Off track excursions, Are they a measure of improvement? Options

[nine14cats]

I have a question for the board....

Is going off track an indicator of ongoing improvement? This is meant as a "positive" experience question.

I have heard some drivers use the old addage that there are two types of racers:

1. Those that have gone off track
2. Those that will go off track

The reason I ask is that I've never been dirt tracking at any of the places I've run (Laguna Seca, Infineon, Buttowwillow or Thunderhill). I haven't spun out or even touched a wheel in dirt (just wispies!)

I'm getting quicker and have set many personal bests this year. This past weekend my practice times put me in the top 20% of cars running, so that makes me happy. But is it possible I'm not pushing hard enough to learn my own limits and that of my car? Some drivers have told me that going off is no big deal. I personally don't like the thought of it a whole lot. From the standpoint of safety, I don't want to lose control and possibly hit someone else. From the standpoint of cost, I don't want to damage my car.

My approach has been incremental...bring a little more speed in a section and then link it to the next section. And I have been trying to be more aware of practicing controlled drifting of the car through certain sections of track. I just don't know if I should push my limits a tad more.

I suppose given our sport it is inevitable that I will go off, be it my own fault or circumstances happenning in front of me on the track.

Any thoughts or insights from the Paddock?

Thanks,

Bill P.

[J P Stein]

I've always felt at AX if you don't loop it once in a while, you're not trying hard enuff.
On a track, things are different. Here the speeds are much higher....no big thing if there is plenty of run-off space...but you need a lot of space at 80-100 mph.

I took the shitbox out to a DE once. I passed everyone in the novice group...big deal, what's next? Pass everyone in the intermediate group? After working at it for a while
I may have been able to get to most of em'....at risk of life & limb & car..not much of a plan, me thinks. Tho I can see a certain amount of satisfaction in that, the end game ain't worth it....that was it for me & DE.

I would agree with your approach, Bill.

Frankly, if you're buying and/or building your own race car, raising kids, paying a morgage...yada... more than simple self preservation enters the scene.... risk your money and your lifestyle for what? If oldfarts ever wanted to be really good they shoulda started 30-40 years ago...back when they couldn't afford wives/kids & race cars.

What'cha got to prove? The only thing I've ever proven to my self at AX is that I ain't 25 any more...or even 40 and if I ever had any natural talent it disappeared years ago. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)