Ask Ross
Skills
Types
Subscriptions
Got questions? I’ve got answers. This is where I post answers to the many questions I receive. You may find the answer to a question you have here (you can use the “Search” tool), but if not, you have two options:
- If you want the answer immediately, sign up for my SpeedSecrets.ai app (think of it as “Google on steroids, focused solely on performance/race driving,” or “ChatGPT trained to only pull from the 5 million+ words and content I’ve personally created”)
- If you can wait until I get to your question, email it to me.
Q: How should I break in new tires on the track to make them last longer?
Q: “The question I have is about heat treating to break in new tires and improve tire longevity. I usually heat cycle a set of tires for 20 minutes on a single session, then take the tires off and let them sit for 24 hours. I then put them back on for the remainder of the 2-3 day event. I run a set of tires for about half a season, ~4 events. Is there a better way of getting the tires ready for a season, and is there a normal life of tires that would indicate a replacement point? Could I run tires for a full season without suffering hardening and loss of grip?”
Q: Which reference points are the most important when approaching & driving through race track corners?
Q: “I’m doing my yearly brush-up on the basics and realized that I’m thinking more about the start of throttle rather than the End-of-Braking. Pretty close in terms of where and when in the corner, but not quite! I also think about the point of full throttle to make sure I don’t get there too soon (or too late!). How do these three points rate in terms of importance? And if a driver gets one wrong, which one has the highest cost in terms of lap time? Which one can be compromised with the least penalty?”
Q: How can a driver out-brake another on the outside of a corner like Lewis Hamilton tried on Max Verstappen in the Brazilian Grand Prix?
Q: “Here’s my conundrum. As a theoretical proposition, how is it possible to make an outside pass (I’m thinking of Lewis’ attempt in Brazil when Max pushed him off track)? In this example, it is assumed that these are perfect drivers who are absolutely at the limit. If Car A is ahead of Car B and takes the correct line through the turn – it seems to me that it should be impossible for Car B to pass Car A. Since Car B will be, by definition, off line, his maximum speed must be less than Car A’s. Thus, he can’t pass Car A. Or is it that outside passes are an attempt to freak out Driver A, and provoke him into a mistake? Or make Car A slow down?”
Q: Should I use ABS when braking for a corner on the race track?
Q: “Should I be using the ABS when braking hard for a corner, or apply just enough pressure to stay just before the ABS activates?”
Q: What’s the best way to practice sim racing?
“If I want to spend two hours a week on consciously improving my driving style and technique with sim racing – instead of just practicing for my next league race – what kind of drills or exercises would you recommend?”
Q: Where should my right foot be placed relative to the gas and brake pedals?
Q: “Where should my right foot be relative to the throttle and brake?”
Q: How can I improve my reaction time & hand speed to drive faster?
Q: “What are some ways I can increase my reaction time and hand speed? I’ve found that at times my reactions are a bit delayed. I usually find I’m not looking far enough ahead, as I’m focusing on a car or a turn that is taking my attention.”
Q: Do you agree or disagree with the advice of driving a stock Cayman S to help me learn?
Q: Do you agree or disagree with the advice of driving a stock Cayman S to help me learn?
Q: Have you had an out-of-body experience while driving?
Q: “Have you had an “out of body” experience while driving? And if so, have you been able to consistently repeat it while driving?”
Q: Should I be pushing hard against the dead pedal with my leg?
Q: “Should I be pushing hard against the dead pedal with my leg? In an ideal world you would not have all this tension in your leg to better feel the car, but you also don’t want to be a wet noodle in there flopping all around either.”
Got Questions?
Get Immediate Answers
Skills
Types
Subscriptions
Got questions? I’ve got answers. This is where I post answers to the many questions I’ve received. You may find the answer to a question you have here, but if not, you have two options: If you want the answer immediately, sign up for my SpeedSecrets.ai app (think of it as “Google on steroids, focused solely on performance/race driving”), or email it to me.
Q: How should I break in new tires on the track to make them last longer?
Q: “The question I have is about heat treating to break in new tires and improve tire longevity. I usually heat cycle a set of tires for 20 minutes on a single session, then take the tires off and let them sit for 24 hours. I then put them back on for the remainder of the 2-3 day event. I run a set of tires for about half a season, ~4 events. Is there a better way of getting the tires ready for a season, and is there a normal life of tires that would indicate a replacement point? Could I run tires for a full season without suffering hardening and loss of grip?”
Q: Which reference points are the most important when approaching & driving through race track corners?
Q: “I’m doing my yearly brush-up on the basics and realized that I’m thinking more about the start of throttle rather than the End-of-Braking. Pretty close in terms of where and when in the corner, but not quite! I also think about the point of full throttle to make sure I don’t get there too soon (or too late!). How do these three points rate in terms of importance? And if a driver gets one wrong, which one has the highest cost in terms of lap time? Which one can be compromised with the least penalty?”
Q: How can a driver out-brake another on the outside of a corner like Lewis Hamilton tried on Max Verstappen in the Brazilian Grand Prix?
Q: “Here’s my conundrum. As a theoretical proposition, how is it possible to make an outside pass (I’m thinking of Lewis’ attempt in Brazil when Max pushed him off track)? In this example, it is assumed that these are perfect drivers who are absolutely at the limit. If Car A is ahead of Car B and takes the correct line through the turn – it seems to me that it should be impossible for Car B to pass Car A. Since Car B will be, by definition, off line, his maximum speed must be less than Car A’s. Thus, he can’t pass Car A. Or is it that outside passes are an attempt to freak out Driver A, and provoke him into a mistake? Or make Car A slow down?”
Q: Should I use ABS when braking for a corner on the race track?
Q: “Should I be using the ABS when braking hard for a corner, or apply just enough pressure to stay just before the ABS activates?”
Q: What’s the best way to practice sim racing?
“If I want to spend two hours a week on consciously improving my driving style and technique with sim racing – instead of just practicing for my next league race – what kind of drills or exercises would you recommend?”
Q: Where should my right foot be placed relative to the gas and brake pedals?
Q: “Where should my right foot be relative to the throttle and brake?”
Q: How can I improve my reaction time & hand speed to drive faster?
Q: “What are some ways I can increase my reaction time and hand speed? I’ve found that at times my reactions are a bit delayed. I usually find I’m not looking far enough ahead, as I’m focusing on a car or a turn that is taking my attention.”
Q: Do you agree or disagree with the advice of driving a stock Cayman S to help me learn?
Q: Do you agree or disagree with the advice of driving a stock Cayman S to help me learn?
Q: Have you had an out-of-body experience while driving?
Q: “Have you had an “out of body” experience while driving? And if so, have you been able to consistently repeat it while driving?”
Q: Should I be pushing hard against the dead pedal with my leg?
Q: “Should I be pushing hard against the dead pedal with my leg? In an ideal world you would not have all this tension in your leg to better feel the car, but you also don’t want to be a wet noodle in there flopping all around either.”
Got Questions?
Get Immediate Answers