What *is* knowing how to drive???

[GulfCoastGTS]

I see all these posts, in the race forum mostly, but I've seen it everywhere. People always complain about the other driver not knowing how to drive, or you could shave .5 seconds with a good driver, or the only reason you won was the other guy didnt know how to drive!!!

Whats this mean?!?!?

Please enlighten me. What skills does a 'good driver' possess? How much experience does it take to be a good driver? I think alot of these examples mean a shifting quick, but being a good driver isnt only about shifting quick, so what is it about? just wondering...

[oo_snoopy]

I think they abuse the term, they should say, "good shifting", but shifting is a part of driving.

[skatamatic]

as far as drag racing goes, launching and shifting are about the most important points. then as far as being a good auto-x or road race driver, there's a whole lot more to think about (when to brake for a turn, how fast you can take it, when you can accellerate out of a turn, how fast you can generally go before you or your tires loose control, etc...). i personally find it way more fun too :).

[heymeng]

people always exagerate when telling racing stories to make them sound better. just like how they always say it was a ricer who pulled up revving like crazy with a visor on backwards. but yes.. being a good driver(drag racing) relies more on the launches.

[Brett]

Good drivers rely on 1)Reaction Time, 2) Launching, and 3)Shifting quick, but also shifting at the best possible point in your powerband.

[GTS LAID]

perfect lines = good driver

[Redline]

Originally posted by Brett
Good drivers rely on 1)Reaction Time, 2) Launching, and 3)Shifting quick, but also shifting at the best possible point in your powerband.

That's true for the drag strip, but that doesn't mean your a good driver. I don't know... I think drag racing is the farthest from "driving" than any other automobile motorsport. A lot of driving skills are left out when drag racing.

[larryd]

lets not get into the drag racing vs all other types of racing discussion here as everyone has their own opinions on each.. each requires certain skills some more then others..

in the racing stories forum when someone says a good driver for the most part there talking about being the first person off the light, and then actually hitting your shifts right by not missing the gear or grinding or shifting to soon or shifting to fast.. there is actually alot to it.. you can take the same car and take it to the track and let 10 different people drive the car and the times will range alot more then 1/2 second..