techniques for practice
 

apart from feel and being used to a car, i don't know any nameable techniques, and i was looking to get input as i am beginning in the world of racing what are some techniques to learn and how to practice them what they accomplish so on and so forth.

leagality is optional :-D

You can always practice heel and toe; steering input and unwinding the wheel while increasing the throttle at the apex. Proper up and down shifts. All can be done legally. There are a number of very good books out there on driving techniques. I have read a couple from Bob Bondurant, they will help you get started.

Buy the skip barber book "going faster" its totally legal to read, and It will give you all the techniques as well as the physics of racing that you need to understand to get going.

how do you know you have the proper steering input, and a proper up and down shift. is heel toe the same thing as a braking downshift? like i found this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPj9XXW25GA and all i see is driving stick.. and im confused. cause theres a million and one of these instructional videos and they only talk about matching rpms... isnt that just how you're supposed to drive? i shall definately have to look at books, but i just dont get the same feel out of a book.


thank you for your help!

Foot work in a race car is based upon the movements you do during your daily driving but at a much more frantic pace and with a need for certainty and precision. I am practicing how to left foot braking while daily driving now. Karting is another way to learn this too. Left Foot Braking is as the name implies. It can be used as a way to overcome turbo lag, load the suspension, or in conjunction with proper throttle application to introduce yaw. I was an idiot thinking video games was the way to keep the cobwebs off. Next off season I am going to join an indoor Kart league to help keep the dust off.

Then you were messing with the wrong games. You should check out games like GTR2 and some of the mods for rFactor. GTR2 is used in some simulators which Porsche drivers like Darren Law and Wolf Henzler have used. rFactor has some mods assisted by drivers like Sean Edwards.

While I agree karting would be a much better way to go about it, there are simulations you can use to help during the off season (which would be a cheaper way to go). You just need to pick the right one(s).

Hey thanks for the good info. I will have to do some research about these race simulators tomorrow. Sorry for the thread hijack Icedragon850.

Since I live in Maryland and they have some of the longest exits off the interstate that i has scene in my life except for Germany. When I first learned rev matching I would always practice on these because I did not want to injure nobody being a novice. Now I can do it without event thinking twice. This could possibly be something you could practice.

Ok I will sound like a retard but what exactly is left foot breaking. I dont understand what it's for. If you are using heel toe to break and downshift for every corner where do I left foot break? I guess what I would like to know is the details behind left foot breaking.

It can be used as a way to overcome some turbo lag, load the vehicles suspension, or in conjunction with proper throttle application to help introduce yaw. Hope this helps you out. If you mostly drive a manual transmission as a daily driver you will lack the control finesse in your left leg. I am using karts and my automatic Jeep Cherokee to help me master this skill. You really do not sound like a retard for asking a good explanation for left foot braking.

Ok but I still dont understand the tecnique... How do you do "left foot braking". What is the process and what kinds of turns would you use it on?

For those of us who drive normal cars (i.e. not sequential race dog box tranmissions), it would be helpful on turns where you aren't required downshift, but need to slow the car a little more than just a lift of the gas.

Thanks to you and mazda6guy I know what it should be used for. Now to tune my left foot. I was driving the other day and tried using my left foot, and was surprised how hard my foot engaged the breaks. This is why I love racing, you can never know everything. I know alot of people who think getting a car around the tack ends with heal toe downshifting. The 2 cents I feel qualified to offer is never think you know it all, that will = FAIL.

Ok so my understanding of it is that you come at a turn and as you take your right foot off the accel, you use your left foot to apply the brake? Why not just use your right foot, it cant be that much faster...

You don't really take your right foot off the gas. You'll lift a little off the gas, but the idea is to keep your right foot on the gas and then use your left foot for dabbing the brake a little.

You'll also see the pros use their left foot to prep the brakes before braking into a corner:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWMuAAd24ao

Dear IceDragon,

Have you raced in any form before? What's the extent of your driving experience?

