Help a new driver! Spirited driving, traction control & sliding for a noob driver

[Norm Peterson]

Lots of good advice for the OP given.
Id like to add, auto cross etc teaches you control to get from A To B fast.
If you want to be safe though, learning to drift is your best bet.
Its all about traction management, taking it to the edge of a spin and bringing it back.
Perhaps go do a drift class or two with an instructor.

It's still going to be better to learn the basics of grip-style driving first. That's where your driving is supposed to stay, so you want to get that part down cold, first.

It's unfortunate that OP lives on the California coast, else I'd suggest finding an empty snow covered parking lot (flat, and away from any light poles or concrete-curbed islands) for any experimenting out past the limits of stuck-down tire grip.


Norm

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[CJJon]

I use my autocross skills all the time on the road. My drift skills, not so much.

 

[Veteran]

It's still going to be better to learn the basics of grip-style driving first. That's where your driving is supposed to stay, so you want to get that part down cold, first.

It's unfortunate that OP lives on the California coast, else I'd suggest finding an empty snow covered parking lot (flat, and away from any light poles or concrete-curbed islands) for any experimenting out past the limits of stuck-down tire grip.


Norm

You’re right Norm.
perhaps I worded a tad incorrect In my meaning of important.
The OP said he lost traction and started a slide. This can happen to anyone driving rapidly. Some snow, water or diesel and your sideways.
Being able to drift really teaches another dimension to loss of control/traction, how to not get a fright and how to reel it in.
The above skill does not mean grip style should be ignored. It just adds a dimension many people don’t know.
Its there for when you’ve already F .. up.
Grip style is there for not to F ... up.
So actually both skills are needed or should I say useful.

 

[Veteran]

Just to add to my above post. 40 years of mx taught me how to save a 2 wheel that’s got all twisted.
A few years ago I started racing main circuit superbikes I was horribly slow at first, actually I was embarrassed. But I never fell.I saved hundreds of near misses.
Eventually after 2 years my riding I got up to a mid pack speed.
Never better, clearly not a natural. I learned the grip style technique so to speak.

So for me it was the other way round.. Drift before grip style.
Not on purpose, it just worked out that way.
I wouldn’t have survived without both.

 

[Caballus]

Just to add to my above post. 40 years of mx taught me how to save a 2 wheel that’s got all twisted.
A few years ago I started racing main circuit superbikes I was horribly slow at first, actually I was embarrassed. But I never fell.I saved hundreds of near misses.
Eventually after 2 years my riding I got up to a mid pack speed.
Never better, clearly not a natural. I learned the grip style technique so to speak.

So for me it was the other way round.. Drift before grip style.
Not on purpose, it just worked out that way.
I wouldn’t have survived without both.

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/recommended-setup-for-gt350-drifting.151652/

 

[carguy231]

right, i don't blame the car. i want to tame the car... which is why i asked for HELP and identified myself as a "new driver" even though i've been driving since 2002

Find an open and safe area: Parking lot, etc. If it is wet, it is even better and will save your tires and drivetrain from excessive wear. Do some turns, hit the power and get the feel for when the power band hits and the rear starts to break loose. You have to feel it, and unless you want less power, there is no way to 'tame' it. I have larger tires in the back to help connect to the pavement, but regardless, our cars can break things loose quickly, and only CAUTION and experience on your part will help you to deal with it. When you've done it a bunch of times, you'll be able to push harder, and learn to turn into the fishtail. This is exactly why there are so many Mustang-hater videos showing inexperienced drivers losing control and hitting walls, guardrails, crowds, etc. These cars are not the same as some old front-wheel drive econo-shitbox.

 

[carguy231]

Tame yourself, not the car.

Driver mod needed.

No 'shit-talk' intended. Training - I mean 'practice' - needed. You can be self-taught, but please don't rush it. Go easy until you have done this a bunch of times or your car will end up as a salvage title in some yard.

 

[LFG_Cory]

People laugh when I say this but if you have a local racing Kart track and they rent shifter Karts, 80cc, 125cc or 4 strokes, these little nuggets will teach you a lot that translates over to regular vehicles. Keep in mind I am not referring to lawn mower powered Karts at miniature golf parks.

Just an example:

 

[tdstuart]

Hi all, For the past 8 years I have been driving a 1.6L Mini Cooper JCW, which controls really really well.
I am brand new to RWD, V8, Cup2s, and Mustangs.

