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.

[sww914]

JP, you're right.
I, however, do it the other way. I'm braver than I ought to be, and I take some real risks to beat other people, all for a little 1" X 3" brass plaque.
I go off plenty, I always have, but I was fast at the beginning, and I've only gotten faster. I'm not saying that's good, that's just how I am.
I'm always trying to get another minute portion of a second out of every corner, and sometimes I go too far. I'm only pushing myself, not other people, I'm courteous, but am I safe? Well, I'm safer than some other guys, and is the rolling pylon in front of us safer than the fearless moron that blows past at the first flick of a finger out the window?
Well, at least I'm aware.
As far as you, you should do what you're comfortable with. If anyone pushes themselves too much, they'll probably get freaked out and loose concentration, and become dangerous to others.

I always remember, at a couple of DE's, I've seen people who were soooo slow, I mean REALLY slow, and some guys were talking about it, and the consensus was, yes they're slow, but they're doing it. That incredibly slow person is very afraid, but they keep going out there and doing it again, in spite of their fear, and they are getting better. Maybe not at the rate of some hotshit kid with too much balls and no brains, but they're improving at a rate that they're comfortable with.
I'm not saying you're that slow at all, just giving an extreme example.
The most important part is to have fun and be safe. It's all really about fun.