For those of you who have done an HPDE or a driving school, do you find yourself now driving more aggresivly on the streets. I'm not saying do you now go out and look for street races, more wondering if you get more comfortable with the car and your abilities that it rolls over a bit to the streets. Discuss....

 

The opposite seems to be true for this driver.

I get my fix on the track, and seem to have more patience in traffic.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by George Knighton &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The opposite seems to be true for this driver.

I get my fix on the track, and seem to have more patience in traffic.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I figured this with the older, more experienced ones (not a low blow GK. )

But I'm sure there have got to be some that have that mentality. I know as I got more comfortable with my DD ITR I did drive a little bit more aggresive when nobody was around. Say a curvy road or and on/off ramp for the highway. Just curious about others.

 

i'll tell you after sunday f00

 

I'm in the same boat as George. I find myself driving less aggressive.

That doesn't mean I don't entertain myself while driving, you can definitely have fun driving 5/10th's on freeway onramps and the like. I just have less desire to push the car close to the limits.

 

I find myself trying to hit the apex of almost every turn but that's about it. I love those single-lane on/off ramps that you can double-apex. YUMMY! Of course, I don't do this aggresively enough to the point where I'm holding on to the steering wheel to hold me in place.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by George Knighton &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The opposite seems to be true for this driver.

I get my fix on the track, and seem to have more patience in traffic.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I agree with George. On average I am much less aggressive on the street and especially in rush-hour traffic. I actually went through a phase of fear of other drivers on the street if you can believe it, where I was extremely uncomfortable on the street/highways with all the crazy stupid zipperheaded nuts behind the wheel out there. Ironically this fear developed after I had driven a handful of courses a few years ago. I no longer fear them, I just hate them all. And I now have a huge respect for big rig drivers and the police that patrol and protect the streets.

Speed is not the same issue to me as aggression though. I feel that they are 2 seperate issues that are often combined by bad drivers and the media then misunderstood producing quite a stigma. I noticed the other day that while cruising along with traffic at say 75 to 80 mph just how slow it feels and that there is no rush of adrenaline unless the car is WOT ***** to the wall climbing to 130 on the freeway or minimally almost triple the posted limit on a twisty back road. That's when ya say ya know what, it's just not worth it.

The scariest thing out there is what the other guy may inadvertantly do. Like say drift in front of an overpassing car in the hammer lane without so much as a signal then slowing down, making the guy trying to pass jam on his brakes which in turn usually fuggs up the rest of the traffic behind.

Yes I speed from time to time. I'll admit it. But it's almost impossible to travel on the highway or commute to work without holding at least 10 mph over the speed limit and keeping up with the flow of the rest of them.

One thing I am aware of is my reaction times and what I look at and how far ahead I look are far better than I ever had before I started tracking and far better than the average driver. But I notice these things in every day situations mostly and at posted and average speeds. The skills you learn at High Speed Driving Events really can and do teach you to drive safer and more defensively on the public roads. It's just which avenue you decide to take and use them for. Because you could just as easily go railing around like a guided missle ready to hit and kill something or someone.

I think age and maturity has much to do with it. I'm also not looking to rack up a bunch of tickets like I had when I was 15 or 20 years younger and pay those crazy insurance premiums anymore.

But I love speed, I love the adrenaline rush, the challenge of driving well and learning to drive better. I am just aware that the fun aspect of the speeds I need to attain now to have fun and enjoy myself on a regular basis are far too high than are remotely acceptable to be driving on a public road.

 

&lt;-- one of the "older" folk.

since driving in track events, i drive much more patiently and miserly. and also having been on the track, you really see the bad habits drivers have on the streets. you kinda see who to avoid now on the road...something that was hard to decipher before having been on the road courses.

this is a good topic!

kepani

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Dave_B &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">do you find yourself now driving more aggresivly on the streets</TD></TR></TABLE>

Completely the opposite for me. Auto-x and HPDE's are the perfect outlet for agressive driving.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kepani &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> and also having been on the track, you really see the bad habits drivers have on the streets. you kinda see who to avoid now on the road...something that was hard to decipher before having been on the road courses.

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I think you hit the nail on the head there. For the most part you can actually look at a bunch of cars and pick out the ones that will risk everyones lives and the ones that will just make boneheaded moves and the rest that may just go with the flow. And yes it very much seems to be bad habits people get lulled into that become dangerous to themselves and others. They just aren't aware of anything around them and or were never taught any differently

 

i think about consequenses of my actions on the road more... although i've only done a handful of autox's and one track day

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mugen Mike &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Completely the opposite for me. Auto-x and HPDE's are the perfect outlet for agressive driving. </TD></TR></TABLE>


.....same here.

Streets = commuter territory.

 

I'll let you know after this Monday which will be my first HPDE ever.

