Do you drive better being a racer?

Keith72
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Keith72 12/13/2018 7:41am
12/13/2018 7:41am
CM_84 wrote:
It depends what you mean by better driver. I think it makes my car control better, but also makes me sometimes overconfident and complacent. My wife...
It depends what you mean by better driver.
I think it makes my car control better, but also makes me sometimes overconfident and complacent.
My wife has nowhere near the car control as me, but I would say she is less likely to be in a serious accident because she drives slower and a lot more carefully.
I think this is probably consistent with most racers
My wife drives the same. With a lot of road rage thrown in.
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CozMan
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CozMan 12/13/2018 7:47am
12/13/2018 7:47am
this is kind of like how I know with 100% certainty that every one of us drive down country roads and identify all the kick-ass jumps and rhythm sections we want to jump in the fields/ditches along the road.
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Jbulz
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Jbulz 12/13/2018 7:48am
12/13/2018 7:48am
I for sure think it helps, but also can make new drivers aggressive and not a smooth.

I think the biggest things it helps me with are:

Looking ahead - I tend to look as far ahead as possible and spot shit drivers causing chaos, deer on the side of the road, or cops shooting radar way before anyone else in the car. Gives you a lot of time to react and make moves to get you out any potential danger easier. Or slow down and avoid getting a ticket...

Situational awareness - I'm always checking my mirrors and paying attention to who is around me. I think that comes from racing and having that 6th sense of where the guy behind you is when he's trying to set up a pass.

Reaction time - this has saved my ass a few times. A recent one was on the highway, a truck in front of me kicked up a chunk of scrap steel or something and tossed it right at my windshield. I already knew there was no one next to me and so I had to make a pretty aggressive maneuver to avoid getting tagged by it.

Keeping cool in emergency situations - Ive can think of 2 moments where I probably should have crashed, but kept composure and didn't even get an adrenaline or heart rate spike until after I saved it. Best thing I could compare it to was being mid-crash on a bike and everything going in slow motion while you think "well this is going to hurt". One was at night in the middle of nowhere, hit black ice mid-corner and the back of my car kicked out. I over corrected back and forth 4 times with the tail of the car all over the place, and somehow kept it on the road, doing some Ken Block shit. After the adrenaline hit and my heart jumped into my throat I slowed it wayyyy down

And most importantly, holeshotting traffic lights
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dcg141
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dcg141 12/13/2018 7:51am
12/13/2018 7:51am
Everyone that drives slower than I do is a moran. Everyone that dives faster than I do is an idiot.
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FlickitFlat 12/13/2018 7:52am
12/13/2018 7:52am
Absolutely, without a doubt. I can I drive like I am riding a skeleton horse through the gates of hell. Because of racing, I am way more alert on the things going on around me than the average driver. As a driver, racing has also made me way more calmer in things like traffic, icy roads just about any situation. Without a doubt racing has made me a better driver.
Kawikid121
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Kawikid121 12/13/2018 8:04am
12/13/2018 8:04am
DTR830 wrote:
I know I spot the Pennsylvania pot holes before my wife does. #lookingahead
Came here to say this lol.. My line selection on a road that hasn't seen road construction in 20 yrs has greatly benefited due to riding motocross.
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sclark309d 12/13/2018 8:05am
12/13/2018 8:05am
I think that in general we have a better sense of traction issues (or lack thereof) and awareness of the morans around us.

I got my son on dirtbikes early - he thinks the same thing. My daughter didn't ride - she is the one you need to avoid at all costs when on the road
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mikec265
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mikec265 12/13/2018 8:41am
12/13/2018 8:41am
One of my friends was a fast local A rider. He was also the last person I wanted driving a car. Red lights, cars stopped ahead, and his lead foots still on the gas. That poor vehicle of his.

On the flip side of that I am the slow poke who makes you speeders late for work. Tail gate me and I smile and slow down.... Until there's a passing zone. My tires and brakes seem to last forever! My slow poking came from driving for a living. I used to be more aggressive driving. One day I realized driving fast was more stressful, it beats the shit out of the car, it cost more money, and patience is a virtue.

