whats techniques to use to go as fast as possible
Discussion
The secret to driving fast can be found in carts. If your fast in a cart you can drive. If your not you've got stuff to learn.
Reading is the best way to understand the dynamics involved and old school books by the likes of a Jackie Stewart are excellent.
Learn your trade in carts and you'll save yourself a lot of danger and crashes. Driving fast is an art and takes a huge understanding.
There's fast then there's really fast.
Really fast requires the driver to go past normal grip levels and rotate the car at extreme moments around corners etc which require the use of both feet. Carts help you in many of these aspects like blending throttle and brakes at the same time etc etc.
If you just want to go round circuits with some spirit, simply get tuition at that track because knowing what to do and when matters more than tonnes of bad laps.
By understanding the lines you can learn to place the car well and brake in dead straight lines ( where you can) etc etc. Circuit driving requires practice and consistent driver input at the right moments to just get around safe. Once you've learnt the lines and places where to maximise your effort etc it's just experience that then builds your confidence and belief system.
One tip is to look carefully at the track and barriers, find slow corners that allow you to run off safely and push the car in those turns, learn the feel of the car at the extreme edge of grip and practice trail braking and rotating the car with a dab of left ft brake and a spike of engine power etc etc.
It's a fascinating subject and more akin to a form of science.
Reading is the best way to understand the dynamics involved and old school books by the likes of a Jackie Stewart are excellent.
Learn your trade in carts and you'll save yourself a lot of danger and crashes. Driving fast is an art and takes a huge understanding.
There's fast then there's really fast.
Really fast requires the driver to go past normal grip levels and rotate the car at extreme moments around corners etc which require the use of both feet. Carts help you in many of these aspects like blending throttle and brakes at the same time etc etc.
If you just want to go round circuits with some spirit, simply get tuition at that track because knowing what to do and when matters more than tonnes of bad laps.
By understanding the lines you can learn to place the car well and brake in dead straight lines ( where you can) etc etc. Circuit driving requires practice and consistent driver input at the right moments to just get around safe. Once you've learnt the lines and places where to maximise your effort etc it's just experience that then builds your confidence and belief system.
One tip is to look carefully at the track and barriers, find slow corners that allow you to run off safely and push the car in those turns, learn the feel of the car at the extreme edge of grip and practice trail braking and rotating the car with a dab of left ft brake and a spike of engine power etc etc.
It's a fascinating subject and more akin to a form of science.
It's all to easy to go head down and attack at track before you even know the place. They say it takes 50 laps to just learn the Nurburgring and I totally understand why.
You need to know where the bumps are or low grip tarmac etc, one of the best things you can do is totally forget the track and concentrate on remembering the road furniture and buildings, trees, Marshall posts and barriers or advertising that you can use to sight yourself and become familiar, when your eyes are bouncing and your trying to find a corners entry point it's the stuff in your peripheral that your brain uses to place yourself and know where you are. I tend to learn all these things if I have time, I make it a point of my sighting laps I'm taking in all this stuff Because you'll know your way round much sooner.
As you then learn the track and get faster this stuff will support your capacity for feeling secure and fully aware. Buildings are important, take them in, spinning 360 degree at 90 mph you'll be glad of seeing stuff like that because if your truelly talented and lucky you'll spin and still know exactly where you are and what way your pointing as your doing it, you need your bearings at all times so do this first and you'll be a better driver for it.
Skid pan driving will teach you the most about car control and how delicately poised you are and how your actions directly influence the outcome. Driver error is 95% the reason for crashes.
You need to know where the bumps are or low grip tarmac etc, one of the best things you can do is totally forget the track and concentrate on remembering the road furniture and buildings, trees, Marshall posts and barriers or advertising that you can use to sight yourself and become familiar, when your eyes are bouncing and your trying to find a corners entry point it's the stuff in your peripheral that your brain uses to place yourself and know where you are. I tend to learn all these things if I have time, I make it a point of my sighting laps I'm taking in all this stuff Because you'll know your way round much sooner.
As you then learn the track and get faster this stuff will support your capacity for feeling secure and fully aware. Buildings are important, take them in, spinning 360 degree at 90 mph you'll be glad of seeing stuff like that because if your truelly talented and lucky you'll spin and still know exactly where you are and what way your pointing as your doing it, you need your bearings at all times so do this first and you'll be a better driver for it.
