16 in a about a month, Yeah I am waiting till I have a car that will handle a bit better than this one, I understand that you should learn how to drive before attempting anything stupid. My parents have a lot of experience teaching teens how to drive, They have taught 7 of them, most of my cousins how to drive when they live in the US. Part of my driving contract with them states monthly track days which they are willing to pay for. I am going to call Don as soon as possible to find out all of the rules. I know not to go all out... Not yet at least. I did some good practice courses last week, With the ice and snow it taught me how to handle a car on ice and snow.

It's OK Greta, Don't feel bad. I am itching to get to ProFormance..

 

I of course second/third Greta and BG comments about learning.

Trust us on this one. We (or at least I) have made mistakes being young. We'd like to save you some of that pain.

Don Kitch does a great job at Proformance. If cost is an issue, check out the PNWR PCA chapter. They have a skills day. Teens can rent a helmet for free! The day is $55 for all day learning in your car with real instructors. You may need to become a member of one of the car clubs. the BMW CCA is about $40 for a year and comes with a cool magazine.

For a good set of roads to drive, complete with a rating system, pick up Destination Highways for Washington. You can find it at Cycle Barn and other Bike shops as it was written from the riders perspective. Its great.

Here are some other roads that are worth the trip.

1 HWY 20 (from HWY 530 east bound to HWY 97)
2 HWY 530
3 HWY 97 to HWY 2
4 Road from the freeway to My Baker
5 The road around Mt Rainier
6 High bridge road is good but short


There are many others.

 

Works well.

 

I just feel the need to say more about safety, so please forgive me. It's just that I care.

Please take it from me, it is amazing how little you know about driving at the limit. I think you realize that. You seem smart. But please get to a school as soon as possible. Until you get into the hands of a capable instructor, you'll not truely see what is involved.

I used to think I was a good driver. Then I went to school. "True wisdom comes from knowing that you know nothing."

Jump on it as soon as you can. At $95 bucks you just can't beat the fun of a PCA skills day. $55 for the day, $40 for the BMW membership.

 

+1 with my post above about driving skills day and with trevor and greta's advice. can't push driving courses enough

 

When is the PCA Skills Day? I just want to know, as in... I have no clue at this point, and there magazine looks really nice! I think i might join the BMW CCA ASAP.

 

^^with pca, i'm pretty sure you have to have a pcar to join. they ask for a VIN, etc. i know at their autox you can go as someone's guest if the person knows you and if you don't have a pcar, but i'm not positive about their skills days. you may want to go onto their website and contact them about it.

 

Nate,

I'm not sure at your age and without a drivers license that you can take the driving schools offered by the car clubs (Porsche, BMW and Alfa). However, to get you started I would recommend you join one of the clubs (BMW is probably the best choice) then volunteer for track day jobs (corner worker, cone setter, flagging, etc.). This will get you in contact with the track junkie crowd and perhaps even a ride or two.

As a matter of fact the Porsche Club is looking for volunteers for their upcoming driving skills day at Bremerton Motorsports Park on January 10th. Contact Bill Bauer, Chief Driving Instructor (a good guy to know) 206-232-4611. (DriverSkills@pnwr.org) With your enthusiasm I'll bet he'll even get someone to pick you up a drive you back and forth. If you can't reach Bill tryTom Pritchett (Driver Education) 425-888-6562 (DriverEd@pnwr.org).

If you do volunteer, they'll provide a lunch, but you need to dress very warmly and take some rain gear. This sort of activity, while not glamorous, is the entry point for developing your driving skills. Good luck.

Larry

 

I did some good practice courses last week, With the ice and snow it taught me how to handle a car on ice and snow.

Spinning a few donuts in a snow covered parking lot, while a good place to start, does not make you a proficient snow driver. This takes many, many miles of driving in all sorts of cold weather conditions (snow, slush, ice, black ice, high winds, etc.) Don't let over confidence jump up and bite you. Driving a car on the face of it seems pretty easy, but takes lots of miles and seat time to get good at it.

 

So I've now read this thread top to bottom. SCARY. As for roads to drive ask the retired guy Larry he's got all of the good ones and can tell you which mile marker to brake at.

As for this 15 year old wanting to drive fast and talking about cornering a true car. Please for the next 3 years Start a thread here the days you will be driving. I'll make sure me and my family are off the roads that day. I want nothing to do with being on a road with a kid that doesn't (and won't) know a thing one about cars and handling for years. Plus he is already talking about breaking the law. What has this forum done for him? Wow.

