Teaching the next generation

Post by **HarryMann** » 28 Oct 2005, 18:47

Ah I see, not those sort of things I have waiting to do, grovelling in the gravel and dog poo type jobs.

Happy sawing, planing, drilling and then screwing

Post by **Hacksawbob** » 29 Oct 2005, 00:04

Several of us became aware of this need right at the end of the Coney Farm

Many thanks to all who gave me some pointers at coney. I feel it may be a difficult thing to do with any consistency as different vehicles/terrain/drivers will weigh up an obsticle differently. I was given three different sets of advice for a 'controlled descent' ranging from 'let the engine take the strain' to 'pump the brakes like ABS' to 'keep it slow to avoid losing traction' I suppose you just have to develop a feel for it which can only come with experience. Thomas disuaded me from trialling on my first event which in retrospect was probably a good thing as trashing my van on its first outing wouldn't have been a good thing. But is there / should there, be a rule that novices cant participate in the trials? Maybe a 'basic training' course for newcommers would be appreciated by all at syncro events, for everyones benefit.

Post by **HarryMann** » 29 Oct 2005, 01:32

But is there / should there, be a rule that novices can't participate in the trials?

No there isn't. But one trial isn't quite like any other. There's quite a few considerations here, not just simply safety. Light/heavy damage to bodywork is an obvious one.
Trial 1 was mainly narrow and tricky gates, different to 2 with steep cross slopes turns and plenty of tree obstacles confusing things and endangering bodywork, with 3 being quite extreme in climb angles and surfaces in a control/grip sense - very challenging, with a steep and slippery descent thrown in for good measure. 4, very tight turns on steep slopes and a couple of flags in 'very challenging' places!

If a novice is someone who hasn't driven off-road at all before, or in a syncro, some familiarisation would be a good idea before even T1, and sitting in with someone else going around a good idea too. Watching carefully beforehand is obviously good, and an experienced passenger onboard too. An off-road novice may have innate good car control and skills, or appalling ones that need correcting quickly. T2, T3 etc speak for themselves, not for the novice in my opinion.

Some factors:
Confidence in skills Vs misplaced overconfidence Vs lack of confidence
Natural caution; natural lack of caution;
Understanding and knowing your vehicle, its strengths and its limits;
Assessing the terrain, walking it if in doubt, assessing the nature and grip of surface, consequences of failure at any point and judging if its for you, in that vehicle, at that time;
Advice and help available, inc. recovery options.

Maybe a 'basic training' course for newcomers would be appreciated by all at syncro events, for everyones benefit.

I am sure we will have come to a decision to ensure at least a basic hour or so of induction is available to anyone who a) asks b) we think need it - at the next formal Syncronauts site event.
Additionally, I aim to ensure we have some general off-road driving techniques and syncro-specific guides written up by then, too. These can go a long way to dispelling myths and differing approaches to the same situation, before getting into that driving seat, but of course, only the real thing can hone those skills and as I said, watching others - the better and the worse.

Post by **Diamond Hell** » 29 Oct 2005, 08:04

I would like to think that no-one was under any pressure to do anything that they didn't want to do at Coney. I personally test drove all of the sections that were run on Saturday. The only damage anyone should have had to their vehicle are knocks to their front overhang. If you aren't prepared for that to make contact with the ground from time to time you shouldn't take your Syncro off road.

At the end of the day any paid up attendee can participate in any of the activities that are laid on at one of our events, but I would remind you that all events are completed at your own risk and that motor sport can be dangerous.

We're not going to riddle events with rules and regulations - there are enough of those already. You're all adults, you can all watch what other people do and you can all make your own judgements regarding your skills and vehicle capabilities.

If you want tuition go to a 4x4 driving school and get spoon-fed, but it'll cost you a lot. If you've got half a brain sit back and watch at an event and then hitch a lift in a bus with someone experienced. I'd like to think any novice who gets in my bus when I'm driving off road gets out with a bit more knowledge after I've wittered on about what I'm doing and why for most of the duration of the drive...

Post by **andyfreeze** » 30 Oct 2005, 15:07

The only damage anyone should have had to their vehicle are knocks to their front overhang

erm....hate to disagree with you thomas, the last obstacle on trial one gave everyones exhaust a hefty clout, that was the deciding factor in me not attempting it. Sorry, but it's true

If you want tuition go to a 4x4 driving school and get spoon-fed, but it'll cost you a lot.

hmmmmmm . . . . . . .comments like this aren't very helpful Thomas, maybe you should keep them for the committee meeting. I feel like I've been the most vocal about the need for some training, so I can't help feeling your comments are directed at me. If they are, i'd prefer you to contact me directly or something? Alternatively, maybe bear the following in mind . . .

What are the Sycnronauts really about? Maybe to . . . ' help other Syncro owners best appreciate their pride and joy's quite remarkable abilities, giving them confidence through shared experience, knowledge and mutual support so to best maintain its condition - keeping as many of these noble mounts on the road for years to come'.

Post by **HarryMann** » 30 Oct 2005, 15:56

To be fair, I wrote that, maybe Thomas has a slightly different 'take' on it, but '...sharing and caring in an environment of mutual support' does seem to be one aspect of our 'raison d'etre'.

Maybe Thomas is concerned about how far we should go with this - but it's now something for the committee to look at - my feelings have been made known i.e. what is being done informally at the moment should be formalised, so we are all singing from the same hymnbook.

Post by **Diamond Hell** » 30 Oct 2005, 18:03

Comments weren't aimed at you at all Andy.

As I said no-one was asked to do anything they didn't want to with their vehicle. To be fair if all of the driving was designed to not do any damage at all to vehicles we'd all be driving around in fields and that's certainly not my idea of fun.

This club is not there to train people and no event will be billed as such. We are a 'motor sport' club.

People will happily sit with others and talk them through things, but these events are not the be all and end all of events and about the only way of getting better at driving off road is getting out and doing more of it, which may well expose your pride and joy to some damage. Either polish it and do a little light driving round or use it to its capabilities. If you're going to use it to its capabilities then you've got to be prepared to expect higher running costs.

Post by **andyfreeze** » 30 Oct 2005, 18:29

can't help feeling you've got the wrong end of the stick Thomas, seriously

come here, give us a hug

Post by **missusjen** » 30 Oct 2005, 18:36

Take him up on that offer Thomas please..........you both know what the others' saying really......there's no-one having a 'go' at any other individual here - play nice.......

Post by **matt** » 30 Oct 2005, 18:51

If you're going to use it to its capabilities then you've got to be prepared to expect higher running costs.

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha