Just thought I'd start a thread where we can share some of the basic concepts and techniques of road racing. the idea here is to capture and disseminate knowledge points which a beginner could benefit from during their 1st few events. this isn't about car prep, but about driving technique.
1st off, the sayings "slow in fast out" and "smooth is fast" are absolutely correct. Most newbies tend to try and go as fast as possible into a corner, thinking they're doing really well, but don't realize they're early apexing and giving up a LOT of speed on corner exit. It usually feels fast though, because the car is being thrown around, so they get some validation that what they did was right ... Until they get passed up in their 400HP monster on corner exit by a 120HP Miata with a driver who knows how to carry momentum
Pedal management is also a critical factor to getting good laps, and keeping the car settled. You're goal here is to keep the car smoooooth
Ok guys, that's it for now. Hopefully some of the other track guys in here can add some more info. As you can see, this is a very large subject and I could go on and on and on and on and on and on and on ..........
1st off, the sayings "slow in fast out" and "smooth is fast" are absolutely correct. Most newbies tend to try and go as fast as possible into a corner, thinking they're doing really well, but don't realize they're early apexing and giving up a LOT of speed on corner exit. It usually feels fast though, because the car is being thrown around, so they get some validation that what they did was right ... Until they get passed up in their 400HP monster on corner exit by a 120HP Miata with a driver who knows how to carry momentum
- Getting the apex right is critical to a good lap time. and for beginners, this is what you should be focused on. For experienced drivers, who are looking to get into wheel-to-wheel, knowing how to handle all the different lines through a corner is important for traffic management and passing techniques, but for someone starting out, learn the race line and how to apex correctly.
- Here's a look at early, proper, and late apexing a left hand corner. Notice the early apex will allow more speed at corner entry, but will require a sharper turn at corner exit to stay on track, which means you'll have to scrub a lot more speed after you've already apexed the corner. This means you can't get back on the gas until you have a safe track exit line, which is way after the apex and too late to carry any momentum.
- The proper apex allows you to carry the most speed through the corner, and enables you to get back on the gas the earliest
- The late apex will allow you to brake later when approaching the corner, but you'll need to scrub more speed due to the tighter radius ... but, it is the safest way to take a corner. I do this a lot when there is a hazard at corner exit, such as a wall or tire barrier; just to ensure I don't slide into it.
Pedal management is also a critical factor to getting good laps, and keeping the car settled. You're goal here is to keep the car smoooooth
- For the brake pedal, push it HARD when 1st getting on the brakes, then let off slowly when releasing.
- pick a brake point on the track when approaching a corner, and hit the pedal HARD! the initial press of the brake pedal should be the hardest you'll need to brake for the corner. It'll feel violent, but it's actually the smoothest way to do it.
- Then, as you release the pedal, do it slowly. Don't release quickly as it'll cause a violent weight shift just as you're ready to turn into the corner. Be sure to be off the brake 100% before turning in, so pick a brake point early enough to accomplish this.
- You can still be releasing the pedal after turn in, and this is called "Trail Braking", but is an advanced technique and should be learned when you have more experience
- pick a brake point on the track when approaching a corner, and hit the pedal HARD! the initial press of the brake pedal should be the hardest you'll need to brake for the corner. It'll feel violent, but it's actually the smoothest way to do it.
- Throttle pedal management is the exact opposite of the brake pedal. Getting on the throttle should be smooth and slow, where releasing the throttle should be fast and abrupt.
- The reason is due to you trying to get on the throttle as soon as possible during corner exit. Ideally, this can be just before corner apex, and if you smashed the throttle at this point to the floor, you'll cause a sudden weight shift and upset the chassis of the car.
- the idea is to get on the throttle as soon as possible, and gradually ease it down as you exit the corner and keep the car smoooooth through corner exit and onto the straight.
- The reason is due to you trying to get on the throttle as soon as possible during corner exit. Ideally, this can be just before corner apex, and if you smashed the throttle at this point to the floor, you'll cause a sudden weight shift and upset the chassis of the car.
- Situational awareness is a big piece of becoming a successful driver as well
- Knowing the flag stations
- Knowing what the flags mean
- Knowing which of the flag stations are actually manned
- Dealing with traffic
- Understanding the track surface, and positioning the car for maximum traction based on surface condition (sometimes this can be off the race line due to a bump in the pavement, or a patched area which provides better traction)
- One of the important things for a new driver to realize, is once you get behind another car, you will have a tendency to follow that car around the track. Don't do this!
- Keep your eyes on the track, and position your car dependent on following the race line. You should be looking 2 points ahead of where you are
- by points, I'm referring to brake point, turn in point, apex point, track exit point
- So when entering a corner, you should already have scanned (with your eyes) through the brake point, through the apex and be looking at corner exit when you hit the brake pedal (and hit it HARD, remember?).
- When clipping the apex, you should be looking down the straight already and not at the corner exit point. You should have already scanned the corner exit point before reaching the apex because you're looking 2 points ahead
- I know this sounds strange, but your car will go where you are looking, so stay completely focused on the race line, looking ahead, and your car will follow.
- If your watching the car in front of you, and he goes off track, guess where you will go too? Remember, your car will go where you are looking, so don't look too long at anything you don't want to hit
Ok guys, that's it for now. Hopefully some of the other track guys in here can add some more info. As you can see, this is a very large subject and I could go on and on and on and on and on and on and on ..........