Ask Ross
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Speed Secrets Merch
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 can I “test” for grip by turning the steering more in the middle of a corner on a race track?
Q: “Can you clarify something for me? What do I learn, and how, from the quick input understeer? I don’t get how that helps me understand how much grip is available. I’m guessing that maybe the answer is paying attention to how much understeer a quick input causes? Lots of understeer meaning that I was already close to the limit? I’m used to using slower turns of the wheel to see if I have more grip available than I am using. If the radius tightens, I was not at the limit. Is this not as valid a test as I think?”
Q: Should a coach talk a lot or little when in-car with me?
Q: “Is it a golden rule in coaching to prioritize quality and minimize advice for maximum impact? Or am I mistaken, and are there some very good coaches who talk a lot during sessions?”
Q: In racing, what does it mean to “present” myself to the driver I’m passing?
Q: “I’ve read about, and heard about, the idea that I should present myself to the car/driver I’m passing. Can you clarify what that actually means?”
Q: Can you talk about rotating the car into a corner using lots of rear brake bias?
Q: “You talk a lot about rotating the car by trail braking, but I find that I can just dial more brake bias to the rear and get the same thing. With more bias on the rear brakes, the rear tires almost slide when I turn into corners and I can turn in earlier and get to my usual apex. What are your thoughts on this?”
Q: Can you help me understand how to use the Garmin Catalyst to improve braking?
Q: Can you help me understand how to use the Garmin Catalyst to improve braking?
Q: Should my car feel as though it’s “on rails,” or is being “messy” okay to be fast?
Q: “Should my car feel as though it’s “on rails,” or is being “messy” okay to be fast?
Q: Can you help me improve my race starts? How do I get better at the start of a race?
Q: Can you help me improve my race starts? How do I get better at the start of a race?
Q: When I’m told to look farther ahead, how far ahead, and specifically where do I look?
Q: “When I’m told to look farther ahead, how far ahead, and specifically where do I look?”
Q: How can I improve how quickly I apply the brakes?
Q: How can I improve how quickly I apply the brakes? And is it possible to apply the brakes too fast?
Q: Should I be using one hand more than the other when turning the steering wheel? And what are your thoughts on the so-called “top hand dominance” method?
Q: Should I be using one hand more than the other when turning the steering wheel? And what are your thoughts on the so-called “top hand dominance” method?
Got Questions?
Skills
Types
Subscriptions
Speed Secrets Merch
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 can I “test” for grip by turning the steering more in the middle of a corner on a race track?
Q: “Can you clarify something for me? What do I learn, and how, from the quick input understeer? I don’t get how that helps me understand how much grip is available. I’m guessing that maybe the answer is paying attention to how much understeer a quick input causes? Lots of understeer meaning that I was already close to the limit? I’m used to using slower turns of the wheel to see if I have more grip available than I am using. If the radius tightens, I was not at the limit. Is this not as valid a test as I think?”
Q: Should a coach talk a lot or little when in-car with me?
Q: “Is it a golden rule in coaching to prioritize quality and minimize advice for maximum impact? Or am I mistaken, and are there some very good coaches who talk a lot during sessions?”
Q: In racing, what does it mean to “present” myself to the driver I’m passing?
Q: “I’ve read about, and heard about, the idea that I should present myself to the car/driver I’m passing. Can you clarify what that actually means?”
Q: Can you talk about rotating the car into a corner using lots of rear brake bias?
Q: “You talk a lot about rotating the car by trail braking, but I find that I can just dial more brake bias to the rear and get the same thing. With more bias on the rear brakes, the rear tires almost slide when I turn into corners and I can turn in earlier and get to my usual apex. What are your thoughts on this?”
Q: Can you help me understand how to use the Garmin Catalyst to improve braking?
Q: Can you help me understand how to use the Garmin Catalyst to improve braking?
Q: Should my car feel as though it’s “on rails,” or is being “messy” okay to be fast?
Q: “Should my car feel as though it’s “on rails,” or is being “messy” okay to be fast?
Q: Can you help me improve my race starts? How do I get better at the start of a race?
Q: Can you help me improve my race starts? How do I get better at the start of a race?
Q: When I’m told to look farther ahead, how far ahead, and specifically where do I look?
Q: “When I’m told to look farther ahead, how far ahead, and specifically where do I look?”
Q: How can I improve how quickly I apply the brakes?
Q: How can I improve how quickly I apply the brakes? And is it possible to apply the brakes too fast?
Q: Should I be using one hand more than the other when turning the steering wheel? And what are your thoughts on the so-called “top hand dominance” method?
Q: Should I be using one hand more than the other when turning the steering wheel? And what are your thoughts on the so-called “top hand dominance” method?
Got Questions?
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