Thanks for the website. I am looking it over right now.

I've seen posting where people have crashed their cars on the track during DE. Have you seen that and if so under what were the circumstances? It's the conservative side of me asking that question.

 

I've also had times driving any of our cars when I'm in the fast lane going around 10 or so over the limit....Some car will get behind me even though there's room to pass me on the right. When I don't move in the first few seconds they start to tailgate or high beam me to move. I have no problem moving out of the way but I'm already speeding and there's room on the right to pass me...either give me some time to move over or go around me.

That reminds me of a time when I was in the fast lane and then got stuck behind a Civic Si. We were both going fast and he had room to move over but I didn't but instead of moving he waited for 30+ seconds. Next thing you know he floors it and is doing around 100...

 

that's where I learned to drive.Has served me well most places,you learn to expect that most people are basically turds, and to expect less is silly.The only place I felt uncomfortable was in NYC with the cabbies who are basically all psycho!

 

(rant mode ON)

I'm sorry strider, but I think you're in the wrong here. If you are "cruising" in the left lane and there is plenty of room in the other lanes, you shouldn't be in the left lane to begin with. Ever hear the rule "keep right unless overtaking"? A significant percentage of road rage is caused by those who are driving in the left lane slower than someone else wants to drive. Some people it on purpose as some kind of "vigilante traffic cop" mentality, others do it simply because they are oblivious.

Don't get me wrong, if the road is packed full, and there isn't decent room to drive at your own speed in the other lanes, then obviously the left lane is the only place you can be. But of course, in those cases, you are the one overtaking all the other cars.

If there's one thing that bugs me it's a lack of "lane discipline". Weaving in and around cars is a large part of the problem in highway accidents... if people stayed the hell out of the leftmost lanes, unless overtaking, then we'd have far fewer accidents! This is taught AND enforced stringently in Europe... and on average the drivers in Europe are far more serious about their driving than most Americans are. Guess what - higher speeds and far fewer accidents there too.

That's not to say that these cars couldn't be more patient, of course they could... but I wanted to point out that you are part of the problem, not the solution, if you insist on being in the left lane when there is room to stay at your speed in the other lanes.

BONUS: The police primarily watch and zap the cars in the left lane... other lanes = reduced chance of getting a ticket! This is enhanced by the fact that the higher the angle they have to zap you at, the lower the speed that will register on their radar. They usually set up traps in the medians, right?

(rant mode OFF)

 

heh, so true, safer to cruise 90 inthe middle of the road on a saturday night than it is to do so in the left lane! and of course having a good scanner/detector/jammer doesnt hurt either

 

Worthwhile reading:

http://www.motorists.org/right/index.html

 

:smile: In my cross-country roadtrips, I tend to stay in the right lane, using the left for passing, UNLESS the right lane is in bad shape from the heavy semi tonnage, and too bumpy or rough. Then, I have no qualms about keeping more to the left lane.

And whenever anyone comes up quickly behind me, if it is at all possible and only if safe, I move out of their way. Nothing to prove here.....just want to arrive at my destinations in one piece with Wanda in good shape, too!


Clover

 

[QUOTE=Edge]
If there's one thing that bugs me it's a lack of "lane discipline". Weaving in and around cars is a large part of the problem in highway accidents... if people stayed the hell out of the leftmost lanes, unless overtaking, then we'd have far fewer accidents! This is taught AND enforced stringently in Europe... and on average the drivers in Europe are far more serious about their driving than most Americans are. Guess what - higher speeds and far fewer accidents there too.
QUOTE]

Oh so true! I have enjoyed my stay over hear in Germany and I must say one does not stay in the left lane on the Autobahn for long unless one wants a BMW/Mercedes/Porsche Enema!
I dread moving back to the states and having to deal with all of the idiots who can't seem to grasp the keep right except to pass concept.

 

I've noticed that the guys who drive those big american cars painted black and white with all those lights on them really really go nuts when you pass them in your little MINI. Just yesterday, one of them chased me down and forced me to pull over!

