How do you judge your driving ability?

[feldy]

Like I said I think I'm a solid 4 based on this scale with a lot of learning to go and seat time to ever see a 5. That's Autocross however on the track I will say 0 since I have never been on one.

Now on need for speed a solid ten every time with a 9 on a bad day. Mike should we race for slips. Jokin

[s2d4]

I have no skills so probably a 2...

Perhaps there may be a 0 as well..

For people that barely drives well going from A to B.

[Alabang 86]

by the number of horns, accidents and middle fingers....I'm an 11

[ultra]

4.5 here...probably closer to a 4 since I do have good 'core' skills but haven't competed seriously for a few years now.

Good list. Been trying to be realistic about my skill level for some time now, ever since my youthful 'I'd be Vettel if I had the money and sponsorship' mania died off in my Evo days.

Edit: you might need a 'Loeb' category '0' for absolutely freakish talents

[Dave-ROR]

0, maybe a 1.

[whaap]

How good a driver you are on the track and how good a driver you are on the streets are like talking about apples and oranges. On the track I would be zero as I've never tracked or autocrossed my car. On the street is a different story. With seven years of pursuit driving (police car), 65 years of riding motorcycles and 32 years of investigating accidents I have more awareness than the average driver and would place myself high on any chart.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by whaap

How good a driver you are on the track and how good a driver you are on the streets are like talking about apples and oranges. On the track I would be zero as I've never tracked or autocrossed my car. On the street is a different story. With seven years of pursuit driving (police car), 65 years of riding motorcycles and 32 years of investigating accidents I have more awareness than the average driver and would place myself high on any chart.

One of my friends is a LAPD driving instructor... his students' (LEOs) skillsets generally translate very well to a track or autocross environment. I've participated in some friendly exercises, and with a mildly prepped car, law enforcement cars are simply unable to keep up. I wouldn't be surprised if your car control got up to speed on track rather quickly.

That being said, I'd say those LEOs are roughly a 3-4. There are, of course, enthusiasts within that group, who may rate higher on the scale.

Also, awareness =/= ability to maneuver a vehicle, and vice versa, but I think we both agree on that.

[LeeMaster]

4.5, I had my first autocross last week and did pretty decent, I beat a stock Mazdaspeed6 and a exhaust Cobalt and one EVO with intake/exhaust. I had a consistent time and beat another fellow twin. Not bragging, there's definitely more room for improvement as far as car and driver goes.

[solidONE]

All I can say is moto cop have mad riding skills. Specially low speed control. I think after having that much seat time and training as the average motorcycle officer, it's hard not to be good at it.

[GTM_Challenge]

4 to 5 with aspiration to move to 6 to 7 in the next 5 years or so.

[Element Tuning]

Interesting and I bet most don't want to conform to a chart of ability. Purely based on the chart I'm a 7 but it takes so much more than driving talent to win championships. I'm sure I compete against drivers who are as good or better than I am. I have raced against guys I'm sure you watch on tv every weekend and some have been in my own car and were slower. This however doesn't mean I think I'm a better driver but I'm just good enough that most drivers given only one day aren't quicker. This brings me to something that bugs the crap out of me because I find the slowest drivers are the biggest critics of driving talent. It's so much easier to hit the perfect line and push a slow car to the limit but wrestling a 500-700 hp unlimited time attack car with tons of aero, inadequate tires and brakes, and a massive sure of power is a whole different world.

Back to winning a championship and what it takes. As a driver I always feel like I can improve, that I could have gone a little quicker, that I could have braked a little later, or I messed up my line etc. That desireto go faster and be critical of your own talents will make you strive to go faster. To be a champion you need to be able to drive your car beyonds it's limits so that you can uncover its weaknesses. You then need to be able to communicate those weaknesses to your crew. If you can do that great but if you can tell them what to change to fix it, even better. It's not at all uncommon for us to show up at a new track and drop 4 seconds just dialing in the car where a local has been stuck at the same lap time for a year.

Last but not least, balls and ego! You need to think you are as good or better than who you line up against if you expect to beat them. If tallent is equal and the cars close the guy who is willing to push it, even crash, will likely win. I think in general car enthusiasts and racers have the ego which is whats skews the driver they think they are with reality.

With all that said I never judge people on their results or talent as I can respect anyone that actually chooses to drive on a real race track. Some just do it for fun, some like competition but aren't willing to push it, and some may just not have the car setup abilities to be a champion.

Thanks,
Phil Grabow

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by Element Tuning

It's so much easier to hit the perfect line and push a slow car to the limit but wrestling a 500-700 hp unlimited time attack car with tons of aero, inadequate tires and brakes, and a massive sure of power is a whole different world.

As a driver I always feel like I can improve, that I could have gone a little quicker, that I could have braked a little later, or I messed up my line etc.

Phil, these two things stood out to me.

Every time I'm asked to drive even a high-powered street car, I feel like I'm just tiptoeing around.

I do believe that you are likely easily the fastest driver to grace this forum...

[edj]

i was going to rate myself but i don't see any negative numbers here?

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by Element Tuning

Interesting and I bet most don't want to conform to a chart of ability. Purely based on the chart I'm a 7 but it takes so much more than driving talent to win championships. I'm sure I compete against drivers who are as good or better than I am. I have raced against guys I'm sure you watch on tv every weekend and some have been in my own car and were slower. This however doesn't mean I think I'm a better driver but I'm just good enough that most drivers given only one day aren't quicker. This brings me to something that bugs the crap out of me because I find the slowest drivers are the biggest critics of driving talent. It's so much easier to hit the perfect line and push a slow car to the limit but wrestling a 500-700 hp unlimited time attack car with tons of aero, inadequate tires and brakes, and a massive sure of power is a whole different world.

Back to winning a championship and what it takes. As a driver I always feel like I can improve, that I could have gone a little quicker, that I could have braked a little later, or I messed up my line etc. That desireto go faster and be critical of your own talents will make you strive to go faster. To be a champion you need to be able to drive your car beyonds it's limits so that you can uncover its weaknesses. You then need to be able to communicate those weaknesses to your crew. If you can do that great but if you can tell them what to change to fix it, even better. It's not at all uncommon for us to show up at a new track and drop 4 seconds just dialing in the car where a local has been stuck at the same lap time for a year.

Last but not least, balls and ego! You need to think you are as good or better than who you line up against if you expect to beat them. If tallent is equal and the cars close the guy who is willing to push it, even crash, will likely win. I think in general car enthusiasts and racers have the ego which is whats skews the driver they think they are with reality.

With all that said I never judge people on their results or talent as I can respect anyone that actually chooses to drive on a real race track. Some just do it for fun, some like competition but aren't willing to push it, and some may just not have the car setup abilities to be a champion.

Thanks,
Phil Grabow

Well said. Personally I know I have so much to learn that I refuse to rate myself highly on a scale. Having said that I am (and have) willing to wreck the race car if it comes down to needing to push that much more to take a first. Some of the self-ratings in this thread I'm not sure if they are sarcastic or serious (not talking about you).

Where I'm racing currently (chumpcar) car setup is more difficult.. stock components you are limited to what you can bend/modify/etc. Of course, Riley has no problems setting up their stupid fast car but that's a mix of a pro chassis shop, drivers and pitstop strategy