speed secrets

[kevin]

here are 34 "speed secrets" from "speed secrets, professional race driving techniques" by ross bently.


pick and choose as you will.

1. the less you do with the controls, the less chance of errors.
2. the slower YOU move, the faster the CAR moves.
3. squeeze the brake pedal on, and ease off.
4. the trhottle is not an on-off switch.
5. the less you turn the steering wheel, the faster you will go.
6. keep steering movement to a minimum.
7. check you mirrors as oftenas it takes to always know where everyone else is around you.
8. a shift should be made gently and with finesse.
9. brake first - then downshift.
10. you will never win a race without understanding how tires work.
11. drive at the lowest possible slip angle that maintains maximum traction.
12. smooth is fast.
13. build up the tire's cornering force slowly.
14. overlap your braking, cornering and acceleration forces.
15. races are won on the straightaway, not in the corners.
16. it is better to go into a corner slow and come out fast, rather than vice versa.
17. the more time you spend with the front wheels pointed straight ahead - or near straight - and the throttle to the floor, the faster you will be.
18. the less time spent braking, the faster you will be.
19. before you can win, you have to learn where to go fast.
20. the most important corner is the fastest one leading onto a straightaway.
21. look for and drive the grippiest pavement.
22. if the car feels like it is on rails, you are probably driving too slow.
23. when passing, always "present" yourself.
24. focus on your own performance rather than on the competition.
25. focus your eyes where you want to go, not where you don't want to go or where you are.
26. look - and think - as far ahead as possible.
27. your right foot should either be on the brakes, squeezing the throttle down, or flat to the floor.
28. practice how you plan to race, and then you'll race as you practiced.
29. practice doesn't make perfect, only perfect practice makes perfect.
30. races are not won in the first corner; however, they are often lost there.
31. most races are decided in the last 10% of the race.
32. you have to be close to take advantage of luck.
33. given equal cars and equal talent, the driver who is in the best physical condition is going to win.
34. if you can't afford good safety equipment, you can't afford to go racing.

[98banana]

Originally posted by kevin

...

22. if the car feels like it is on rails, you are probably driving too slow.

...

I like all of those and believe in every one of them, but I had to think about 22 for a minute. But, I guess it's true. I can't imagine a car going around a turn without any drift or sliding or other body movements if it's not at or near the limit. Is that what #22 is talking about?

[kevin]

Originally posted by 98banana


I like all of those and believe in every one of them, but I had to think about 22 for a minute. But, I guess it's true. I can't imagine a car going around a turn without any drift or sliding or other body movements if it's not at or near the limit. Is that what #22 is talking about?

exactly. if it feels like rails on a turn, next time go a little faster. do this each time till your slide/drift is JUST controllable.

[Dean95CobraR]

Originally posted by kevin
15. races are won on the straightaway, not in the corners.

This one seems a little strange to me. It seems like you can make up more time when you execute a perfect corner than you can just putting your foot to the floor. It takes much more skill to go quickly through a corner than a straightaway.

[Cobra-R]

Originally posted by Dean95CobraR


This one seems a little strange to me. It seems like you can make up more time when you execute a perfect corner than you can just putting your foot to the floor. It takes much more skill to go quickly through a corner than a straightaway.

I agree, Dean. Every type of racing I have ever done, most time is made up in the corners. Someone must have an explaination for us.

[svt_coupe]

Originally posted by Cobra-R


I agree, Dean. Every type of racing I have ever done, most time is made up in the corners. Someone must have an explaination for us.

You get around the track in the least amount of time by going fast. Corners aren't the fastest part of a course - the straights are. Therefore, if you can get to higher speeds on the straights, you'll get around the track faster.

The most important corner on any given track is the one that leads to the longest straight (that is probably the single most important concept about going fast around a track). You want to setup for that corner so you'll get the maximum exit speed so your "terminal speed" on the straight is higher. That is how you get fast lap times (it's also how a higher horsepower car can "fake" good lap times with a mediocre driver - they cover the most amount of track in the least amount of time). The next most important corner is the one that leads to the 2nd longest straight... and so on. Get a track map out and study the straights. Then, plan for the most important corners and keep that in your mind.

You should always be thinking as far ahead as possible. If you can think 1-2 corners away, you'll be quicker. If you can think 4-5 corners away, even quicker yet. The idea of thinking about a road course as a circuit is paramount to fast lap times.

Think about it this way - if you have 2 cars side by side in a corner, you'll both be considerably slower because the party line or the qualifying line (the fast line) is being compromised. So, passing in corner is fun to watch, but it is slower. If a pass can be done on a straight away (that includes the braking zone - passing under braking), both cars will be faster.

[svt_coupe]

BTW- Kevin... those are pretty good. I've seen them before and every one of them is dead on.

[Cobra-R]

Originally posted by svt_coupe


You get around the track in the least amount of time by going fast. Corners aren't the fastest part of a course - the straights are. Therefore, if you can get to higher speeds on the straights, you'll get around the track faster.

The most important corner on any given track is the one that leads to the longest straight (that is probably the single most important concept about going fast around a track). You want to setup for that corner so you'll get the maximum exit speed so your "terminal speed" on the straight is higher. That is how you get fast lap times (it's also how a higher horsepower car can "fake" good lap times with a mediocre driver - they cover the most amount of track in the least amount of time). The next most important corner is the one that leads to the 2nd longest straight... and so on. Get a track map out and study the straights. Then, plan for the most important corners and keep that in your mind.

