ross bentley speed secrets
Speed Secrets: How To Find More Grip
You know, it would be so much easier if we could just set our tire pressures, select any old set of springs and dampers, and just drive the car. I suppose we could, but that would definitely not lead to the best handling car. So, what to do – how do we figure out what tire pressures to run, and when to soften or stiffen the springs on our car? Just ask… someone like Jeff Braun, race engineer extraordinaire.
Speed Secrets: The Pros and Cons Of Simulators
Chris Ruckman contacted me a few weeks ago to share his thoughts about the use of simulators, and the challenge of instructing drivers who have spent time using them. Chris has been driving HPDE events since 2001, and started instructing with the Audi Club in 2010. Work-wise, Chris is a PhD mechanical engineer who has worked in research and development for 28 years — mainly for the US Navy, Army and intelligence community. These days, he works mostly on airborne cameras and other ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) systems. In other words, he gets technology! If you’re already using a sim, or thinking about getting one, think about what Chris has to say below.
Understanding The Basics of Auto Racing Safety Equipment
If you can’t afford good safety equipment, you can’t afford to go racing or performance driving, participate in HPDE or autocross events, or do whatever form of motorsport you do. To me, safety equipment is the price of entry. And there’s no point in using cheap, sub-par safety equipment. Well, unless your life is not worth anything. I know, I know… you participate at a level where you don’t need the latest and greatest safety equipment. But that’s just an excuse – a poor one. If you’re going to drive on a track or course, don’t scrimp. Having said that, if you’re participating in an HPDE event, no, you don’t need the same equipment that someone in pro racing does. And that’s why it’s important to have someone that really knows safety equipment advise you on what you need and don’t need. One such expert is Bob Zecca, who has operated Driving Impressions since 1983.
Why Budget Endurance Racing Might Be The Next Big Thing
I enjoy endurance racing more than any other form of motorsport. The physical and mental challenge, the teamwork, the communication, the racecraft, the strategy, the mechanical empathy, and the “whatever it takes” attitude that long races require make them so much more rewarding than any other. Thanks to a variety of new race series, endurance racing is more accessible than ever. I came across Ian Korf’s website, yousuckatracing.com a while back, learned about his participation in budget endurance racing, and asked him to write about his experiences.
Speed Secrets: Why Smooth Is Fast
You’ve been told that driving smooth is the key to being fast on a race track, but why? Using what I call the “Traction Unit Number,” I explain. My goal is to help performance drivers and race drivers drive faster by understanding the reason why smooth is fast.
Speed Secrets: To Trail Brake, Or Not To Trail Brake. That Is The Question
“Never trail brake.” “Do all your braking in a straight line before the corner.” “Always trail brake.” “Trail brake in this corner, but not that one.” “If you’re new to track driving, don’t trail brake.” “If you’re an experienced driver, trail brake.” “If you’re driving a front-wheel-drive car, trail brake.” “If you’re driving a rear-engine car, don’t trail brake.”
Ten Tips For Successful Road Rally Racing
A subscriber recently asked for advice on how to adapt his road racing experience and prepare to compete in the Targa Newfoundland. One of the most versatile drivers I know is Andrew Comrie-Picard, otherwise known as ACP. He’s won in every type of rally, in rallycross, competed at Baja, and tackled just about every kind of automotive adventure you can imagine. Oh, and he’s kicked butt in the Targa Newfoundland, so it was a no-brainer to reach out to Andrew to ask for his advice
The Four Key Elements of Endurance Race Preparation
Between club racing, Chump car and Lemons, pro racing, and more, there seems to be an endurance race almost every weekend. And they’re getting longer – Thunderhill’s 25-hour race is nothing compared to the 38-hour race at VIR later this year. As James Colborn points out in his feature article this week, endurance racing requires a different way of thinking.
Speed Secrets: Getting the Most Out of Your Data System
When I’m speaking at a club or other type of event full of car and driving fanatics, some of the most-asked questions are about data acquisition systems. Matt Romanowski is a guy that I often turn to for info about data systems, and how to get the most of them – which is what I’ve done this week.
Speed Secrets: The Virtues of Time Attack Events
If you’re looking for a new or different challenge for your driving, consider a Time Attack event. Over the past couple of years, I’ve spoken to many drivers who rave about the fun versus investment (time and money) that Time Attack provides. I know for a fact that it will be a great learning challenge. And if you get to hang around with people as enthusiastic as Joe, that can’t be a bad thing.
