Did race car drivers have to be more skilled in the old days?
12-09-2018, 10:11 AM
#31
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12-09-2018, 10:30 AM
#32
At least more skills and much more *****, not necessarly more skilled. I do believe modern drivers are more skilled at what they know tho, especially precision, but I do recall Walter Rohl talking how he was able to just pick almost by inch how much he wanted his 037 to cut a corner on Monte Carlo rally (?) when Lancia won the WRC. This to say they where pretty precise with the tools they had.
One thing is for sure, there are world class drivers that can't do heel and toe to save their lives, it's just a skill they don't need to possess in their job.
One thing is for sure, there are world class drivers that can't do heel and toe to save their lives, it's just a skill they don't need to possess in their job.
12-10-2018, 09:27 AM
#33
12-11-2018, 02:21 AM
#35
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No.
Easier to drive a slower car fast than a faster car faster.
Easier to drive a slower car fast than a faster car faster.
12-11-2018, 01:54 PM
#36
Ding ding ding. If nothing else, current drivers are better just by having data to learn from and being able to operate at such faster speeds. Not to mention the need to manage the electronics and then the need for marketing prowess on top of that.
If you look at a current drivers skill set, just pushing the pedals and turning the wheel is 10% of their total paxkage.
If you look at a current drivers skill set, just pushing the pedals and turning the wheel is 10% of their total paxkage.
12-11-2018, 02:42 PM
#37
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I agree in a general sense, but I think there can be exceptions. Assuming driving at the limit, a slow car with mediocre handling characteristics could be harder to drive than a fast car with excellent and intuitive handling.
12-11-2018, 03:50 PM
#38
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But in a race, where because of the faster cars (and thus higher speeds) everything happens faster, which requires more mental dexterity and physical and physiological reflexes, makes being a race car driver today more difficult than yesterday.
12-11-2018, 06:51 PM
#39
I don't disagree with that assuming we are talking about just driving alone on a circuit.
But in a race, where because of the faster cars (and thus higher speeds) everything happens faster, which requires more mental dexterity and physical and physiological reflexes, makes being a race car driver today more difficult than yesterday.
But in a race, where because of the faster cars (and thus higher speeds) everything happens faster, which requires more mental dexterity and physical and physiological reflexes, makes being a race car driver today more difficult than yesterday.
). With TC, if you're a bit heavy-footed coming out of a turn, the TC system will help save the tires and help keep you from breaking the back end free. Without TC, you're probably getting sideways or enjoying the sight of all the cars behind you coming at the front of your car. So I think with a lot of race cars today, some aspects of driving are a little easier and a little more forgiving. But then you potentially have all the extra controls to deal with in the car...TC settings, ABS settings, diff settings, fuel maps, hybrid settings...it can go on forever. And that's a level of complexity that old-time drivers never had to deal with. So there's a lot more to think about, and less time to do it when you're going even faster.
12-11-2018, 10:28 PM
#40
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Interesting topic. I think a good driver is a good driver, regardless of era. To drive at the limit all the time is about feel, and some of that comes from natural ability and some from practice. That said, with less advanced cars you have less technology helping you....no downforce, no ABS, no traction control, etc., so driving at the limit and staying there is harder to do than with a more current car with a ton of downforce and electronics to help you out. I think the people who raced 30+ years ago probably had better feel for the limits in those cars and better ability to control them compared to a current driver. At the same time, current drivers have a better feel for driving high downforce cars with ABS, TC, etc., which the guys from 30+ years ago would have a hard time with. But in either case, if you took a great driver in his prime from 1970 and put him in a current car, after some practice time he'd become a great driver in that car. And if you put a great driver from today in car from 1970 and give him some practice time, he'll be a great driver in that car. I think the guys who are truly good can drive anything. I agree completely, though, that drivers currently are in better shape physically and have better training available. It would take the guys from 30+ years ago awhile to catch up with that. And I think dealing with all the settings, switches, *****, etc. in a current race car would add another level of complexity which guys 30 years ago wouldn't have had to deal with. I can't figure out how current F1 guys handle navigating through menus and options in the middle of an F1 race. I need to wait for a decent length straight just to make a brake bias adjustment
12-11-2018, 10:35 PM
#41
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I disagree. Willingness to take excessive safety risks because that's part of the macho warrior culture doesn't make you a better athlete or reflect bigger *****. Good pros aren't like DE driver or club racers; they're all driving as close to the limit as they can, and aren't dialing it back out of concern for safety. It's just that, these days, they fortunately have much less chance of being seriously injured or killed.
12-11-2018, 10:51 PM
#42
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12-11-2018, 11:13 PM
#43
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Now we can all proceed to continue to play cars and have fun driving as fast as we can on track
Definitely an interesting topic
12-11-2018, 11:42 PM
#44
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Resounding No from me. Everything went much slower and pressing a clutch and moving a gear level is not where the real skill of a racing driver lies. In the old days the pool of racing drivers was much smaller. With the amount of data analysis and because the sport has become more accessible to a broader section of the population, it takes more skill and training now to really stand out. Higher speeds and gforces also mean fitness levels and concentration levels need to be much higher.
We are all speculating of course, but I reckon if your took a random selection of current top drivers and ported them to the ‘70 they would cream the rest of the field once familiar with the controls. Vice versa I reckon the old era drivers wouldn’t stand a chance in a modern race series.
Still amazing though how they risked their lives and for sure the sport was more spectacular to watch back then.
We are all speculating of course, but I reckon if your took a random selection of current top drivers and ported them to the ‘70 they would cream the rest of the field once familiar with the controls. Vice versa I reckon the old era drivers wouldn’t stand a chance in a modern race series.
Still amazing though how they risked their lives and for sure the sport was more spectacular to watch back then.
12-12-2018, 12:07 AM
#45
