Driving Skills...?

There are very little to none drag racers in Japan, but why are there so many here in the United States? some say:
-hell, we don\'t have as much skills
-We relay on our car too much rather than our skills
-Since Drag racing is considered "easier" compare to the street races they do in Japan they reckon that Us are weaker in Driving skills.

are any of this true? That I don\'t know...but I personally can\'t stand watching the whole NASCAR thing.  I got mad dizzy or bored after a couple of laps.  Could you stand watchin\' it 2 hours none-stop? I know that I can\'t.

NASCAR is so damn boring!!!:yawn: I would much rather watching the GT racing on speedvision!:D

Because the census is big american cars go fast in straight lines..  

Which is true, mustangs, vipers, corvettes.   Try cornering in one of those and you are dead.  Thats why street racing is not that popular.

But there is that small group that drives the Japanese cars, or the european cars that street race.  We do it sometimes here in the Boston area.  Put a couple cars on lookout and street race.  Its fun..  You just gotta know the right crew.

The the attitude is changing.  More and more people are buying these little japanse imports or these european cars.  Cars that really perform and not just

Originally posted by kirath
Because the census is big american cars go fast in straight lines..  

Which is true, mustangs, vipers, corvettes.   Try cornering in one of those and you are dead.  Thats why street racing is not that popular.

But there is that small group that drives the Japanese cars, or the european cars that street race.  We do it sometimes here in the Boston area.  Put a couple cars on lookout and street race.  Its fun..  You just gotta know the right crew.

The the attitude is changing.  More and more people are buying these little japanse imports or these european cars.  Cars that really perform and not just

vipers and vettes cant corner?? WTF..have you driven either? Its all about the amount of power applied at a given moment.

also who says street racing is not popular? street racing is very popular.

Its not only the imports and euro\'s, those are just the *in thing* and that group inst that small, maybe just in your area.

Originally posted by lionken07
There are very little to none drag racers in Japan, but why are there so many here in the United States? some say:
-hell, we don\'t have as much skills
-We relay on our car too much rather than our skills
-Since Drag racing is considered "easier" compare to the street races they do in Japan they reckon that Us are weaker in Driving skills.

are any of this true? That I don\'t know...but I personally can\'t stand watching the whole NASCAR thing.  I got mad dizzy or bored after a couple of laps.  Could you stand watchin\' it 2 hours none-stop? I know that I can\'t.

I cant say NASCAR requires no skill b/c its gotta be hard to turn at 200 mph right on someones ass and on another persons door. I do however find that constant left turn boring as s**t!!

Drag racing is and isnt hard if you know what I mean. If you are in it for pure race, then tuning becomes a very important factor. Traction, knowing if you need to dump or feather the clutch..etc. figuring out a shifting technique..being able to shift fast enough. ONce you get the hang of it, I would say it isnt hard.

A buddy of mine had a car so powerful when he re-did his motor 2 years ago that he couldnt even shift the thing fast enough. The car just had too much power to shift. he would literally slam the shifter into gear!

[videoholic]

I think it has a lot to do with the fact that americans like spectator sports.  Grand Prix racing, rally racing,etc. aren\'t big here because you can\'t really see anything.  You watch a dude go around the corner and then 5 minutes he\'s back going around the corner again.  

Nascar on the other hand you can see the whole track.  They pass often.  They are loud.  Etc..

I\'m not into racing at all, but that\'s what I think.

As far as Drag Racing goes.  Well, that is just sheer horsepower.

Originally posted by Videoholic
I think it has a lot to do with the fact that americans like spectator sports.  Grand Prix racing, rally racing,etc. aren\'t big here because you can\'t really see anything.  You watch a dude go around the corner and then 5 minutes he\'s back going around the corner again.  

THANK GOD FOR SPEEDVISION!

[GmanJoe]

NASCAR = nap time

F1, WRC and BTCC rules!

Originally posted by luckee



vipers and vettes cant corner?? WTF..have you driven either? Its all about the amount of power applied at a given moment.

also who says street racing is not popular? street racing is very popular.

Its not only the imports and euro\'s, those are just the *in thing* and that group inst that small, maybe just in your area.

As a matter of fact I have driven both..  And compared with an AWD vehicle, well there is no comparison.  

An AWD car, will have both of those cars for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on a closed course.  

