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.

[Trekkor]

I have had four "offs". (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

T10 at Laguna in the rain. Did 270° spin in the rain and put the rear wheels just off the asphalt without touching the gravel. Drove across the track and into the pit lane for a chat. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/alfred.gif)

T10 at TH CCW. Again wet. Track conditions had changed from the previous lap and what worked then didn't this time. Took the left hander and the rear came around 180° and I went off on the inside backwards and went about 40 feet up the embankment, packing loads of mud and grass into everything. Black flagged.
The ruts are still very visible.

T5 CCW "over the top" at TH. Came at it too hot. Couldn't make the left. Drove straight off and rejoined the track at the bottom of the hill.
This was the last lap of the last session and spaced the braking zone.

T11 CW at TH. It's a 2nd gear sacrificial turn. I tried it in third. 180°.
I let the car go four wheels off backwards instead of sitting in the middle of the track where cars couldn't see me. Yellow flag was flying, but not everyone sees them.

I am trying my best. Sears is a "no off" track as far as I'm concerned.
TH is pretty safe.
Laguna is trouble.

Hank Watts said: " Laguna eats cars, Sears eats people."

All these offs were slow speed and the car took no damage. Air dam didn't even come off.

Never more than one off in any given day.
This is after 12-15 track days.


I work up to turns. I don't take huge risks. I want to have fun and stay in one piece. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)


KT