This is like watching videos of people crashing on an interstate. Watch enough of them, and you'll think this stuff happens all the time.

Some people have a fascination with this, but we don't let that stop us from driving on the freeway, or driving on a racetrack. HPDE sessions are tightly controlled and regulated for beginners and novices, so again..its VERY unlikely that a beginning driver will stuff or destory their car. Self preservation and fear is a very effective tool at keeping everyone safe. :)

:iagree:

Had my first session today at Eagles Canyon Raceway. Awesome time and not one incident from a novice. Drive within your means and a little slower than you think you can and you will be fine. Novices should be focusing on driving the line and getting used to the workings and rules of driving on a track.

One more piece of advice: LEAVE YOUR STABILITY CONTROL ON!!! You will have plenty of time to learn your cars charicteristics at the limit once you get used to driving on a track.

This is an important one. It was very helpful a number of times when I was getting used to a wet but drying track. Parts were super slick, others had great grip...and knowing which was which was challenging. By the end of the day we were joking about the 'little Japanese guys who kept us on the track' every time we saw the VDC light come on.

I do think I won't truly get the feeling of what the car is like or fully appreciate handling a corner with drift etcetera unless the VDC is off. However, there are better times to play with VDC off such as Auto-X.

wow, thanks everyone for their insight on this.. i agree with all of you, and hopefully i will get some training this spring, and go to one of tracks around here (i think the closest to me is summit point, i'm not sure didn't do much research on that yet).. and if anyone would like to join, they are more than welcome, actually it should be fun (thats the whole point of going anyways :D).. again, thanks everyone, it kinda gave me confidence again to go ... i'm excited now and can't wait for the weather to get better (spring time, should be good hopefully)