Skid training

["Charles N. Horton" <carolus@xxxxxxx>]

     I like the idea of learning on beater cars, but I think it's asking
the clubs to do what is really individual members' responsibility. I'll
probably get flamed for this, but here goes:
     An M3 is a bad car in which to learn car control, for exactly the
reason Keith Wollenburg implied: It's too good for a beginner. If you spin
out at 30mph, chances are the worst you'll suffer is being the butt of your
friends' jokes for a week. If you spin out at 60mph, it's a very different
story and even if you don't get hurt, you're likely to do significant
damage to your ride. You want a car that doesn't hug the road, doesn't
rocket out of corners, etc. so you can learn how properly to handle before
starting to pilot a car that does do those things.
     Get a beater for $1000. Fool around in empty parking lots. Go around a
track curve a little too fast and learn how to recover. Learn how to be the
fastest track driver you can be in that beater. When you go back to an M3
or equivalent, you will not only be safer -- you will be faster as well.
     Yes, this is speculation, but it's based on a lot of misadventures
I've read about here. I haven't been blessed with a track car as of yet.
But when I do start, it will probably be in an old Monte or similar,
springs cut 2" with a torch, homemade lightweight mods (no radio, no a/c,
no back seat), glasspacks on the back and a big grin on the driver's face.
The BMW will stay in the garage until I know what I'm doing... and in a car
like that, I'll have no choice but to learn.

Charles.

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    Charles N. Horton                                         <carolus@domain.elided>
  Massachusetts Institute of Technology Class of 1999 - Course VII
                                        Isaiah 40:31
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