mikew968

Seriously, the ability to push yourself and the car is a big part of going faster. What is the best way to be able to push one's self to brake later, harder and deeper or be able to get on the throttle sooner etc etc. I know seat time is part of the answer is there more?


Thanks, Mike

BrianKeithSmith

$$$ - when you aren't worried about wadding it up, you end up going faster...

Its not the fear of getting hurt, its the fear of wadding up the only car you have that slows you down!

(that's just what I think)

Brian

Larry Herman

I always thought that it was the fear of not getting home. A trailer cut about 2 seconds from my lap times when I got one!

Seriously, I feel that it is all about comfort. If you have confidence in what you are doing and you have deluded yourself that you actually have real control over the car (sorry, there I go again, being funny) you will go faster. This was discussed in a thread about 6 months ago though.

I do not have to scare myself to go fast, although there are some corners where I do get that "pucker" occasionally. Turn 10 at the Glen up over the turtles comes to mind. Some people do need to push themselves a little, because their personal feeling of the limit is somewhat below what it actually is. The best I can tell you is be incremental. As long as you are consistent, you can slowly move your braking point later, and make that apex just a tad earlier. As you get used to that, you will be faster, and your personal threshold will be raised.

bobt993

Confidence. If your an advanced driver, then take out a clubber/instructor you know to be faster than you in every corner. Pick safe run off areas to be "pushed". Your going to be told "stop braking...now...go!" Throttle, more throttle!!! I learned to take T10 at the Glen flat out 5 years ago this way. Oh, buy him or her lunch and a beer after the track shuts down. Do this often.

SundayDriver

One thing at a time to build speed. First you need to master the line and I assume you have done that.
Next focus on exit speed. Get on the gas earlier and earlier until there is nothing left (without screwing up the line. When you are getting as good exit speed as anyone else, then start chasing entry speed. Go deeper, but do not upset the balance of the car. Carry more speed mid corner.

Now, remember that I am a guy who is 'scared' pretty much in every corner on a fast lap, so these comments may or may not work for you...
As far as the courage, I have always found that to come mostly by accident. I go into a corner too fast and know I am not going to make it, but I do make it. Next time I need to do the same thing but I expect to make it now. Next time push a bit harder and scare yourself silly. Add to that chasing similar cars. I know that if another car in my class with similar aero, or a FC or some other cars can do that, so can I.

It helps to have absolutely no respect or affection for the car. It is a POS. It is a POS that you are going to bend to your will and make it behave in spite of the fact that it is a POS. Guys who love their 996TTs/GT-2s/etc run 1:50's at Big Willow.

Finally, hate helps a lot. If you screw up and hate yourself, or you are chasing someone with a vengance (I don't mean to the point of red mist, but really close) you will find a bunch of speed you didn't think you had. That environment tends to make you forget about fear.

ltc

I would suggest Skip Barber advanced Car Control Clinic, which you qualify for after completing the 3 day race school.
A. it's not your car, very little liability
B. it's done in a safe, open environment (depending on track/location)
C. you get lots of seat time.
You will get a chance to try/experience things that you wouldn't normally try at a DE. I'm a huge fan of DE's, but I did find that Skippy School was a very nice addition.

SundayDriver

Great suggestion - That is some of the best money I have spent on racing. It won't directly teach you to be fast - it will enhance your car control and a big thing is that it will teach you to significantly speed up your hands (or you are going to spin alot more than the other students).

38D

Follow people that you know are a couple of seconds faster. Force yourself to keep up.

Capt. Carrera

Drive someone else's car.

Robert Henriksen

Can I drove your car?

Edward

I stopped tracking my Dream car (my 993) ...definitely got faster.
I got a trailer ..."think" I got faster.
I think of my wife and kids ...DOH! ...there I go, over-slowing for the turn again...
Still, it's all fun! Sorry I'm not much help on this one

Edward

bowmanm98

Well, when you're in the car force yourself to get pumped up. I've jumped 70 feet off of a water ski ramp and landed it. You just have to get excited about it and motivate yourself to do better. Just get really into it and visualize yourself getting deeper going faster and then attack. Just tell yourself you can and you will. It's a self fulfilling prophesy.

Lefty's Deceiver

I have NEVER thought about writing off the car. Why would you? That's a negative thought and should never enter your mind. I try to drive at 100% all the time even at DEs because you need to practice how you race.

When I was an advanced DE student I looked at the times other people were getting at my tracks and I felt like I could never reach those! For example, at Road America I couldn't do better than a 2:50 and the class leading car was going under 2:40! Now I can do a 2:41 in a very under developed car. Know how I did it? When People drive with me they sometimes say I don't use the brakes. The old joke about "less brakes, more gas" is actually true! Braking is my strength, I finess on and finess off and do it while turning in. I adjust my speed with the brake and I make yaw corrections with my right foot. I force myself to go in as fast as I can. I do this until the car understeers a bit on entry and I have to carry more brake to get it to turn in. Most people I drive with over-slow the car. I also get on the gas way before the apex. I can see it on my data acquisition. Most people think that you get on the gas at the apex, that's wrong. The comment above about corner exit speed is 100% true. First you work on exit speed, then entry then (more difficult) mid-point speed - holding the car on the edge.

But you must be comfortable with catching the car and work up to it slowly. Speed comes to you, you don't need to go out looking for it.

Lefty

Flat Top

How to develop b@!!s

Do you want to go quick or have b@lls?

To go quick you need the subtleness of a ballet dancer; the analytical mind of a chess champion; the repeatability of a karate kata as done by a master and the finesse of a brain surgeon.

To have b@lls. Ask someone to kick you there 10 times and you will have BIG ones.

In my estimation there is no correlation between quickness on a track and b@lls. You need skill not courage. If you try to be quick by using courage you are over the top no matter what you skill level is. Drive within yourself by being a ballerina, a chess master, a karate master and a brain surgeon - then you will be quick.

Johan

bruinbro

Variation on a theme; have someone you know that is a better driver than you take you out in your car and feel the g's (acceleration, braking, lateral cornering). Don't get wrapped up looking at the line or driving technique, just enjoy the ride and experience the car being driven faster than it has been with you behind the wheel. This will not only give you an appreciation of the car's limits, but will also give you something to shoot for.

Of course, if your last name is Schumacher you will have a most difficult time doing this.

Bro