I like the fact that you're trying to learn about racing, but I don't think the way you're going about it is the most efficient. To ask what the proper steering angle is... that's a bit like asking what's the best gear - it's always going to depend on the situation. If you really get into racing, that's one thing you'll find out - everything is dependent on everything else.

My best advice would be to go out and get experience. Find out what you're best at, and find out what needs the most improvement. Get some experienced drivers to check you out and give you pointers. Don't just take what they say as truth, though... there are a lot of people who like to think they know about racing but don't. Be open to advice, be critical of that advice, be critical of your own driving style, and don't ever think there's no room for improvement.

It might also help to get some background on the physics of cars. It helps the race driver understand why cars behave the way they do. "Race Car Vehicle Dynamics" is a good intro book, but it's heavy into theory. It may be difficult reading for those who are new to the subject. Another personal favorite of mine is Caroll Smith's "Drive to Win". Check 'em out!

Love,
Valmand

heres a technique for practice, heel toe downshift without using the clutch. If you do it wrong you will destroy your tranny.

hahaha hot shift a heel toe. why? what benefits do you save by not using your left foot.. i cant see speed due to the high probability of messing up

going out and getting exp ftw.... as soon as my new car is up and running im taking it to the track... ive only ever driven on roads/parking lots before. so im looking for some actual judged exp.

getting ready for a dogbox tranny, and its fun. If you can do it right your downshifts are like silk, and fast. Im not saying its better than the normal way, I just want to get ready for when I get a dogbox because a 5spd tranny cost less than getting dog teeth machined into a new gear set.

Auto Cross!

Thats the best practice for when your not on the big track w/ da big boys!

I "heel toe" my 85 GS all the time and only use the clutch to take off and for most one-two and two-one shifts...

definetly got my feet used to doing what they would need to do in the racecar. The practice definetly helped and I was able to concentrate on other things in the racecar.


HUGE thing right here! and you might not think so but trust me on this one: This is about your eyes. One of the biggest things that makes a smooth fast driver is looking ahead. The goes along with a big rookie mistake of getting behind someone on the track and either driving the line the other car is or an even worse line beacuse they get fixated on the car...

SO while in your street car always look as far ahead as you can, don't just watch the taillights of the car infront of you. look over them, around them, or even through their windows and look at whats ahead. If you are on an open road get those eyes up and anticipate those curves and turns. be aware of what the cars are doing close to you and also of road hazards but keep your most of your attention focused forward. I can also say that from personal experience this can help on the track...

also every turn and curve I ever take on the main road has a turn in, apex, track out etc... just remember if you don't know the road apex it late...

and lol brake before (not into) fast turns(curves) then back to power and then accelerate after apex but you can carry the brake into slower turns

obviously i don't mean drive at the limit of your car all the time doing this, just go through the motions and get yourself used to doing the right things at the right times.

that is my two cents!

That's the only thing in your post I'm confused about. Maybe it's just the roads you drive on, but the ones I drive on I can't take like that without going on the wrong side of the road. My friend does that and it scares the shit out of me. Even with looking ahead, I can't drive on the wrong side of the road. Is there any certain way you can practice that without going on the other side?

well i typically stay in my lane but move around in it or slightly onto the shoulder IF it's clear. Even though the movements may be more subtle on the road the motions are the same...

also, going into a turn I may use some of the other lane if it's obvoiusly clear to set up for a turn but always plan to stay in my lane at track out

when traveling on a shoulder, BE CAREFUL, they are not ment for driving, and may contain debris, animals or worse yet people! I do not reccomend this for everyday driving but do it myself every chance I get...

And don't forget your gauges and your mirrors! These are very important in a racecar also!

I have some fun backroads near my house, but if there are cars or people around I take it a little slower than usual just in case. I will have to try using my whole lane (as long as it's clear). I never go near the shoulders because of the reasons you stated, so no need to worry about that.

I'm glad you mentioned the guages, because I just realized not too long ago that I don't keep an eye on them during spirited driving. How do you look at them without losing your focus on the road? Does it just become second nature after a while?