Parking Lots

[kanundrum]

Originally Posted by campy

The first run of the first time I took the FRS to an autox, I was sliding around all over the place because I wasn't used to the car, but I didn't knock over any cones or cause any traffic. They scolded me multiple times, announced it over the loudspeakers, and personally approached me and told me to go to a drift event instead. I've been doing this for a few years, and I've never seen so many people with their jimmies rustled like that after just one run before.

So no, don't practice drifting at an autox.

Your autox club doesn't sound fun....

[nataku]

Originally Posted by campy

The first run of the first time I took the FRS to an autox, I was sliding around all over the place because I wasn't used to the car, but I didn't knock over any cones or cause any traffic. They scolded me multiple times, announced it over the loudspeakers, and personally approached me and told me to go to a drift event instead. I've been doing this for a few years, and I've never seen so many people with their jimmies rustled like that after just one run before.

So no, don't practice drifting at an autox.

And I would tell them to shove it. I don't care which club that was but if you were clearly not being belligerent there's no place for that kind of attitude at an autox... Then again, their event their rules. At least you don't have to go back since you have plenty of options.

Hell I was drifting all over the place last weekend on a couple runs. Yeah they made a couple light-hearted jokes about it over the loud speaker apparently (like how the hell did he get going fast enough to drift the first turn), but certainly no animosity...

[campy]

Originally Posted by kanundrum

Your autox club doesn't sound fun....

Originally Posted by nataku

And I would tell them to shove it. I don't care which club that was but if you were clearly not being belligerent there's no place for that kind of attitude at an autox... Then again, their event their rules. At least you don't have to go back since you have plenty of options.

Hell I was drifting all over the place last weekend on a couple runs. Yeah they made a couple light-hearted jokes about it over the loud speaker apparently (like how the hell did he get going fast enough to drift the first turn), but certainly no animosity...

Haha yeah. The deal was that the guy who usually runs them was out of town, but they decided that the show must go on anyway. So it was run by a bunch of guys who didn't know what they were doing, and they were probably stressed out about all of it.

Plus it was an SCCA event, so you get a handful of people who just gotta get those perfect lap times in for the national competitions and will get pissed if you do something wrong or your car isn't totally within the rules for its class.

[DylanFRS]

Originally Posted by kuhlka

practice drifting during autoX?

I didn't realize drift practicing was a common safety concern these days...

As for slamming on the brakes, you can do that on a normal empty road in the middle of the night. It's not illegal.

[warman]

Originally Posted by DylanFRS

As for slamming on the brakes, you can do that on a normal empty road in the middle of the night. It's not illegal.

A cop would probably consider slamming on your brakes for no reason reckless driving or negligent driving.

[BlaineWasHere]

Originally Posted by campy

The first run of the first time I took the FRS to an autox, I was sliding around all over the place because I wasn't used to the car, but I didn't knock over any cones or cause any traffic. They scolded me multiple times, announced it over the loudspeakers, and personally approached me and told me to go to a drift event instead. I've been doing this for a few years, and I've never seen so many people with their jimmies rustled like that after just one run before.

So no, don't practice drifting at an autox. Go to motorsport-appropriate events for what you want to do.

PS: if you're leaving skidmarks on the pavement, I don't think the cop will just give you a warning. Someone's gotta pay to get that cleaned up, and they don't want it coming out of the school's budget.

You have shitty autoX clubs. I'd never say a word to a drifter if he's not hitting cones even if he takes 20% longer time wise. Sometimes you get idiots who think there are things more important than having fun.

If you were being disruptive it would be a different story, but it doesn't sound like you were at all.

[kanundrum]

Originally Posted by nataku

And I would tell them to shove it. I don't care which club that was but if you were clearly not being belligerent there's no place for that kind of attitude at an autox... Then again, their event their rules. At least you don't have to go back since you have plenty of options.

Hell I was drifting all over the place last weekend on a couple runs. Yeah they made a couple light-hearted jokes about it over the loud speaker apparently (like how the hell did he get going fast enough to drift the first turn), but certainly no animosity...

On 2 occasions this past autox the announcer is like the Firestorm FRS is making some sweet slides!

[kuhlka]

Yeah, I'm not remotely asking for the nearest elementary school or church parking lot to practice in. There are abandoned malls, industrial areas, etc which could potentially have an arrangement worked out with the property owner to get releases signed and host up a place to play around and practice whatever. This is how SCCA gets lots set up at Universities, Airports, and stadiums.

I want to do the same thing, but without a set course, timing, etc. Just break out some mini cones and practice whatever I want with zero pressure to get it all figured out in 4 to 8 runs lasting less than a minute...

