I have a totally stock Civic (98 EX), and wanted to actually learn how to drive before I start modding my car. I was just wondering what/where/how would be the best place to learn how to drive? I figure that it is off-season here in MD, so is there anything that I can currently do (i.e. reading, backroads, etc)? Also, how do I find out about races? Can I just show up at a meet and just race my car, or is there something that I will need (rollcage, helmet, etc)?

Any other advice for a n00b just getting started? Thanks for any help.

 

http://www.autocrossers.org
http://www.wdcr-scca.org
http://www.nasaracing.net
http://www.trackschedule.com

oh wait... these are all in the FAQ - its there for you to use

 

there are lots of books to learn stuff from. a great primer to understand the lingo and basics of suspension is "secret of solo racing". dont think youll learn anything positive from running hard in the "backroads". youll just end up learning bad habits that will cost you a lot of time to unlearn on the track, and risk yourself and others. do a lot of go karting if you can, cant remember fully but theres that go cart place in crofton,md right? go karting is a great way to learn to drive and understand vehicle dynamics.

 

Save some money up. Go to a race drivers school that has 1) Skid Cars, 2) a Skid Pad, and 3) FWD school cars - maybe the Mid Ohio School has all three. Then spend the next year doing drivers schools and club lapping days at your local tracks. You will not be ready to race until you do this much - regardless of how many idiots set a counterexample. The step to racing is a quantum leap, and until you can handle the mental load imposed by driving alone with capacity to spare you are not ready. Going racing before you are ready is a black mark against you personally exceeded only by street racing in my book. If you want to do it bad enough you should want to do it right. It's ultimately to your benefit.

Karting is not the place to start in my opinion. I think it's better to start in a school in a street car with a passenger seat occupied by a decent instructor. Learning to drive is hard enough without the bad habit enabling delay inherent in remote single seater instruction.

Scott, who has instructed many.....and lived to say kind words about very few....

 

sorry for polluting the forum, just looked in the FAQ. Will read through things before I post again

Thanks

 

first you to find some really twisty public roads....and get to where you can take them at 2 times the posted speed limit....

then you have to be willing drag race at every light.....and rev on all domestic pos's....specially the mustang and the wrx

seriously....get to the nearest track and get lots of seat time

 

Yes the FAQ is there and contains loads of very useful info, but it doesn't really address his specific question: what's the best way to get started.

IMHO, the answer is: autocross.

It's much cheaper and safer than HPDE (High Performance Driving Event, a.k.a. open track event, a.k.a. lapping session), but you still learn a lot about car control. If you can find a club that also offers novice classes, that's a big plus. You can also usually find a lot more autocross events nearby than HPDE, thus you have more opportunity for the all important SEAT TIME.

That being said, you owe it to yourself to attend at least one HPDE. They're hella fun.

There, now that you know what you need to do, hit the FAQ and figure out how to do it.

 

 

Where in Maryland are you located? Just curious.

Because it's the offseason, it's really hard to find seat time. I try to find any go-kart track, autocross, or GT3 iLink battle that I can find. Any seat time is good seat time. If you live around the Baltimore/Annapolis area, you should try to attend some winter series events located in Camden, NJ. It's only a 2.5 drive. Definitely worth it. That's where I attended my first autocross last year. I did it once and I have been hooked ever since. You can find the winter series schedule on http://www.autox4u.com

Also, make sure to leave your Civic EX stock. That's good that you want to improve the nut behind the wheel before you start to modify the vehicle. I made a mistake with my 97 EX. It's was turbocharged with no LSD. It was the worst possible car to start out with. Learning the basics of a stock car with street tires is perfect. Attend many novice autocross schools that the local regions put on. They are cheap.

If you have any other questions that aren't already answered in the FAQ, feel free to ask here.

take care,

aj

ps: stay away from the backroads

 

Sniff, Sniff...Brings a tear to my eye, my little buddy growing up giving good advice.

AJ is right, keep the car stock. Find an instructor/experienced racer to help you when you get to an event. Also if you plan to attend an event, you can post here and find out if anyone form here will be attending. There are alot of people form the Mid-atlantic area that post on this site. And nearly all of them are helpful.

Winter autocross events are offered, but they are a little bit of a drive. There are the ones AJ mentioned in Cmden that will be starting up in Jan. There also is a series in VA beach at Fentress Airbase. Put on by Tidewater club. Go to autocross.com and look at the club links to find their site. Or if Keith Edwards (kedwards) is here somewhere he can give it to you.


[Modified by Crosser, 6:38 AM 12/12/2002]

 

Be strong, Eric. Be Strong.

 

I'm in the central MD area ... border of Columbia and Elkridge. I know of a couple of go-karting places, so I will check them out, although there sounds like there is a little dissenting opinion on those. I'll look around for a club with novice lessons ... if any of you guys know of one in my area (or not too far), let me know.

Thanks for all the advice.

 

http://www.autocrossers.org

That is the best website to keep your eye on for upcoming events.

Also, you should sign-up for the the MWSCC Yahoo! group. You will be sure to know all events (even go-karting events) coming up in the area.

here is the link for that: http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/mwcscc-ax

take care,

aj

 

rj ur an ***!!! i've been reading tihs fourm for a couple of weeks and ur just an asshille..... hence this thread for example...the guy wants to know the best way to learn so what does the almighty RJ do?
quote
"http://www.autocrossers.org
http://www.wdcr-scca.org
http://www.nasaracing.net
http://www.trackschedule.com
oh wait... these are all in the FAQ - its there for you to use"

great response!! any idiot can read..u ever think mabye the guy would like to talk to some one instead of read....for all u know mabye he's already read a bunch of crap,the search did'nt not work or after reading he still does'nt grasp it!.....
anyways quit thinking ur the best and drop ur COCKy *** attitude....
cause as a forum poster ur a D$CK!!!! :finger:

 

thanks! Have a great day, i appreciate the feedback.

 

that's ******* hiliarious........ where's Madison Motorsports at?

 

hahahahahahahah. the man speaks the truth though. Ryan is an asshille!

 

lmmfa0!!! right behind American Iron.....

 

Shepworldwide~ do us all a favor and take your medication before you post here again.

Casey, who thinks RJ should change his title to "#1 Asshille"

 

so wait, how do i get the talking version of honda-tech? rj, i think we should re-write our thesis using $'s and 'ur' and CAPITALizing half words.

to make this a legitimate post, i think the reading is a good way to understand what happens in a car being pushed to the limit. that way you can understand whats goin on when you take the novice classes and then apply it on track.

-brian 'rj is my favorite asshille'

 

<--- This opinion is noted in my title

 

Yeah, I'm MM, and I've known RJ for over 8 years. . . .I gotta agree he's a big asshille!

 

i rec autoxing, i duno if there are any winter events in the DC area commin up, but hey, ive been into cars about 5 yrs, done some kinda crazy S w/ my car, and i thought i coudl drive til i autoxed! its safe, affordable, doesnt kill your car, and you WILL find out what works and what doesnt and learn to drive that beast

ask people on the roadrace/autox page, there are some from md/dc/va

-steve

 

Thanks for all your help. Time for me to do some more research

As a side note, EG8steve mentioned that autoxing is affordable .... other "racers" have given me a different picture of racing in general: that it is an endless pit of money. I really don't have all that much money, but I don't really care about being competetive (at the moment) just learning how to drive. Given that, how would you all rate the expense of autox?

 

You could spend as little as the $25 entry fee, a month. But that's something I could never do. It is just too much fun to limit.