Parking lot hooliganism and police in GTA

[ParangWala]

Originally Posted by engsr

I have more respect for people that come out to autoslalom events, spin out their car, and learn how little they know about their driving skill, rather than someone who goes to an empty parking lot and perpetuates the stereotype that we're all hooligans and street racers.

You'd be surprised how much you will learn at an autoslalom, even if you think you only get 10 minutes of seat time. And trust me, the people there won't give two shits if you spin out because that's why you're there - to learn how much you don't know about your driving skill so you can improve on it.

+1

Going to the Auto Slalom events are definitely your safer bet....I would also recommend going to a school with instructors when you can just so you can have some guidance.

BTW you can ask experienced drivers in these Auto Slalom events to ride with you and offer free guidance

[that_guy]

Originally Posted by Jrdad

It's going away for winter

I can't afford a course, I'm only 20 and can afford the car because I live at home. I don't have time this season for auto-x and I want something I can do for 10 minutes and go, not walk around picking up cones all day then driving for 10 minutes all day. Part of it is when I do auto-x next year, or maybe a HPDE, I want to have some idea of what I'm doing and not look like an idiot spinning out.

Sorry bud, that's a terrible excuse. If your that strapped for cash, then you shouldn't have financed yourself out the rear for a new car.

If you don't want to learn how to drive a car properly then don't make a thread asking people for opinions on it.

Auto-x is a wicked way for testing both your limits and you car's in a safe environment with people that have infinitely more skill than you do at driving. We've all spun out. That's what happens when you learn; you make mistakes. And best of all, it's $20-40 for a day out with other enthusiasts watching and participating.

Originally Posted by engsr

I have more respect for people that come out to autoslalom events, spin out their car, and learn how little they know about their driving skill, rather than someone who goes to an empty parking lot and perpetuates the stereotype that we're all hooligans and street racers.

You'd be surprised how much you will learn at an autoslalom, even if you think you only get 10 minutes of seat time. And trust me, the people there won't give two shits if you spin out because that's why you're there - to learn how much you don't know about your driving skill so you can improve on it.

+1. Couldn't have said it better.

[l8apexr]

^ +1 to the last two posts.

U want 10 mins of hooliganism!??? For free??!!

Head to the local rippers man.

It is idiotic mentality like this which gives car-loving enthusiasts a bad name.

PROPER hpde, or autox.

Autox is $40. And u get 6 runs of about 50 seconds each. All the while chatting it up w knowledgeable people who share the same desire to be a hooligan and love of cars around you. And then u eat a licks burger for lunch. So how is a 20 year old not have the time to do this?!

Don't drift in a parking lot w ur car. That is completely retarded. If u cut a tire, slam ur car into a parking block or curb or pole, u will be laughed at. Not to mention nobody will be around to help you out.

[Thorpedo]

+1 for autox. Tried it for my first time last year in a 01 V6 AUTO mustang (don't act like you're not impressed)

Now I'm usually in the top 5 after PAX adjustment out of ~40 competitors. You will learn way more, way faster, in a safer environment. Skip out on buying a 24 or a 26 and go have an entire day of fun.

[f0rge]

Originally Posted by Jrdad

Part of it is when I do auto-x next year, or maybe a HPDE, I want to have some idea of what I'm doing and not look like an idiot spinning out.

Spinning out happens, I spun out last event. No one cares.

[Jrdad]

Originally Posted by that_guy

Sorry bud, that's a terrible excuse. If your that strapped for cash, then you shouldn't have financed yourself out the rear for a new car.

I'm not strapped for cash, but it's not like I extra cash flowing out of my pockets. But I also thought autocross was more expensive than that.

Originally Posted by l8apexr

So how is a 20 year old not have the time to do this?!

On most weekends I'm helping a friend restore his 1972 Datsun 240z with an RB25DET


Like I said, I didn't think it was that cheap, I thought you had to pay membership fees and pay for a season upfront. I appreciate everyone in bringing this to my attention. But I also didn't think I would get flamed this hard for trying to be responsible and taking it off the road to learn, especially after seeing countless posts on people saying to "take it to an empty parking lot, you'll be amazed on how much you can learn". The only difference between what I want to do and autocross is just more people and some cones. But I will definitely look into doing autocross now.

