AQA101

Yesterday my driver's training at the ADAC training facility (the biggest german automobile club) finally took place. It was a group security training where you learn to control the car under all sorts of difficult situations, especially braking and evading techniques. You don't drive fast there, but you always drive on wet or outright slippery surface, so they easily get you in real trouble at no more than 30 mph there. Impressive.

I was the first person with an RX-8 at that specific facility and the trainer complimented the car a lot, especially after trying it himself on a small circuit where you simply drive circles on a wet road to get an idea of the car's limits and reactions. I took the passenger seat while he was driving and I was pretty impressed what a professional driver can achieve with this car.

I also heard about ten times "what I'm saying now counts for all cars except the RX-8 here due to it's advanced engineering" and the trainer went outright enthusiastic when he watched the car's behaviour when the back breaks away (they have a disc in the road that kicks the back of your car 30° to a random side when you drive over it, on a slippery road of course - now that was interesting).

So I spent 7 hours in extreme driving situations in my car yesterday and I'm honestly impressed by its reactions and driveability under nasty circumstances.

Another thing that I've noticed was that it is a very good idea to invest some money into your driving skills and not only into the car. And I'm definately going to book the next course in the near future, for the fun as well as for the security. I've learned about my own limits and I'm quite interested in getting a littler more skilled. Until yesterday I viewed myself as a skillful and experienced driver, I found out there is a lot more to learn. If it protects me from only one accident it's probably the best investment I can think of. And if I only think of the fun I had, it's still a very good one.

kellybrf

iTrader: (2)

i want to visit germany now...

rotten42

can't think of a better way to spend the day...

cgrx

That sounds like ALOT of fun. Great post

AQA101

The funny thing is, we have no speed limit on the autobahn (sometimes, that is). So you think "I went 153 mph without problems, showing that BMW driver what real speed means, uhhhm, I'm the man".

Well, and now these guys (former race or test drivers all of them) tell you to "now break and evade at 30 mph". "No problem", you think, "because I can go 153". Damn wrong, believe me. I saw what the trainer did in an SLK, no comment, I just can't drive, that was my only thought. Dry road on the left side, slippery as hell on the right side, braking 101. He simply turned off the engine to kill all electronic systems and came in straight as an arrow, you could watch the wheels block, release, steer, block again - perfect.

The limit of my car is far beyond mine, that was the message at the end of the day.

But it was real fun if you're into real driving ... I just hope to get better with the next course.