Hey,

From reading the threads, especially on the basic tech tips, it appeared to me that you guys are very knowledgeable. For one, I was completely lost 50% of the time, but is slowly picking things up as I read it over and over. Nonetheless, is reading books, putting myself through driving schools, and taking automotive classes enough? Or is there more out there besides speaking to other car experts? How did you all aquire this? Just very curious. Thanks.

Take it easy,
X12

 

For me it's reading and actual experience from other people. Realize that some of us have been doing this for years. I started getting interested in cars about 9-10 years ago (I was 23-24 years old). Before that I didn't even know how to change my oil!

Some of my experience has come from watching techs work on my car, or just trying to do it myself. I was 1st into the car show scene and learned alot about parts and what is needed to actually compete and win at car shows. That got boring after about 2 years.

My racing (autocrossing and a little road racing) experience comes from hanging around people who know their stuff. When I first started I wanted to learn from the best so I tried to watch people who ran at Nationals and were really die-hard autocross racers.

 

DVD type magazines, races on speed, countless hours reading tuner mags, boards like HAN for example, reading owners manuals, repair manuals, hangin around shops and salvage yards... just to name a few that I can think of right now... point being I picked up the most knowledge while in situations I was into and havin fun with, as opposed to trying to cram from a book.
And I don't even compare to some of these guys. I definetely don't consider myself a mechanic and wont even attempt some jobs without a pros help.
I think I pick up something new everytime I get psyched about being around cars and car lovers. Which is where I think you want to be mentally to learn and retain stuff.

 

Thanks guys. Appreciate it.

-X12

 

don't forget a large part of learning is from mistakes

Funny things i've done and learned from mistakes:

my first engine swap i poked a hole in the radiator! - moral was to remove the radiator unless you had somone holding the engine while you were removing/installing the engine

my first track days i would constantly cooked my brakes no matter what changes i made (add 100whp via turbo and 16 x 7 falcon azenis to a car completely unsettles the stock balance of power, brakes, suspension and steering)...it took me several events to realize the stock brake system could not handle the extra speed and the extra grip (even with race pads and cd rotors with dot 4 brake fluid)...i finally had to upgrade to a big brake kit - moral here is any major change you make to your car upsets the balance and you need to factor in improvements in the other areas (i still need an lsd as once spooled inside wheels spins a nice cloud of smoke)

 

Ah yes. I've been on HAN for about 6 years now and learned alot from my compadres. I'm also on HT, Superhonda (gasp!), ClubSi, RSX, S2000, North American Impreza Club, ClubWRX, Evolution forums, Automotive forums.... to name a few. All those forums have definitely been helpful.

Plus I have a stack of books and manuals about 4 feet high. And then about 8 years of various magazines. Yes I've kept them all! Sport Compact Car, Turbo, Honda Tuning, Import Racer, Grassroots Motorsports, Banzai magazine, Car & driver, Autoweek, Motor Trend, Super Street. I have about 20 boxes full of magazines

 

You should auction them off. = ) I don't know about their value but there are critical and informative information in there that just aren't covered in many other things. But 20 boxes......wow, you're old.= )
.....................................Actually I'm just kidding. But those magazines sure come in handy, especially now with the magazine Modified which donates a huge section towards DSM and general tech. information and tips.

-X12

 

My 1st issue is Sport Compact Car with a teal green Civic running 12s, which was considered fast back in 1996 Cars were sporting 15s and 16s wheels and that was considered HUGE! No one even heard of drifting, Skylines, Supra's with over 1000hp and everyone laughed when 4 cylinders were drag racing

 

I remember the first time I saw a 4 cyl. drag race. It was a first gen eclipse...
It beat the sh!t out of some old lead sled. I was so young.... I wish I could remember more about it. We were sort of leaving the track and lingering a little......
Good times.

 

i get alot of my knowledge stemming from here and in the shop, when i see somthing i don't know, i search for it and try to learn more about it, so not only do i learn one application towards the device i'm thinking of, but i learn how it works and everything i would want to know about it.