Learning turn-in speed

[binnerboy]

As has been said , seat time is essential, I have been doing track days and spriting for a couple of years and have only just got to the point of have spare capacity in my head to be able to think and plan rather than saying "fk fk fk fk" in my head.

Instruction is also worhtwhile, I used Gary Marsh (awful website good bloke http://www.aneed4speed.co.uk/faq/faq.html other instructors are avaiolable) and did a limit handling course which taught techniques applicalbe to all circuits and was really useful. I am still using those techniques to get better.

I also find these videos useful

https://driver61.com/uni/

but again seat time and familiarltiy gets you the head space to be able to improve. The instruction tells you how to improve and what to aim for once you have the head space :-)

[SpudLink]

binnerboy said:

As has been said , seat time is essential, I have been doing track days and spriting for a couple of years and have only just got to the point of have spare capacity in my head to be able to think and plan rather than saying "fk fk fk fk" in my head.

Instruction is also worhtwhile, I used Gary Marsh (awful website good bloke http://www.aneed4speed.co.uk/faq/faq.html other instructors are avaiolable) and did a limit handling course which taught techniques applicalbe to all circuits and was really useful. I am still using those techniques to get better.

I also find these videos useful

https://driver61.com/uni/

but again seat time and familiarltiy gets you the head space to be able to improve. The instruction tells you how to improve and what to aim for once you have the head space :-)

Thanks for that. I'd not heard of Gary Marsh. I've just sent off an email to him, and may give him a try.

I've watched the driver61 videos online. They're good, but not sure they are aimed at someone still building confidence in the car. Seem to be more aimed at the novice racer.

[NJH]

Never to early to start focused learning and most importantly if you spend years doing the wrong things its much harder to break out of those bad habits. If I knew then what I know now I would have taken tuition from day one and likely progressed much much faster.

[boxsey]

NJH said:

Marcus Carniel practically lives at Oulton mate and of course is very familiar with racing all forms of pork. If and when I head up that way its likely I will try and call on his services.

People forget Stirling Moss saying that braking is the hardest thing to get right and that it took him 5 years of racing to learn how to brake properly.

Had a great day at Oulton last week Neil. I took on board what had been discussed and saw a good improvement in my lapping (over 2 seconds according to past versus new video footage). Most notable improvements were made on corner entries to Old Hall and Druids where the higher speeds meant that I can now hear the tyres chirping as I'm working them harder. Thanks again!

[NJH]

Thats mega mate, 2 seconds improvement in one jump is a big gain.

[sundance002]

Just to add my 2p worth , Find a track with lots of run off space like Bedford, and just go round snd round, forget about lap times, and get used to the feeling of what your car is doing and how it feels when loosing grip, either at the rear, overstear, or the front understear, get used to feeling its responce under braking and acceleration out of corners, become as one with The car, The more you spin, the more you will understand the limits of grip your car has.When you have mastered how your car feels and its limits, Then I would move onto learning braking points, and exit speed , with the cofidence of knowing and understanding your cars limits and abilities
And once you have all that under your belt,
your then drive yourself crazy trying to find the right car set up and tyre pressures. chassings precious 10ths lol It never Ends

Edited by sundance002 on Tuesday 16th May 23:31

[Elderly]

sundance002 said:

The more you spin, the more you will understand the limits of grip your car has.

My 'Car Limits' day with Andy Walsh demonstrated that initially I was the limiting factor when it came to
finding the limits of adhesion.

At first whilst turning left onto the runway I/the car was spinning at xMPH,
after incremental application of each of Andy's techniques, I/the car was not spinning at about x+20MPH.

I reckon that no amount of practise without his guidance would have helped me understand the limit of grip.

[Steve H]

I'd agree with Elderly there, spinning off isn't a sign of finding the ultimate limit, it can also be a sign of creating low limits.

Increasing turn-in speed successfully is done better without losing control of the car, exceeding limits might mean missing the ideal line but it should mostly be done without leaving the track.

I'd also not favour Bedford for such practice, too many of the corners are too wide and ill-defined to get consistent results of for most drivers. I'd probably pick Rockingham or Anglesey as circuits that have a choice of corners where liberties can be taken with relative safety.