Skid pan driving will teach you the most about car control and how delicately poised you are and how your actions directly influence the outcome. Driver error is 95% the reason for crashes.
git-r said:
I've been lucky enough to have instruction from a professional racing driver i.e. Someone that makes a living from racing cars.
The difference in instruction between the pro and other's is huge. I found it hugely useful as it contradicted everything I'd been taught previously and so much of what you read online.
It didn't make me much quicker but did make me realise how crap I was and how talented the pro's are!
Oh so true!The difference in instruction between the pro and other's is huge. I found it hugely useful as it contradicted everything I'd been taught previously and so much of what you read online.
It didn't make me much quicker but did make me realise how crap I was and how talented the pro's are!
I'm not convinced that 20mins on a trackday will make you any quicker long-term, but it'll certainly help you get the most from a trackday at a new circuit.
I'm still a long way short of being a fast driver, but the single piece of advice that's helped me the most so far came on a carlimits day - and it was my vision and where I'm looking.
As soon as I started looking 'through' a corner towards the exit rather than focusing on the bit of road just in front of me - I found my corner speeds came up nicely. It's a piece of advice that I've used since with Skiing too and it helps no end in slowing things down and giving your mind/body more time to react and as such, makes you faster.
I'm still a long way short of being a fast driver, but the single piece of advice that's helped me the most so far came on a carlimits day - and it was my vision and where I'm looking.
As soon as I started looking 'through' a corner towards the exit rather than focusing on the bit of road just in front of me - I found my corner speeds came up nicely. It's a piece of advice that I've used since with Skiing too and it helps no end in slowing things down and giving your mind/body more time to react and as such, makes you faster.
Actually you want to keep the tyres at their optimum slip angle - which is in the order of a few degrees. At zero slip, they produce zero force - it peaks at about 7 degrees, give or take, depending on tyres..
It's good to have some theory, and to understand weight transfer, what effect your inputs have.. but I have say I think ClassicChimera rather overstates the problem. Build up slowly and it's not hard to be pretty quick, and to explore the limits as an exercise in feel and progression. Knowing where you are in a spin isn't hard. Keep your head up and looking plenty ahead and it all comes at you pretty steadily. If you can't keep your brain in front of the car, something is wrong.
I also think that on your first day, a session with an instructor, however mildly talented is a huge bonus just because they can 'introduce' you to the environment, and get you a feel for what is in the ballpark. Thereafter, some may add nothing, and others may give you that one little hint that makes the pieces fall in place.
It's good to have some theory, and to understand weight transfer, what effect your inputs have.. but I have say I think ClassicChimera rather overstates the problem. Build up slowly and it's not hard to be pretty quick, and to explore the limits as an exercise in feel and progression. Knowing where you are in a spin isn't hard. Keep your head up and looking plenty ahead and it all comes at you pretty steadily. If you can't keep your brain in front of the car, something is wrong.
I also think that on your first day, a session with an instructor, however mildly talented is a huge bonus just because they can 'introduce' you to the environment, and get you a feel for what is in the ballpark. Thereafter, some may add nothing, and others may give you that one little hint that makes the pieces fall in place.
Fonzey said:
I'm not convinced that 20mins on a trackday will make you any quicker long-term, but it'll certainly help you get the most from a trackday at a new circuit.
I'm still a long way short of being a fast driver, but the single piece of advice that's helped me the most so far came on a carlimits day - and it was my vision and where I'm looking.
As soon as I started looking 'through' a corner towards the exit rather than focusing on the bit of road just in front of me - I found my corner speeds came up nicely. It's a piece of advice that I've used since with Skiing too and it helps no end in slowing things down and giving your mind/body more time to react and as such, makes you faster.
Definitely agree that looking further ahead is good advice. I'm still a long way short of being a fast driver, but the single piece of advice that's helped me the most so far came on a carlimits day - and it was my vision and where I'm looking.
As soon as I started looking 'through' a corner towards the exit rather than focusing on the bit of road just in front of me - I found my corner speeds came up nicely. It's a piece of advice that I've used since with Skiing too and it helps no end in slowing things down and giving your mind/body more time to react and as such, makes you faster.
Focus on finding the exit and apex first when learning a corner. Then look for the apex to work out the braking point (unless its a blind apex). Use the racing line and the full width of the track. Trying to be smooth with all inputs and the transitions between them to minimise weight transfer where possible. Braking late.. slight wheel under rotation is the optimum, think I read its about 5%. There isn't much of a substitute for actual seat time but watching onboard videos can be useful too (and cheaper).
Edited by Willbee on Thursday 16th February 18:06
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