We have all been there

Leaving My neighborhood tonight, I’m waiting to turn left onto a busy street. Out of the corner of My eye, I see a car making a right hand turn, onto the street I’m on from the center lane. The car is doing way over the speed limit, and is rolling. I immediately goose the truck and turn right into a yard to avoid being hit. I lay on the horn flip the car off and am P’oed to the max. As the car makes the turn, I kinda recognize it. It’s a camry Wagon. And it looks like a customer of mine’s car. I back up the truck, needed 4wh, ugg mud. And turn and proceed to go where I think the car belongs. I pull in right behind it, as the 16 year old gets out (driving Moms car) along with his 5 year old brother. At this point I cant even believe how MAD I am. That this kid is driving like this with a little guy in the car. He looks at me, pulled up right behind him in his driveway, and starts apologizing. My first words are “champ, you aren’t that good, neither is the car, where is your Mom?” Really Mister Thompson, Im sorry. Ya, I know, let me talk to your Mom. Shelly comes out of the house, she says “willy, I saw you pull in behind my Son, what the eff did he do?” I told her, and I told her its raining, and the kid took the corner at 45mph, he is a noob driver and the car aint good for that, and he almost hit me head on, and I was standing still, had I not took action, it would have been real bad, and to see the little guy in the car just makes me cringe!. Shelly Apologized and I told her look, I teach driving, I teach AX, and I teach w2w. this was BS. But if the boy wants to learn, I can show him how, and where.

I think I will have a new student, in the spring, lets hope so!

I stand behind thinking that Kids need to be on at least an AX course, if not more.

An extended learning period, including skid pan and Auto-X training should be mandatory for all beginner drivers in my opinion. Much like it is in Finland (according to Top Gear, at least.)

Willy, my man, good on you for being proactive, and not just condemning the kid as another ne'er-do-well no count E36 M3head. More kids need guys (and gals!) like you interested in their preservation and betterment, and not just looking to keep them from being a nuisance in their daily existence. As you say, we've all been there - would that more of us had somebody like you to back into our driveway.

Yep, I think back to all the stupid stuff i did when I was 16 and invincible and can't figure out how I survived let alone didn't crash any of my cars (at least not back then..) My kids WILL do a season of autocross before they get to drive alone.

AutoX is absolutely 100% what keeps me sane on the road. I just stop and think how stupid it would be if I wasn't able to compete because I put my car in a ditch or worse the weekend before an event. All my parents' threats of never letting me drive again or me paying for the car if I crashed it never put a dent in my 17 year old head like the thought of missing just one autoX does now.

Yipes, I'm glad you managed to avert an accident. But what is his mom thinking letting him drive with the 5-year-old in the car?? 16 is too young to be driving the little guy around. I remember the crazy crap I did when I was 16 and woof.

I crashed my first car on the day before my 17th birthday....I did some crazy crap with that car...my kids will know better...I promise.

Though to be fair, you tore up someones property with your truck, and just drove off, leaving them to deal with the damage you created.

You don't win an award either.

One of the most rewarding things about autocross is showing young'uns how to actually learn car control. All my nieces/nephews/neighbor's kids, etc. get the lesson from me free of charge. I remember how I was at that age, and it's scary to think of what they might do. Like I said; it's very rewarding. Great thread!

went back today, on my way for a cup of coffee and talked with them, they were not home last night.

really was not looking for an award. I know whats right and wrong, and a person to person talk was better than a note.

By the way, the persons yard is another customer, and they were happy I came and talked to em.

OK, I stand corrected.

And the more I thought about the way I worded my comment, the less I liked it. I should have asked, not just accused.

I'm am all for a mandatory 3 day driving school for anyone just getting a license. I'm talking Skip Barber, Bob Bondurant, or anything serious. Think of the money in wrecked cars that would be saved. Not to mention injuries and fatalities that would be avoided.