I’m helping out with the SASC Winter Driving School again this winter, and today was a bit of an organizational/trial day that allowed me a bit more time behind the wheel than I might otherwise afford. It was a valuable day in that I got a chance to hoon around a bit and feel like a hero, and then even sit with a real hero, get bitch slapped, and discover that even my driving can still make some real improvements. (I’m often over confident…) The subtlety of those improvements seems so great that 8 hours later I’m still stressing and considering them.
“Initial D” is fantastic in many aspects, and for that reason I seldom recommend that others watch it, but one thing in particular that I’ve heard scoffed at, is the idea that we can turn through corners with no steering input whatsoever. That is; steering with the pedals and hands off the steering wheel completely. I’ve always appreciated the theory behind this, but always regarded it as only that… after today it is very real.
And I’m not meaning some short bend or kink. I’m talking more than 180 degrees over a 150 or 200m radius with the guy in the passenger seat Bruce Lee chopping my hands when I try and take hold of the wheel. Win, but the precision required to get the car set up properly going into the corner fried my brain quickly… and via the video evidence, I can’t even give myself a 25% success rating.
Furthermore, of the two challenges I was presented with today… THAT WAS THE EASY ONE! More on that later.
I need to get myself some photography skills or equipment. That’s a good good good looking picture Sr. Gulinao.
you’re controlling it… WITH YOUR MIND?!
You’re not ready, Neo.
Time not spent sawing at the wheel is time spent smoking…. eyes closed.
Haha Bunta!
I made it thru the bus stop a few times with no hands. Drifting, flick it in and work the pedals.
But then I hit the wall 🙂 just hard enough to remind me I’m mortal, and it’s hard work fixing bent cars!