 

I've mentioned this before. Its like everyone wants to be out front but don't have the courtasy to belong there. They pull out in front of you like their going to the hospital then go slow, they pass you then go slow, they block the road by driving the same speed as the guy in the right lane. People are just mental these days.

 

If your getting passed on the right then your at fault and in the way.

 

Where I grew up there were signs that read: "Slower traffic keep right". It's pretty simple and very useful in keeping order on the road. However, those signs are few and far between now. I don't believe it's taught now, and it's certanly not enforced.

There are a significant number of drivers who view the left lane as their lane of choice without regard for current traffic conditions. As someone else said, there are some who are oblivious, others who feel deputized, and a few who simply feel entitled to use whatever lane they choose.

A proper use of the left-most lane is as a passing lane. If faster traffic approaches when someone is overtaking another car in the left lane, it is appropriate to complete the pass as quickly as it can safely be done, allowing the faster traffic to pass.

As Edge and bambam alluded to, improper use of the left-most lane has eroded lane discipline and contributed heavily to the road rage phenomenon. Make it a goal to not to pass on the right or to put yourself in a position to be passed on the right. If all passing is done on the left, it makes our roads safer.

To get back on topic, it's possible that when we encounter another driver who seems bothered that they've been passed by a MINI, it's because we've fallen into a traffic situation involving one or more of the behaviors discussed above. It's also very possible that those of us in MINI's (fun cars) are mildly offensive to those in "other" vehicles, simply because we're enjoying the drive more or because we've awoken them from their naps. In those cases, remember: Be kind to dumb animals.

 

Next time, drop into third and REALLY blow their doors off.

 

There were 2 Evo drivers who flipped their cars during a DE in February. They both earned it They had cars that were way faster than their skill level, and they got in over their heads. Mishaps do happen, most often they are spins, that result in damaged ego's and nothing more. If you listent to your instructor, and go into the whole affair understanding that you always have a lot to learn, and are willing to do just that you will be fine. If you are like the Evo guys, out to prove yourselves and or your car, than your are better off at home The fact that you have a "conservative side" is a good thing, and I think you will have a great time and learn to be a better and safer driver.

 

Thanks for the additional information. I think the conservative side of me tells me if I crash I am in deep trouble at home. :smile:

I need to save up for new tires or just use my runflats because my Kumhos are getting a little worn in the rear. I think one or two autocross sessions should take care of remaining thread.

What tires do you run at the DE?

 

As stated by asodestrom, you'll have no worries of crashing so long as you retain your somewhat conservative side once you get on track.

As for tires, there are a myriad of choices. But for beginners, stick with tires similar to what you use everyday. Another consideration is to stay away from brand new tires. It might not seem intuitive to you, but you're better off on tires that are half worn or more than on tires that have the full (or near) tread depth. [Unless it's raining!] Running on full tread depth is going to really build a lot of heat in the tire and accelerate the wear. OTOH, tires that are worn have minimal tread squirm so they wear better. You'd be better off on the run-flats or the Kumhos than a fresh set of tires.

 

Thank you. You brought up some good points on the tires that I had failed to consider. I might need to run the runflats. While they are not new, they have 3k miles on them. The Kumhos are getting worn in the back(they used to be in the front) and I am not sure I will have legal tread by the time school rolls by. Maybe, I just need to buy two Kumhos now and break them in.

 

My fuel economy is already bad enough.
I have noticed that more people tend to move over and let me past when I come up behind them in the MINI than when I'm driving my wife's Outback. Maybe it's the aggressive look of the MINI in the mirrors, with all the black added to the front?

 

Meanboy -

Got any suspension mods? The reason I ask is that the biggest cause of accelerated wear is too much body roll/insufficient negative camber up front. My MCS is bone stock. If I were taking it to the track, I'd be looking for tires that have around 4/32" tread. And, I'd be ready to rotate them during the weekend as the left front would take a beating. That probably applies regardless of which tires you run.

