In addition to karting, would GT5/Forza or iRacing help in becoming a better driver?

 

Yes.

I especially like the license tests in GT5, trying to get gold on those. Really teaches you how to wring almost every tenth out. What was even better was the GT academy competition since you really truly see what the absolute best you can do is.

 

While it may be somewhat old, I still find use in Live for Speed's autocross mode, especially since it has an editor to allow you to create your own courses. It is inexpensive, a one-time payment, and has run flawlessly on my system for the last 2 years.

 

Absolutely! I started racing in a GT5 league earlier in the year and it has made a difference. It keeps your skills and your reflexes sharp. I know it has helped me smooth out my steering inputs, I've learned left foot braking and trail braking. Plus it's fun and free.

If interested, I can send you the link to the group I run with.

 

Lots of good info for beginners here, like me! Can't wait until next season.
I just got my car this year. I did about 9 events from June-October.
As much as I like to tinker and mod, I'm really trying to keep my car stock.
I like the idea of keeping the car as is and focus on the driver mod. Trying very hard to do so!
Great read and info from the guys who've been doing this awhile.

Steve, do you run tech at NORA? I think I remember talking to you briefly..I have the NFR 04 from PA! I will be seeing NORA a lot next season. Love it there.

 

John, glad you weighed in. My girlfriend actually drove you car with your g/f while at the DC pro. Her non-technical comparison of our two cars "that car is so much better than yours."

My last car was an STX RX8 before I blew the engine and got the s2k, but I still get to drive them occasionally locally and I did run a way under-prepped & open diffed e46 in STX at nationals. I thought about just scaling back to like an e36 in stx because I am not figuring out the s2000 very well. But its a good car and I think I'll stick it out. I've had to riders and the feedback i've gotten is I get way behind in multicone slaloms (confirmed) and I refuse to correct my line when I push myself off or plow a corner or something. I know I have no idea how to really "get behind" cones.

The more I review my results and events I did well vs not well, I believe its probably 60% mental right now, 20% car, and 20% lack of skill / talent. I did when when I was comfortable and told myself the events didn't matter too much vs. when I knew the top drivers would be gunning I over drove and just literally took myself out of the running mentally.

However, very solid advice here again.

So, do some winter karting -- Do some winter reading -- Budget for 2 sets of tires for next season instead of legging one set all year -- Do the 1 & 2 evo school. -- Review video and overall results from last year to isolate conditions where I drove my best and attempt to replicate.

Yea, I am the tech assistant at NORA. Hope to see you out more next year! Its a really good club considering its not SCCA, but don't fall into that comfort zone I'm talking about here where you get 6-8 runs so you can suck your first 4 and no big deal... that's proving to be a hard habit to break.