Track Driving/Training for young drivers - good or bad idea?
Poll: Track Driving/Training for young drivers - good or bad idea?
Total Members Polled: 39
Discussion
Theoretical discussion really, think of your average 17yo 18yo, recently passed their driving test:
As a general rule, further training can only really be a positive but what about track driving?
Good idea because:
They can explore the limits of adhesion in the relative safety of a track hopefully with decent run-offs and no trees, and possibly get the urge to drive quickly out of their system meaning they're less likely to drive as quickly on the public roads.
Bad Idea because:
Driving quickly on a track might give them a taste for driving quickly. It may give them misplaced confidence "I'm a racing driver, me". Likely to have increased pressure from peers to drive quickly/be quick.
Of course it will depend on the individual, but you only get one vote!
All vote now!
As a general rule, further training can only really be a positive but what about track driving?
Good idea because:
They can explore the limits of adhesion in the relative safety of a track hopefully with decent run-offs and no trees, and possibly get the urge to drive quickly out of their system meaning they're less likely to drive as quickly on the public roads.
Bad Idea because:
Driving quickly on a track might give them a taste for driving quickly. It may give them misplaced confidence "I'm a racing driver, me". Likely to have increased pressure from peers to drive quickly/be quick.
Of course it will depend on the individual, but you only get one vote!
All vote now!
Done correctly it should be very good, teach them the limits before the find out by crashing
eg my dad used to race and tought me lots of stuff on airfields before I was legal to drive, and then on the road (e.g. in the snow) that meant I already knew how to deal with most things that the car would do.
Flip side would be letting a teenager go on a driving day, making them think they are the next Lewis Hamilton and they go directly to the scene of their own accident!
eg my dad used to race and tought me lots of stuff on airfields before I was legal to drive, and then on the road (e.g. in the snow) that meant I already knew how to deal with most things that the car would do.
Flip side would be letting a teenager go on a driving day, making them think they are the next Lewis Hamilton and they go directly to the scene of their own accident!
Bad idea. You'll learn f
k all meaningful on the track in car for the road.
There may be an argument for motorcycles however, where vehicle control is much more difficult.
I'm not sure where this "they'll get a speed lust", come from either. When I was track the first time I was stting myself, let alone having just passed my test.
k all meaningful on the track in car for the road.There may be an argument for motorcycles however, where vehicle control is much more difficult.
I'm not sure where this "they'll get a speed lust", come from either. When I was track the first time I was s
tting myself, let alone having just passed my test. I had my first proper experience driving on track when I was about 19. I was with an instructor, and pushing well above what I was mentally capable of at the time.
It was unreal. Following that I had the realization of just how intense track driving is and how far the limits are compared to my ability at the time - ultimately realizing that I'd never be able to drive like that on the street.
I would say I backed off a lot on the road following that as it just wasn't worth it.. It Definitely did help my regular driving too now knowing what the limits of a car feel like.
It was unreal. Following that I had the realization of just how intense track driving is and how far the limits are compared to my ability at the time - ultimately realizing that I'd never be able to drive like that on the street.
I would say I backed off a lot on the road following that as it just wasn't worth it.. It Definitely did help my regular driving too now knowing what the limits of a car feel like.
I think it's good 
It's not track driving, but I've done grass track autotsting since I was 14ish and really taught me a load of driving skills before I even took my test (plus it's great fun doing handbrake turns!).
I had my first track experience at 18 driving a Lambo/ Cayman at Thruxton, then my fathers 944 at Goodwood. It was a great experience - taught me a lot about RWD and got a bit of that eagerness to go fast out of me
It's not track driving, but I've done grass track autotsting since I was 14ish and really taught me a load of driving skills before I even took my test (plus it's great fun doing handbrake turns!).
I had my first track experience at 18 driving a Lambo/ Cayman at Thruxton, then my fathers 944 at Goodwood. It was a great experience - taught me a lot about RWD and got a bit of that eagerness to go fast out of me
This subject comes up quite often. It sounds counter intuitive to a pistonhead, however giving young drivers too much self confidence in advanced car control can be counter productive. Safe road driving doesn't require it.
I'd increase the hours a learner has to train before qualifying before teaching control skills.
I'd increase the hours a learner has to train before qualifying before teaching control skills.
SVS said:
007 VXR said:
IIRC some places now do driver training for 11+
Cool. Where does that? Does anyone know?https://www.youngdriver.eu/
I think a more worthwhile experience in regards to improving road driving would be to do a vehicle handling course (not sure what they're called, something including a skidpan) so you how to handle sticky situations such as losing the back end at high speed and general high speed emergency maneuvers.
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