Tail of the Dragon Video

[R8]

Originally Posted by Jedi1

Even if you love the big tracks, don't knock autocross...

Apologies if I seemed to knock AutoX. You can definately learn FAR more in an AutoX than by driving crazy on the street. And competitive AutoX drivers are truly *amazingly* talented! I used to get soooo mad at people turning in runs seconds ahead of me with the same car, lol.

The nice thing though about the track is you get more time to experiment. Lap after lap, session after session, you can try braking later, accelerating earlier, whatever you want to do. You aren't being timed either (not officially), so you can relax and risk being slow since the point is to learn and enjoy, not set the fastest time.

[Jedi1]

That wasn't really aimed at you R8, lol. Just a blanket statement and a blatant plug for a discipline that has taught me SO much over the years.

[SnapOv3st3r]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Understood. I just meant that it doesn't hurt to share your experience.

Did it for about 3yrs nearly every weekend. Two run-ins law wise (only ever got one ticket, but it wasn't for street racing, I just didn't get slowed down enough and he cited me for speeding). The other case we were actually parked and watching some guys run, and the cops came from over the hill. Everyone jumped into their cars and bolted....as did I...

Originally Posted by Jedi1

Even if you love the big tracks, don't knock autocross. Everything you need to learn in the area of car control can be learned at an autocross between 50-60 mph. If you are just getting into performance driving I can promise you the first time you experience truly terminal under or oversteer, you DO NOT want it to be over 100 mph heading towards armco.

I still AutoX too...

I have more fun at the full tracks due to the adrenaline of chasing down other cars and what not. Love that stuff.

[xwd]

I've done both extensively and each have their own thrills and both can teach you things. I actually stopped driving on road courses for awhile because it was the same two tracks and honestly it got a little boring. There wasn't the adrenaline rush I had with autocross.

I've also driven on the dragon, like a lunatic at times, and will never do that again. I had a stainless steel brake line rupture on me (it had come loose from the strut since I was lazy on my WRX and didn't thread it through the strut hole...) and I think I needed a change of clothes after that one.

Again, it's not about you it's about all the other people on the road. I've seen one HD crash after leaning in too far and another run off the road but thankfully in an area with a rock wall. I've also seen a Subaru end up nose down being held up by a tree if it hadn't been there it would have been a long way down...

[R8]

Originally Posted by dwx

I've done both extensively and each have their own thrills and both can teach you things...

I agree, and personally I think the biggest lesson they teach is to set aside your ego. You learn zen paradoxes like "trying to drive fast only makes you slow" and "the fastest laps feel the slowest," lol. Trying to catch someone, or trying to go faster just creates mistakes. You focus on *just driving*, rather than beating someone, and things unfold as they will.

And that eventually I think carries over to street driving, and less of a need to prove who's skills or car is faster, etc.

[SnapOv3st3r]

Originally Posted by R8

I agree, and personally I think the biggest lesson they teach is to set aside your ego. You learn zen paradoxes like "trying to drive fast only makes you slow" and "the fastest laps feel the slowest," lol. Trying to catch someone, or trying to go faster just creates mistakes. You focus on *just driving*, rather than beating someone, and things unfold as they will.

And that eventually I think carries over to street driving, and less of a need to prove who's skills or car is faster, etc.

Me personally, I've been tracking at the same track for 4yrs, so learning the track is under my belt. Driving fast now it more second nature rather than having to "try" to. I find it funnier that the cars in front of me are "trying" to get away and they themselves make the mistake, rather than just letting me past and getting it over with....lol.

I like to visit other tracks too. I've driven as far as 7hrs to run at another track. Now that my local track is closed down, I have no choice but to drive a little out of the way to stretch my legs.