Advice wanted on overcoming the plateau

[deimos]

A ten second summary of my track background:
Started young at karts, family moved to an area with no karting scene; gave up karting; moved onto motorcycles (dirt then street) went to college; got married, etc, did a year of auto-x and found it wasn't for me. This will be my second full year of track events. I've been a trackwhore in my daily driver. Financially, I can only do one event per month.

I've been shown time and again that the problem isn't my car, it's me. A very good local SCCA racer took me for a drive one track day, and showed me point blank, it's me, not the car. He beat my lap times by 12 seconds consistently, in my car. I got myself down to within 5-6s of his, consistently. My car is bone stock, except for the fan clutch removal and upgraded track brake pads/fluid. I also have a clip in harness to plant me in the leather seats better. I found this alone helped me gain 2-3s consistently. I wasn't having to brace myself with my left foot anymore.

Over the past year, I've been able to consistently come within 70-80% of his times in my car. He may be a great driver, but isn't a great mentor. His advice is consistenly "push until you spin, then back off a hair".

I've read a few good books over the winter, and am getting ready for my first 2-day event at Summit Point in a few weeks. At the end of last year, I was stuck. I'd try slightly new lines, try incrementing the speed up through turns, and earlier acceleration points to gain time. At best, I shaved a second off my times, but it wasn't consistent.

I've spent some money on a track cam to be mounted in various spots on the car, and have someone to record me at various turns. I'm hoping this will let me get the line better, and bring out some mistakes I'm making.

What sort of things have helped you become comfortable near the edge (which I think is my real problem) or overcome the plateau?

[OldSkoolBmw]

Take notice to where everyone is brakeing into a corner and try and go past it 20ft. Also where you lift off the gas and get on the brakes should be in the same spot. Don't lift then coast for a little bit then brake. Jackie Stewart said your brake pedal is your mother.. you hug the brake pedal.. you don't stab it... wait in your bmw you've probably got ABS.. needless it wouldn't hurt to follow his advice. Learn to be really good with your footwork. Downshifting into a corner is something you can practice on every day in traffic. same with hugging the brake pedal. If you drove his same line and braked at his same braking points and punched the gas at his same spots then you would turn the same lap time. Either your getting off the gas early and coasting or brakeing to early. Or both but you are probably not carrying the same corner speed he is. The video camera in the car will show you when you coast. Some people put a little light on the far passanger side that the camera can see that only light up when you hit the brakes... good for analysis

[deimos]

I've been doing a 3 count when coming into the start of a braking zone. 1 as foot comes off the gas, 2 as it transfers between and starts to press down, and 3 should be all the way down to threshold.

I've also been working on downshifts and getting all the braking/shifting business done before I begin to turn the wheel at all.

I'm sure there's a lot of things I'm doing wrong, but I can't see it when I'm on track, so I'm hoping the camera is better.

Thanks.

[TomM]

Take a few months off the track events and get yourself to a 3-day racing school. Panoz, Skip Barber, Jim Russel, they all have great programs. See which one has a school at a track near you.

[1996 328ti]

Originally posted by deimos

Over the past year, I've been able to consistently come within 70-80% of his times in my car. He may be a great driver, but isn't a great mentor. His advice is consistenly "push until you spin, then back off a hair".

First I don't agree with that! Not at a DE event anyway.

I am in the same boat as you. I have been very consistent at VIR. So consistent that whenever I can get a few timed laps in I am within 00:00.4 seconds. It has been this way for the last 3 schools. I know I am not at my or my car's limits. The last school I did at VIR something just clicked. My line hasn't changed. I was just carrying more speed out of the turns and squealing the tires just a bit. I was not able to time myself but I know I was quicker because I was running out of revs sooner and it just felt like a smooth ride. Right in the zone. That has only happened with me at Summit once.

If you are going to a NCC school, they do no brake exercises. After that session I always improve. Don't sweat it. It comes. It has little to do with how your car is prepared. It's all car control.

If you are going to a NCC school, email me.

[Matthew C Smith]

Originally posted by deimos


I've also been working on downshifts and getting all the braking/shifting business done before I begin to turn the wheel at all.

There one thing to start with.

It sounds to me like you could benefit from a racing type of school. Like a Skip Barber for example.