I was at LRP for a 2 day DE with Metro. My instructor Ray, who drives a 944 with 150HP taught me what momentum driving really means. My SB has 190 horse so it's a momentum car. He showed me how I only need to brake at the end of the straight. No braking is necessary for the rest of the track. Blew my mind but I improved my time by 6 seconds using that technique, I got a couple of 1:08's and was consistently in 1:09 or 1:10 when I didn't have traffic. I still need a lot of track time/practice, for instance I was botching west bend a lot, due to the fact that I was pussying out after the uphill and was backing off the gas, so my lift was ineffective. I ended up tapping the brakes so I could make a good turn there. I need more practice.

Thanks to Ray for all his help and thanks to Bill Rudtner for helping me out with my driving career.

Next up Watkins Glen on June 1/2

Jeff

this was my fastest lap (lap 3)

 

Boy, I hear you there, what with my 121hp Mini......can't tell you how many times I've had people come up to me and tell me my brake lights don't work!!

 

Every car is a momentum car, some more than others. 😀
Glad you had a great instructor.

 

I'm glad that helped but as you get faster you will need to brake, at least a little, in a couple more places or you will be leaving time on the table. Yes, you can lift early and not need to brake anywhere else but that's not the fast way around. That said, I was braking too much in a couple places last weekend.

 

LOL

 

Amen!!

 

I think one comment someone made that stuck with me was this:

"You can't get back with the gas pedal what you gave up with the brake pedal"

 

..

 

Looks like you have a GT3 in your avatar. If you can drive that well and drive a 150 hp 944 with no driver aids, ABS, etc. then you can drive anything. The 944 is an amazing car on fast sweepers and can hang with just about anything. The only thing I would add is that with certain corners, you can use the brakes even less if you just scrub off some speed when turning and loading up the outside suspension.

 

I actually have a spec boxster with 190HP, my instructor was the 944/150HP owner. But I'm pretty sure what you said also applies to the SB.

 

It's an interesting exercise but all that coasting and letting off the gas to make corners is killing you!

 

I'm definitely coasting too much, no doubt. It's a work in progress. I told Bill Rudtner I'm at the limit of my ability right now, no way I'm going to crank out 1 minute laps like him and Matt Mueller. I was very happy with a 1:08. Next up is The Glen on 6/1

 

Excellent perspective on learning to drive on the track. Have fun!

 

Bill and I are doing the track walk when the track goes cold that day, weather permitting

 

Iracing will help with this