what's the best way to gain performance driving skill for a beginner?

Nikon FM

Here's what I did:

Seattle Area

__________________

Buddy Revell: "One man's sooner is another man's later"

RCZ

Thats what I was trying to say and Cossie put it into words better than I can. We can all agree that they are two completely different driving styles, just like rallying is completely different, right? I don't think you can argue that. The "kamikaze style" as Cossie calls it is the feeling I get. Even the most experienced auto-x'ers who win all the time, violently toss their cars in and out of corners. Its full attack, fast left rights and tight corners through the slaloms and hairpins. That is very different than the smooth, flowing and high speed world of road courses.

I'm not saying one is less than the other, I'm just saying they are different driving styles. If you were to drive the autox track like a big track and vice versa then you would not be very good. No matter how good you are at auto-x, even if you are national champion, if that is the driving style you've learned, then that's what you're gonna want to do on the track and it simply will not end well at 100+mph.

It is a good bit safer to auto-x first and then take it to a road track...I think that is the right progression...

ResIpsa

Seat time.

__________________
The Reed Law Firm; Michael Fasano VA Attorney and Counselor at Law: A Virginia Traffic, Criminal, and Family Lawyer.https://reedlawva.com/

travisjb

anyone notice that we are almost at 20 posts of giving the OP feedback / debating with each other and he/she is nowhere to be found! lol

I agree with:

- seat time
- autocross, DE, drivers schools... all fine places to start
- autocross is perhaps the best for reasons stated, but nothing wrong with jumping into a few DEs early on as well... mix it up!
- video games have limited utility, but I think can be a nice supplement to someone that has ALREADY LEARNED to drive properly on the track in real life... otherwise more likely to reinforce bad habits

__________________
2009 370Z #104
*For Sale*

cossie1600

video game is different than simulation.

370Zsteve

Here's what I did, at Le Circuit Mont Tremblant

Racing School :: Corporate Entertainment :: Jim Russell Racing Drivers School :: Racing School and Driving Instruction :: Jim Russell Racing Drivers School

Back when I went, it was Formula Ford

__________________
SOLD MY Z MARCH 2018 - another Core OG moves on - new ride 2019 Z Corvette Grand Sport - no mods necessary but already have eyes on HFC and intakes LOL IT NEVER ENDS.

travisjb

i realize that 'video game' can be derogatory to a serious 'simulation' and i'm a user / fan of both... but i stand by my statement that in either case, a newb is better off getting real seat time *then* using simulations (and even video games like NFSS) to supplement

__________________
2009 370Z #104
*For Sale*

Scott @ RA

OP, if you are still around...... There is actually some decent advise buried in some of these posts if you look hard enough.

I have a feeling some of the... Uumm "drivers" in this thread may have scared off the OP.

cossie1600

I completely disagree with you as I am a byproduct of way too much simulation. It didn't turn me into Michael Schumacher, but it sure put me in a better spot than most of the drivers that are on track with me.

travisjb

fine to disagree... and i suspect you prob have natural talent and would have developed just as fast or faster if you had spent a fraction of that sim time on the track... the question is what would you recommend to someone not = you?

__________________
2009 370Z #104
*For Sale*

cossie1600

I don't know about natural talent, just a lot of luck and practice.

Sim isn't for everyone, but it is a tool that definitely can't hurt. I always say simulation taught me the basics of driving and racing, autox taught me the real car control and therefore the race track is just a place for me to put everything together and utilize everything I learned.

Pharmacist

so it seems the consensus here for the majority is that auto x is a good start, after some experience, get some DE courses, and finally go to open lapping after I am comfortable with the experience. what about go karts? as for video games, i played some of them, and they really don't feel at all like real driving. they still feel like video games.

__________________
2009 370z Sport Touring/Nismo shift Knob/Z1 motorsports 34 row oil cooler

MightyBobo

The easy answer is simple: seat time. As much as you can get/afford.

__________________
I don't own a car anymore.

ChrisSlicks

Sounds good. Go karts are fun but pretty useless for learning to drive a car. Their grip to weight ratio is much higher than a car, and the weight is rear biased.

Video games are useless, driving sims are a tool. Driving sims are useful especially in that auto-x to track transition, they teach you about the racing line, braking zones etc. It will also impress your instructor if you can show up to a track and already have a good feel for the racing line, which the instructor can help you fine tune. Driving sims currently only exist on the PC, and you need a quality force feedback wheel and pedal set. Iracing's catalog of local tracks is gradually growing. If I'm going to do a track day I usually check to see if they have it and will do practice laps to familiarize myself before heading out. Although there is no substitute for real seat time with an instructor.

__________________
Hotchkis ARB | Stillen CAI | Art Pipes | Berk CBE | Stillen AP Racing Brakes | AE Performance Oil Cooler | BC Racing ER Coilovers | Doran Control Arms

CrownR426

__________________
Love + Hardwork + Passion
RIP SVTRacer