Jump to content
SAU Community

Recommended Posts

Hey motor sport guru's and enthusiusts,

I'm a young mechanic and have done a few different defencive driving courses through work and would rate myself as a very capable driver and able to learn fast. I'm strongly against flogging a car on the streets unless it's targa or the like but I would really like to get others experiences and advice on what path they took and how effective it was but more importantly what you would now recomend to do to develop driver talent/experience as I would love to get into dutton rally etc. Would you recommend skidpan days, track days, advanced driver courses etc.?

P.S. I'm in QLD and own an R32 GTS-T

Cheers in advance

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/115627-driver-talent/
Share on other sites

  • Replies 50
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

Posted Images

When a friend and I were about 18 we would help out at our local rounds of the tas rally series and through there made contacts and bought a cheap 2nd hand car, borrowed a terra trip and raced in that for a few seasons. Friends and family got roped into being pit crew, which sorted us out of a few scrapes. You will have a hard time injuring yourself in a tired old corolla/datto with a roll cage and helmets (one year we ended up upside down in a ditch, next year a creek and walked away) Nothing like learning by doing :bunny: Dont worry about being really competitive straight away, just get out there have some fun.

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/115627-driver-talent/#findComment-2128330
Share on other sites

True but a talent only becomes a talent when you develop it! Guys like doohan,brabham and jim richards didn't just fall into a car and were fast. It was a long, sometimes very destructive path to the top.

Get in there and try it, I would agree is the best way to learn but what I'm asking is in what? I don't intend on being a great in motorsport, I just want to be able to take my car out and push it within it's limits but have the car be the limiting factor, not my ability!

So where did you learn your skills? As Dave said he got into racing through a few contacts and family assistance. The end goal will be road rally but for someone who is super green in the world of racing/rally, what do you recomend to pick up the basics of car control on the edge?

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/115627-driver-talent/#findComment-2128441
Share on other sites

I made a few simple mods (mostly suspension) to my first road car and went supersprints, hillclimbs, motorkhanas, drags etc with my local car club. After few events I quickly worked out that I didn't know how to drive on a track, so I went along to a one day advanced driving course, best $200 I ever spent. Learnt heaps, did some more club events and won my class/classes a few times.

So I figured it was time to build/buy a race car. Raced it a few times and worked out that I needed some more specialised training, so I went along to a 2 day circuit race driver training course,. That really taught me how to get around a circuit, best $400 I ever spent.

At the same time I pit crewed for a few race teams, even a couple of rally teams and picked up plenty of set up tricks. The logistics of a race meeting, what and when to do things. I also did some scrutineering, it's amazing what you learn when checking a professionally built race car.

Now I manage a race team, do a little driver training, suspension set up clinics, data acquisition plus write a few magazine articles and race very infrequently.

:bunny: cheers :O

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/115627-driver-talent/#findComment-2128533
Share on other sites

Yeah fair enuff

I like u i want to devolop my driving skill as i only new to the skyline game

Im in Canberra so I am very close to Wakefield Park as soon as I get a second set of rims i gunna get to as many track days as poss , mate of mine has been to about 8 times in his EVO and in that time he has taken about 3 sec off his best time. Practice makes perfect.

The best time he has done is low 1:09 his mate who has raced a bit can do 1:08 so that what he wants to do. His advice to me is dont worry about anybody else just race yourself have a good time.

About the only racing i have done was motor cross and little bit of speedway i was far from the worst but I was so far from the front it wasn`t funny. I grew up on a farm (bout 1km from Wakefield) so i had done heaps of riding some of the ppl had only been riding a few years and they SMASHED me u could pick the riders with talent

If u have a talent for driving just like the people with a talent for football or riding it wont take long to surface

As for driving skills the limited one i got were leant from racing my mates in padock bashers on the farm

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/115627-driver-talent/#findComment-2128617
Share on other sites

i find in amatuer and mid level motorsport it's the guys with the most experience, practice and training that do well, not always the guys with the most talent. they are busy climbing the ranks to the top!

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/115627-driver-talent/#findComment-2128647
Share on other sites

I think it all comes back to bum is seat time, and good tuition. Its near impossible to learn it all yourself, its so much easier when ppl show you. Thing is ppl like me know everything and cant be told so will never get better then my current standard...which is ok, mi really enjoyt workign on cars and seeing what changes make the car slower & faster...