When I was into stunting my Speed Triple, we'd get a business owner to let us sign waivers and use their private industrial road for wheelie/stoppie practice. It's not irresponsible. It's a hell of a lot of fun and a great way to spend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Better to practice in a closed safe environment than be like the d-bags back in Malibu who try to drift around the Snake and nearly kill bikers.

[IloveBaldEagles]

Originally Posted by kuhlka

Yeah, I'm not remotely asking for the nearest elementary school or church parking lot to practice in. There are abandoned malls, industrial areas, etc which could potentially have an arrangement worked out with the property owner to get releases signed and host up a place to play around and practice whatever. This is how SCCA gets lots set up at Universities, Airports, and stadiums.

I want to do the same thing, but without a set course, timing, etc. Just break out some mini cones and practice whatever I want with zero pressure to get it all figured out in 4 to 8 runs lasting less than a minute...

When I was into stunting my Speed Triple, we'd get a business owner to let us sign waivers and use their private industrial road for wheelie/stoppie practice. It's not irresponsible. It's a hell of a lot of fun and a great way to spend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Better to practice in a closed safe environment than be like the d-bags back in Malibu who try to drift around the Snake and nearly kill bikers.

A church parking lot would be so much better to practice in. If anyone approaches you just start yelling HALLELUIJAH, THANK YOU JESUS and claim that The Lord is communicating with you.

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by warman

A cop would probably consider slamming on your brakes for no reason reckless driving or negligent driving.

And that's why I bed my brakes in on the highway at 2AM.

[kuhlka]

Originally Posted by DylanFRS

I didn't realize drift practicing was a common safety concern these days...

Yeah, I guess knowing how to counter-steer into a slide isn't ever useful on the road... especially on crappy road surfaces, during the first 15 minutes of a light rain, or say when you're having fun on a twisty back road and wag the rear a bit around a corner. Knowing how the car behaves when the rear gets loose isn't important at all.
/sarcasm

[ame]http://youtu.be/0FPEnFKNcNg?t=3m29s[/ame]

Don't tell me you wouldn't have fun doing that.

[DylanFRS]

Originally Posted by kuhlka

Don't tell me you wouldn't have fun doing that.

Fun or practicing for safety concerns?

This thread is ridiculous... I am not a police officer, you don't need to beat around the bush to try and convince me that you are "just practicing sir". We all know what you are doing when you are trying to find a parking lot to SUPER-DRIFTO-POWER-NUMBER-ONE in, and it's not for safety.

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by DylanFRS

Fun or practicing for safety concerns?

This thread is ridiculous... I am not a police officer, you don't need to beat around the bush to try and convince me that you are "just practicing sir". We all know what you are doing when you are trying to find a parking lot to SUPER-DRIFTO-POWER-NUMBER-ONE in, and it's not for safety.

Yeah, car and skid control should be part of driver licensing...that way there wouldn't be a need to practice on the street.

[kuhlka]

Originally Posted by DylanFRS

Fun or practicing for safety concerns?

This thread is ridiculous... I am not a police officer, you don't need to beat around the bush to try and convince me that you are "just practicing sir". We all know what you are doing when you are trying to find a parking lot to SUPER-DRIFTO-POWER-NUMBER-ONE in, and it's not for safety.

Practicing for safety concerns IS fun. It's called autoX, trackdays, advanced driver training... What's ridiculous is your attitude.

There are pretty obvious reasons to know how to handle a sliding rear. If you can't think of any, you might want to consider taking some advanced driving courses. How many 'accidents' (driver incompetence) could have been avoided because a driver who suddenly lost traction and went sliding didn't know how to recover in rain or snow? I passed a pretty stupid crash the other day (rainy) and it happened right at the twistiest corner of my commute. I seriously doubt anyone involved has had any drivers training after they got their license. Maybe they should have gone out into an empty snow-covered parking lot and practiced sliding around, rather than cost themselves an inevitable insurance deductible?

I can say with 100% certainty that my motorcycle trackdays at Mid Ohio and Eagles Canyon improved my skills a LOT and probably saved my ass a few times on the road. Trackdays and going out to BFE to practice hammering on both brakes in the rain has saved me a few times when incompetent pricks decided they wanted to be in my lane (head-on), merged into my lane with no intention of looking, slammed on their brakes in front of me, and a few people have crashed in my immediate proximity. During none of these events was I driving recklessly and both my car and motorcycles came out collision-free.

Also, even with all of the assists on this car will start sliding the rear with any throttle whatsoever around corners in the rain. Granted the assists apply the brakes to try and keep it in line, but I'd rather get a feel for when and what it takes for that to happen than get surprised by it on the road with other drivers around.