Driving Techniques

[shoebox]

While i was going down the pacific highway today, it suddenly struck me that anyone can barrel down a straight road, but it'll take considerable skill to be able to handle corners and turns quickly (like hairpin turns ). Not to mention, avoiding dangers which may suddenly arise on the roads too (like something falling off the back of a truck which is in front of you).

Are there any places which teach advanced driving techniques near brisbane? I've always felt that i don't have sufficient driving knowledge to make full use of my car...

[Spook's_Skyline]

qld raceway?

[dangerous_daveo]

http://www.sdt.com.au/SDTMAINMENU.htm

Try them. It really is best to do the basic course first then move your way up. They have courses at Mt Cotton and Willowbank.

[Revhead]

There are still a few track days and things you can sign up for, but the govt is slowly cutting motorsport off at the knees. Get in, learn something and have some fun before they ban everything that doesn't require you to wear a cardigan.

http://www.sdt.com.au/SDTMAINMENU.htm

Try them. It really is best to do the basic course first then move your way up. They have courses at Mt Cotton and Willowbank.

*cough* shameless plug *cough*

But yeah agreed, SDT are the shiz

[shoebox]

ah.. thanks! I just joined sau, so i'm pretty new to all this...

[Einstein]

You suck at driving and you bought a skyline? Wish i had that much money to waste on a 4wd conversion to my 34

Cornering techniques is 5% theory and 95% practice, go find a nice windy drive and do it again and again until you can corner smoothly and within the white lines. (back road to springbrook, the somerset dam road, or mt coot-tha are nice starters) Then go to a queensland raceway track day or something to practice your cornering at higher speeds, and this is where your 5% theory comes in to maintain the racing line of least g-force and least decelleration.

I believe mt cotton driving school still offers a defensive driving course, but any "drifting" as a result of such teachings have been banned outright, and as a further consequence there is really nowhere legal in QLD to learn how to control a car that ISNT in control.

Find a way to get better at driving that's to your liking, and i suggest you use a $1k junker, not your damn skyline

[Mr-Toy33]

ring your insurance company, they'd have a list of defensive driving places.

i know some insurance companies actually provide this type of stuff to their members with discounts on their yearly insurance price.

AAMI I think it is actually use holden out at Jacobswell for their defensive driving stuff here in brisbane/seqld.

[dangerous_daveo]

You suck at driving and you bought a skyline? Wish i had that much money to waste on a 4wd conversion to my 34

Cornering techniques is 5% theory and 95% practice, go find a nice windy drive and do it again and again until you can corner smoothly and within the white lines. (back road to springbrook, the somerset dam road, or mt coot-tha are nice starters) Then go to a queensland raceway track day or something to practice your cornering at higher speeds, and this is where your 5% theory comes in to maintain the racing line of least g-force and least decelleration.

I believe mt cotton driving school still offers a defensive driving course, but any "drifting" as a result of such teachings have been banned outright, and as a further consequence there is really nowhere legal in QLD to learn how to control a car that ISNT in control.

Find a way to get better at driving that's to your liking, and i suggest you use a $1k junker, not your damn skyline

Id personally still suggest the courses before that... As its controlled conditions, peoeple can tell you what to and not to do, and give you advice. Bit hard to do that once your sliding off the mountain edge. Just my educated oppinion tho.

The drifting thing btw hasnt been resolved as yet. Basically atm Joel is too busy with all the highschool stuff between now and the end of the year to do much about it, so early next year hopefully it all gets sorted quite quickly.

But yeah SDT FTW!!! (yes shamless free plug!)

[Einstein]

Id personally still suggest the courses before that... As its controlled conditions, peoeple can tell you what to and not to do, and give you advice. Bit hard to do that once your sliding off the mountain edge. Just my educated oppinion tho.

i never made a suggestion to slide on mountain roads

[dangerous_daveo]

i never made a suggestion to slide on mountain roads

Never said you did mate... But if he knows his driving skill might not be up to scratch (which is mighty good of him to say, as most people are far to proud to admit it much less do anything about it) then say you go round a corner, front wheels hit some small pebbles bit of a slip, panic lock up = slide = off side of mountain = hurt car, person, or worse. I'm a little anal about it, but I dont want to see anymore people die litterly infront of me on the roads because they think they can drive.