I have not raced a Viper, only driven one shortly, so my experience is limited.  But with a Vette, yeah I have driven it, straight line, and on a course.  If I had to choose an S4 or a Vette, for a course, S4.  For drag racing, the Vette.  

We can have more of a discussion on this if you want.  The dynamics of RWD vs AWD. vs Rally Cross vs Handling vs  you get the point..

I think RWD is better for cornerin\' (I\'ve driven both my uncle\'s Subaru and my friend\'s MR2), yes the rear will drift sideways if you corner hard on RWD or FR cars, but I think it\'s still faster than when I drive the AWD subaru during corning. AWD have their disadvantages they\'re usually heavier... I don\'t know if I\'m explainin\' this right this is all personal, but driving skill is the most important factor I guess.

Originally posted by kirath
Because the census is big american cars go fast in straight lines..  

Which is true, mustangs, vipers, corvettes.   Try cornering in one of those and you are dead.  Thats why street racing is not that popular.

Not all that is true, I read how the viper is really fast but can handle quite well, a stock viper can beat a stock ferrari on a normal race track, which means it has to be able to handle well

Originally posted by kirath


As a matter of fact I have driven both..  And compared with an AWD vehicle, well there is no comparison.  

An AWD car, will have both of those cars for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on a closed course.  

I have not raced a Viper, only driven one shortly, so my experience is limited.  But with a Vette, yeah I have driven it, straight line, and on a course.  If I had to choose an S4 or a Vette, for a course, S4.  For drag racing, the Vette.  

We can have more of a discussion on this if you want.  The dynamics of RWD vs AWD. vs Rally Cross vs Handling vs  you get the point..

ahh..AWD..u said nothing of this before:D...thats another basket of fruit all together.. Id take an S4 over a vette too! Vettes can get kinda tail happy, but when you get to any the straight aways thats when the vette makes up for its loss in cornering.


AWD..vs FWD vs RWD all have advantages and disadvantages and where O say, the AWD will take the corners faster, when you get to the straight is when the more powerful RWD comes into an advantage. drivetrains are kinda a moot arguement b/c I believe it just comes ddown to personal preference of said drivetrain and or the particular vehicle equiped with those drive trains.

Originally posted by lionken07
I think RWD is better for cornerin\' (I\'ve driven both my uncle\'s Subaru and my friend\'s MR2), yes the rear will drift sideways if you corner hard on RWD or FR cars, but I think it\'s still faster than when I drive the AWD subaru during corning. AWD have their disadvantages they\'re usually heavier... I don\'t know if I\'m explainin\' this right this is all personal, but driving skill is the most important factor I guess.

Thats the key, knowing how to drift b/c usually drifting is the slowest way to get around a corner. In the case you describe, suspension comes into key, the MR2\'s mid-engine rear drive and weight distribution, power..etc.

What gen. mr2 and which scooby were you driving?

True True, very True Luckee.

My second choice of a car would be RWD.  Either AWD or RWD.  I just don\'t like the way FWD cars handle, accelerate, torque steer stuff like that.

But it driving skill, personal preference also play a big part.

I have a couple friends that have gone to driving school quite  abit, drive the same car  as me and pass me every time..  Its annoying, but I know it just comes from practice, and learned skillz.  Needless to say I will be spening some of my hard earned money at the track taking some lessons.

But skill can make up for quite a bit of difference.  No matter how fast your car is, no matter how it can handle, driving skillz is what counts.!

Originally posted by kirath
True True, very True Luckee.

My second choice of a car would be RWD.  Either AWD or RWD.  I just don\'t like the way FWD cars handle, accelerate, torque steer stuff like that.

But it driving skill, personal preference also play a big part.

I have a couple friends that have gone to driving school quite  abit, drive the same car  as me and pass me every time..  Its annoying, but I know it just comes from practice, and learned skillz.  Needless to say I will be spening some of my hard earned money at the track taking some lessons.

But skill can make up for quite a bit of difference.  No matter how fast your car is, no matter how it can handle, driving skillz is what counts.!

I kinda like all types of drivelines myself..Im kinda spoiled by AWD and FWD tho.

A big key to torque-steer in FWD is a LSD:D quaife makes a good one for most cars.


BTW..what do you drive anyway?