[s-cars] Kids and cars

[Joe Pizzimenti]

If you didn't read all that, just know this:

Jeff's a kickass dad, period.

On 10/13/05, Postupack, Jeff <Jeff.Postupack at analog.com> wrote:
>
>
> Mark wrote: "
> From: "Mark Strangways" <Strangconst at rogers.com>
> Subject: Re: [s-cars] Kids and cars
> Cc: <s-car-list at audifans.com>
> Message-ID: <00e501c5cf95$d069ab70$6400000a at Strangwaysgroup.ca>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> My point here, and I am really holding back, is why do we have to learn
> how to drive out of a bad situation. They can be avoided well before
> they begin.
>
> I am not saying that the instruction of high performance driving skills
> are not an asset, far from it. The thread has focused on what car to get
> to survive a hit, or now, how to correct the car from a skid or hydro
> plan. This is all well good, but my money and time has been spent
> getting my child to understand why shit goes bad in the first place and
> to make sure she is not there when it does go bad.
>
> Kids need to know when things are going south, so they can save
> themselves. Your child may own a tank on wheels, but that ain't doing
> nothing when so idiot is behind the wheel that the car she / he is a
> passenger in. I would think my daughter knows enough to tell that person
> to pull over and let her out.
>
> This to me is more important than the car she drives (which is a 1988
> 190E POS). It isn't pretty, it isn't overly fast. But it's big enough
> and heavy enough to stay on the road in traffic.
>
> (going back to lurk mode now)
>
> Mark"
>
> >From JP.....
>
> I appreciate your point of view and find it fascinating this list has a
> lot of member with near driving age children. Let's learn from each
> other!
>
> There is one fundamental difference Mark,
>
> Correct me if I misunderstood..
>
> You're teaching your daughter and she listens, learns without testing
> the limits. She wants to know why incidents should be avoided.
> Young girls also have special respect for their father. And boys, well
> there's this competitive element in some parent relationships and among
> peers.
>
> Not to be gender biased, but I'll say this about raising boys to be
> independent self reliant people.
>
> "Boys test everything". At least mine does.
>
> He'll listen sure and may go out and explore the limits of 'any' system,
> be it a Mtn bike or a car or a social situation. It's gonna happen, so
> ask yourself this-
>
> Whether they tell you about what they are exploring or not relies on
> father-son relationship and the principles taught to guide decisions
> when _you are not present_.
>
> Given this observation and personal experience (at 16) my goal is to
> equip my son with driving knowledge, techniques, positive role models,
> and events to explore and learn safely.
>
> Which is why Andrew attended Audi Team Driving at Road Atlanta. He
> admires those SCCA drivers, learned a great deal about controlled skids
> left AND right, soft shoulder recovery, braking intervals etc. He still
> talks about it today. Well worth the $900 plus weekend flight/hotel to
> Atlanta.
>
> I knew damn well internally he would test the limits of driving,
> encouraged him not to, even offered Lime Rock and Track events. I did
> the same damn thing without the training.
>
> I did not berate him after the accident and focused on the learning,
> lapse in judgment as a temporary incident certainly not to be repeated.
> In life we DO make mistakes, must learn rapidly, move on.
> Lots of wisdom is internalized because it's his personal experience.
>
> He actually knew what to do the moment adhesion was compromised, tried
> to solve the problem, carried too much speed.
>
> Would it have as much powerful meaning to an adventurous boy had I
> lectured on all this. I think not.
> Now I do believe he's much wiser.
>
> Everybody, save up, research your school, bring your children to Audi
> Teen Driving, O'Neil or Steamboat.
> And go with them, it's the time of their lives and yours.
>
> Jeff Posto
> Es-car-go
>
>
>
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