Driver or operator- which are you?

[QuickRX]

Dear USMB members:

 

I got a private post from a lister that just got a car like mine and he asked me what mods I'd done.

I gave him the list, the last one being: Driving abilities and training.

 

So, the question is:

Who has taken training and/or studied driving? Who feels that they are a 'good' driver that has not done so?

 

One of my favorite life experiences was track time with training; the clouds parted and a ray of light hit me several times, and my driving habits were changed forever.

 

The reason I bring this up is that I found one of the courses I've taken- http://www.irdc-racing.com/ No financial interest, blah blah, but seeing what YOUR car can do on the edge with maximim input of the forces of nature and at the limits of adhesion while a club racer is sitting next to you providing input (then, if you offer, taking over the wheel so you can FEEL what a perfect line is) is worth the price of admission. Hell, it's cheap if you think of the cost of renting Pacific Raceway!

 

-QuickRX

[Commuter]

About 10 years ago, my boss sent 6 of us to "skid school". They had 2 instructors, a couple of VW Passats, and a short track with some slippery stuff on it. There was about an hour and half of classroom stuff, then the rest of the day was in the car.

 

It was really good. One drill was performing an emergency lane change. You had to create a skid, then hold it in a 4 wheel drift, then come out of it. All but one of us totally lost it the first time and had the car doing a 360 (or more). Myself included. They taught where to direct your eyes (had a couple of targets), etc.

 

Another drill was braking techniques. ABS was not too common yet, so we went thru that. They also had the car's rigged so they could apply brakes front or back selectively. You'd drive straight and they'd try to mess you up as you steered to stay pointed ahead. (I was good at that... the guy had noted my 'tiny' steering corrections in prior drills.)

 

Another part of the day was simply driving out on the local roads and highway and they gave each of us a score sheet.

 

I was very pleased, and have always wanted to take more, but haven't so far. I have a daughter that is about to get her license. When appropriate, I want to put her in some class like this. Heck, I'll probably even join her.

 

Commuter