A source of pride among all men is their ability to drive. All guys are almost expected to be able to drive well, and many feel that driving skill is a prerequisite to being a real man. All of you know the feeling of the adrenaline rush when you drop the throttle in a fast car on an open road. Read on and become an even better driver.
it's in the technique
While driving in the street will never bring the joy and sensation of ripping around a closed track, some of the same techniques and skills can still be applied. Whether you are on the track or on the street, proper techniques are essential.If you are on the street, you all know to stay well within the speed limit. Even at a reasonable pace, the tips in this article will make you a better and more efficient driver. On the track, they will make you even faster.
Advanced techniques can only be taught in person, so you'll have to consult your local performance driving school for that. What we can cover are the basics; the fundamental skills required to drive like a real man.
mind over matter
The first things you must do have nothing to do with driving; they are the mental aspects of any competitive activity, like playing golf. In driving, they become especially important because time is limited, and you must react in milliseconds. The consequences are also severe; a blown corner can result in valuable lost time that may never be recovered. A truly blown corner can result in a totalled car and a trip to the body shop.The keys to driving well are concentration, smooth and quick reactions, and consistency. Think ahead. In any driving situation, you should always be scanning the road ahead of you. Look beyond what is directly in front of you. For example, you should see past the apex and know the exit line of the approaching curve before you enter.
Tips from Grand Prix Legends
Learn to look ahead to where you want to go, and not at some random curb or piece of tarmac. There is no point in looking at anything close to the car because at the limit of grip, you will have very little control over where the car is going to go in the next few yards. So you may as well look at something useful.This takes time to learn (actually, it takes time to remember to force yourself to do it), but pays off by making you more consistent. For example, when you are approaching the braking point, your eyes should have previously located it on the track before you actually start braking. Your eyes should have already moved forward to the turning in point or apex.
the eyes have it
Simply put, your eyes should always be one step ahead of what you are doing. The further ahead you look, the slower the car will seem to be going and you'll have more time to react to things. When you really get going, you no longer perceive speed and distance.Keep your chin up and your line of vision parallel to the road surface. This requires you to keep your head straight, which may be difficult on a bumpy road, a tight turn and with a heavy helmet on. Try your best not to lean unnecessarily.
Your reactions should be smooth and precise, yet lightning-quick. This is where self-confidence comes into play. When the situation changes abruptly, you should make a decision quickly and have faith in your choice. A driver who repeatedly second-guesses himself is an accident waiting to happen.
Concentration is crucial to your driving, and goes hand in hand with consistency. Anything that takes your mind off the road should be removed. On the street, this means no cell phone, annoying girlfriend, dog, or even radio if it bothers you.
On the track, it means coming in relaxed and with a clear mind. This is the reason performance vehicles don't come laden with luxury gadgets. After all, who needs a cup holder in a Porsche?
Here is Jimmy Hebert on concentration: "Concentration is crucial because you are traveling in a straight line at full throttle for long periods. You have to guard against your mind wandering off. I always try to visualize the chicanes at the end of the long straights to keep my concentration level up."
Jim Clark agrees: "One of the great things in motor racing is concentration. Accidents aren't caused by speed as everyone thinks. I think they are caused by lack of concentration. Quite often on the track when I want to go faster, I don't drive any faster; I just concentrate harder, which makes me go faster. By concentrating on the braking, by concentrating on the way through the corner, by concentrating on the amount of throttle open -- power I can get on out of the corner -- just by concentrating that little bit harder all round."
take a seat
Your seating position is another important facet of your driving. Without even seeing any of you in your cars, I am willing to bet that you sit too far back. The majority of drivers position themselves this way or with the seat inclined way too much.Dennis Lee, PCA/CWR Driver's Ed Chairperson provides the following recommendation:
1. Adjust the fore and aft positions so there is a moderate bend at the knees when you fully depress the pedals, ensuring full operation.
2. Adjust the seat as low as possible without impairing your vision so as to get closer to the center of gravity (notice how low Fl drivers sit in their cockpit).
3. Adjust the seatback angle so that with your arms extended and without pulling your shoulders away from the seat, your wrists should be able to rest on top (12 o'clock position) of the steering wheel.
what time is it?
Next, you program yourself to hold the steering wheel at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock position. This is the point farthest from the center of the wheel and allows for the most precise modulation possible. When holding the steering wheel at the '9-3' position, your arms should also retain a slight bend at the elbows.This is the best position for most drivers, but since we all have different shapes and dimensions, adjust yours accordingly. Make sure you are comfortable, but in the most alert position.
From this position, you should adjust the devices that will assist you in your drive. These underused tools are known as your rear and side-view mirrors.
mirror mirror...
I can't get over how many times I have been a passenger in someone's car, and only after 20 minutes of driving do they realize that they cannot see anything out of their rear-view mirror.The rear-view should be pointed such that you see straight out the rear window. This is obvious. The side-view mirrors, however, are where most people go wrong. Any extra time spent checking blind spots results in taking your eyes off the road and again having to focus them in front.
The mirrors should show you everything just beyond the body of your car. To see the sides of your car, you should have to slightly tilt your head in the respective direction. This will minimize your blind spots and make lane-changes easier.
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