Learn to Drive

[Matador]

Originally Posted by 4agze

I love this quote, I want to add the paddle shifting, synchro rev matching and electronic LSD, what happen to just you and the car.

Not everybody is going to be an expert driver, and systems like these are need to make road users safer as much as to save ego driven maniacs from themselves.

[zbirdman777]

How did most of you guys learn to drive well? Autocross? There's nowhere to autocross where I'm at. There's drag strips everywhere but no tracks or driving school etc. There's only so much you can learn on your own.

[4agze]

Originally Posted by MatadorRacing_F1

Not everybody is going to be an expert driver, and systems like these are need to make road users safer as much as to save ego driven maniacs from themselves.

maybe they shouldn't be driving that fast or even buy a car they cant drive

[4agze]

Originally Posted by zbirdman777

How did most of you guys learn to drive well? Autocross? There's nowhere to autocross where I'm at. There's drag strips everywhere but no tracks or driving school etc. There's only so much you can learn on your own.

I've been playing with TCRA for years now, just recently slowed down due to work, got the supervisor position now with it weekend

[Matador]

Originally Posted by 4agze

maybe they shouldn't be driving that fast or even buy a car they cant drive

A lot of accidents occur at slow speeds, and because of poor road conditions. The is a difference between driving responsibly/ driving well and being able to take a car to it's limit. Not everyone is going to be able to do all, and you don't need a sports car or even a fast car car to have an accident. Especially when you can buy a family sedan with almost 300hp. It'd also be impossible to have every country have driver training and driving exams like Fnland for example (where the most awesome drivers in the world come from), so really, think it through. What, everybody who can't double clutch, heel-and-toe or clip an apex should take the bus?
Get real.

Originally Posted by zbirdman777

How did most of you guys learn to drive well? Autocross? There's nowhere to autocross where I'm at. There's drag strips everywhere but no tracks or driving school etc. There's only so much you can learn on your own.

The roads where I am from and grew up are narrow, winding, lots of elevation changes and the bus drivers all seem to be aspirants for a formula one seat. So, environment helps to breed good drivers. That and Gymkhana & street racing (sorry, was young and dumb).

[zbirdman777]

That makes sense, because everyone drag races around here. All the roads around me are long straight roads.

Originally Posted by 4agze

maybe they shouldn't be driving that fast or even buy a car they cant drive

I think its hard to tell a buyer no when they hand you a wad full of cash. lol

[Lauren]

I don't think you can learn that much from drag racing apart from getting off the line. I must admit I have zero interest in it.

IME I reckon that 99% of people can't drive for toffee really. Sure there are some competent drivers out there who can go round a track at a fair rate, but they'll reach a point where they won't improve further.

The key is your sense of balance. If it's not that good you'll never be truly quick.

I am fortunate in that I've had minimal instruction really but my instructors were two BTCC champions, a Clio Cup Champion and old school racer whio is a bit of a legend in the UK. I was told to work out the rest for myself.

I've done hundreds of trackdays, raced professionally and also at a more grass roots level, but all my drives were paid for. So I've never paid an entry fee.

I think of the 100s of cars I've been out in either as a driver or passenger, I reckon I've met about 5 people who I think can drive. I judge that by people who present a challenge for me to keep up with. You either have the natural talent or you don't but it doesn't mean you can't learn to at least be competent.

Unfortunately in the UK the techniques you are taught as a learner are a disaster when you try to apply it to going fast.

So many people do not consider all the intricacies and the art that goes into driving, there really is a hell of a lot to it.

[NESW20]

i started to learn on canyon roads (grip, not drift, of course). from there i moved to autocross, then to trackdays, and now i do a lot of karting.

i almost think there should be different classes of licenses. can't purchase a car without having the appropriate license level.

-Mike

[OldSkoolToys]

Originally Posted by zbirdman777

How did most of you guys learn to drive well? Autocross? There's nowhere to autocross where I'm at. There's drag strips everywhere but no tracks or driving school etc. There's only so much you can learn on your own.

http://www.wtrscca.org/schedule.htm

Looks like they hold events in Canyon, TX. By yahoo maps, thats a good 1.5 hour drive.

It sucks really, but at my local Auto-X (which I'm lucky only took me ~1hr to get to) there were people coming from all around (Bowling Green, KY and a few near the Alabama border) from what I can remember. Much longer drives.

If you want to have fun in your car and learn some stuff, you're going to have to do some driving to get to events. At least the travel is all interstate for you? Also, you at least have a semi-reliable car to do such drives. Nothing is scarier than a full day of Auto-X / Drifting and then having to take the same car home in an hour drive. "Wonder if anything is gonna break on the way home." was a common backthought on those drives in the AE86.


Auto-X will teach you the basics...engrave it into your mind so to speak. You can read up on racing techniques, practice what you can in a safe environment, etc. but mostly you have to figure it out yourself.

[VenomRush]

How did most of you guys learn to drive well?

gran turismo.. duh!

just finding the twistiest roads, starting off slow then learning how your car responds to different speeds at turns

[zbirdman777]

Lol. I play gran turismo religiously!

Thanks for the link, I may be able to make the one in March if it's during Spring break.

I live in Longview, TX (Hallsville, actually) over the summer and I think there's events in Dallas but that's a 2 hour drive at best.

And I agree with you Lauren. For the most part drag racing involves no racing skills. But I think drag is more about the mechanic than the driver. I don't think it was meant to breed cocky rich kids. (Though that's what it seems to do.)

[Midship Runabout]

Originally Posted by zbirdman777

Lol. I play gran turismo religiously!

Forza FTW!
but lets not start that argument

[NESW20]

oh, a good read is Speed Secrets by Ross Bentley. this: http://www.amazon.com/Speed-Secrets-.../dp/0760305188

-Mike

[Axel]

Start slow...

Razor Rip-Rider 360 Drifting Ride-On






Razor reinvents the classic three-wheeler of the 1970s with the Rip Rider 360, which replaces the large back two wheels with dual inclined caster wheels.The Razor Rip-Rider 360 Drifting Ride-On has been named a top toy for 2009 by both Parents and Parenting magazines.


The casters allow resistance-free drifting and spinning action, and the freewheel system invites incredible coasting speeds. And the super-cool, steel framed design will make on-lookers dizzy as you spin-out.

too bad...