Oh, and to answer the simple question, NO!
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Rhody
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Rhody 12/13/2018 8:46am
12/13/2018 8:46am
I don't race moto, I race sprint cars, and I think it makes me a horrible driver. Driving on the street is not driving, it's following rules and I hate it. I only enjoy driving when I'm on "kill" and there is way too much traffic to run around on "kill", so I set the cruise control at 70 and get mad every time I have to disengage the cruise. So no, I am not a better driver, because I am bored as heck. But, I do pull holeshots on traffic lights, roll the outside when there are 2 turning lanes and get off the exit at 70.
clinthadwin
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clinthadwin 12/13/2018 9:15am
12/13/2018 9:15am Edited Date/Time 12/13/2018 9:15am
Without a doubt. Awareness, reaction time, just plain understanding how to take corners and brake efficiently. All those skills translate.

I think about this every day driving around So Cal....
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TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 12/13/2018 9:17am
12/13/2018 9:17am
Answer: in most cases, yes.
Stuntman949
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Stuntman949 12/13/2018 9:20am
12/13/2018 9:20am
Rhody wrote:
I don't race moto, I race sprint cars, and I think it makes me a horrible driver. Driving on the street is not driving, it's following...
I don't race moto, I race sprint cars, and I think it makes me a horrible driver. Driving on the street is not driving, it's following rules and I hate it. I only enjoy driving when I'm on "kill" and there is way too much traffic to run around on "kill", so I set the cruise control at 70 and get mad every time I have to disengage the cruise. So no, I am not a better driver, because I am bored as heck. But, I do pull holeshots on traffic lights, roll the outside when there are 2 turning lanes and get off the exit at 70.
You have a perfect set of matched tires. If you pass on the outside of the off-ramp, you CAN hold it
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Roostermx58
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Roostermx58 12/13/2018 12:54pm
12/13/2018 12:54pm
Corners for dough, speed bumps for show!
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shiftmx_22 12/13/2018 1:40pm
12/13/2018 1:40pm
Stuntman949 wrote:
Undoubtedly. I think a rider/racers awareness on the road is second to none. As far as aggression goes, I drive much more relaxed than the common...
Undoubtedly. I think a rider/racers awareness on the road is second to none. As far as aggression goes, I drive much more relaxed than the common folk. I leave the excitement on the track or trail
Awareness on the road.

I bought my first motorcycle a couple years ago (FZ-09) having never ridden on the street. I talked to a LOT of people prior asking about this and that. I assumed (correctly) that my motocross/offroad background would help me out on the streets. Every rider I talked to that had no dirt experience told me I was in for a surprise and dirt experience makes no difference. I won't say I'm an "expert" level street rider or immune to accidents, but the road awareness is a huge thing. It is a lot easier to ride cautiously and smart because as a dirt rider you are used to being aware of your surroundings and thinking several steps ahead.

On a side note I got sucked down a YouTube rabbit hole last night and ended up on a video of "motovloggers" getting into altercations on the street. 99% of them were completely avoidable on their part and should have been a non-issue. I get that sometimes cars drive stupid and try to run you over. But in most of them you could clearly see a car about to pull out, they would sigh then swear, then stay on the gas until the last second and slam on the brakes, rev - yell - throw the bird. Come on....
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FreshTopEnd
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FreshTopEnd 12/13/2018 1:53pm
12/13/2018 1:53pm
No. We probably drive worse because we think we're skilled, which is debatable, and less risk averse that most, something not debatable.
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mx617
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mx617 12/13/2018 2:18pm
12/13/2018 2:18pm
Jbulz wrote:
I for sure think it helps, but also can make new drivers aggressive and not a smooth. I think the biggest things it helps me with...
I for sure think it helps, but also can make new drivers aggressive and not a smooth.

I think the biggest things it helps me with are:

Looking ahead - I tend to look as far ahead as possible and spot shit drivers causing chaos, deer on the side of the road, or cops shooting radar way before anyone else in the car. Gives you a lot of time to react and make moves to get you out any potential danger easier. Or slow down and avoid getting a ticket...

Situational awareness - I'm always checking my mirrors and paying attention to who is around me. I think that comes from racing and having that 6th sense of where the guy behind you is when he's trying to set up a pass.

