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.

[drew365]

I can relate to your conundrum. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) I listen to other racers talk about the tracks we run and try to compare it to what I feel. At Willowsprings there is a back straight between T7 and T8. T8 is a long sweeper. A lot of the fast guys say they don't lift turning into 8. My car has never felt stable enough at that point to keep my foot completely in it and I have to breathe the throttle before getting back on it. I keep second guessing myself and wonder if I shouldn't just glue my foot to the floor and give it a try. But I know my feelings are usually pretty good so I'm going to keep experimenting with different approach angles and not push it until it feels right. Incremental improvement is the smart road. I'd be proud to say I ran competitive times and had never spun. I wish it were true. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)