theory: you can tell natural race talent by street driving

I believe one can tell Rob. I was alway's told how impressive my car control etc etc was (still is I might add) and I can tell when I'm a passenger (less braking from the passenger or back seat) if someone has control. Of course I could feel from the trunk if a car was beyond it's limit's and being over driven, I think it is a gift that some are born with but few ever get to show on the track.

 

I see your point and what you're trying to say, but let me share this. I work at an indoor go karting track with decently quick karts (6.5 HP Sodi RX-7's), and I see a lot of kids come in thinking that they're hot sh*t because they drive a BMW 335 and have hit 120mph in it on a public road. The problem is that they want go fast, no matter what. They have no notion of sacrificing speed in a turn for an upcoming straight, or how to properly pass someone. Most of the time, they give us a red flag because they've stuffed themselves or someone else under a barrier. Your point of the fearlessness in theory works, but street racers have no concept of responsibility. All of the proper racers that I know take calculated risks, not stupid ones.

 

Rob's point or mine?

 

I think you can definitely tell whether or not someone has confidence, car control and an understanding of vehicle dynamics on the street. whether or not that would translate into racing success, I don't know...there's so much more to the sport.

 

Occasionally I run into an adult, late to racing, who clearly has natural talent. [size=-2]I really hate those guys.[/size] I sometimes think it's a matter of "processor" speed, an ability to slow things down, to avoid overload. That might be detectable from video game skills, of all things. From street driving - the ability to scan, to stay smooth, anticipate traffic, I agree there have to be indicators.

 

Possibly a good description would be (and please correct me if you think I am wrong) that someone may have good or even decent driving skills but imho if someone does not have the natural talent/skill/ability to become one with the car/kart etc etc it is just wasted rubber. Kinda blunt and most likely alittle obscure but I think I got my point across.

Kind of a funny story, atleast my memory of it is lol! A buddy I used to work with back in the late '80's when I had my AE86 would not say anything as I drifted that car (naturally the chassis was meant for it) but I could see him grasp for non-existant OS grip's. I asked him one time "Robert I see you but you never say anything, why is that?" He replied "I'm in awe of your control and how you predict/know ahead of time what is going too happen so it's just a natural reaction".

So yes it does not have to be on a track to recognize true prowess behind the wheel, it's all about the feel. Kinda reminds me of the thread about what one listen's to while driving their Ferrari and the best reply was "nothing as it distracts from the feel,noise and what the car is doing".

 

You can predict potential, but not actual ability. No, sir.

 

go on....

 

I saw you drive...

 

awwwww

 

You could take that either way!

 

I heard you mutter under your breath "not bad, but he's no Casey Putsch"

 

****, you heard me!

 

Rob, it's fundamentally the same as using speed-based athletic skills as the criteria to judge one's ability to drive a car. I see it with skiers all the time.

 

Interesting question. At Skippy, the negative is called OSB, i.e., other sports beckon. I have also talked about this with team managers (some who you know), and they swear they can recognize talent early on, but they can't explain it. However, these observations do take place on the track, not the street.

In fact, this is why I asked my question about smooth. As a kid, I rode old crappy British motorcycles, and I had no choice but to be smooth. The damn things always broke, but they broke faster when you rode rough. Fast forward a jillion years, the first time I had a Skippy instructor ride with me (I know they normally don't, but this was an exception) as we were headed for T5, he asked me, "You ride motorcycles, don't you?" "Yep," I replied, not taking my eyes off the track, "How did you know?" "Because you're looking up," he said.

But, at the pro level, because talent is a given, the main requirement is discipline. With so much money on the line, any driver who doesn't follow instructions is sent packing, even if they have paid for a seat.

Dale

 

I don't think he even READ all of your points.

BTST, there are a LOT of guys that grew up 'fast', lots of 'natural talent' that was good, but just not quite good enough.
We discuss all the time how the 'worst' pro driver would blow most any of us off the road, so we then have to discuss, of all the drivers that come up thru the ranks, BESIDES MONEY, why do some make it and some not?

PS - Dale answered part of that as I was composing this post.

 

Hahaha!