Photograph Credits: Photo on Page 1 by Karl McWherter. Photos on Pages 4, 6, and 7 courtesy of Harry Lipp. All other photos by Sam Fiorani.

Not too long ago, my review of the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle asked if "a guy would be embarrassed" behind the wheel of the new Bug. I concluded the 2012 Beetle was, in fact, a man-friendly car, and the looks from other drivers seem to confirm this. Men (and women) notice the new Beetle and have had a positive reaction to it, no matter where it goes.

Volkswagen has now stepped up and offered me this new model as part of a project to make better drivers. In a series of articles, Automotive Traveler will explore why today's drivers stink and what we can do about it. I won't be conducting my research for this project on some dry proving ground, or by sitting roadside academically tracking moving vioations as I see them. I've taken my study of American driving habits to the weekend racing circuit!

They say the first car race was conceived as soon as the second car was built. The first auto race did occur nearly 120 years ago, conceived to measure endurance more than speed. Considering the cars in that competition, it could be said the first race was also a measure of each driver's nerve.

Today's cars are just expected to run all day at speeds undreamed of in 1895. Yet drivers have become soft, in part because 21^st-century vehicles are incredibly easy to drive. It does not follow that we've become better drivers.

Young and inexperienced drivers are still the greatest threat on the roads. A crash involving injury or death is 2.7 times more likely with drivers between the ages of 16-19 than