Reaction time - this has saved my ass a few times. A recent one was on the highway, a truck in front of me kicked up a chunk of scrap steel or something and tossed it right at my windshield. I already knew there was no one next to me and so I had to make a pretty aggressive maneuver to avoid getting tagged by it.

Keeping cool in emergency situations - Ive can think of 2 moments where I probably should have crashed, but kept composure and didn't even get an adrenaline or heart rate spike until after I saved it. Best thing I could compare it to was being mid-crash on a bike and everything going in slow motion while you think "well this is going to hurt". One was at night in the middle of nowhere, hit black ice mid-corner and the back of my car kicked out. I over corrected back and forth 4 times with the tail of the car all over the place, and somehow kept it on the road, doing some Ken Block shit. After the adrenaline hit and my heart jumped into my throat I slowed it wayyyy down

And most importantly, holeshotting traffic lights
Thank you for saving me the time typing that all out, lol. Pretty much word for word what I was thinking.
psg119
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psg119 12/13/2018 2:25pm
12/13/2018 2:25pm
That's what I tell my wife.
devindavisphoto 12/13/2018 2:29pm
12/13/2018 2:29pm Edited Date/Time 12/13/2018 2:30pm
Jbulz wrote:
I for sure think it helps, but also can make new drivers aggressive and not a smooth. I think the biggest things it helps me with...
I for sure think it helps, but also can make new drivers aggressive and not a smooth.

I think the biggest things it helps me with are:

Looking ahead - I tend to look as far ahead as possible and spot shit drivers causing chaos, deer on the side of the road, or cops shooting radar way before anyone else in the car. Gives you a lot of time to react and make moves to get you out any potential danger easier. Or slow down and avoid getting a ticket...

Situational awareness - I'm always checking my mirrors and paying attention to who is around me. I think that comes from racing and having that 6th sense of where the guy behind you is when he's trying to set up a pass.

Reaction time - this has saved my ass a few times. A recent one was on the highway, a truck in front of me kicked up a chunk of scrap steel or something and tossed it right at my windshield. I already knew there was no one next to me and so I had to make a pretty aggressive maneuver to avoid getting tagged by it.

Keeping cool in emergency situations - Ive can think of 2 moments where I probably should have crashed, but kept composure and didn't even get an adrenaline or heart rate spike until after I saved it. Best thing I could compare it to was being mid-crash on a bike and everything going in slow motion while you think "well this is going to hurt". One was at night in the middle of nowhere, hit black ice mid-corner and the back of my car kicked out. I over corrected back and forth 4 times with the tail of the car all over the place, and somehow kept it on the road, doing some Ken Block shit. After the adrenaline hit and my heart jumped into my throat I slowed it wayyyy down

And most importantly, holeshotting traffic lights
Everything you said here is spot on. One time I was driving on the freeway and noticed someone in my rear view mirror swerving across the road and as I watched them in confusion I looked back in front of me and traffic suddenly came to a stop and I was about 100 feet away still traveling around 70 mph.. I always look ahead 2-3 cars or more to see whats happening ahead but for whatever reason the car swerving distracted me... anyways I slammed the brakes and the car instantly broke loose and purely out of instinct from riding/racing I guess I let off the brakes (even though I was rapidly approaching the stopped traffic) and reapplied the brakes and the car went from breaking loose to catching traction and I was able to stop a few feet from rear ending the stopped traffic. Pretty crazy story and honestly it was pure instinct from racing and it was without thought. In the moment I was trying to be aware of my surroundings and was confused as to why the car behind me swerved across the road (still don't know why) but I'm just glad reaction times and handling high pressure situations in a calm demeanor probably saved my life and my dads (he was in the passenger seat reading a moto magazine).
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Trudare69
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Trudare69 12/13/2018 2:39pm
12/13/2018 2:39pm
I just really want to know where people learned to merge on a freeway at 40 mph or slow to 40 mph before they even get to their exit....don't even get me started on morans stopping at round-abouts. Makes me wonder how people even dress themselves in the morning....rant over.
Falcon
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Falcon 12/13/2018 2:55pm
12/13/2018 2:55pm
Just from observation, I can tell I'm a better driver than 99.9% of the drivers on the road. Whether this is from skill that transferred from racing motorcycles (doubtful,) or because I apply my quick reflexes and laser-like focus to driving (probable,) I don't know for sure.

