Off track excursions, Are they a measure of improvement? |
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Off track excursions, Are they a measure of improvement? |
nine14cats |
Jun 28 2006, 04:45 PM
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#1
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Bill Pickering -- 914-6 GT aka....Leeloo Group: Members Posts: 2,618 Joined: 10-February 03 From: Campbell, CA Member No.: 287 Region Association: None |
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. |
lapuwali |
Jun 29 2006, 12:28 AM
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#2
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Not another one! Group: Benefactors Posts: 4,526 Joined: 1-March 04 From: San Mateo, CA Member No.: 1,743 |
I've seen examples of two kinds of people: those who approach the limits from "below", and those who approach them from "above". The former inch up to the limit, staying pretty much in control all the time. The latter are wild, sliding all over, then calm down to reach the edge.
IMHO, both are appropriate strategies at an AX, where only the former is appropriate for a track event unless you're being paid big money to drive someone else's car. At an AX, I tend to do both. I'll take the first run fairly gently so I really know which way the course goes (a walk can only do so much). The next run I'll deliberately overdrive everywhere so I can find any "hidden" fast spots that look slow but actually aren't. The next run (or runs) will just be refinements. At an indoor karting event (very low risk), I'll also tend to overdrive too much. At a track event, I'm a pansy, and I'll slowly feel my way to fast times as gently as possible. |
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