Speed Secrets: What Does Stability Control Actually Do?
A few weeks ago, David Ray wrote an excellent article about the use of stability control on the track, and that triggered a lot of comments. Rob Schermerhorn has also written an article that touches on the same topic, but from a different perspective. Rob is a great driver and coach, like David. Additionally, Rob’s an engineer – he can tell you how stability control works.
Speed Secrets: Why You Should Walk the Track
Driver coach, E. Paul Dickinson (who has been around and knows his stuff) writes this week about a technique you can always count on to help you drive faster and safer: walking the track. But E. Paul talks about more than just walking the track as a social event, and that’s what I like so much about his article. – Ross
So You Want to Own Your Own Race Team…
If you’re a driver with visions and goals of participating in pro racing, and especially if you’re climbing the ladder to the top, it’s big business. Ten years ago, my good friend Bruce Cleland and I wrote the book Speed Secrets 5: The Complete Driver. In it, we covered how to make a career out of racing, and one topic we covered has come up again and again: whether or not to start and run one’s own race team.
Speed Secrets: Effective Physical Training to Prepare for Race Season
We all know that being physically fit helps us perform better, whether behind the wheel or anywhere else in our life. I’m no expert on the matter, but it seems to me there are two main reasons drivers don’t work out as much as they should: First, it’s a motivation thing, and second, it’s knowing what to do. This week we tackle this second issue: knowing what to do to get as fit as you can. And to do that, Simon Hayes, who runs Performance Physixx is here to share a couple of approaches.
Speed Secrets: The Traction Control Conundrum
I travel around the country doing seminars and talks for various car clubs about performance driving and instructor training, one topic that continually comes up is whether the “driver nannies” – traction and stability control systems – should be turned off or not, and what the pros and cons are of doing so are.David Ray, the founder of Hooked On Driving has a ton of know-how teaching high performance drivers, and putting on well-run events. He’s a well-known, very experienced driver and instructor. And as you’ll see from his article below, David has thought long and hard about the “driver nannies” issue. I’m doubtful that everyone will ever agree 100% on this topic, but I do believe that David makes some very good points.
The Seven Steps To Finding Your Perfect Shock Setting
A question that I’ve had asked of me a few times is how to deal with a car that understeers in the early part of a corner, and then snaps to oversteer towards the exit. It’s not an uncommon situation. I like to look at this type of problem from the driver’s perspective, and what the driver can do about it. But what about what can be done to the car?
Speed Secrets: How to Make Mistakes
The theme running through this issue is being okay with making mistakes, experimenting with them, and learning from what did and didn’t go so well. In a sport like this one we’re all involved in, it takes an experienced eye to ensure that you make only the “right” mistakes, and experiment only so far.
Speed Secrets: Six Elements Required to Achieve New Goals
Nothing better than holiday meals. Well, nothing better, other than getting back in the swing of things for the upcoming season by resuming a fitness program. Yep, two days off, then back at it (although I did see a photo of Simon Pagenault working out on Christmas Day…). Ingrid Steffensen, author of the great book, Fast Girl, is back with a little inspiration.
The Three Most Common Race Driving Misconceptions
I’m constantly amazed by the opinions that people in motorsport have, many of which are just plain wrong, or at least a bit off-base. That’s why I was so glad that Mazda factory driver, and coach, Tom Long, tackled the topic of misconceptions (a topic that I’ve often thought about writing about). While what Tom writes about may go against what you’ve heard others say, I can assure you that he nails it. -Ross
The Six Steps of Race Preparation
It’s been said that preparation is not just one thing, it’s everything, and Davin provides some great reminders of this message in this week’s feature article. As a kart racer, he knows what it’s like to do his own prep, pack up his tools and spares, tow to the track, race, tune the kart between sessions, pack up, head home, and start all over again. It sounds simple, but there’s a method to the madness – at least, there should be.
Speed Secrets: Keeping Your Car Healthy
These week, data guy Matt Romanowski writes about how to use your data system to help you monitor the health of your engine. As he so accurately points out, it’s difficult to work on improving your driving when your engine isn’t working! – Ross
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