Do the mechanically knowledgeble drivers have an advantage.......
12-09-2007, 02:15 PM
#31
Three Wheelin'
Ignorance is bliss! 
Actually it goes both ways. When you have a little knowledge and not a lot of it on the particular car your driving, it's dangerous. For instance, the car is making an odd sound. Is it a spun #2 bearing ... or the wiper banging against the glass? (It was a spun bearing). Or do you randomly start panicking about something you read on the internet?
Alternately, now that I have fixed damn near everything on both my cars, I feel pretty confident when driving them hard. That noise I hear in the door....well that's the bolt I dropped fixing the door latch two years ago and never seem to find the time to fish out.
Knowing the mechanics will not make you any quicker, it might even make you slower if you know that you are the one that has to burn a weekend fixing it instead of handing it an the Mastercard to someone else.
Actually it goes both ways. When you have a little knowledge and not a lot of it on the particular car your driving, it's dangerous. For instance, the car is making an odd sound. Is it a spun #2 bearing ... or the wiper banging against the glass? (It was a spun bearing). Or do you randomly start panicking about something you read on the internet?
Alternately, now that I have fixed damn near everything on both my cars, I feel pretty confident when driving them hard. That noise I hear in the door....well that's the bolt I dropped fixing the door latch two years ago and never seem to find the time to fish out.
Knowing the mechanics will not make you any quicker, it might even make you slower if you know that you are the one that has to burn a weekend fixing it instead of handing it an the Mastercard to someone else.
12-09-2007, 02:18 PM
#32
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12-09-2007, 02:33 PM
#33
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BTW, great sig pic with the flashing lights.
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12-09-2007, 02:35 PM
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12-09-2007, 03:51 PM
#35
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Even if you hire out the work, it helps to intimately know your car and understand the principles behind its mechanical systems so you can communicate more effectively with your mechanic about what the car is doing or not doing well and better understanding the options he is presenting to you to correct it. I guess that has been said in different ways above in previous posts...
12-09-2007, 04:03 PM
#36
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In addition to communicating concisely to your wrench/team, it is also an advantage if you understand the mechanics of your car when you get into racing. During a race, you need to drive with what the car gives you at that time. Understanding the dynamics of your suspension, throttle response, braking system, etc. will allow you to consider ways to minimize the problems and do the most with what you have at hand by adjusting your driving style.
12-09-2007, 05:02 PM
#38
12-09-2007, 05:24 PM
#39
two words....Cole Trickle
Seriously though, I think it depends on the person. Some people need to know the tech side to be fast while others don't. I don't think you can categorically say that if a really fast driver who doesn't know tech learned tech that they would become even faster.
I don't think I am any faster because I built my car myself. In fact, it probably makes me slower because I know what's in store for me if I wreck, misshift, etc.
Seriously though, I think it depends on the person. Some people need to know the tech side to be fast while others don't. I don't think you can categorically say that if a really fast driver who doesn't know tech learned tech that they would become even faster.
I don't think I am any faster because I built my car myself. In fact, it probably makes me slower because I know what's in store for me if I wreck, misshift, etc.
12-09-2007, 05:27 PM
#40
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When you say 'know nothing about mechanics,' are you saying...
They aren't good at turning wrenches
>or<
They don't understand the mechanical aspects of the car
If you are talking about the first, that's not necessarily something to worry about. Some things are really easy after you do it once. However if you are talking about a driver who doesn't understand the mechanics of the car that's a whole different story.
I've yet to meet an extremely fast driver who was baffled by the mechanics of the car.
12-09-2007, 05:31 PM
#41
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Steve, I finally got home this morning.....
But it is not about me or what I want to hear, it is about facts......
Chrisp, you are so diplomatic, you should run for President......
But it is not about me or what I want to hear, it is about facts......
Chrisp, you are so diplomatic, you should run for President......
12-09-2007, 05:37 PM
#42
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When you say 'know nothing about mechanics,' are you saying...
They aren't good at turning wrenches
>or<
They don't understand the mechanical aspects of the car
If you are talking about the first, that's not necessarily something to worry about. Some things are really easy after you do it once. However if you are talking about a driver who doesn't understand the mechanics of the car that's a whole different story.
I've yet to meet an extremely fast driver who was baffled by the mechanics of the car.
They aren't good at turning wrenches
>or<
They don't understand the mechanical aspects of the car
If you are talking about the first, that's not necessarily something to worry about. Some things are really easy after you do it once. However if you are talking about a driver who doesn't understand the mechanics of the car that's a whole different story.
I've yet to meet an extremely fast driver who was baffled by the mechanics of the car.
Thanks for your insight......
12-09-2007, 05:54 PM
#43
Burning Brakes
I'm sure it's been said already but +1 for the simple advantage that you can do some of the work yourself, and have a better understanding for the work that needs to be done when you hire the work out. To me, more work done myself means more money for rubber and petrol, which means more seat time, which means better driver. But that's indirect.
But as for mechanical knowledge having a direct effect on driving skill, not really. You just need a way to communicate what's going on to the guy that is working on it. Of course, you can just let the hired help drive the car and if they are good, they'll know how to tune it.
But as for mechanical knowledge having a direct effect on driving skill, not really. You just need a way to communicate what's going on to the guy that is working on it. Of course, you can just let the hired help drive the car and if they are good, they'll know how to tune it.
12-09-2007, 05:59 PM
#44
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I don't think you will find a fast driver who is not good at #2. IMO, if you do not master this, then you will never be consistently fast.
12-09-2007, 06:00 PM
#45
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Good question Paolo,
I don't think you need to know much about mechanics to make your car go faster, you just need to know how to describe the "problems" you have with the car relative to reaching it's limit. For example, at some point you realize the car is plowing and then describe to your mechanic "Hey, the car is understeering and I'd like to minimize or eliminate that in order to gain control and time". Then leave it to the expert to make the adjustments tailored to your exact car configuration, driving style, etc. I have a basic understanding of all of the systems on my car and leave it up to places like Farnbacher Loles to adjust properly.
I swap out pads - that's about it. Anything more than that, I let the shop take care of. Could I do more? Certainly (ie: Bleed brakes). But I enjoy focusing more on the driving aspect - fine tuning driving style, becoming totally adept at smooth transitions and inputs, understanding the pros / cons of various methods, and experimenting with different mechanical options (various pads, tires, pressures, etc.).
Some enjoy handling the mechanical issues of their cars - I don't. I'm sure there are drivers that are expert mechanics and can't drive very well, some that do both exceptionally well, and then some that can't change a tire, but are extremely quick on the track.
Ignorance can be bliss
I don't think you need to know much about mechanics to make your car go faster, you just need to know how to describe the "problems" you have with the car relative to reaching it's limit. For example, at some point you realize the car is plowing and then describe to your mechanic "Hey, the car is understeering and I'd like to minimize or eliminate that in order to gain control and time". Then leave it to the expert to make the adjustments tailored to your exact car configuration, driving style, etc. I have a basic understanding of all of the systems on my car and leave it up to places like Farnbacher Loles to adjust properly.
I swap out pads - that's about it. Anything more than that, I let the shop take care of. Could I do more? Certainly (ie: Bleed brakes). But I enjoy focusing more on the driving aspect - fine tuning driving style, becoming totally adept at smooth transitions and inputs, understanding the pros / cons of various methods, and experimenting with different mechanical options (various pads, tires, pressures, etc.).
Some enjoy handling the mechanical issues of their cars - I don't. I'm sure there are drivers that are expert mechanics and can't drive very well, some that do both exceptionally well, and then some that can't change a tire, but are extremely quick on the track.
Ignorance can be bliss