Driving Thread

[JBH]

After watching that video posted by Tom on the Handling Thread, I had to repost it here to point out a few things:

 

1. Every time you turn the wheel you are losing speed. You want to keep the wheel as straight as possible for as long as possible, especially when accelerating. For examples, look at the video at locations 1:28 (coming out of the lightbulb), 1:49 (going into turn 2), 2:11 (where he pulls in close to the turn prior to turn 7 - the lefthander), around 2:29 when he pulls over to the left side of the track and then the entrance to the lightbulb at 2:35 where he hugs the inside rather than using the banking) and finally once again at 2:47 where he pulls tight to the cone on the right side of the track. All of these are unnecessary deviations from the proper line, scrub speed and increase the distance the car travels.

 

2. The driver consistently enters turn one early, decelerates and has to correct coming out of the turn. Not only is the line wrong, but the last thing you want to do going uphill is unsettle the car by lifting off the throttle. Man, after missing this turn three times in a row, I could have predicted something bad was going to happen. Stop the video before each turn-in cone and look at his hand position. You will see he starts turning the wheel early making it difficult to properly hit the apex on many turns - all leading to car control issues and loss of speed.

 

3. You don't have to apex every turn and curve in the road. This particular driver, like many of us, cone seeks meaning if we see a cone we think that must be the correct line. This is why this driver turns the wheel too much as I pointed out above. He even apexs curves in the road that are not really turns. His line into Turn 2 is way too tight because he thinks he should apex it. This makes the following righthander unnecessarily sharp and leads to him having to counter steer. The correct line through turn 2 is actually the middle to outer third part of the track as this creates a wider and continuous arc that carries more speed through the turn and sets up better for the right and quick left. This is an excellent example of how turns need to flow smoothly and connect to one another.

 

4. Try to be smooth. You should be able to turn in the wheel and hold it steady through the turn without counter steering. Counter steering is used when you have made mistake and need to fix it. It should not be a regular part of every turn. I would never ride with this driver because I know something bad is going to happen - he is trying to go too fast, needs to correct often and likely loses a lot of time compensating for it. Listen to his tire squeal. You want your tires to chirp, not squeal!

 

Enough beating up on this poor guy. Watch the video - you decide.

[Manshoon11]

When you know your rear end is going to come around like that, sometimes it is best to not counter steer, but steer the other way. Makes for a nice tight spin.

[Manshoon11]

On my 2nd track day, my friend rode along with me so that I would then be allowed to drive solo. On one corner, there was a cone missing. My friend kept insisting that I turn in at the last cone. I knew in my gut that it was wrong. But lap by lap, I turned in when he said and lap by lap I struggled to control the car after the apex. I finished the session. He then took a session and instantly said, "you were right, there is a cone missing".

 

Yes, do NOT focus on the cones.

[xcarguy]

Here's another good video that goes well with the first post; same track, different driver, and more of an instructional video for learning the line. It's a good video for those such as myself who plan on driving NJMP Lightning for the first this year.

 

 

Edited February 11, 2014 by xcarguy

[yellowss7]

Wait until Croc, Blubarisax and JBH get a load of this video. Spencer spins out more than any other driver at NJMP. :smilielol5::smilielol5::smilielol5::smilielol5: I'm sure one of us can give you a better line. Actually the line is ok, time comparison, the BMW video was doing about 1:20 and in this video, I calculated 1:22 to 1:24. Croc, JBH and Blubarisax have done 1:12-1:14s Just saying. Tom

Edited February 11, 2014 by yellowss7

[JBH]

Hmmm...his lines are better than the previous video and I agree with his minimal steering coming out of the bulb, but he cuts an unnecessary apex at turn two losing speed, doesn't use the entire exit off turn 5 (off camber blind turn) and enters the bulb early. People have a different view of how to drive the bulb, but it is highly banked and offers the opportunity for a downhill launch into the straight. I tend to enter a little late and use the turn to catapult the car to the straight. It's a critical turn to Lightning

[Automoda]

I'm not a racing driver, but if my tires were making a noise like that as the race progressed, I'd be scared shitless. Screeching on every single turn and losing grip in the way they do makes me wonder if he's got tires capable of handling the kind of punishment he's dishing out.

[Manshoon11]

The tires can take the punishment, higher TW tires are more forgiving than slicks. You are just at a lower G threshhold.

 

If you want to be faster, buy better tires and calm down. Tires are cheaper than body damage and or injuries.

[xcarguy]

Wait until Croc, Blubarisax and JBH get a load of this video. Spencer spins out more than any other driver at NJMP . . . . Just saying. Tom

 

Okay, going to redeem myself with a 'better' video posting. Let's revisit . . . . THE AMERICAN JOB!!! :hurray::party::flag: