I like the line from the original Batman movie "It's hard to stay inside the lines." However, this is paramount. We must strive for that within our community. This is a challenging road. If we're not up to it, either train, slow down, or not do it. The risks are too high. On a positive note, we apparently are the best group out there. Let's make us better! I would be willing to contribute next year to help us be safer.
Yes I agree, NAM threads are full of shoot downs. Thanks for not doing that and rolling your eyes at what THEY do. This site should divorce itself from flames and the like. We're all about poisitive reinforcement of MINI ownership and enjoyment!
While everything you say is true.... my gut reaction was that the Dragon is the last place where I would want someone learning how to corner using proper track technique without an instructor in the car... while they would absolutely benefit from the knowledge, will it result in some relatively inexperienced folks actually trying to drive faster on the Dragon? Just a gut check...
Interesting point. It isn't so much the learning that would be the problem as the practicing that naturally follows. It seems to me that no amount of warning would be sufficient to keep folks from trying to apply their new knowledge. Finding yourself way too hot from late-braking deep into a corner on the Dragon is not a good place for a newb (or surrounding drivers) to find themselves.
Exactly. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt. "Stay on your side of the centerline" and "don't exceed 6/10 or 7/10 max on a public roadway" should be the mantra. That's all newbies need to know. If they want to improve their technique, take it to the track. IMHO. By the way, I do NOT practice what I preach. At least not the 7/10's part. But I know I'm wrong for doing so.
That tag line... With a great cooperation illustration of a MINI and a bike in full lean, both in their respective lanes looking like they are zipping around a corner on a tee shirt.
I agree, but given that we have all these newbies, don't we need some training? I know that the Dragon is not the ideal place. Nothing can prepare you for those tightening turns. But we can try! What I want to accomplish is a set of safe techniques that keep you on your side of the line and still let you have fun. Lastly, for those that like to straighten the road in the clear parts by cutting the line and breaking the rules... Don't do that! It gives us a bad name. Instead, drive your side and demonstrate the awesome ability of the MINI to switch directions!
I think one variable we have to consider here is the various levels of MINI enthusiasts who attend the Dragon. Some are into the MINI for the culture and the community. Others are general performance driving enthusiasts and the MINI is the car they happen to be driving now. Some are a combination of the two. Some are hard-core track junkies. Some are first-timers and one-timers who come because they just got their MINI and they want to check it out. I believe the folks we're mostly talking about fall into three categories: 1) New people who come for the first time, haven't driven their MINI on a road that's anything like the Dragon and don't understand the seriousness of the situation. I suspect a high percentage of these people have little to no performance driving experience. 2) People who are over-confident in their skills who push things beyond their real skills which gets them into trouble out there. 3) People who just don't care about anyone but themselves I believe it would be a mistake to talk about late apexes and other performance driving techniques to most of the first group. It will probably sail right past them. It needs to be much simpler than that. Enjoy the drive at the speed limit and don't cross the double yellow. Plain as that. For group two, if they're interested in performance driving but they're making mistakes then performance driving talk likely will be welcome by them and will improve their skills. For group three, we may be able to guilt some people into changing but mostly all we can do is avoid them and pray they don't kill themselves or anyone else. One thing we do need to emphasize on the group drives...If a drive is advertised as a slow orientation run for newbies then veterans who join the drive should be there to help. That means driving at the established speed and not charging up people's boots or making comments about how slow the drive was. All that does is put pressure on people to drive faster than they should. For people who want to drive fast there are plenty of opportunities to do it.
I'm with Tüls on this. We need to start by cleaning up our own house first and set a good example for everyone else. Once we've done that we can try to make it spread. I think having us institute a generic campaign, however, is a good idea. It could expand our influence and help us earn back some of the respect we've lost. It's amazing that with all the shirts and merchandise we see at the Deal's Gap store and other places there isn't one that says anything about not crossing the double yellow.
A biker died on the Hellbender on Sunday (5/17) after leaving the roadway near the Fontana Bridge and hitting a boulder. Some reports said a car on the double yellow (not over, just on it) caused him to lose control.
I"m only 56, but I grew up in my dad's garage and have been a gearhead all my life.The lessons I've learned on the track as well as the highway are to be a very defensive driver. Assume, (I hate that word),the other driver is'nt qualified , and how far is the walk home if you break your car. Fourteen pages of rehashing this still comes down to all of us driving like we know how to drive.
Everyone here is speaking the truth. Whoever is putting on a drive should say the expected speed, driving and yellow line rule at the meeting before going out. If we all spread the word it might start to sink in.