Larz

He's still getting paid for what a lot of us pay for, though. I'd trade places with him. At least he's not as worthless as Takuma Sato and Super Aguri. That guy only has a seat because his home crowd would go ape **** if he didn't.

RETed

I didn't claim that.
I claim he's a joke for an F1 driver, especially since he won the Red Bell USA driver's search.
I'd rather have Boris Said be driving in that seat...


I'd pick Sato over Speed anyday.
Sato's a much more aggressive driver that usually gets him into trouble.
So far Speed's DNF record looks just about the same as Sato's when Sato was with BAR-Honda.
The Super Aguri chassis is inferior.
I think Sato's driving skill is not the limitation - the car is.


-Ted

KeloidJonesJr.

iTrader: (8)

Good suggestion.

SoontobeLS1'd

The WRX is a good option. Theyre quite fun all around. If you're looking to be a pro, you better get a learnin' real fast. I'm 20 and just started getting real driving time. Though my aspirations don't include becoming an amazing driver, more a successful husband/engineer, it's something I enjoy in my time off.

Do you plan to go to college? Karting is definitely the way to go-much cheaper than running a "real racecar." An old toyota pickup, a toolbox full of tools, and your kart. Sounds like a good option.

The again...ReTed seems to have the common sense around here.

John Magnuson

I'm not familiar with the term "FF". Does that mean front engine and front wheel drive? If so why not just say FWD since to the best of my knowledge there has never been a car with front wheel drive that had a mid or rear engine.

RETed

Too much InitialD...


-Ted

Killer With The Beat y0.

While I respect your opinion, that's probably the worst advice you can give to anyone. For one thing, I'm going to be doing all this while I'm enrolled in college (a degree is a great Plan B). For another thing, to put it crudely, living with regrets sucks. There aren't a lot of feelings worse than looking back, asking "what if," and knowing you can't change it. Many people who have responded in this very thread can verify this, just by reading "I wish I would've started younger." Two things will happen by me pursuing wheel-to-wheel racing: either I'll find out I love it even more than I thought and continue to spend money on it, or I'll realize it isn't for me and have it out of my system. Unless you want to argue safety issues of injury, NO negatives can come out of me pursuing this. The worst I can see is I waste a little bit of money I'd waste on something else anyway.
As far as the legitimacy of it, unless you're just busting *****, FF is a recognized term outside of Japanese cartoons (sorry RETed). I'm just in the habit of always listing the engine location and the drive, even if it's the only one available. For AWD I'll often even say "FA," even though I'm pretty sure no one else does.

jgrewe

iTrader: (1)

Maybe I'm just old but I first thought you were talking about a Formula Ford before I read the post. LOL

That would make FA mean Formula Atlantic...

I did about the same thing you are thinking of, auto-x in highschool, road raced some in college then went to the real world after college. Bought a business, started another, sold them both, retired at 38, back to racing now.

peejay

My thought was the Subaru FF. which would be extremely rare nowadays. But they had inboard mounted drum front brakes, to save unsplung weight.

Anyway.

Learning RWD first makes you stupid-fast with a FWD. You appreciate how you can brake and turn in harder with a front-driver, and exploit it.

On the other hand, learning FWD first makes it somewhat more difficult to learn to drive RWD, for the opposite reasons.

Cross-pollination is good for the driver, though. Everyone should experience driving rear, front, and all wheel drive (REAL all wheel drive, not some watered down "it's 2wd until the computer thinks to send power elsewhere" garbage) in a spirited and tirewrecking manner.

jgrewe

iTrader: (1)

Saving unsplung weight? Rotsa ruck!

Larz

I'd rather see a guy blow his cash on racing rather than beer, drugs, and money grubbing women. You have a valid point. If you try and don't make it, at least you know. And you'll have a hell of a time no matter what happens.

Larz

I'm Bimmer retarded. I didn't know e30 covered such a broad range. Yes, those things grow on trees in Germany and are brought over by the baskets for motorsport competitors. I've been helping my friend with his 325 recently. Great all around cars.

KeloidJonesJr.

iTrader: (8)

^^^ Yup, he's the guy you talk to. He autoX's quite frequently.

RETed

Why don't we ask the original poster?
I put money he got that FF **** from InitialD.
Willing to put money on it?

BTW, how old are you?
You sound like you're 16...


-Ted

sintri

Isn't he the original poster?
Bit better avatar pic, but you can do better :P the angle doesn't really tell much, though it is a somewhat interesting perspective.

RETed

Yep, you're right.
I've been in a daze for most of the day for some odd reason.


Uh, ok...?


-Ted

peejay

It's also a reference to Gran Turismo, which is about as bad.

Roen

iTrader: (2)

To me it makes logical sense when you think about cars as a whole to list engine and drivetrain, while FWD, RWD, and 4WD help in their brevity and in the fact that most cars are front-engine, being specific is the best way to go to clearly identify a car. Especially if some kid who's a bit clueless asks about an MR2, and someone says RWD. If he doesn't ask the follow up question, "Is the engine in the front too?", then he leaves confused, thinking the engine is in the front and the rear wheels power the car. At least with the engine/drivetrain abbreviations, you kill two birds with one stone. The only exception is 4WD instead of F4, but that's just my personal preference. I usually use, FF, FR, MR, RR, 4WD, M4 and R4.

Tofuball

How many rear engine, 4WD (R4) cars do you know of? I can't think of any except the Mid Eighties Synchro Vanagon. I've always been interested to know of more

wrankin

Wow, you've got to be kidding?

Porsche AWD Carrera (964?), Lamborghini Diablo.

-b

Gene

iTrader: (1)

I'm pretty sure it was Gran Turismo that introduced FF into the English driving lexicon.

My own advice is close to what the others here are saying, so no point re-hashing it.

Definately get college under your belt. What's your major? And what college? You should look into Formula SAE. It's an engineering competition every year put on by the big three automakers, to cultivate and find talent. Schools from all over the US (and the world) build 500-lb formula cars powered by sportbike engines, and bring them to Detroit to compete.

You might want to consider FSAE participation in your college choices. I did quite a bit on my team, even though I wasn't an engineering major, because I had machine shop experience from HS and know my way around cars.

http://students.sae.org/competitions...laseries/fsae/

Gene

iTrader: (1)

Pretty sure the Diablo is mid, not rear.

SPICcnmGT

I agree isn't Porsche the only majorish company that does the rear engine car??

wrankin

You are correct - I missed the fact that the original poster did differentiate between mid- and rear- engined cars.

Question for the masses: is the "mid-engine" designation defined solely by the placement of the engine block completely between the front and rear axles, or does it also require that the engine be located behind the driver? Ie. is the RX-8 a mid-engine design?

-bill

Roen

iTrader: (2)

Porsche, and by definition, RUF would be the only two car manufacturers that make R4's.

Usually, for the midship designation, the engine is between the front and the rear but also behind the driver. I've never seen the RX's classified as an MR, only an FR.