I drive like a maniac, and Mini's do not slide easily.

The other day I drove my Mustang with some spirit. and entering the freeway, (rolling left turn in 2nd gear), I slid... got sideways... NEARLY crashed like a Mustang leaving cars & coffee.

Since then, I don't really trust the traction control.. it was ON.
Are the Cup2's typically slippery?

What is the best way for me to get practice throwing my car around?
Is traction control trustworthy?
What's a better tire for street driving?
TIA

I have a 2015 mustang gt and have only had my license for a little over a year. I’ve lost traction countless times and I feel like the car is very predictable.

Just keep in mind that in first and second gear your mustang will lose traction at any time.

I would say you need to get a better feel for the car I’ve been slowly getting more use the my car since I got it a month ago. I would say go make a turn at a light and practice feeling how much throttle and turning will make the car lose traction. Don’t lose traction late in the turn tho, you want to give gas and the let out, don’t give gas, see your not sliding, and give more gas halfway through the turn. Did that in a 200 hp bmw and nearly crashed.

The traction control system will let you slide if you want to, whenever you don’t want to be let off the gas and traction control will really kick in.

 

[Postal Bob]

Like I said before, those tires(SC2') have to get hot or they will slip when accelerating hard. Like today, I got on the highway after driving about 10 minutes in temps about 55. I knew the tires were warm, but not as hot as they should be. As soon as I accelerated hard, the back end got squirrelly and I hard to let up on the gas to keep control.

 

[ShadesOfBloo]

I drive like a maniac...

You must un-learn what you have learned, grasshopper.

In addition to all the other advice here, the whole "driving like a maniac" thing probably needs to change. Your new car likely requires a lot of learning.

A friend from New Zealand was in a similar situation many years ago. He went from a 4-cylinder Accord to a 1989 (I think) Supra Turbo. He took the Supra to an autocross school, his FWD reflexes kept taking over, and his car got nicknamed the Turbo Merry-Go-Round. It's a good thing he learned by the end of the day, because his instructor was quite tired of spinning.

And, thank goodness he learned at an abandoned airport, and not on the street.

Like him, you've just multiplied your power and changed which wheels it goes to.

Heck, I'm used to RWD and have a lot of autocross and a little HPDE under my belt, and now that I have a Mustang I feel like I need lots of seat time to recalibrate for this car.

 

[Wildcardfox]

People laugh when I say this but if you have a local racing Kart track and they rent shifter Karts, 80cc, 125cc or 4 strokes, these little nuggets will teach you a lot that translates over to regular vehicles. Keep in mind I am not referring to lawn mower powered Karts at miniature golf parks.

Just an example:

Watching that reminded me of this video of a twelve year old who went from last to first back in 2009. His name, Max Verstappen.

 

[brownisland]

Hey guys! it's me, the OP!
So I found a driving school near me, its Skip Barber Racing School.
Does anybody have experience with that specific course? The cost is $2195 for a one-day school.
that is a lot of money... is it worth it? below is the class description:

The One Day Racing School is the perfect program for the person new to racing. This day long experience allows the driver to experience our race prepared school cars on the race track. This school begins with an in-depth classroom session going over the racing line and vehicle dynamics. You will then build your car control skills in our vehicle dynamics drills. The program rapidly picks up the pace as you experience the thrill these high horsepower, high grip race cars with lead follow laps on the race track!

 

[Wildcardfox]

Hey guys! it's me, the OP!
So I found a driving school near me, its Skip Barber Racing School.
Does anybody have experience with that specific course? The cost is $2195 for a one-day school.
that is a lot of money... is it worth it? below is the class description:

The One Day Racing School is the perfect program for the person new to racing. This day long experience allows the driver to experience our race prepared school cars on the race track. This school begins with an in-depth classroom session going over the racing line and vehicle dynamics. You will then build your car control skills in our vehicle dynamics drills. The program rapidly picks up the pace as you experience the thrill these high horsepower, high grip race cars with lead follow laps on the race track!

driving schools are a an amazing experience. We’re you not able to sign up for the Ford Performance racing school which gives you one free day with the purchase of your car?

 

[brownisland]

driving schools are a an amazing experience. We’re you not able to sign up for the Ford Performance racing school which gives you one free day with the purchase of your car?

Not yet, I don't think they have any more available slot. They said they would contact me once they get more openings.

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