Best thing for a rookie?

[sebhaque]

Hello all. I want to make my car faster, but the easiest way to do that is to learn how to drive it properly :)

I'm a real novice at track/spirited driving. I've done a few experience day thingys in an F430 and a DB9 but they don't really teach you how to exercise the car with respect. Seeing as I come on runs quite often I'm a bit worried about getting myself in a bit of trouble and ending up pirouetting into someone else's pride and joy.

Anybody either want to spend an afternoon driving my car with me showing me how its done, or know of any decent track-ey type thingys where I can go and spend a day or two learning how to drive properly?

Sorry if this sounds a bit pathetic, but we all start somewhere, eh? I've only been driving for 2 years (I'm 19) so best get this done sooner rather than later :)

[verysideways]

Like this you mean?

http://www.petrolheadnirvana.com/torque/showthread.php?t=902

Oh, and definitely not pathetic. Very mature of you to realise that the best way to make your car faster is to improve your own skills.

[Harsh]

Seb, in all honesty....
this !

http://www.petrolheadnirvana.com/torque/showthread.php?t=902

any of us would be happy to sit with you in the car though.
if you're coming to the Goodwood run on Sunday, sit (not too close) behind either myself, Robin or Ben to see braking points, road positioning etc. that will help as a pointer.

[Harsh]

great minds think alike? :)

[sebhaque]

Cheers folks! Just put my name down on that - did read about it a while ago but was a bit afraid I'd be the one going backwards round the corner while everybody's making good progress. Schoolboy fears etc etc. Looking forward to it.

As for Sunday - I'm on the very early meet ;) as Harsh you probably know from the PH forum. I'll try and watch you guys, I might try and sweet talk my way into a quick spin with someone. Either way, thanks for the support chaps - hope to see you Sunday!

[verysideways]

I won't see you on Sunday - how about Monday?

[Ziggy Parker]

19 and you have a Scooby??
Damn when I was 19 I had a Mini Metro.

[sebhaque]

Oh damn is it Ace night again? I hate not being able to come to these... damn work.

And yeah - I got lucky with my job. Anybody can do what I do (and more), it's just down to effort :)

[Dizeee]

I come on runs quite often I'm a bit worried about getting myself in a bit of trouble and ending up pirouetting into someone else's pride and joy.




There in lies yours answer.

Well done for the post, your attitude and logic marry up, and for a young driver to be concerned about these things is refreshing and healthy.

However, see my quote above.

Why are you worried? Do you worry when you drive to shops to fetch some shopping? Do you worry when you park your car alone? Your worries are based on how others view your driving, how you view your driving in other eyes, and also how you feel you portray yourself. These are all things we have all been through and experienced. However it is clear, maybe, that you feel you have to "perform" when coming along to meets?

As I and any other PN veteran will tell you, nobody is judging you nor are they scrutinising your driving. It is far better that you come along and drive safely within your own limits than to go balls out and end up coming to notice for the wrong reason. Your probably a sound driver, but respect is earnt by driving in a manner that doesn't get you recognised, as opposed to driving at 10/10ths and you being noticed for an all to eager right foot.

There are all manner of skills that come to these runs, track orientated or road orientated. Everyone has their niche in different area's, but in the main nobody seeks to compete.

I congratulate your post but would emphasise that you need not worry. You should never feel worried about pirouetting into anything, because if this is a worry you are trying too hard, and that will show. I used to drive a front wheel Astra and did my best to keep up with many exotica, but would always resort to safety. If you can't keep up with something due to the car, the driver, or a combination, you will earn far more respect by letting that someone make ground whilst you drive safely, rather than push it and the worst happens.

As for how you progress in general, experience is the key. Track days in supercars are ok but you need a solid base, and I believe wholeheartedly that that is learned in time over many many miles. When you can be flexible in what you drive and maintain a standard, thats when you have cracked it. No point spending a few hours in a DB9 / F430 on a track every so often when it is very different to your daily drive. The understanding of the fundamentals will far outweight a brief aquaintence with a supercar on an observed drive.

Hope that helps and good luck :)

[sebhaque]

Thanks for the post Dizeee - made for some very interesting reading. I'm generally comfortable driving around normally, with the odd spirited drive when the time is right, but I'm erring on the side of caution a little bit. As for driving on meets - it's more a fear of stuffing it than anything else. We drive sensibly, but when you're an inexperienced driver sitting among a fleet of expensive supercars, it does seem a bit daunting at first. I'm not your typical Impreza driver (as the saying goes) or a typical 19 year old bloke wheelspinning everywhere and bouncing off the limiter (well, maybe in the company cars), and so I'm usually found towards the back of the pack, not getting in anybodys way as I may back off a bit. Oh well - experience etc.

I know you folks are all a friendly bunch and if I'm lagging behind I'll usually find you guys having a smoke at the next top, but my main worry is if something unexpected happens - say, I hit a pothole and the car starts squirming and I had my foot planted. In such a situation while I may just about be able to control it I'd not feel comfortable in doing so - and as for a bit of oversteer round a corner when the car's in RWD, I can shout DAB OF OPPO all day long but actually doing so and controlling it is beyond my skill level. Not sure how many 19 year olds could handle it!

Plus it's nice to have that secure feeling that you know what you need to do if something goes wrong. When I started driving in 2008 I was very worried about driving on snow, as I thought I'd either get stuck or slide gracefully into a nearby tree. However after doing a lot of driving over the snow we had at the start of this year I'm fairly comfortable with how to handle myself on the slippery stuff - AWD does help a little bit though :D
Also used to be worried about driving RWD cars as I thought every time I turned a corner in one I'd oversteer, flip, crash into a tree and die. Driven a couple now (including Donny's TVR, even though I couldn't really reach the pedals) and they're a hoot :)

Cheers for the input though folks - looking forward to Millbrook.

[chevy-stu]

The Performance Driving Event at Millbrook looks ideal for you, as does all the advice said so far...
Only thing I would add is, after the Millbrook day, I'd book in a Track day in your own car and a few lessons with a circuit instructor too.

Driving my own cars on the limit on track gave gave me the best understanding of what will happen when the tyres start screeching and it feels like it's breaking away, how to really recognise under/oversteer and how to deal with it (without spinning off)

At 19 it sounds like you've got the best attitude of driving within your abilities, and being safer rather than faster, but there is nothing like experience, so just need to get out there and drive with others you can learn from..