Comments on: Avoidable Contact #14: I believe the child hoons are our future.

By: Kevin Gee.

Kevin Gee. — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:08:11 +0000

I actually learned to drive in a Datsun 510 (wagon) on the back roads around Summit Point. It took me less than 6 months on the road to destroy the clutch in that car while practicing power shifting at redline. I did use the clutch, but it objected to the way I engaged second and promptly became somewhat of a clutch kit. However, this was just a warm up to the coming automotive mayhem in which I would be involved.

I’ve been the guy in the Avenger, though it’s now been more years ago than I care to consider. I’ve missed deer, farm equipment and the occasional dump truck while operating at ludicris speed in cars that weren’t designed for it, it places where it wasn’t a good idea. I learned through experience (and hitting an embankment) not to lift in a rear drive vehicle when you get sideways in a high speed corner. And, despite my best attempts, I did not manage to turn myself into a greasy spot on a road somewhere. Luck was probably more of an explanation than talent, but I wouldn’t have admitted that to myself at the time.

I’ll ask you not to do the things I’ve done, but that request is more of a formality than anything else. I know some of you are going to do it anyway, and there isn’t anything that anyone can say to convince you otherwise.

By: Markie B

Markie B — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 22:59:55 +0000

Well, can your Jetta driving friend get al four wheels off the ground in an intersection and turn his wheels before he hits the ground? Well? Can he?

By: Ryan/Ry_Trapp0

Ryan/Ry_Trapp0 — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 09:43:20 +0000

but of course, jack! not only will that teach me car control on the edge and prevent my unnavoidably early death, but will also teach me how to drive on 2 wheels!!! gimme 30 minutes and i’ll be back here to thank you!!!

By: Erach Jee

Erach Jee — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 20:32:12 +0000

Another great read, one that speaks to me personally. I recall not only having to steal my brothers Corsica to learn how to drive a stick, but also that my first clutch lasted less than a month.
As far as the hoon kids becoming racing drivers, there’s a quote that I heard some where that goes something like this: “Some people get to the edge and then run screaming back for safety. Others get there, have some lunch, and take turns dangling limbs out into the void.”
Racing is driving on the edge, so my money is on the driver who’s spent the most time there.
I know that I will not be able to stop my son from doing anything that he really want’s to do. My best hope is to share with him what I learned when I did it.

By: Jack Baruth

Jack Baruth — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:07:52 +0000

Ryan,

You and I both know the solution to your problem, and it isn’t any candy-ass M3. It’s

Wheeled.
Outriggers.

If they were good enough for Consumer Reports’ roll-o-matic robot during their “testing” of the Isuzu Trooper (which is pronounced THE! TROOOPAAAAAH!) then they will be good enough for you.

By: Ryan/Ry_Trapp0

Ryan/Ry_Trapp0 — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 09:50:52 +0000

yet another great article in this series! i gotta say, at this frustrating age of 20, with no racing(or large sums of cash) in my families history, i feel as though i have an ice cubes chance in hell of ever driving a car in any sort of professional racing event. well, competitivly of course. i would like to be proud(or maybe apprehensive?) to say that i am one of this ‘hoons’ you speak of, squeeling tires around every back road corner, but, alas, i can not. i can not because the great God above has forsaken me with the rolling death trap that is a geo tracker. you see, if i test my limits and go into a ditch, i immediately roll over and die, because i drive the vehicle with the highest risk of death than any other vehicle on the road. thats not sarcasm either, look it up! BUT! before i drove this hunk, i was driving my dads 8 ton 99′ monte carlo around, as well as my moms 02′ sunfire that is far sportier looking than driving. although the monte carlo wasn’t even fun to push(you couldn’t push it), the sunfire was! many a time would those tires be howling on the backroads out side my house on the way to pickup grocerys. but, its too bad those times didn’t last long. guess i’ll just have to get rid of this hunk and get my self an E36 M3 to total, right?

By: carl

carl — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 22:31:46 +0000

David-

so you think that if you take your youngsters to controlled events, that they won’t be itching to show their buddies their new “skillz” as soon as they get home?

not saying i disagree with your point(s), just more playing devil’s advocate. i myself am not sure which method is better: amateur teenage hoonage, or “professional” teenage hoonage. i think they’re both pretty bad.

By: David S.

David S. — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:30:13 +0000

“Show me a kid who is willing to put his car in a ditch to find out just how good he really is,” and I’ll show you a dead body.

There’s learning by failure, and then there’s dying, and not much separates the two.

I know it’s “cool and edgy” to look down your nose at “sheeple”, so I won’t take that away from you. My point is, the public space isn’t just a playset for especially smart people, or especially great drivers.

I would rather my young’uns learn their car control skillset exclusively at HPDE or Skip Barber, with a five-point harness and helmet, and keep their hoonage off public roads.

By: hoser

hoser — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 01:46:10 +0000

yeah, i’ll see you next time on the track. will be good to see you there and, like you said, no quarter will be given, none will be expected.

By: Luke

Luke — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 03:16:17 +0000

If it’s true that “those who live in glass houses cannot throw stones,” I guess I better shut up. You’ve made me reconsider my occasional annoyance with those hotrodder kids. I was one too…who am I to complain?

The operating statement here is “have fun as long as you don’t hurt yourself or anyone else.” That said, my 10 y/o daughter is coming to autocross with me as soon as she gets her license. She’ll learn in a safer way than I (or rather we, apparently) did.

By: HotRod

HotRod — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 01:23:32 +0000

Amen, brother. See you at ~~church~~ the track.