Spec Miata's for DDP????

[Phil E]

Scott

The beginning sessions will be Miata. Then we will move to faster, more powerful cars.

[charchri4]

I'm pretty new at this but I jumped in the Miata last night for the first time and the lack of power didn't keep me from spinning it at the first corner! I'm so used to the all wheel drive volvo that sticks like glue I was not able to control the Miata when it got away from me. From there I jumped in the rFactor trainer. It is a blast to drive but nearly impossible to loose control it in. I have no doubt it covers up most of my rookie mistakes. The only issue I see with the Miata is it sounds like fingernails on the chalk board. I may have to mix in a few viper sounds to keep my sanity...

Scott you make some great points. Keep in mind the point is to learn the basics of precision driving and there is logic to do that in a basic car. Once I can get all the Miata will give and run the right line on the track for a dozen laps in a row - then I'd be ready for some HP.

[Flyer23]

I would like to offer any assistance needed. I was speaking with Paul Hamilton last night and he suggested I see if I can help. I have over 15 years of REAL world racing in Formula Atlantics, FF2000 and Porsche 944 Turbo. Any help I can offer just drop me a PM ..... In fact that is a pic of me in my avatar turning to go up the hill at Lime Rock in 1989

[WhiskeyChaser]

A car that has no chance of getting out of control teaches you nothing about car control. That's why European drivers are so much better at driving than we are here in the States. We are never taught that here. What we learn and teach should be progressive. Starting with slow cars and moving up to faster ones. How are you going to teach anything about standing starts, for example, using a Miata. With the Miata you smash the throttle drop it into gear or pop the clutch and go. Try doing that in a Prototype, GT1 or any car that has a suggnificant amount of horsepower, in any mod, and whatever you learned in a Miata is now useless. Whatever fellas, I just don't understand how your going to teach anything using only one type of car.

Hi Scott

Speaking of car control. I invite you over to our side of the house. I will give you an 80 horsepower car on Richard Burns Rally. If you do not know how to drive, you will not complete a stage.

I managed to spin the Miata too. But having fooled with some of the more powerful cars, your point is well taken.

[Troy Dalton]

A car that has no chance of getting out of control teaches you nothing about car control. That's why European drivers are so much better at driving than we are here in the States. We are never taught that here. What we learn and teach should be progressive. Starting with slow cars and moving up to faster ones. How are you going to teach anything about standing starts, for example, using a Miata. With the Miata you smash the throttle drop it into gear or pop the clutch and go. Try doing that in a Prototype, GT1 or any car that has a suggnificant amount of horsepower, in any mod, and whatever you learned in a Miata is now useless. Whatever fellas, I just don't understand how your going to teach anything using only one type of car.

In my opinion, the DDP is very similar to new pilot training. All the topics we teach here, including the intermediate and advanced techniques, are designed to help someone with zero knowledge, earn their license. During this process, it is imperative that the student concentrate on the material and master the techniques being presented, without introducing the additional burden of trying to learn the unique handling characteristics of a variety of vehicles. There is a very good reason why all pilots learn to fly in simply, slow, easy to handle aircraft. Once they have mastered those skills and only then, are they allowed to move up to more powerful and complex machines. I think the same learning process should apply to driver training as well.

[Flyer23]

Being smooth around a track will always be easier and quicker. The Miata will teach that. No horsepower to mask a bad line through a corner. This particular vehicle is all about momentum and scrubbing off the least amount of speed entering a corner. I drove these last night before I went to the Mexico server in my P2. I drove them on the VOR server as there is a special event next Monday with these. I can say there ARE NOT easy to be fast in. You must carry your speed through every corner to make sure you are fast on th staraights.