Formula Vee looks like a good class to get into, im even looking at Saloon Cars or Porsche 944 Cup. From what i can see there are a few good classes around....but i hate the thought of touchign another car as it would put me out for a whoel season...so will stick to hack levels of motorsport where if i spend enough i can get the upper hand, irrespective of ability :(

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/115627-driver-talent/#findComment-2128774
Share on other sites

the 1st skid pan day i went to was awesome. it was with aaron mcgill and all he said was "i ain't gonna give you advanced driving tips or tell you how to do it. all i'll say is what to do and watch you do it. if you come un-stuck, i'll tell what you did wrong and how to correct it, but the best way to learn is to just get out there and do it..." practice makes perfect.

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/115627-driver-talent/#findComment-2129027
Share on other sites

That seems to be along the lines I was thinking except for the circuit tuition which I was unaware even existed so I'll definitely have a look at that!

So I think the basic plan to upgrade car skills for me is =

1. advanced driver training. Approx. $200 which If I'm not mistaken teachs you how to control power slides (accidental ofcourse).

2. a skid pan day to get used to the cars behavour under a limited grip situation

3. maybe a track day at QR to learn the racing lines, braking capabilities etc.

4. a track tuition course so that i'll already have a feel for the track from the track day and be able to build from there

From then on I guess it's practice, practice, practice!

:P for your responses guys and if anyone has any more ideas/suggestions, post away!

Edited by ellie
Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/115627-driver-talent/#findComment-2129289
Share on other sites

in SE QLD, best way to learn is in things like:

- motorkhana - cheap and learn car control in a safe, low speed environment. Holden Sporting Car Club and Gold Coast Tweed motorsport Club run alot of motorkhanas.

- Autocross - smooth dirt (decomp granite) race track with plenty of run off area - low grip and relatively low speed make this an excellent place to learn car control. And have far too much fun in the process. Entry is cheap too. They also have practice days with cheaper entry and less cars - so more track time. Ipswich West Moreton Auto Club run the Autocross.

Nothing like time behind the wheel, no matter where it is, for improving the skills. Just get involved with a CAMS affiliated club, get your licence and get out there to as many events as you can at as many different venues as possible!

Rod Browning (ex rally guru) runs advanced driver training days at Morgan Park too.

Mt Cotton driver training centre has a skidpan and circuits/roads.

And Total Driver run training days too - sometimes at Lakeside!

Edited by hrd-hr30
Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/115627-driver-talent/#findComment-2131755
Share on other sites

i have done (in order) sometimes irresponsible street 'learning', defensive driving course, drag strip, skidpan and last of all circuit.

i didnt find the defensive driving course very helpful as i had given what they taught us a go already on the road, mostly braking, and also avoiding manouveres etc.

drag races were just fun really, nothing new there..

skidpan is a good experience, as although im sure everyone has a go at second gear corners, on the skidpan you can see how the car reacts at much higher speeds, so i learnt a lot about control in third gear. wet skidpan was also very useful as you have a large area to try and push the limits on a wet surface.

I recently went to my first circuit day at wakefield park, there was not many people there which was handy!

i have to say i learned the most at the circuit day, and only because i had a friend with me who knew the lines etc and showed me how to drive around the track.

at the start of the day i was pretty hopeless, wrong lines etc, and i would overheat the tyres quickly and just overall be slow! after my friend came in the car and taught me what i should be doing, the tyres were lasting heaps longer, driving was a lot smoother and i was massively faster than at the start (4-5 secs faster!)

one mistake was going there on crap tyres, seems like a good idea if you are being tight, but in the end it becomes a big limitation as you just want to go faster but there is no grip and with the tyres i had on they overheated quickly and car was overall a deathtrap to drive (i dont have much power, and could get it sideways easy at 130km/h in third..)

so put good tyres on, go to the racetrack, and get someone to show u how to drive :thumbsup:

Edited by siksII
Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/115627-driver-talent/#findComment-2132241
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now