[shoebox]

Yea, maybe i should attend some defensive driving course first, then start practicing on some wide open area or something. I have no problem keeping to my lane on windy roads, but its the 180 hairpin turns and 90 degree corners which i have no confidence in (like that route up to natural bridge cave at gold coast).

I'm also pretty new to FR cars, as i have always been driving FF cars (although i haven't been doing any serious cornering to really feel the difference yet).

I'll check out SDT for the time being ^_^

[Turbo Tim]

Take up karting.

Good fun and you learn the basics of control.

Either that or track days.

But really, im sure a really advanced driving course would be best. I have done plenty of track days and am semi competitive at local kart racing, but I still dont consider myself a good driver. I would like to do a real advanced driving course where you have to control an out of control vehicle in adverse conditions.

[wonkynutz]

I have no problem keeping to my lane on windy roads, but its the 180 hairpin turns and 90 degree corners which i have no confidence in (like that route up to natural bridge cave at gold coast).

Oh yes,that road...well do I know it,and several others in the border ranges.The main driving technique to remember is if you can't see around the corner,which is often the case,assume there's something nasty there.Yes,I am speaking from experience.These back roads can be lots of fun but are NOT race tracks.A judicious "lack of confidence" ain't such a bad thing at times.Save the "cornering practice" for when you have clear visibility and you'll be fine.If you already know this I apologise for lecturing but it's amazing how many people forget something this basic.

PS. As an example of the "experience" try entering a blind hairpin corner,on a motorbike,on the side of a mountain,with no barrier,and being confronted with a loaded logging truck coming the other way.Twas interesting.....

PPS. Am going to check out SDT myself.Could do with a tune up.

[dangerous_daveo]

Take up karting.

Good fun and you learn the basics of control.

Either that or track days.

But really, im sure a really advanced driving course would be best. I have done plenty of track days and am semi competitive at local kart racing, but I still dont consider myself a good driver. I would like to do a real advanced driving course where you have to control an out of control vehicle in adverse conditions.

We actually had some guys do the advanced course the other day (3rd time doing it) and they decided they were going to go back and do the basic course... So in all honesty whats best is start off with the basics (braking, vision, basic cornering) then work your way up. As if you can't get them right what hope do you have at getting the rest right.

(this isnt aimed at you turbo tim, just old mate, a lot of advanced courses are based on that you have done the basic ones first)

[Del Sol]

Sideline Motorsports (http://www.sideline.org.au/) runs a great driver training day out at Mt. Cotton once or twice a year. It is cheap ($160) and covers pretty much everything from autokhana, to road course, to skid pan. I find that the sidline motorsports instructors have a really good attitude.

[Turbo Tim]

We actually had some guys do the advanced course the other day (3rd time doing it) and they decided they were going to go back and do the basic course... So in all honesty whats best is start off with the basics (braking, vision, basic cornering) then work your way up. As if you can't get them right what hope do you have at getting the rest right.

(this isnt aimed at you turbo tim, just old mate, a lot of advanced courses are based on that you have done the basic ones first)

Yeah no worries. I Just remember back when I got my licence I was told by the instructor to think about doing a course, but dont worry about the basics as you should know most of it to pass. Wierd idea on his part.

I would love to do a course like that, but unfortunately work only pay for them for certain staff

[shoebox]

Yea, these training programs look good! I'll probably attend them during the summer or something to learn a thing or two about car control.

One thing though, i don't understand why everyone is so against the HICAS system. I'm cornering much better with it!

[JaiJai]

holden performance in commera just awsome!

[MountainRunner]

I tried to organise a driver training track day but didn't have the numbers. Now that there are many more people in the track day group I may try again next year. Might post an expression of interest.

On the HICAS side, it was put there for the everyday driver to feel good cornering. For the hard core racer it makes the tail end feel loose and interfers with your perception of the traction limit. By the nature of its operation it messes with the settings in the rear end.

Like everthing in mtorosport there is not one answer that suites everyone. I'd say if it makes your cornering feel better its a good thing, if it makes you feel uncertain about whats happening in the rear end then put in a locking bar.

[Silver_R34_GT-T]

can it really make that much differece? have HICAS in or out, you all speak of feeling no control in the ass, i have never felt this yet