[wparsons]

It's already been said, but practicing drifting in a public parking lot is the absolute worst thing you can do. It's barely better than doing it on public roads.

If you want to learn to drift, look into drifting days at local tracks. No one will laugh you off the track at all, and it's the safest place to learn.

Doing this crap in public just gives every enthusiast a bad image.

There's another VERY important difference at an auto x, it's a controlled environment. No one can get anywhere near the track while you're driving, unlike an open lot where anyone could drive or walk into your path at any time.

[Rossman]

Originally Posted by Jrdad

But I also didn't think I would get flamed this hard for trying to be responsible

Uh what? Being responsible is taking it to the designated events, *not* using a parking lot...jesus.

[UMB FR-S]

way to look down on people guys... This being an enthusiast website I'm willing to bet most have taken there car for a whirl in a empty lot at least once. This guy was asking a question that really doesn't seem that far fetched and you all jump on him? real supportive community we got...

OP - If you want to learn to drive an autocross is the best place to learn. It is usually very newbie friendly and most will give you all the advice you can take. It is the safest and best place to learn. As for a parking lot, if on a sunday you come across an open lot and you decide to do a spin or 2 most likely you will never be bothered. If you decide to stay for an extended period of time the police come come and see whats going on from complaints. If they do come and see whats going on due to a complaint or because they happened to be driving by, they will probably ask you what you were doing and give you a warning. If they are having a bad day they could probably find a way to fine you too if they want to. In the event that you are being really unsafe then a careless could come up but if there are no people or cars around this is unlikely.

In the end it is your decision how and where you drive, but if your are interested in learning to drive autocross is the place to start. if your looking to drift a drift event would be the place to look.

[wparsons]

Are you kidding me?? It's not supportive because we don't condone practicing drifting in a parking lot?? Give your head a shake.

Just because someone might have gone sliding around a parking lot a bit in the past doesn't mean people should condone doing it.

As an FYI, you can be charged with dangerous driving in a parking lot which is a criminal charge. Are you sure you want to tell someone to do something that could result in criminal charges (including a criminal record...)??

[UMB FR-S]

Originally Posted by wparsons

Are you kidding me?? It's not supportive because we don't condone practicing drifting in a parking lot?? Give your head a shake.

Just because someone might have gone sliding around a parking lot a bit in the past doesn't mean people should condone doing it.

As an FYI, you can be charged with dangerous driving in a parking lot which is a criminal charge. Are you sure you want to tell someone to do something that could result in criminal charges (including a criminal record...)??

Well if you read my post you would see that I did not tell him to go out and do it. I did however tell him the possible and more probably outcomes if he were to decided to go ahead with doing something of the sort and get caught. As well as where better places would be to learn to drive at the limits. In the end if he is educated as to what the consequences are then it is up to him to figure how he wants to act.

[Dango1]

Shannonville open drift days. Next one is on Aug 5th. Check their website.

You can get a whole day on the skid pad for $25. Drift your brains out. Or $90 on the track with the others and many may also be willing to give you pointers.

[engsr]

Originally Posted by UMB FR-S

way to look down on people guys... This being an enthusiast website I'm willing to bet most have taken there car for a whirl in a empty lot at least once. This guy was asking a question that really doesn't seem that far fetched and you all jump on him? real supportive community we got...

Clearly you're not aware of how things are in the GTA. How do you think the stunt and street racing laws came about?

My opinion is drifting and donuts in a parking lot teaches you nothing except drifting and donuts. An autoslalom throws real world situations at you - accident avoidance, how to control understeer and oversteer, what your car does when it's near its limits. Doing random stuff in a parking lot won't teach you that if you have no real concept of how to recognize those situations. The seat time at an autoslalom will ingrain these concepts such that they become natural and instinctive.

Life isn't always rainbows and unicorns. If you're not reading it as supportive then you've overlooked text over tone.