When I was learning to drive, I first started learning a little by driving in empty parking lots with my mom. Unfortunately, she was too nervous about letting me drive on the road, so when I took driver ed and it came to my first time driving a car on a public road... ...it was in a snow storm. Heh! I gotta say tho', it is the BEST way to learn to drive a car. Because you really learn to pay attention to the car itself, the way the vehicle's weight shifts when you turn, when you're going through snow, how to keep it from sliding, the effect speed has on whether the vehicle slides, how to steer to counter a slide (and not over steer), work the brake, ect... The other thing my instructor did that was beneficial was have me drive in an empty parking lot (in good weather, dry pavement) and go around in a tight circle, (not a sliding turn but the car would lean pretty good) and do figure 8s. Again, it taught me to pay attention to the car, the steering, how far to turn the wheel, when to let go of the wheel and let it straighten on it's own, the weight shift, ect. As for any Dukes influence...well this was in between the original run and the return to TNN (there I go showin' my age again LOL). I dunno if all those car shows I watched as a kid in the 80s mighta had an effect, but I will say I would love to take my car to a big empty parking lot and do some tight turns and make the back side fish tail - just for the hell of it. LOL. I have yet to do that tho'. Anyway, like Roger said be careful. But also have fun. If you get the chance, I also recommend learning to drive a stick shift (if you're not already learning that). Knowing both is handy.