High Performance Driving Clinic
11-01-2002, 03:03 PM
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High Performance Driving Clinic
This past weekend I did the one-day high performance driving clinic put on by PCA Zone 2 at the Jefferson Circuit at Summit Point Raceway in WVA. Mostly p-cars, lots of 911s, a 912, 968, an old Ferrari, an Audi S4, and incredibly, a Volvo wagon. One of instructors had a yellow Ruf twin turbo - very sweet. I was driving my '89 Carrera (lowered, w/autothority chip and cat bypass).
First, it was a blast and I couldn't recommend it more. Second, I thought I was a good driver before the event. It's an eye opener to learn that there is so much to know about weight transfer, traction and handling that I didn't know I didn't know.
Racers talk about having a relationship with their cars. Until you've intentionally driven over the edge and lost control of the car several times, you don't get the feel for when it will happen. The first time around the skid pad, the car would plow at about 35-40 mph, and when I had enough speed the back end would kick out and I did lovely pirouettes. But that was the object of the game. The second time around, I knew what it felt like "in the seat of your pants" before the oversteer and very quickly was able to apply a little throttle to settle the rear end and open the turn a bit. I was never unconfident driving the Porsche, or any other car for that matter, but my level of confidence is wildly improved. It felt very different just driving home from the event.
We also did slaloms with the cones getting closer as you go through the course, a slalom around a turn - much more difficult on the inward turns - threshold braking drills, emergency avoidance/braking drills and finally hot laps around a very small but highly technical track (off camber turns, a double apex turn).
I've been bitten by the bug. Can't wait for DE next year. Now I understand why guys want a dedicated track-prepped car.
If there are any of the Zone 2 instructors on line, thanks... It was great!
First, it was a blast and I couldn't recommend it more. Second, I thought I was a good driver before the event. It's an eye opener to learn that there is so much to know about weight transfer, traction and handling that I didn't know I didn't know.
Racers talk about having a relationship with their cars. Until you've intentionally driven over the edge and lost control of the car several times, you don't get the feel for when it will happen. The first time around the skid pad, the car would plow at about 35-40 mph, and when I had enough speed the back end would kick out and I did lovely pirouettes. But that was the object of the game. The second time around, I knew what it felt like "in the seat of your pants" before the oversteer and very quickly was able to apply a little throttle to settle the rear end and open the turn a bit. I was never unconfident driving the Porsche, or any other car for that matter, but my level of confidence is wildly improved. It felt very different just driving home from the event.
We also did slaloms with the cones getting closer as you go through the course, a slalom around a turn - much more difficult on the inward turns - threshold braking drills, emergency avoidance/braking drills and finally hot laps around a very small but highly technical track (off camber turns, a double apex turn).
I've been bitten by the bug. Can't wait for DE next year. Now I understand why guys want a dedicated track-prepped car.
If there are any of the Zone 2 instructors on line, thanks... It was great!
11-01-2002, 03:36 PM
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Your Welcome. There is at least one other instructor on here and I can assure you, we enjoyed it too. You all did really well, probably quite a few converts, so it will be even more imperative to sign up early.
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11-01-2002, 03:55 PM
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[quote]<strong> Until you've intentionally driven over the edge and lost control of the car several times, you don't get the feel for when it will happen. </strong><hr></blockquote>
You should read "Going Faster" by the Skip Barber School (an excellent book on track driving. Some have said one of the best). They contend that having to spin to learn both yours and the cars limits is "nonsense". You find the limit by pushing a bit at a time, until you find that you're going slower through a turn. Voila, you found the limit.
Of course, given the structure of the session you attended, finding the limit in a low speed, safe environment was one of the goals. You just don't want to take that thought with you onto the track next year.
You should read "Going Faster" by the Skip Barber School (an excellent book on track driving. Some have said one of the best). They contend that having to spin to learn both yours and the cars limits is "nonsense". You find the limit by pushing a bit at a time, until you find that you're going slower through a turn. Voila, you found the limit.
Of course, given the structure of the session you attended, finding the limit in a low speed, safe environment was one of the goals. You just don't want to take that thought with you onto the track next year.
11-01-2002, 04:55 PM
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I wanted to go to that clinic SOOOOO bad... damn my JOB! <img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[crying]" /> Will they be doing it again some time early next season?
11-01-2002, 06:44 PM
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Bill, I will look up the book. Admittedly, I'm a newbie at this, but incrementally pushing yourself/the car to get the feel of the edge suggests to me that a new track driver might not maximize safe performance because he may not have the control or confidence to make such small changes in speed or track position to advance as they suggest. Then one unfortunate lap, you get introduced to the tire wall.
BTW, is Skip Barber the racing school of choice? Have many of the DE regulars been to that school or any other racing school?
BTW, is Skip Barber the racing school of choice? Have many of the DE regulars been to that school or any other racing school?
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11-01-2002, 10:29 PM
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[quote]<strong>BTW, is Skip Barber the racing school of choice? Have many of the DE regulars been to that school or any other racing school?</strong><hr></blockquote>
Skip Barber (www.skipbarber.com) runs a top notch racing school, as do several others around the country. However, if you want to drive on the track, and get good high quality instruction at a price that's hard to beat, look over the various PCA regions driver education programs. Some PCA members periodically attend Skip Barber or Panoz or other schools, to help advance their driving skills, too.
Skip Barber (www.skipbarber.com) runs a top notch racing school, as do several others around the country. However, if you want to drive on the track, and get good high quality instruction at a price that's hard to beat, look over the various PCA regions driver education programs. Some PCA members periodically attend Skip Barber or Panoz or other schools, to help advance their driving skills, too.
11-01-2002, 11:46 PM
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Bill,
I have driven my wifes 82 911 on several autocross events. During this time I only swaped ends once. I had a lot of problems with plowing the turns but I believe that I didn't have the proper tire set up.
My question is this, how do you know how hard to push it untill to reach the point were the tires lose grip? I know that you can listen for the tires to scream, but that may not be the limit to gain the best time.
Ell
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I have driven my wifes 82 911 on several autocross events. During this time I only swaped ends once. I had a lot of problems with plowing the turns but I believe that I didn't have the proper tire set up.
My question is this, how do you know how hard to push it untill to reach the point were the tires lose grip? I know that you can listen for the tires to scream, but that may not be the limit to gain the best time.
Ell
<img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />
11-02-2002, 09:53 AM
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[quote]<strong>how do you know how hard to push it untill to reach the point were the tires lose grip? </strong><hr></blockquote>
Ell,
On the track, one of the best ways to do that is to ride with an instructor, who can help you gauge the limit and optimize your lines through the turns. Alot too, has to do with understanding vehicle dynamics, ie, the effects of braking, accelerating, lifting, and balance, especially in turns. I really like the "Going Faster" book referenced above, as it helps with the academic understanding of the many facets of driving at speed on the track, which then get real world reinforced on the track.
Ell,
On the track, one of the best ways to do that is to ride with an instructor, who can help you gauge the limit and optimize your lines through the turns. Alot too, has to do with understanding vehicle dynamics, ie, the effects of braking, accelerating, lifting, and balance, especially in turns. I really like the "Going Faster" book referenced above, as it helps with the academic understanding of the many facets of driving at speed on the track, which then get real world reinforced on the track.
