Quick Blast in a Sprint

[reb53]

"Is it normal in the UK for drivers to use both sides of the road?".

Don't know about the UK but it certainly isn't unusual down here in N.Z.
Any competent driver can comfortably straight-line parts of a road without being a danger to himself or others.
Especially on roads that they know.

Obviously this bloke isn't too bad at it because he's still alive.

So am I......

Ralph.

[mopho]

Here in SoCal it's a big no no to cross over the line, even if it is clear. You will get chastised for doing it. But then again, there are not too many roads where you can see clear through.

Don't see the point in straight lining the road, the turns are the best part

[GrUmPyBoDgEr]

Oh yes it's a regular thing, under the right circumstances, not only in UK but also most of Europe.
It' called "the racing line" ha ha!
However, if there's a double white line in the middle of the road you get your fingers slapped.
(If you're caught).
In Italy especially the big cities there seem to be no rules at all, especially for scooters & mopeds, but they seem to survive.
There aren't many cars without dents though
You 'aint lived if you haven't driven there


Cheers
John

[hatman]

It's a technique used and taught by police advanced drivers known as 'offsiding'. It gives you a better and earlier view through bends, which you can then take quicker and safer. Obviously you woukldn't attempt it if there was oncoming traffic but, as in the videos, on deserted roads it's a useful fast-driving technique.

When I took my advanced motorcycling test, chased by a police examiner on his bike, I did a reasonable bit of offsiding myself as part of the 'making progress' requirement of such tests and he was quite complimentary about my efforts in the post-ride de-briefing.

[johnsimister]

It is indeed my Evo colleague Mr Barker. He will sometimes use both sides of the road provided there's a clear view. No reason why not, as any high performance driving instructor will tell you. John is one of the safest and most skilled drivers I know.

I too went for a freezing blast in my S3 yesterday. Freezing, even though it's a coup?, because all the sediment I dislodged from the cylinder head's waterways, but couldn't extract, has ended up in the heater after that first post-reassembly run. So now I need to reverse-flush it.

Why was the cylinder head off? So I could replace the water pump, which had done very few miles since the engine was rebuilt but had suffered through sitting dormant for about 15 years (play in bearing, squeaks, rattles, ultimately a major leak garnished with powdered rusty bearing). When I saw the amount of sediment in the head, with a couple of waterways completely blocked, I was glad I had to take it to bits. How all that sediment got there is a bit of a mystery, but I suspect it was quietly corroding during the lay-up.

While everything was apart I took the chance to tidy the engine bay and the wiring, which is always satisfying.

John

[rodbean]

It is indeed my Evo colleague Mr Barker. He will sometimes use both sides of the road provided there's a clear view. No reason why not, as any high performance driving instructor will tell you. John is one of the safest and most skilled drivers I know.

Not quite all instructors. I have been a professional high performance driving instructor for several years and, if asked, I would advise against "offsiding". This is, of course, one's personal choice. My reasons for opposing the practice is that, in the role of the opposing traffic, I simply don't want to trust that an "offsider" has the skill, concentration and judgment to be back on his own side when I happen to get there. I envision myself pushing hard on my own side and the "offsider" possibly misjudging my closing speed by just enough to kill us both.

In my business (as well as in various racing situations), I've seen too many supposedly skilled high performance drivers make too many silly mistakes and bad decisions to entrust my life to them so completely.

Actually, I do have other reasons for rejecting the practice that are even more personal. Thinking of doing it myself, I would consider it cheating. After all, that's not the road over there. On the other hand, I remember Richard Petty, trying to deal with a road course and also an unfamiliar Porsche 911S at Riverside in the first IROC race deciding to handle the esses by just going straight through, cutting off a couple of turns. For him, the road was where he made it (even if it didn't do him any good).

Since this practice became semi-acceptable by some here (southern California), I decided to avoid the mountain roads popular with car and motorcycle "offsiders". I get a lot of free track time and I'm happy with that but it would be nice to kick an Elan around on some of these nice roads once in a while.

I seem to be outvoted here but I just wanted you to know that there is another view (one shared by most instructors I know).

Rod

[mopho]

Video inspired me to take the Elan out for the first time in months, albeit for just a short jaunt around town

It is indeed my Evo colleague Mr Barker.

Do you work at Evo?

[johnsimister]

I do, on a freelance but regular basis (I'm its so-called editor-at-large). Octane, too, which is on the other side of the car park.

John

[mopho]

I am in the business as well here in the States, freelance automotive photographer (write on occasion), mostly for Car and Driver

[johnsimister]

Excellent! It would be great to see pics of your Elan.

I fear we have wandered off-topic slightly...

John

[rcraven]

I agree with Rod about "offsiding". If you have an accident whilst doing it, no amount of explanation will prevent you being accused of recklessness. Always drive in the expectation of another idiot in a Lotus coming round the corner towards you.
PS, where were all the sheep you usually find on open country roads in Wales?

[twincamman]

freezing rain and more snow predicted --didn't get to go to the races in Florida --POOP I really need to get out in something fun and fast --[ may be a giant schnauzer ?]-I envy any one in a climate where you can get a drive in the winter --- ed

[steveww]

Is it normal in the UK for drivers to use both sides of the road? I can understand why but it doesn't seem a good idea tome. I'm not picking on the UK. I've known some people who do it here in the States too.

Rod Bean
multiple S1s, S2s
California

Rod,

On narrow twisty roads like that I do it all the time but only if I can see clearly around the corner so that I know nothing is coming the other way. There is no way I would cut on a blind corner.

The videa made me miss driving my Elan all the more. Roll on the spring.

[GrUmPyBoDgEr]

Is it normal in the UK for drivers to use both sides of the road? I can understand why but it doesn't seem a good idea tome. I'm not picking on the UK. I've known some people who do it here in the States too.

Rod Bean
multiple S1s, S2s
California

Rod,

On narrow twisty roads like that I do it all the time but only if I can see clearly around the corner so that I know nothing is coming the other way. There is no way I would cut on a blind corner.

The videa made me miss driving my Elan all the more. Roll on the spring.

I'm in agreement there.
If the road ahead is visible then why not use the whole of the road.
It reduces the load on the driver & the car & maintains most of your speed.
In my youthful past I found that "known" country lanes could be driven even faster at nights by using all of the road when no oncoming headlights could be seen.
OK that was a little bit risky but the emphasis being made in this thread, to always stay on your side of the road seems to be a bit OTT.

Cheers
John

[Leo Leentvaar]

Allow me to chime in and ask our community to bear in mind that Tim's initial post was for us to enjoy our favourite car on a nice bit of road and a driver who's clearly enjoying the spin in a 37 year old -quite rare- car.
(when do you see an Elan Sprint in the wild??)
At least the video vividly shows what driving an Elan is all about and why it still considered as an iconic car. Personally, I am overjoyed seeing some one driving this wee car the way it was designed for and not some wall flower waning away under a tarp in a heated garage.

We all may agree or disagree on the driving style across continents but remember :we all breathe the same air (and odours from our cars).