mad skillz....

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Thu Dec 20, 2007 11:22 am

So, things are slow here at work with most of my projects on hold until the first of the year and what’s left of my brain was wondering. It naturally drifted into the “what am I going to do with no autocrosses for 3 months” mode. While going over plans for the car in preparation for next season, I though about the times over the last year or so that I truly think my mad skills gained in autocrossing saved my bacon. I attribute all of my “saves” from having a trained brain.

>Situation 1: Cruising down Old Stage Rd, I saw a car pulling out of one of the many subdivisions along the road. It was about dusk and I was watching the car. I know this is strange, but I noticed how her hair was draped over the side of her face blocking her view of me coming down the road. I had put my foot over the brake and then nailed it as she pulled out in front of me. I went right behind her as I went partially off on the right side of the road. She never saw me….

>Situation 2: On Capitol Blvd near the bowling lanes and Bobby Murray Chevy, I was headed back into downtown. There’s 3 lanes right in that section of the road. The right lane veers off from the other 2 before you get to the bridge. I was in the left lane behind a cube truck and a car had just passed me in the center lane and I wanted to pull into the center lane to get around the cube truck. There was a semi in the right lane. I looked over and was watching the semi to see if he was staying in his lane or was going to come over into the center lane… didn’t want to take the same space if he was coming over. Next thing I see is the cube truck in front of me nail the brakes. No time to hit my brakes (yes, I was following too close). A quick right/left put me in the center lane with inches to spare from hitting the cube truck. This was a situation reaction that I can only relate to skills learned while driving with the club. No time to think, just react.

There have been a few other odds and ends, but these 2 situations stick out as potentially bad and the outcome may have been much worse if I hadn’t been with club sharpening my driving skills. I also find myself now looking as far ahead as I can and trying not to get polarized by the car in front of me. I also try to look “through” what ever is ahead of me if possible so I can watch for brake lights.

Well, enough rambling…Just wanted to share that. I’m sure some of you have had some similar experiences.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year All!!

SimonWright · **Posted:** Thu Dec 20, 2007 1:37 pm

I think I apply my mad skilz learned over the years pretty much every day. I guess we're compensating for all the mad unskilz out there.

My "zone of awareness", in all directions is much higher than it used to be and I like to think that my reaction abilities are improved. Knowing how far you can push a car and still keep it under control is crucial. They should teach this stuff to kids. Oh, yeah, we do. But not enough. Hey - great last minute christmas gift: sign up a vulnerable teenager that you know to a defensive driving course.

Hope everyone has a great and safe holiday.

Simon

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Thu Dec 20, 2007 2:11 pm

On the way back from VIR a few weeks ago I was traveling in the left lane of the 5-lane 45MPH stretch right after Roxboro. I noticed a van in the right lane who's driver side mirror was busted and hanging down on the door. A car in front of him slowed to make a right turn and you can guess what happened next. Of course he can't see me without that mirror and proceeds to pull right into my lane. "Looking ahead" and watching *both* cars led me to anticipate the action by the driver of the van. I simply eased into the center turn lane and drove right by him while watching the puzzled look on his face. I'm sure he thought I was a jackass by passing him in the turn lane.

The combination of track, autocross, and rallycross experience had definitely increased my overall awareness on the road making me a safer driver IMO.

Stacy King · **Posted:** Thu Dec 20, 2007 4:05 pm

I think it's appropriate that I post this email the track team got from Mike Luther (silver Miata):

Quote:

To All of you that work so hard to provide us with a safe and exciting
event,

I don't know if any of you like to hear testimonials about how the driving
schools have made a truly possitive effect on lives but here is mine,,,
should have bought a lottery ticket !!!

I was in the Corvette and just turned on the divided six lane road to get
to the freeway and was shifting to 3rd gear. When out of the left front
corner of my windshield I see this wheel bounce 6 to 8 feet over the
Jersey barrier towards me. I'm in the far right lane and I checked my
mirrors, all clear, figured I couldn't veer right because the tire was
erratically bounding left/right with each bounce but still coming diagonal
at me. So I hit the brakes, pulled a hard left, downshifted into 1st and
as the wheel missed my car I hammered the gas (it was close enough I could
hear it woosh). As it passed within a car length it was windshield high
and estimate it would have hit me at the drivers window or the windshield.
I immediately got on the entrance ramp, which was a cloverleaf, zipped to
the next entrance and pulled over so I could check on the SUV with three
wheels. The driver was already out and on a cell phone. I asked if he
was okay,,, he was shook up, but okay and I yelled that it was a close one
and he said he saw it almost hit me. Wow, you don't see that every day,,
thank goodness.

I credit my training from the HPDEs because I was looking up, recognized
the situation and instinctively took the right action. I didn't even get
excited until after I stopped by the driver. Things have happened on
track that prepared me for that day and I can not express the thanks I
have for all my instructors that got me to this point.

Thanks for all the terrific training and I look forward to the next events
with renewed enthusiasm. Have a great Holiday season,

Mike

Brad Mackey · **Posted:** Thu Dec 20, 2007 6:13 pm

RodneyWright wrote:

So, things are slow here at work with most of my projects on hold until the first of the year and what’s left of my brain was wondering. It naturally drifted into the “what am I going to do with no autocrosses for 3 months” mode...

Hey Rodney, suggestion:
Go here: http://www.tzcthscc.motorsportreg.com/ We have an event at VIR-FULL in February, as usual. Just the ticket for the off-season blues! :thumbsup:

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Fri Dec 21, 2007 9:39 am

Brad Mackey wrote:

RodneyWright wrote:

So, things are slow here at work with most of my projects on hold until the first of the year and what’s left of my brain was wondering. It naturally drifted into the “what am I going to do with no autocrosses for 3 months” mode...

Hey Rodney, suggestion:
Go here: http://www.tzcthscc.motorsportreg.com/ We have an event at VIR-FULL in February, as usual. Just the ticket for the off-season blues! :thumbsup:

Since I can only afford 1 or 2 of these a year, I think I'll pass on February, but, I'll be first in line for VIR full in May!! Already told the wife...

THSCC Forums

mad skillz....

Who is online