On overtaking.

[Scotty C]

2nd gear, headlights on full beam, full boot, overtake the lot whilst waving at the inevitable moral outrage breaking out behind, probably keep the horn on all the way past too . . .

Can't remember my high score . . .

do you go on road runs with Tut

[Dominic]

. Usually Dom has gone first and softened them up.

.

elbows out

[Dominic]

Interesting article by Porter on the subject in EVO magazine this month. Pretty much sums it up for me - the British mentality towards being overtaken.

People seem to think that they are queuing to get past the slow vehicle at the front of the line, one at a time, and are happy to just sit there and wait. So anyone passing them is either jumping the queue, or somehow insulting them because they are not able to wait while they can. As others have said, these people are idiots. It is clear that I / we are better than them because we have the skill to execute an overtake, and not behave like sheep. Their reaction to this is not to congratulate us on our skills, but to tell us off, for showing up their inadequacies. Their problem, not mine.

Quick decisive overtakes are the order of the day, as taught IAM stylee, do not give the driver being overtaken the chance to turn it into a race. Of course, there are always the arseholes who try and close the gap in queue to prevent you getting in; I give myself two options in this case; usually I will not leave returning to the left until very very last minute / car - so will move in with some comfort space. If some ar$ehole closes the gap, I will shove in anyway, or jump another car in the queue. Overtaking in this country is becoming a lost art, and something apparently frowned upon by many.

Have to say, I get a very positive reaction when in the elise, generally. Folk seem to acknowledge a friendly wee sports car and are happy to facilitate an overtake.

Like most on here, I have driven quite a lot in other countries - the Europeans seem to have overtaking sussed. The Greeks especially; my experience there is that when you come up behind another car, it then moves to the kerbside, the on coming traffic does the same, so you can then pass! Even with on-coming cars! Everyone works with the system, and it works seamlessly. That is until some blundering Brit in a hire car gets invloved.. then things can get a bit ugly. The fact that Greece has one of the worst accident records of any European country maybe points towards that not being such a good system afterall. BUT, the point is, other drivers allowing themselves to be overtaken; what a refreshing attitude to someone use to the British.

[kerryxeg]

2nd gear, headlights on full beam, full boot, overtake the lot whilst waving at the inevitable moral outrage breaking out behind, probably keep the horn on all the way past too . . .

Can't remember my high score . . .

do you go on road runs with Tut

That's definitely the technique for driving in India.....hand on horn wait to pass tree on verge, pull out onto verge and make sure you pull back in before the next tree, release hand from horn.

[Dominic]

It really frustrates me when out for a run in the Panda since is tiny and gutless!

Momentum is everything - hang back and take a run at the car to be overtaken as the gap approaches. Sometimes even take a run at the other car through a corner on the hope that get a clear straight and the pass is on. I used to master such techniques when towing the autotest car on a trailer behind a transit van - a combination that had all the acceleration properties of a Honda F1 car

[Corranga]

It really frustrates me when out for a run in the Panda since is tiny and gutless!

Momentum is everything - hang back and take a run at the car to be overtaken as the gap approaches. Sometimes even take a run at the other car through a corner on the hope that get a clear straight and the pass is on. I used to master such techniques when towing the autotest car on a trailer behind a transit van - a combination that had all the acceleration properties of a Honda F1 car

Absolutely. The little Panda is great - over 100hp power to weight, with no people in it
A fantastic car for keeping momentum, and rattling up and down the 6 speed box is fun too. It roars into action before not actually moving any quicker than the BMW X6 diesel (or equivelent) in front as they are one of those 65 on all straights, and 25 in all corners drivers! A couple of weeks back we took it down to the Trossachs, from Dundee, via Dunkeld, A822 to Crieff, Lochearnhead, down the A84, over Duke's Pass to Aberfoyle, and back. My wife and I in the front, baby in the back, and camping cooker and some sausages, beans and rolls in the boot
Much safe overtaking was done, though compared to the Elise, or 944, other motorists seem to be more surprised and unwilling to leave you space unfortunately

Giving my negativity to other road users so far in this thread, I would add that generally, when out in the Elise I do come across a driver or 2 who will kindly lift off on a straight and indicate to let me past.
I guess there are a few out there that realise that if they let you on your way, you are less frustrated at being stuck behind them, and they are less frustrated at having someone following closely and attempting to pass!

[campbell]

We've long advocated arriving behind slower traffic with poise and patience and keeping a good gap. It's pleasantly surprising how many drivers do then indicate to help you past. It's been known for short queued to do this too. Mostly in the Elise to be fair. Skoda gets a warmish reception too mind you

Alternatively, arriving out the blue in a cloud of tyre smoke leaving no gap, is generally a recipe for ire or even plain old panic for the person in front. Cue fight/flight response and it's all over.

[fd]

2nd gear, headlights on full beam, full boot, overtake the lot whilst waving at the inevitable moral outrage breaking out behind, probably keep the horn on all the way past too . . .

Can't remember my high score . . .

do you go on road runs with Tut

First road run I ever went on was with Tut, Steve Moore (JPS S1 ?), and Ian Thomas up Ullapool way after driving round Skye . . . largely suicidal madness which I watched from some distance behind . . . however I may have come round to his way of thinking in the intervening years . . .

I find just barging on through in the Audi (the badge helps people understand you have no patience with them from the outset) with little care to the sheep in the Q is just as effective . . . they always get out of the way in the end . . . have done the same towing a trailer too which really riles them . . .