W211 BEAST

This is a kill story, but I got killed. So I was on the 101N this morning at about 11AM and I got behind a charoal Ferarri convertible. We were in mild traffic, most people were going about 50MPH. The F-car started changing lanes and I stayed behind, we were going about 80MPH. Eventually he took a lane change that closed up right after he took it. I fell behind and I was trying to catch up and I just couldnt. He just kept going and going. So... thank you for letting me know that I suck in traffic. If the F-car driver was in a Tahoe he could still be making those lane changes, it had nothing to do with his car, it was all skill. I'm a good driver when theres no traffic (lol) or through the canyons, but I've never been good in traffic, I just never make the right choices when it comes to lane changes. Anyone in here think they can teach me anything?

Timeless

Not sure that is a skill you really want to learn. Be safe on the roads and stick to racing at the track or WIDE open EMPTY roads.

S5LorinserF1

+1 keep it to open roads.


Skilled driving in traffic is stupidity.. but if you must you gotta always mind your surroundings and a trick that will keep you somewhat safe and on top is that you gotta not only judge the cars in front of you movements.... but at least 3 cars in front of you movement so you can anticipate your next move.

W211 BEAST

All I'm asking is how do you know which lane changes to take. It seems like some poeple can tell which lane changes will move them up 100ft, it works for me sometimes, but honestly its luck. I have the actual driving skill down, but I dont have the knowledge.

W211 BEAST

Also, I'm not a dangerous driver, the reason I couldnt keep up with the F-car was because I didnt have the *****/stupidity to tak the last lane change that he took. I can proudly say that I rarely do anything stupid when behind the wheel, and when I do I realize how lucky I was to survive and I always learn my lesson. All I'm asking is how do you which lanes to switch into in traffic? What are the indicators? Lol

Gondon

What do you mean you see you openings and go for it.

Frogger !

ChicagoX

1) Don't race in traffic.

2) See #1


Skill comes with experience. Take a driving course. Run with the SCCA. Go to a club-sponsored HPDE. Your driving will improve and you will be a safer driver as well as faster.

transferred

Word.

Slow down kiddo, 19yrs old is too young to die/go to jail.

W211 BEAST

I've actually wanted to take a course for a long time now, but most are really expensive. Are there any good/cheap ones in the LA area that you guys know of?

The Godfather

The best course is the 405 south @ 6PM on a weekday. I go 125mph through traffic no problem.

W211 BEAST

Well arent you a good role model for a 19 year old speed freak. Lol

Thericker

Man your sig is hilarious

Vomit

+1

champo

Is your sig from 'The Gods Must Be Crazy'? love that movie!

The Godfather

lol Ricker, still around foo? How you been?

I have no idea, never seen the movies.

AsianML

I think I saw about the last half of the second one on TV once. It was hilarious!!!

champo

They are pretty strange movies, but the first one is one of the best movies ever as far as I'm concerned. I've shown it to people before and they've thought it was crap, so it is very dependent on the individual as to whether they enjoy them. Definitely worth watching them if you get a chance!

ChicagoX

You can run with some of the clubs for cheap.

http://www.jcna.com/library/news/2003/jcna0143.html Jag club.

http://www.nasaproracing.com/hpde/index.html NASA - great organization.

http://socal.drivenasa.com/index.php?categoryid=5 - here's the SoCal link

http://www.solo2.com/ SCCA

Check the BMW, Lotus, and Porsche clubs near you. Heck, I run with the F-body club in the Spring and Fall at RoadAmerica.

W211 BEAST

Thanks a lot for the links Chicago, I'm definitely gonna check out those links.

W211 BEAST

Is anyone in here a NASA member? It seems like the best one of the links posted by Chicago, and they're having one in so cal at the end of May. Anyone here attending?

Militant-Grunt

I dont know if you can call yourself a good driver then. You should know the dimension of your car, you should feel each corner of the car. I can squeeze through spaces with less than a foot front and rear in traffic. I don't do it, but have done it on a number of occasions. I almost always keep it to open traffic, better way to find out who has the faster car haha.

W211 BEAST

Lol... I've only had a few years of driving experience under my belt. I think I'm good for my age, but I'm nowhere near the level that some of you guys are at. I hope it will all come with time and experience.

ChicagoX

Interesting. So is this:

So, that makes it one accident every year and eight months. Nice average.

Carl Lassiter

I forget the exact figure but something like 80% of drivers believe they are "of above average ability behind the wheel."

AsianML

With the Kompressor beat beneath your right foot, I probably wouldn't gun it too often or I'd end up in the rear bumper of the other car as I changed lanes. lol

The busiest traffic I've ever done was twice in Chicago in the afternoon rush hours with road construction going on and in Minneapolis - St. Paul. Pretty scary when I looked at the traffic at a first glance, but once I got the feel of the flow of traffic, it wasn't too hard even with just a little over a year of driving experience. I just needed to keep up with the flow of traffic and signal my intentions way ahead of time. Luckily the MN drivers weren't a-holes so they didn't speed up when I signaled to move over. Wish I could say different about most Chicago drivers.