Driving techniques

[76Datsun280z]

Hey guys, as you might have read in my early post that I'm a newbie here! Anyway, I'd more than love to here some special driving techiniques that I'm sure you guys have for driving these cars. In case you don't already know, I've got a stock 1976 Datsun 280z.

[76Datsun280z]

Basically I'm just I'm just curious about stuff like when you think it's best to shift, tips on what to do and what not to do, stuff like that.

[Pennyman]

First of all, the search function is a great tool to get most of your questions answered. The site is so extensive, you name it, someone's dealt with it on this site.

Now, for tips: I try to shift at or before 4000rpm on the street, just to take it easy on the engine. Z's have a tendancy to understeer at the limit, especially off-power, so make sure all your high-speed braking is in a straight line.

Look for an Autocross event in your area (sanctioned by S.C.C.A. or N.A.S.A.) to really get a feel for your car, and see what it's like at the limit. Try to keep it cool on the streets, cops love to pick on the fresh meat with sports cars! (Trust me I was there, I learned my lesson!)

[76Datsun280z]

Yep, I've been warned by my parents many times not to speed or it'll get taken away. To insure it for me is very very high! Anybody else got any tips??

[EScanlon]

Your first car being a 280Z, and with your stated preference for fast moving objects (per your profile) is like handing a loaded 357 Magnum to a first time shooter. Not only do you want to go out and see what it can do, you're itching to "let 'er rip!"

But, and you'll hear this from others, hot-rodding on the streets is a sure fire way of (and I'll just mention some of the more basic problems without going into the name-calling):

Getting very expensive tickets. It might only be for 35 in a 25, or 60 in a 35, but since you're male and under 25, the increase in your insurance premium over the next few years will be more than 50 times your fine.

The cops will get to know you and your car - on sight! They will literally be waiting for you to slip...just a tiny bit...and wham, they'll be on your case.

Then, if your car is still rolling at 1 yard per year through that Stop sign...blammo...another ticket.

The cops will clamp down on you so hard, you'll eventually sell the car JUST to get some relief.

If you think this might be exageration, it isn't. The Z is a sports car. It LOOKS fast, and it CAN go fast. If you as the driver don't take a major role in curtailing what YOU do, you'll find yourself....with a ticket.

You'll find that many of us tell you the same thing, and you'll think that we're just a bunch of old fogeys who don't want you to have fun. That's not the case at all. You'll find that we DO want you to have fun, but what we're trying to do is tell you what problems to avoid....because we screwed up when we were YOUR age...and in some cases are still paying for it.

So all that aside, here's some techniques for SAFE driving:

Arrange your car's side mirrors so that you can see behind you the two lanes to each side of the car. With the internal mirror have the extreme most side edges overlap a bit of the side mirrors if possible, or leave the smallest possible "blind" spot, that is a sliver of space, where you might not be able to see a very THIN person. More than that, and you have the possibility of not knowing that there's a bicycle in that spot and you're about to make a lane change.

If you find that you MUST use a cell phone, use a hands-free ear piece. Many countries are starting to pass laws banning non-hands free use of the cell phone, the U.S. is starting to catch on.

When you drive in traffic, don't just focus on the car in front of you. Keep in mind what the guy in front of him is doing. If possible, look two or even 3 cars ahead to be forewarned of a problem.

Try to keep a mental image of the 8 positions around you, and note what is happening. Those 8 are of course the 4 points of Front, Rear, and 2 sides, then add in the 4 diagonal corners. It really isn't that hard to do, and if you ever played Diablo or Doom or any one of the thousands of video games out there, it will be a piece of cake. Knowing that there is an open space directly to your side, or immediately behind you can provide you with a handy escape route.

Lastly, remember that for most SUV's out there....you barely come up to the top edge of their door and on some of the more elevated ones...the BOTTOM! This simply means one thing...drive as if they CAN NOT see you, because they probably can BARELY see you, and their attitude will be that YOU will veer around them...until they crunch you.

These are all termed "defensive driving" techniques.

Last note, check and see if your local car club or even the local speedway has nights when you can come in and do some bracket racing at the local drag-strip. Portland International Raceway has distinct nights for Drag Racing, (with burn-outs etc.) as well as street car bracket racing. They also sponsor "track days" for car clubs to come in and race (per their rules) around the actual track that the pro's use.

Keep it safe for years of enjoyment.

E

[76Datsun280z]

Whoe, felt like I was in Drivers Ed again there for second! Yep, I've been tolled dozens of time by my parents to be very carefull (believe me I am) in it or it'll get taken away if I get a ticket because the insurance would sky rocket.

[texasz]

Hey, on this topic can someone please explain 'double clutching' to me?