I'm not talking safety now just common sense.

 

Urrg. Not this stuff again, OK look. I am not an idiot. I only want a V1 So i don't get any stupid tickets like 41 in a 35. To me thats unreasonable but that happens a lot in bellevue. Breaking the law? When did I say that? I am mostly looking to find different ways to get to expand my skills base. Mostly Track days. As for now I get to wait some more.

I hate that everytime I get anywhere this always happens, People assume that I can't drive, and I know nothing. Cause I must know nothing cause I am 15 and must be a crazy stuupid driver. And of course before actually asking questions and finding out If i know anything lets make a post about keeping my family safe and spit in his face.


Thanks again 6Speed. I give up on this place. For the second time.
-Nate

 

Nate I've never read one post by you that I remember. Never knew who you are. 50% of the guys on this board don't drive to my safety standards but I can't have an opinion about them. They are adults and live and learn. I can have an opinion about your youth and lack of experience. Whether your happy or not take it as advice only. I don't give a crap if you get a 41 in a 35 speeding ticket. Get 50 of them. that's not what I was inferring. I like that you are talking about driving schools. I like that your in tune with cars because cars are cool. Stick with them. I'm talking about cornering and your abilities behind the wheel of a 3000lb vehicle you can't possibly have.

If you've driven the last three years on a family farm or raced carts since you were 5 I don't care. You don't know the slightest thing about approaching a 35mph corner too fast with trees and bicycles on the road. That being said don't be a kid, accept advice now because if you pile your new car up on Fall City road you'll have nothing to post here but dissapointment.

If you take offense to this than your in for a long road little man. You've barely scraped life's experiences and you'll have a lot more fun in life if you listen to what others with experience have to say and take it in.

Hummm3 is normally the Father figure here because he tends to be the voice of reason so many times over most but I will give a little advice because the bicycle around that corner might be me.

Forums are all about advice. That's why people are here most of the time. Funny you take offense to this when I take offense to people telling me how the cars I own handle when they've read an article and never driven them.

Nate I haven't read the articles I've lived it. Open up your mind take in some advice and the next 60 years of driving will be all you expected and more.

 

Thank you for helping me, a few weeks ago I asked for some help and advice, Got a few responces. We both share the same view on bicycles, as I have been hit my car mirror once on my way to school.

I wasn't really taking offence to your advice as in I just didn't know it was there. I thought you were blowing me off and telling me to get out.

I take advice of those little yellow signs, They wouldn't be there if they didn't need them. I still haven't gone over the speed limit. And I DO NOT want to wreck a new car. Which is why I asked for help. I understand that your conserned with the safety of your family, as am I.

I am just trying to learn, Yes I know I do not have the skills required. Which is why I just wanted to find roads with and epic view. And Frankly I Know Nothing.

H20Skier (Mark is it?) I know no one remembers me, I'm totally ok with that. And of course I am ere because cars are cool. I know the only good place to be is the Track when you want to go fast. I want to know more if a car pulls out of a side street, and I want to learn how to make sure me and my future family can survive the incident. Its just I want to learn as fast as possible.

With much thanks,
-Nate

 

nate,
i've got to agree with mark and the others here. as much as they are concerned for your safety, they are concerned for everyone elses safety as well. nobody's picking on your because of your age. as mark mentioned, there are plenty of adults out there that don't know their own limitations when it comes to driving and/or other activities. nobody wants to see anyone get hurt out there. even experienced people can make mistakes. i commend you on your enthusiasm to attend driving schools/courses. they are some great instructor's out there that will help improve your skills and abilities. many of us that have been to a class or two continue to keep attending courses so that we can improve upon our skills and abilities.

don't be discouraged at the advice that people give you. they are just trying to help you. there is so much good information that you can learn from these guys. you'll learn about driving, cars, modifications, and you'll make some great friendships along the way. i've learned a ton of great information from everyone here and everyday i learn even more. you'll get honest opinions here and sometimes the opinions aren't always what you want to hear. that's the beauty of a public forum. everyone is just trying to look out for one another.

ps...larry's (HUMM) idea about helping at the track or at autox is a good suggestion. you can meet some of the instructors and get familiar with the people and the way the events go. that's what i did at autox before i actually did the runs myself. i'd try to attend as many organized car club events as i could. you'll learn a ton of info from everyone.

 

GAH! You people respond SO FAST! Thanks BG. The open forum is a beautiful thing isn't it?

-Nate