he recommended it.

[sussex2]

'For me, getting the conversion in others is about decluttering their drive. Often the sparkle is hidden by excessive concern over unimportant things'

I think decluttering is a good choice and is valuable at all stages of learning.

[revian]

Cheers MrCW...
I probably need a post RoSPA drive with someone sparkly... StressedDave is further away even than you... Weymouth... Lovely but far from most things...

They do have these things called cars and roads you know

Gosh... Really?
love to get out more but my off duty 24hours each week precludes lots of things so I have to fit smaller time spots in during the other 6 days. Not grumbling as I (mostly) love what I do... Honeymoon was 2 nights in Cambridge..childhood was visiting Histon and Stetchworth...

[titian]

Maybe this will add something to the debate from a slightly different perspective.

Once you know that you can do the practical stuff of AD at Masters level and you are confident in that belief, my view is that it then becomes a mental challenge – confidence, assertiveness (but not arrogance) and self belief.

I suggest that a first class commentary that can be maintained at a high level throughout the drive is essential. It should deliver a plan of action not a “shopping list” of what you can see. I will not go into the detail of what differentiates an excellent commentary from an acceptable one is, but Masters is expecting excellence in all facets of the drive.

On the appointed day arrive at the designated meeting point early, you really need at least 10 minutes to spare during which time you will:

1. Stretch your legs and get some fresh air – you may have already driven for some time to reach the meeting point and now you are about to set off on a journey of 90 minutes, or more.
2. Climb back into the car and relax – get yourself focused and in the right frame of mind by saying I can do this, I’m going to “boss the drive” by the application of all that’s required of an AD. I know what’s required and I owe it to myself to show the examiner what kind of an AD I am.
3. Assume an assertive, businesslike driving position that says “I’m in control”
4. Smile when you meet the examiner, you only get one opportunity to make a first impression.
5. Commentate for the whole drive, it helps you focus, it informs the examiner what you have observed and most importantly what your plan is to deal with it. It also alleviates the silence!
6. Implement the above and you will exude SPARKLE naturally!
7. Enjoy it.

A few words about myself, I passed my IAM test back in 1967, spent some time back then observing and thoroughly enjoyed it. My membership lapsed and I rejoined the IAM mid 2013 after being away for some 40 years+, having stumbled across the Masters whist surfing the net one day and thought that I would like to try it.
I bought the mentoring package and after 4 runs out plus a final “polisher” I gained a Masters Distinction and thought that I had just passed out from Miramar!

If you think you are good enough, give it a try and enjoy the experience – I did.

[jcochrane]

I suggest that a first class commentary that can be maintained at a high level throughout the drive is essential. It should deliver a plan of action not a “shopping list” of what you can see. I will not go into the detail of what differentiates an excellent commentary from an acceptable one is, but Masters is expecting excellence in all facets of the drive.

I could not possibly disagree more... I find those who specialise in giving a good commentary tend to be the least sparkly drivers. The additional time needed to say what you are proposing to do, before you do it, is far better spent on other things.

I will in my defence say that I'm nowhere near as good at commentary as I could be, but it's not high on my list of objectives to get better at it.

+1

[zadocbrown]

I suggest that a first class commentary that can be maintained at a high level throughout the drive is essential. It should deliver a plan of action not a “shopping list” of what you can see. I will not go into the detail of what differentiates an excellent commentary from an acceptable one is, but Masters is expecting excellence in all facets of the drive.

I could not possibly disagree more... I find those who specialise in giving a good commentary tend to be the least sparkly drivers.

Can you elaborate? Maybe there's something interesting here about different approaches to a drive and therefore the product? Is it just an attentional effect or is there something more fundamentally different about what an expert commentator is aiming at, whether causative or by correlation?

[titian]

Well I did say:-

Once you know that you can do the practical stuff of AD at Masters level and you are confident in that belief, my view is that it then becomes a mental challenge – confidence, assertiveness (but not arrogance) and self belief.

Commentary is some of the "icing opn the cake", (and is required for some part of the drive when requested by the examiner), however I understand that it doesn't suit every driver. I appreciate that it's difficult to drive upto the pace of the commentary as opposed to slow down to the delivery of the commentary.

And it really worked for me!