Z4M-2006 said:
The IAM wont teach you that Pete...
Book on a few track days...
Hmm - I can see how a track day (with the right instructor) will help you get the best out of your ///M Taz but don't agree that IAMS wont teach you how to keep up with other ///Ms on the road.
It's the on the road bit that's crucial as well as the skills used on the track. As you've invested in a higher performance Zed it makes sense to improve your general standard of road craft and particularly observation, positioning and responses.
I came from a background of long term motorcycling and a love of driving which led me to read, study, try out and practice anything I could find or heard about on driving and riding. I thought my road skills were good but realised I was making some poor decisions as I got older, so invested in the IAMS Skills for Life course. Cost me £138 and you could have as many sessions as you needed for preparation for the advanced driving test (assessed by police drivers in our area).
Thinking my skills were good I was impressed by my observer who's skills were at another level - particularly in terms of reading the road and setting the car up for all potential and real scenarios. Quite technical in parts - he had me download graphs of the bhp and torque graphs of my MX5 quite early on to justify some of the gear choices made, that I questioned, for example.
At the time I was commuting from Newcastle to Manchester regularly and found the trip stressful and frustrating especially as traffic got busier towards Manchester.
Well I can tell you my commute was transformed by the skills learnt and encouraged - unbelievably no stress and so relaxed as everything happened ahead of me as expected (a lot of it had to do with positioning and distance but it really was a revelation and made a massive difference).
Remember - I thought I was a 'good' driver but I was willing to learn and my goodness what I learnt I think has saved at least 2 potential accidents (both due to positioning on corners) and made me a safer, faster driver (using safe lines taught for cornering which improved sightlines - hence the 2 accidents avoided) braking steering and acceleration due to gear use. The IAMS overtaking system is a life saver and much much safer than my previous approach and although I thought I read the road well (you have to to survive on a motorcycle), the course had those skills honed to a far higher level. You have a perception of how you drive but there is nothing like someone skilled,assessing what your doing, making suggestions and justifying those improvements to make progress.
This makes me sound a lousy driver before but I don't really think that is the case (Steph will say she felt safe on the back of all our bikes and as a passenger in our sport cars and she's no mean driver and no fool) it's just that the thought and application put into the system worked for me and crucially gave me a method and skill I could apply to allow me to drive faster but more importantly safer at that higher speed. It was like I had the skills which I could then apply at a higher level once this was shown and encouraged - it all started to make sense (though at first I questioned some of the things put across it came to make sense and worked for me)
So. it transformed my long distance commute in heavy traffic and allowed me to use my Zed' potential at increased speed more effectively and crucially more safely.
Have to say I thought my observer was outstanding and a real enthusiast (Subaru driver) and although it's a system that's taught,I think I benefitted from having this particular guy.
I'm certain track sessions will introduce you to making the most of your ///M
The IAMs course helped me to improve a wider range of skills for the road.
. It sort of works in a weird way, but coming face to face with a lorry on your side of the road is a bit unnerving!