Even now, I drive pretty casual. Proper seating position with my hands at 9 and 3 on the wheel. Agressive? Not really. Spirited? Definately. I enjoy my car too much to push it on the street. My street racing days ended in the 90's with my GTi and Supra.

&lt;------who is part of the "older" crowd.

 

Maybe I should rephrase it. I dont' mean aggresively like you'll run someone off the road or anything like that, more do you take corners at a higher speed, do you have a tendancy to drive faster than you should be (say again, corner posted speed is 35, your going for 60+) I'm not saying that you now, after the schooling are going out and being aggressive, I guess it could be put more "spirited" driving.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by George Knighton &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The opposite seems to be true for this driver.

I get my fix on the track, and seem to have more patience in traffic.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Same thing for me... As far as "spritied driving" (taking on/off ramps a little faster, etc), it really doesnt interest me at all. However I cant stand rush hour traffic and people driving slow in the fast lane.

 

Hmmm - maybe this answer will fill the gap.

I don't drive faster, but actually slower overall (partially due to the denali).

I try to avoid drawing attention to myself now.

I DO try to apex everything correctly.

I notice nearly EVERYBODY crossing lines in "esses" 'cause they can't freak'n drive.

I find myself laughing outloud occaisionally, because dispite my thoughts of "NEVER WILL I USE 2 HANDS ON THE WHEEL" growing up...it's a more controlled way of driving fast. I hardly ever drive with one on the wheel anymore. Now I look like Grandpa.

 

I always drive "fast" on the streets. Not reckless, usually around 10 over.

Lately I have been driving faster on backroads and stuff with the weather getting nice.

Just read through the thread.... I only "push" the car on a certain in-ramp. Sometimes I drive out to that part of town just to do it. I am anxious to get back out on track.


Modified by Aquafina at 12:28 PM 3/15/2006

 

Good thread.

I really need to take a vacation and go to a driving school. I would hate to take the caR to the track and look like a complete stunna out there.

 

I'll have fun in corners but definately around 5/10ths. I drive the line through it but no where near at speed. I uually get a kick out of feeling the rear of the car rotate a little bit but i think I still take the turns at about the same speeds of average drivers- i just take them correctly

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Dave_B &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Maybe I should rephrase it. I dont' mean aggresively like you'll run someone off the road or anything like that, more do you take corners at a higher speed, do you have a tendancy to drive faster than you should be (say again, corner posted speed is 35, your going for 60+) I'm not saying that you now, after the schooling are going out and being aggressive, I guess it could be put more "spirited" driving.</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BudMan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I find myself laughing outloud occaisionally, because dispite my thoughts of "NEVER WILL I USE 2 HANDS ON THE WHEEL" growing up...it's a more controlled way of driving fast. I hardly ever drive with one on the wheel anymore. Now I look like Grandpa.

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absolutely, noticed this too

i find myself driving a lot more smoothly, and folk have noticed the improvement. i do entertain myself by heel and toe'ing and taking the line now...

not sure if i'm less aggressive. WA drivers are F'ing frustrating but otherwise i've slowed down significantly

 

Ive only tracked twice.

I definitely look for the apex, and often find myself wondering how fast I could hit a corner if I crossed the double yellow and used the whole road as if it was a racetrack.

I drive more relaxed and defensively nowadays, but I think thats just due to getting older. I do however still drive over the speed limit most of the time(like 95% of other drivers on the road), but not too excessively. Depends what kind of rush Im in.

But driving on the track hasnt effected my driving on the streets other than looking for the apex.

 

I pass people in no passing zones if there are no cars coming. I've gotten over into the merge lane for on ramps to pass people. I'm impatient.

 

id say overall I am less aggressive/slower than before, however my wife might disagree! I do always take the 'correct' line in corners though and I will even cross the center line if there are no cars in sight and I deem it safe. I dont even think about it anymore, I just do it.

 

I would drive more aggressive in town Dave

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Dave_B &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Maybe I should rephrase it. I dont' mean aggresively like you'll run someone off the road or anything like that, more do you take corners at a higher speed, do you have a tendancy to drive faster than you should be (say again, corner posted speed is 35, your going for 60+) I'm not saying that you now, after the schooling are going out and being aggressive, I guess it could be put more "spirited" driving.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Not an ITR but GSR owner. But I agree with you here as far as "spirited driving." Because the driving abilities are better and higher, with a nimble car it's easier to find yourself taking corners slightly faster, because you know how to downshift, turn smoothly without upsetting the car, and be in the right gear out of the corner, for example. But on the other hand I can spot potential accidents way before it gets too hairy and back off early.

With a nimble car that handles really well, it is easier to find yourself going too fast simply because of the car's capabilities and higher limits.