This is a really good thread, not enough of these on other forums in my opinion. I hope you dont mind my input on this, being new and all.
Ive actually been trained in fast road driving.
One thing from the original post id like to add to if thats ok. For normal driving on normal roads you need to be able to stop in the distance you can see. On country roads they taught us that the stopping distance is half the distance you can see. On coming traffic needs time to stop aswell and they wont be able to see you if you cant see them.
Another thing they teach is to keep your vision up. Be looking well ahead into the distance having hazards identified well before you reach them and Adjusting to changes. When on country roads looking through tree lines or in large dips, thrying to identify other road users at the earliest oppurtunity. And looking for signs that other road users are giving you eg parked cars steering wheels moving drivers heads turning, little things that before id not have payed attention to.
Having done the course it doesnt make me a faster driver, anyone can drive fast, it has tought me how to do it in a safer way being more aware of what else is going on around me.