Feedback about my driving

[RedStallion27]

HPDE yesterday at Gingerman Raceway was a blast. Really fun track.

Here’s footage of my fastest lap and I would appreciate any feedback you might have. This was only my third track day and I’m sure there are bad habits to address. Thanks.

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[BullittTheBlueSky]

You suck. You're terrible. You should just get off the track.





Kidding. I think it takes real cajones to get out there like that. I have considered it, but I know that I would crash and wreck, so I aint gonna do it.

I do find it funny you had the seat cooler on.

Does your car have the Recaros?

 

[NightmareMoon]

Are you seeing each and every corner station to check for flags?

Your hand position is fine and you're keeping them in place at 9 and 3 (which is fine), but your arms are very straight, esp as your hand turns up to 12 oclock on the wheel. You want a like 90 degree bend in your elbow with the wheel straight and your shoulders pinned into the seat. Most people will need to adjust their seat bottom and/or seat back closer to the wheel to get a good bend in the elbows. Why? you have a lot more control over the wheel when your arms are not straight. I can see the tension in your grip.. You want to hold the wheel and feel it, not death grip on the wheel. With a good seating position you can drive with your palms without actually wrapping a finger around the wheel, because pressing with your palms with your sholders planted in the seat you have plenty of control, then your fingers wrapping around the wheel are just for additional contact.

If a closer driving position feels wrong at first, don't worry that's completely normal, you're used to your normal street driving position, so anything else will feel wrong. So, If it feels uncomfortably close, try it on track and see if even registers while driving (it won't). Different usually feels strange, but that doesn't mean its wrong. Try not to mess up your leg position too much getting closer. If you need to sit a bit more upright to get closer to the wheel, even brushing your head on the headliner, that's all fine.

Driving itself looked fine. Not super aggressive (which is fine), because your inputs don't look that coordinated yet, so best to work your way up slowly.

Work on coordinating your hands and feet. I see you adding throttle before you've started to unwind the wheel.. that's a nasty habit. Any time your foot is going down to accelerate (or to brake) your wheel should be straightening as the pedal is going to the floor. Failure to do that will either cause a spin on corner exit, or if you aren't getting sideways its because you're underdriving the limits. On the street, people build that bad habit because when driving under the limit you rarely pay the price, but the closer to the edge of traction when driving, you have to give back some of the lateral grip as you're adding longitudinal grip (acceleration) or the rear tires will exceed their grip and spin city. On the street this is crashes into curbs from stopsights or stoplights as people set a steering angle, then add gas, add gas, add gas, until the rear lets go. The wheel needs to be getting straighter and straighter as the gas is fed in or you'll overload the rear. Its also true for braking, but that's a lesson for another day.

Best thing is to get an instructor in the passenger seat. Thats the best way to get good advice.

 

[Bob Lob Law]

Also....windshield wipers aren't really necessary on sunny days! LOL Looking for feedback and more importantly listening and adjusting from feedback is a great way to go about it. I haven't done any track days in cars, but tons on bikes. Bad habits and egos get you into situations like that of my current avatar. The track is a very humbling place!!

 

[RedStallion27]

Are you seeing each and every corner station to check for flags?

Your hand position is fine and you're keeping them in place at 9 and 3 (which is fine), but your arms are very straight, esp as your hand turns up to 12 oclock on the wheel. You want a like 90 degree bend in your elbow with the wheel straight and your shoulders pinned into the seat. Most people will need to adjust their seat bottom and/or seat back closer to the wheel to get a good bend in the elbows. Why? you have a lot more control over the wheel when your arms are not straight. I can see the tension in your grip.. You want to hold the wheel and feel it, not death grip on the wheel. With a good seating position you can drive with your palms without actually wrapping a finger around the wheel, because pressing with your palms with your sholders planted in the seat you have plenty of control, then your fingers wrapping around the wheel are just for additional contact.

If a closer driving position feels wrong at first, don't worry that's completely normal, you're used to your normal street driving position, so anything else will feel wrong. So, If it feels uncomfortably close, try it on track and see if even registers while driving (it won't). Different usually feels strange, but that doesn't mean its wrong. Try not to mess up your leg position too much getting closer. If you need to sit a bit more upright to get closer to the wheel, even brushing your head on the headliner, that's all fine.

Driving itself looked fine. Not super aggressive (which is fine), because your inputs don't look that coordinated yet, so best to work your way up slowly.

Work on coordinating your hands and feet. I see you adding throttle before you've started to unwind the wheel.. that's a nasty habit. Any time your foot is going down to accelerate (or to brake) your wheel should be straightening as the pedal is going to the floor. Failure to do that will either cause a spin on corner exit, or if you aren't getting sideways its because you're underdriving the limits. On the street, people build that bad habit because when driving under the limit you rarely pay the price, but the closer to the edge of traction when driving, you have to give back some of the lateral grip as you're adding longitudinal grip (acceleration) or the rear tires will exceed their grip and spin city. On the street this is crashes into curbs from stopsights or stoplights as people set a steering angle, then add gas, add gas, add gas, until the rear lets go. The wheel needs to be getting straighter and straighter as the gas is fed in or you'll overload the rear. Its also true for braking, but that's a lesson for another day.

Best thing is to get an instructor in the passenger seat. Thats the best way to get good advice.

Thank you for taking the time to share this advice. I appreciate all the reasoning and nuance you included to help me understand the why.

I will find a way to adjust my seating position as it makes sense that I would have better control with more of an arm bend and looser grip. Right now my helmet rubs the headliner and my knee is close to the steering column. Perhaps I can move the seat closer and widen my legs at the knee.

Had someone asked, I would’ve claimed I started unwinding the steering wheel every time before applying throttle. I just looked back at the video and you are completely right. It should be easy enough to address now that I’ll be paying attention to it. I appreciate it.

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