[zack_280]

push in clutch - disengage gear - let off clutch - push in clutch - engage next gear. That's about all I can explain, and I don't know the benefit. I have read about it somewhere before.

[boyblunda]

The above description of double clutching is essentially correct but I would add that - for the moment that the gear is in nuetral with the clutch out -that the driver should either :

1. Let the revs of the motor decrease to those required for the higher gear to be selected if changing up through the gears or

2. Increase the revs on the motor to those required for the lower gear if changing down.

Double clutching will enable the gear change to be much smoother with less stress on all drive train components and will in particular decrease the amount of work required by the syncromesh components in the gearbox.

With some practise and skill you can change gears without using a clutch and this is easier in some vehicles than in others. Those of us that have driven a crash box will know that you do not get a gear unless the engine revs are matched to the those required in the next gear selection.

My old army driving instructor told me that syncromesh gear boxes are only there to help people learn how to drive properly or to assist those who cannot do so. I once saw a demonstration of driving up and down through all of the gears with half a glass of water mounted on the front of the car and the driver did not spill a drop. I thought that was a fairly good demonstration of skillful driving.

[76Datsun280z]

Thanks for that description as I have always been curious about what double-clutching is too!

[boyblunda]

I completely agree with the above posts that have advised commonsense driving on the road when we have to share space with others (and god only knows what some people are thinking when they are driving), maintaining concentration and maximizing vision, and attending and participating in some properly organised motor sport events.

There is a wealth of additional knoweledge that can be learnt from advanced or defensive driving courses even if you have been driving for a while. There are also additional driving courses taught on cloased roads or race circuits for those wanting higher speed experiences and skills.

Anyone can drive fast in a straight line but what surprises many people who look at competitions such as autocross or motorkhana style events is that the people who record the fastest times seem to do it with a lot less fuss.

One of my pet discussion topics is that many people these days are learning to drive and own modern cars that have features that compensate for the additional driving skills required in cars like a Zed which needs to be properly driven eg ABS brakes, traction control, automatic suspension compensation and others that do not come to mind at the moment. I believe that many new drivers have never learnt to drive a car properly because new technology does some of the more subtle things for them. The Zed is a drivers car and part of the pleasure for me is to try and drive it properly.

However, all of the things that might be discussed as far as manual techniques that can be considered all count for very little if the driver lacks a responsible attitude, judgement and common sense on the road. Advanced skills driving should not mean that we can put our brain in the glove box when driving on shared roads, it is a set of skills that allow us to drive a car properly, make superior judgements quicker, and allow us a little more time and room to compensate for unexpected events. They are both mental and physical skills.

Do not mean to sound like I am preaching but this is the point that I have arrived at after being one or more of those names that Enrique did not use in his post.

[JimmyZ]

My Z used to owned by a race car driver who told of being run off the road, spinning out and passing the drunk idiot backwards doing 80! He had the skill to whip it around and catch the guy.

I've heard that the Z's weight distribution (approx 50/50) favors slight acceleration during a turn. This helps the rear end squat during a turn and works fine on a track.

In real life on public roads I found out how much trouble this can get one into. Driving home extremely tired I came to a sharp ninety degree turn and applied this technique. I failed to notice the oil slick in the middle of the intersection due to it being nightime. To make a long story short I overcorrected twice while trying to straighten things up. In a blink all the hard work I had done on my 240Z was moot becuase I ended up in a ditch. "Fortunately" the car was only submerged to the air cleaner. My shoes floated out the door as I opened it.

Another time, I was "cruising" along the local Interstate at a clip much faster than the flow of traffic. I started to relax as I cleared the congestion and was moving through a pocket between congested areas. The Interstate had a large hill which hid what was coming next. As I crested the hill doing about 100 I found an ocean of brake lights greeting me with traffic moving ten miles an hour. Jamming on the brakes at the top of a hill is futile at this speed and the emergency lane was blocked. There was no choice but to "thread the needle" and go down the middle of the line. (Between two rows of traffic down the dashed line) I'm soooo glad nobody was waving their arms out the window because I had the car down to 70 before inserting my car where it shoudn't have gone. By the time I was down to 45 traffic had sped up and I was able to swerve into the left lane. Yes, my knuckles were white and NO I didn't crap my drawers.

This second incident was a long time ago but it managed to influence my decision making. I could have died or caused someone else to die and for what?? It seems everyone in major cities has to drive a little over the edge to get by but there is an awesome responsiblity that comes with driving. It's called avoiding getting charged with manslaughter or having to be cursed with the guilt of changing someones life for the worse.

It used to be that getting caught for drinking or speeding was no big deal. Nowdays the law doesn't play around. Trying to get ahead in life without a license is an almost futile effort. If you really must drive like a nut then make sure that you do so alone in the car on an empty stretch of road.