  • Similar Content

  • Latest Posts

    • Back again. I returned to Japan in Jul/Aug to spend time with the car on my birthday and remind myself what all the sacrifice and compromise is for. It happened to line up with the monthly morning meet in Okutama, which I have been wanting to go to for a long time. It's a unique event at a unique spot with really rare, interesting, and quirky cars. It's where all the oldheads and OGs gather. The nighttime scene at DKF certainly has its place and should be experienced if you're into cars, but there's too much bad attention and negativity around it now. IMO the better time is Sunday morning at DKF or Okutama; it's more chill and relaxed. I'm glad I was finally able to go, but not sure it's worth the drive from all the way from Nagoya immediately the day before, unless I was already staying in Tokyo for the days right before the meet, because you have to wake up quite early to make it in time. Funnily enough though I didn't drive the car all that much this trip because it was just too damn hot. While there were zero issues and running temps were nominal and the A/C was strong, RBs already run crazy hot as it is. Sure, it took it all like a champ but something about driving these cars in the ridiculous heat/humidity bothers me and makes me feel like I'm asking too much of it. I'm just me being weird and treating the car like a living thing with feelings; I'm mechanically sympathetic to a fault. Instead I was mainly driving something else around - a KX4(silver) 2001 X-Trail GT, that I acquired in May. There's a few different flavors to choose from with Xs, but visually it's the Nissan version of the Honda CR-V. Mechanically it's a whole different story as this, being the top-trim GT, has an SR20VET mated to a four-speed auto and full-time AWD! It was a very affordable buy in exceptional condition inside and out, with very low mileage...only 48k kms. Most likely it was owned by an older person who kept it garaged and well-maintained, so I'm really happy with how it all worked out. It literally needs zero attention at the moment, albeit except for some minor visual touch-ups. I wanted something quirky, interesting, and practical and for sure it handily delivers on all three of those aspects. I was immediately able to utilize the cargo and passenger capacity to its full extent. It's a lot of fun to drive and is quite punchy through 1st and 2nd. It's very unassuming -in the twisty bits it's a lot more composed than one would think at a glance- and it'll be even better once I get better tires on it(yes, it's an SUV but still a little boat-y for my liking). So...now I have two golden-era Nissans in silver. One sports car and one that does everything else; the perfect two-car solution I think👍 The rest of the trip...I was able to turn my stressed brain off and enjoy it, although I didn't quite get to do as much as I thought. I did some interesting things, met some interesting people, and happened into some interesting situations however, that's all for another post though only if people really want to know. Project-wise, I went back to Mine's again to discuss more plans and am hoping to wrap that up real soon; keep watching this space if that interests you. Additionally, while working in the tormenting sweatbox that is the warehouse, I was able to organize most of the myriad of parts that my friend is storing for me along with the cars, and the 34 has a nice little spot carved out for it: And since it can get so stupid hot in there, that made it all the more easy -after I was standing there looking at the car and said 'f**k it'- to finally remove all the damn gauges that have mostly been an eyesore all this time. Huzzah. The heat basically makes the adhesive backing on the gauge mounts more pliable to work with, so it was far less stressful getting this done. I didn't fully clean it up or chase the wiring though; that will happen once I have the car in closer possession. Another major reason to remove all that stuff is to give people less reasons to get in my car and steal s**t while it's being exported/imported when/if the time comes, which leads us to my next point... ...and that is even though it's time in Japan is technically almost up since it's a November car and the X would be coming in March, I'm still not entirely sure where my life and career is headed; I don't really know what the future looks like and where I'm going to end up. I feel there's a great deal of uncertainty with me and as a result of that, it feels like I'm at a crossroads moreso now than any point in my life thus far and there are some choices I need to make. Yes, I've had some years to consider things and prepare myself, however too much has happened in that time to maintain confidence and everything feels so up in the air; tenuous one might say. Simply put, there's just too much nonsense going on right now from multiple vectors. Admittedly, I'm struggling to stay in the game and keep my eyes on the prize. So much so in fact, that very recently I came the closest I ever have before to calling it quits outright; selling everything and moving on and not looking back. The astute among you will pick up on key subtext within this paragraph. In the meantime I've still managed to slowly acquire some final bits for the car, but it feels nice knowing there's not much left to get and I'm almost across that finish line; I have almost everything I'll ever want for my interpretation and expression on what it is I think an R34 should be. 'til later.
    • Thanks for that, hadn’t used my brain enough to think about that. 
    • Also playing with fire if they start to flow more air down low than what the stock twins can. It's not even up top you need to worry, it can be at 3000rpm and part throttle and it's getting way more flow than it should.
    • Any G40/1000 or G40/1250 results out there?  
    • You still want a proper tune on the stock ECU though. Stock tune + stock ECU with GT-SS/-9s is probably playing with fire if you're running more than stock airflow/power.
×
×
  • Create New...