Driving safety training

Did I really write in this blog that I am relieved about the state of the MGB (aka Maggie)? After correcting the valve clearance, I did a full service on the car. This includes an oil change, checking the brakes, another compression test, cleaning the fuel filter, and an ignition timing check. A 20-kilometer Test drive was just fine. However, today at 6:30am when I started off to a driving safety training – after only 10km a sudden strange engine noise, a strong smell of burned oil and a sudden power loss ended my tip in the MGB abruptly.

Knowing that I won’t be able to do much about it today, I just switched cars and took my 1991/1992 Mini Cooper (aka Miffi) to the training. I started in the Rookie group – a small group of five cars made up off two MGB, a beautifully restored 1985 Citroën CX Athena and a newer (2018) Fiat 500 as well as – now – my Mini. Participating in a driving safety test on your classic car is something I strongly recommend now. During the training you will get into several situations; you hope never to encounter on the road. As most of us are now used to technical helpers like ABS, ESP and so on – we all too easy forget that a classic car without these gadgets, will handle completely different.

The correct seat position (not to far back, legs slightly bend when clutch is fully pressed, arms close to the steering week, hands in 9 and 3 o’clock position) was something we did at the start. The session that made the handling difference clear was emergency braking in a curve on slightly wet surface. I struggled with this exercise quite a bit. The Mini kept pushing over the front wheels. It took me several attempts until I finally found an acceptable sequence of full braking, short brake-release to steer far enough and adjusting my focus point to where I want to go instead of looking where I am going.

We did many other exercises – I loved the zigzag-course as well as the little “race” circuit in the Mini. And I had the feeling that I was doing well (yeah, I know… self-perception and outside perception differ…) The Mini drives like a go-cart and because I drive it more often – I knew how it handles in curves. This is exactly the reason I wanted to do the day on the MGB – and as soon as the engine is running again, I will look for another training session.

Oh and: After this day Miffi needs a check and service of the front suspension. New summer tires for 2023 are also mandatory. A strange new squealing noise originating somewhere from the alternator belt also indicates potential further issues…. With a classic car – garage time is certainly guaranteed 🙂