Driving Practice?

[Ruiner77]

Ok.. i guess this is a good place to post this question.

Ive never raced... never really drivin a car of mine HARD. I like to squeel a bit when turning in my neighborhood, but thats about the extent of it. Is there any places around here to just practice? Areas with no curbs, ditches and such to test and get a feel for what the car can really do without having to worry about running into something? :P. I dont want to enter an AutoX and not have the slightest clue what im doin, and I think its a damn good idea to really know how to control your car even with day to day driving. It would also be cool to take it onto a dirt track of some sort... get some gravel time in. :D

[moxie]

The only really safe way is to go to something like and AutoX.

Don't worry about not knowing what you are doing.

They have the novice group, and no one expects you to be anything bu inexperienced. I learned a great deal about driving from my first few seasons having ride alongs with the veterans.

Other than that, you can get familiar with the roads near your house and go drive them from time to time and get a feel for how the car is moving and working.

The disadvantage of practice on the streets is that you can never really approach the limits of the car. It really isn't safe to drive as hard as you can, so you wont learn those skills you need to drive as fast as possible, and as safe as possible at the limit.

A really good idea would be to keep an eye out for AutoX schools.
Little one day events with alot of seat time make a huge difference.

[pickinicholas]

Or find a HUGE parking lot and don't get caught... LOL :lol:

[moxie]

There is always that :)

We have been looking, so let us know if you find one.

We can all pitch in for some cones and setup our own AutoX Skool

[wgnths]

yeah i've been looking for a big lot to practice drifting......its no fun if you get caught though. what ryan said is right on! there are many many drivers at autox that are first timers, i'll be one of them sunday. kev is a vet and he loves to help noobs out! make it out to one and take a ride along with him in his car!! you'll love it! and he'd ride with you and give you pointers....you dont have to compete with anyone but yourself out there! also, look for upcoming nasa events this fall.....they offer hpde classes that give you some driving instruction. :wink: i'll be doing those this fall to prepare for the drift season. :)

[wrx222]

I just started auto-x last month, this is going to be my 3rd event, I went to one down in Tucson to get some extra practice. I had no clue what I was doing my first time out :oops: but someone will ride with you your first time to help ya out. I had never done anything like auto-x before and didn't know anyone there, now I'm hooked. For the most practice you should register to do time only, meaning your times won't count towards anything, but you can register twice so you get double the runs, at least that's what I was told in Tucson not sure if it's the same in Phoenix? I figure I'm not going to win anytime soon so the more runs the better :D

Dave

[1bad_ej20]

great points...the only way to learn is to get out there and do it. Time only's are a must if you want to get the most driving time out of the events.

A few key things I can think of off the top of my head are:
1) Seating:
- Sit with your chair back pretty straight up. You want to be able to set the insides of your wrists on the top of your steering wheel without lifting your shoulders off the back of your seat.
- there's the nifty little seat belt trick. Pull your seat back about 2 clicks past where you will finally end up sitting. Take the buckle of your seat belt and put it so it's almost tight to your hips but don't clip it in yet. Turn the buckle like 3 times, this will lock the belt from sliding freely. Now clip the buckle in. Then move your chair up to where it should be. You will feel your seat belt hold you in like a phat chick does a double bacon cheese burger.

2) Corners:
- Avoid plowing through corners. This is caused by coming into a corner too hot and inducing a tremendous amount of understeer. Just brake in a straight line before you turn in, then modulate your throttle though, step on it just after the apex.
- Stay back in your seat during cornering. Try to resist the temptation to turn with your shoulders. You won't have good visibility. You won't have control of the turn. And you won't feel the cars balance. Just sit into the seat and steer with your lats or under arms. I sometimes find it good to press your left foot into the dead pedal.
- Don't lift the throttle abbruptly inside a turn. This will cause the weight of the car to go forward and will cause the rear to swing out. You will end up in a spin if you've got any kind of speed in the turn. Just stay on the throttle and do a mild modulation. This mostly applies when your at the limit in a corner and the cars weight is being forced to the outside of the turn.

3) Have fun! The only thing that matters is that you're improving.

That's about it, I'll post more if I can think of some. Feel free to comment too. Always like to hear what other people do in corners, etc.

[wgnths]

great pointers joel! i love my gc lock, really kept me in place on sunday! and the rest is all the problems i need to work on, mainly being smoother with the throttle..first i was understeering bad(not braking hard enough and too late), and then oversteering. learning the cars characteristics and how to change them, is something that can only be learned on the track and worth every penny. :wink:

[pickinicholas]

I can't wait for my first autocross!

[wgnths]

oooh, sorry nobody over 6'2" is allowed within 500 yards of an autox.

[pickinicholas]

oooh, sorry nobody over 6'2" is allowed within 500 yards of an autox.

You bustin my balls man... bustin my balls.

[F-This]

At least not for ride alongs :lol:

[yepee]

I have to admit, I didnt want to make an a$$ of myself the first time out..
I walked the course as many times as I could and my 1st run was a little slow (so I wouldnt DNF) but with each run I got a little faster, the school in Dec helpped me a lot! go out and have some fun!

[wgnths]

^has da skills.

[pickinicholas]

I have found a lot that is HUGE and secluded... I'll get pics of it soon.

[Ruiner77]

:shock: :shock: where at?

[wgnths]

keep it on the DL!!!!! dont post pics in the public section. :wink:

[Ruiner77]

lol i figured hed pm me yo

[EVIL 8]

Screw auto-X...I'm not paying to guard cones while some hapless chucklehead is plowing through the course with his hair on fire!!! ASRA was by far one of the COOLEST things I have ever done...I'm talking backpacking through Europe (and visiting Amsterdam), visiting the Caribbean (snorkeling/diving trips), BCS and BCS championship games (I love college football and THE Ohio State Buckeyes), nuermous concerts, cruising through Jerome with the crew, even having sex in a hot tub, pool, and shower in the same day...

YOU GET MY POINT. Like the Gran Turismo commerial...anyone can fire a bullet, few can steer it!

ASRA > Auto-X

Cones sucks...

[Ruiner77]

did you just say that ASRA was better than sex 3 times? :shock: :shock: :shock:

[VSB XT]

After my son is born, my next mod will be the driver. I've got to get some skills and test limits to be a safer driver as well. It's just like the thread starter, where to begin? :oops:

[EVIL 8]

did you just say that ASRA was better than sex 3 times? :shock: :shock: :shock:

I didn't say it was better, but just as cool! Only if I could have sex during ASRA would ASRA be BETTER!! :lol:

[skolapper]

so right now, Im relatively satisfied with my putting and approach. When driving, my distance is satisfactory to me, at least , and I consistently throw the shape of shot I am looking for, but I routinely miss my line. What do people do to practice driving accuracy, specifically for those "thread the trees" shots. Is there nothing better to do than just play?

Thanks in advance,

BLM

[Max Power]

There are roads in Senegal? Or are you actually threading literal trees?

Best bet for you is autocross - I have no idea where you'll find it though. Where's our resident Senegalese experts - Brady? ;)

[Philthy]

I saw the coolest donk the other day. Convertible Caprice that had to be riding on 28s. Couple brothas with the top down and the stereo loud. If it had less than 8 inches of lift, I'd be shocked.

[skilit]

wow they are getting smarterer

[Ignothe09]

im looking for an all encompassing driving school. stunt driving, skid control accident evasion with one on one personal training and lap practice as well, somthing within california thats seriously worth the money? any good locations with good connections or references?