You should always be thinking as far ahead as possible. If you can think 1-2 corners away, you'll be quicker. If you can think 4-5 corners away, even quicker yet. The idea of thinking about a road course as a circuit is paramount to fast lap times.

Think about it this way - if you have 2 cars side by side in a corner, you'll both be considerably slower because the party line or the qualifying line (the fast line) is being compromised. So, passing in corner is fun to watch, but it is slower. If a pass can be done on a straight away (that includes the braking zone - passing under braking), both cars will be faster.

Thanks, Bryan.

[kevin]

Originally posted by svt_coupe
BTW- Kevin... those are pretty good. I've seen them before and every one of them is dead on.

thanks.

your answer to deans question is what i would say (course u said it better than i ever would have)

i thot posting these might be a good idea. most people learn by oral or visual and sometimes both. it's easy to say some of these things, butt it's great for visual learners to see it.

you may find this list posted in my trailer

[Dean95CobraR]

Originally posted by svt_coupe


You get around the track in the least amount of time by going fast. Corners aren't the fastest part of a course - the straights are. Therefore, if you can get to higher speeds on the straights, you'll get around the track faster.

The most important corner on any given track is the one that leads to the longest straight (that is probably the single most important concept about going fast around a track). You want to setup for that corner so you'll get the maximum exit speed so your "terminal speed" on the straight is higher. That is how you get fast lap times (it's also how a higher horsepower car can "fake" good lap times with a mediocre driver - they cover the most amount of track in the least amount of time). The next most important corner is the one that leads to the 2nd longest straight... and so on. Get a track map out and study the straights. Then, plan for the most important corners and keep that in your mind.

You should always be thinking as far ahead as possible. If you can think 1-2 corners away, you'll be quicker. If you can think 4-5 corners away, even quicker yet. The idea of thinking about a road course as a circuit is paramount to fast lap times.

Think about it this way - if you have 2 cars side by side in a corner, you'll both be considerably slower because the party line or the qualifying line (the fast line) is being compromised. So, passing in corner is fun to watch, but it is slower. If a pass can be done on a straight away (that includes the braking zone - passing under braking), both cars will be faster.

If this is true, how did a Miata pass Brian?

Oops, sorry.

[Dean95CobraR]

Originally posted by svt_coupe


You get around the track in the least amount of time by going fast. Corners aren't the fastest part of a course - the straights are. Therefore, if you can get to higher speeds on the straights, you'll get around the track faster.

The most important corner on any given track is the one that leads to the longest straight (that is probably the single most important concept about going fast around a track). You want to setup for that corner so you'll get the maximum exit speed so your "terminal speed" on the straight is higher. That is how you get fast lap times (it's also how a higher horsepower car can "fake" good lap times with a mediocre driver - they cover the most amount of track in the least amount of time). The next most important corner is the one that leads to the 2nd longest straight... and so on. Get a track map out and study the straights. Then, plan for the most important corners and keep that in your mind.

You should always be thinking as far ahead as possible. If you can think 1-2 corners away, you'll be quicker. If you can think 4-5 corners away, even quicker yet. The idea of thinking about a road course as a circuit is paramount to fast lap times.

Think about it this way - if you have 2 cars side by side in a corner, you'll both be considerably slower because the party line or the qualifying line (the fast line) is being compromised. So, passing in corner is fun to watch, but it is slower. If a pass can be done on a straight away (that includes the braking zone - passing under braking), both cars will be faster.

I guess I kinda understand your reasoning but even under your explanation, the way you set up and exit the corner determines how well you get down the straight. So which is more important? I guess that is what initially had me confused.

I understand how a bad corner would put a damper on your straightaway speed. This happened to me quite a few times at Road America and the large hill heading up the straightaway just compounded the problem.

[kevin]

Originally posted by Dean95CobraR




If this is true, how did a Miata pass Brian?

Oops, sorry.

driver error or beginners luck

[kevin]

Originally posted by Dean95CobraR



I guess I kinda understand your reasoning but even under your explanation, the way you set up and exit the corner determines how well you get down the straight. So which is more important? I guess that is what initially had me confused.

I understand how a bad corner would put a damper on your straightaway speed. This happened to me quite a few times at Road America and the large hill heading up the straightaway just compounded the problem.

not sure what you mean here?

[johnbasf]

If that's true how did Tom catch up with the Viper? Man you guys are really confusing the hell out of me. I have been thinking about getting the kind of setup Tom has, but I guess I'll just get a blower and beat everyone. Excuse this newbie for he is trying to learn.

[98banana]

Originally posted by johnbasf
If that's true how did Tom catch up with the Viper? Man you guys are really confusing the hell out of me. I have been thinking about getting the kind of setup Tom has, but I guess I'll just get a blower and beat everyone. Excuse this newbie for he is trying to learn.

What Bryan said is exactly how to catch a Viper. Take the corners right and your straight speeds will increase enough to make up for a car with more HP taking bad turns.

Here's the way I see it. The straights do win races because that's where the speed is, but you need to get the corners right to take advantage of the straights. If you blow the turn, ie. fast in slow out, then the straight suffers and you get passed by somebody that took the turn better. You get passed in the straights because the other car was better in the turn. So, I guess it's all a matter of symantics.

I am a firm believer in getting the corners right first. I've caught up with way too many cars, including vipers, because my car can take the corners. They would take off and leave me in the straights only because of sheer HP, but I would catch up in the next braking zone and stay with them in the curves.