My Son Finished Drivers Ed Today

overman · 07:10 AM

My son (Taylor) finished his North Carolina drivers education training today... 6 hours of driving to meet NC requirements. He completed 30 hours of class room instruction in August.

During the summer we worked on a few 'early' lessons...

Taylor's a freshmen at Asheboro High School... he runs on the Cross Country / Track and Field team for AHS. This is a picture from one of his XC runs this fall... he's 2nd in the blue uniforms trailing his friend Caleb Cole, AHS senior. His best time for the season was 17:50 (5k). His best 10k was 39:05. Taylor was awarded 'All Conference' 1st High School season... yes we proud!

Jim Richards · 12-26-2006, 09:58 AM

Yep, I see you're training him right.

Congrats to your son and you have every right to be proud.

bigchillcar · bigchillcar's Garage

good job, taylor!

ryan

Seahawk · 12-26-2006, 10:17 AM

Very nce...now YOUR drivers education begins

Looks like a responsible young man...what's he hidding!

Dan in Pasadena · Dan in Pasadena's Garage

Good job overman. Taylor looks like a fine young man.

A little unsolicited advice (the worst kind): I made my son drive 100% of the time with me and his mother, no matter what after he got his permit. Why? Back then (my son is now almost 26) you had 6 months between permit and full license. My thought was if he drives carefully and conservatively CONSTANTLY during that entire 6 months (because he's with his parent) HOPEFULLY it'll prompt a pattern or habit of driving that way so that after he drives alone he'll continue to drive like that. Sort of "muscle memory" of the mind!

It worked.....almost entirely. He DID make the mistake of a little spirited driving in a tight hilly area in his then-pride-and-joy 3rd Gen immaculate Camaro he'd saved for. It understeered its way off the road into a hedge. Semi-F'd up the front fender, but scared the ***** out of him and I hardly had to mention that if it had'nt been a hedge but a car, wall or cliff.....? He got the lesson completely, has never had a ticket since and is a car guy through and through. May you have as good of luck as I've had - looks like you will. BIG congrats.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Good job, you should be proud!!

wludavid · wludavid's Garage

Running and driving. I can relate. Encourage him to keep up with both.

17:50 is FAST for a freshman. If he stays healthy and keeps up the training, there's no reason he can't break 16:00 as a junior/senior.

Quote:

Originally posted by Dan in Pasadena
Sort of "muscle memory" of the mind!

Also known as "memory." Sorry for the technical jargon.

overman · 12-27-2006, 08:13 AM

Thanks to all for the positive comments. Yes, the driving training continues... I'm looking forward to the seat time with him!

Dan, your advice is well received, thanks for sharing.

I pray that Taylor can learn from our experience together and have fun while maintaining the decipline we all know is so important. He already knows that the 'track' is where you go to learn and experience real performance driving... not the city streets and highways! He's been to the track with me and attended many PCA DE class room sessions... He knows the all important 'No Lift' theory in a 911... I'm hoping all of this experience will prove positive!

wludavid... we'll do. Taylor was a the YMCA working out while I was posting this yesterday! He's dedicated. He corrected me on his 10k time last evening so I edited the correction this morning.

Thanks again everyone... Happy New Year!

Jims5543 · 12-27-2006, 01:49 PM

http://autocross.server269.com/evolution/modules/news/

They have a teen driving School. It uses national champ drivers teaching a combination or track disciplines and applying them to use on the street.

My 13 y/o once he is in the training age will be attending.

Also look into PCA and BMW club schools. There was a great article in Autoweek a couple of months ago with some great tips.

22,000 American Teens Dead

on2wheels52 · on2wheels52's Garage

Congrats overman. Not going to trump in on you but have a 17 yr old in a similar position, swimming is his game. Was solo riding a motorcycle to school at 14 (OK in AR if <250cc), very responsible with two wheels or four. His mother and I know he did not come by this genetically.
Jim