Since you're not [I'm guessing here ] in love with the run-flats, you can use them. But, 3000 miles is not enough to wear them much, so they may wear quickly. If the Kumhos have some tread left, they'd be even better. Just remember they'll hydroplane more easily if it rains.

More importantly, bolt something on and go! Whatever it costs in tire wear is nothing compared to the value of the skills you'll learn. These are skills that will make you a better/safer driver from now on.

 

EMini,

The MCS is bone stock except for SSR wheels and worn Kumhos. Well, only the rear because I think they were overinflated and a tad flatter in the middle. They used to be on the front.

My friend is encouraging me to run autocrosses first(complete novice here) before going to a DE. I probably will make one or two before DE but I explained to him that the instruction at the DE is what I am really after. Although, I guess you can get some instruction at the autocrosses too but not a whole lot of seat time.

 

You're right but my point in both situations was I was already going around 85/90 in a 65 (yes I was speeding ) In the situation where I was in front there wasn't enough room to stay at my speed in the other lanes. Again I had no problem moving over but the guy didn't give me time to move over, which was no more than a few seconds. In the situation where I was in the rear, we were going around 80/85 and the Civic in front had room to move over (say about 2 car lengths) whereas I would have had to cut off the car in the right lane. He had ample time to move over, but instead stayed in the lane for about a minute and then instead of moving over he floors it and flies off doing 100+.

We should always be "following the speed limit" In the situations I was mentioning I just felt like the other driver wasn't being courteous. If I'm in the wrong then "my bad"

BTW: The areas I usually drive the "flow of traffic" is about 80 whereas I tend to go anywhere from 80 to 90. Also I was driving the Mini in both situations.

 

Lead, follow or GET THE HELL OUT OF MY WAY has alway been my motto.

In the right lane doing the speed limit of course

 

Note the section I bolded. You said 10 or so over the limit... easily a speed at which you can typically stay out of the left lane most of the time, except to pass slow cars.

Now you go and say you were doing 85/90 in a 65, which is 20/25 over the limit. A very different story.

So which is it? Can you see why I said what I did? Based upon what you said at first, there was no reason to remain in the left lane all of the time, then complain when people were impatient for you to move. However, if you were indeed doing 90, I understand it's harder to keep out of the left lane because the next car you have to pass is often right there... and simply indicating your intention to change lanes, and move when you could, would have been best. But yeah, some drivers just won't wait.

I am not claiming perfection. I'm a leadfoot too, I drive faster than the cops will let me get away with all the time... and I do pass on the right... but only when I have to (i.e. they just won't move out of the left lane). What I try to do is get behind them (not tailgating), wait until they have space to change lanes, THEN count to ten. If they don't move after they had a full 10 count to do it, I indicate and go around. Some people just won't move, ever... unless you are in a white Crown Victoria or Caprice!

 

I was doing 10 or so over you know like 10 or 20 or 25. Regardless of what speed I was doing it was fast enough that I was going faster than the flow of traffic and the guy didn't do a 10 count. I would say he got behind me counted to 2 or 3 and then went around me. When I was in the rear it was much more than a 10 count and like I said, instead of moving he stayed in the lane and eventually just floors it. I guess we all have some degree of a "need for speed" but try and be safe and courteous!

Off topic: Edge I was looking at your sig. Nice setup! How much did your Mini cost? Mine was kinda costly, mostly due to it being a cabrio and having Navi.

 

I save most of my spirited driving for the twisties. On the freeway, I usually just go with the flow (except for the occasional exit/entrance ramp). So, if someone wants to pass me I'll pull over and let them, unless its really crowded and senseless for them to pass, and likely that I'll have trouble getting back into the left lane. If traffic is moderate-to-light, and they want to fly by me, no problem. Since I'm usually 5-10 over the posted speed, I like to have someone faster than me go ahead to see if there are any enforcement types looking for speeders up ahead.