The above applies to my SKILL behind the wheel; not necessarily how few traffic tickets I may or may not have generated over the years. Grinning "Safe" and "Legal" do not always equal the same thing.
neverwas 12/13/2018 3:08pm
12/13/2018 3:08pm
If I haven't ridden in awhile I drive a bit more aggressively. One time coming home from dinner and it was raining I came into a turn and the car started to slide so I went with it and slid all the way around the turn,my wife turns to me and say "someone needs to go riding"I agreed with her and took the advice and went riding the next morning.I do think racers are better in a panic situation. It's not unusual to almost crash your brains out a few times a moto.
1
Kenny Lingus
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Kenny Lingus 12/13/2018 4:26pm
12/13/2018 4:26pm
It can certainly help. Then again, some of the fastest guys I've ridden with were absolutely terrible drivers.
Sir Roostsalot 12/13/2018 4:51pm
12/13/2018 4:51pm
If you think about it, non racers go from a bicycle straight to a car, thats a huge gap. Accidents among new drivers is sky high and it's no surprise. This is how Dad sold the MX thing to Mom. Bridge the gap.
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VetMX.com
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VetMX.com 12/13/2018 5:10pm
12/13/2018 5:10pm
If you can go fast on a bike, you can drive a car safely and probably fast too.

It is not so different. The "feel" is the "feel" on both. Once dialed, they are both the same in your brain.

I think "Zen" is the word I am looking for.
Gravity Cavity 12/13/2018 6:38pm
12/13/2018 6:38pm
I believe it helped for sure. Funny story but here in MA we are required to take drivers education to get a license. I got my license the day I was eligible at 16 1/2. So at 16 taking my driving lessons my old instructor is looking at me bitching me out saying where are you looking? I didn’t know what he meant. He made me pull the car over and said to me “why are you looking so far ahead?” Just coming out of racing bikes for all those years I could see what was going on by instinct right in front of me and correctly looking far ahead at where I wanted to go.
Subwaytom
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Subwaytom 12/13/2018 6:46pm
12/13/2018 6:46pm
Absolutely!
FreshTopEnd
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FreshTopEnd 12/13/2018 8:54pm
12/13/2018 8:54pm Edited Date/Time 12/13/2018 8:55pm
C’mon, have you guys not seen yourselves on the track? ??. Sheesh. Half the time on the road you guys are staring at some bed full of bikes up ahead while running 20 over the limit trying to catch up for a closer look. While trying to get a pic.

Let’s not get started on the carnie show that’s evacuating parking after a national....

Teggers, asking a bunch of dudes whether they consider themselves better than average drivers is like asking a mini dad if his kid’s fast. ?

(I do think it makes us more conscious of scoots on the road, which is a huge and hefty safety upgrade from the general public.)
MX114
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MX114 12/13/2018 9:01pm
12/13/2018 9:01pm Edited Date/Time 12/13/2018 9:07pm
Great question! Upstate NY winters are no joke. Deep snow is similar to sand riding. You have to let the truck move a little and attack things differently. Moto skills are huge benefit. Or when the snow just recently melted off the road but it’s below freezing still.... it’s just like looking at a jump face after the water truck came thru. The racer instinct kicks in of wether or not can go for it. I can tell just by the schine on the road wether I have good enough traction to keep the gas on or when I’m slowing down can judge better than most how late I can break without losing traction.
Ken202
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Ken202 12/13/2018 9:20pm
12/13/2018 9:20pm
Without a doubt! I know my truck’s suspension appreciates it. It kills me when my wife drives straight across a bump in the road even though there was a smoother path a foot to the side. I’m sitting in the passenger seat bunny hopping my ass right before she hits it! LOL!
TogaSet
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TogaSet 12/13/2018 10:10pm
12/13/2018 10:10pm
On the way to the track I’m the best driver in the universe doing 85 in the fast lane. I pity the fool that gets in my way for 2 seconds. Keep Mr Glock handy. Way home from track I’m a road block in the slow lane with the grandmas all smiles and chill people honking at me giving me the freeway salute. What’s the big rush.
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