Ask Ross
Q&A with Ross Bentley
Q: When and where should I upshift my Porsche Cayman going up the Esses at Watkins Glen?
Q: “I recently started racing my Cayman S at Watkins Glen and I’m hooked! I bought your Virtual Track Walk and my dad gave me your book. You talk about upshifting into turn two at Watkins as you enter the Esses and when I have entered, I’m in third. My thought is I want higher RPMs for the elevation change, usually shifting into fourth after turn 3. Is my thinking wrong here? Do I want to be in fourth through the Esses?”
Q: Is there a benefit in practice driving on track with just one hand on the steering wheel?
Q: “I’m curious – Do you ever practice with only your non-dominant hand? I sometimes think my left hand is only copying my right, and so is out of sync, or even actively fighting my right hand. When I practice with one hand, it is very obvious when I am reacting to the actual car, versus making unnecessary inputs. But maybe there is a better alternative?”
Q: Why would braking earlier and lighter for a corner ever be beneficial?
Q: “I’ve heard your advice that sometimes it’s best to brake lighter, rather than as late and hard as possible. If you started braking lighter at the same place entering a corner, wouldn’t that suggest that you’re not quite at the limit under braking? And wouldn’t that make you slower because you don’t have the car at the limit?”
Q: What advice do you have for me as I turn off the electronic stability and traction control when driving on track?
Q: What advice do you have for me as I turn off the electronic stability and traction control when driving on track?
Q: How can I tell whether I have my brake bias set correctly?
Q: “How can I tell (while driving and with data) that I have the brake bias set correctly?”
Q: What do you think about the use of cones marking corner references on HPDE and track days?
Q: What do you think about the use of cones marking corner references on HPDE and track days?
Q: When heel & toe downshifting, what’s the right timing for the blip of the throttle?
Q: When heel & toe downshifting, what’s the right timing for the blip of the throttle?
Q: What line should I drive in a banked corner?
Q: “How do you determine your line in a bowl? There are so many variations on a line that I feel like I’ve never found the one that clicks as the fastest.”
Q: How do I train my brain to absorb info at speeds it wasn’t designed to do?
Q: “I have noticed is my ability to absorb visual info while at high-speed (100- 120 mph) versus lower speed. What tips do you have to help? In short, how do I train my brain to absorb info at speeds it wasn’t designed to do?”
Q: What do you think of the advice, “point your nose where you want to go?”
Q: What do you think of the advice, “point your nose where you want to go?”
Q: Any tips for dealing with motion sickness while driving?
Q: Any tips for dealing with motion sickness while driving?
Q: How many lines are there to get through Turn 5 at Road America?
Q: How many lines are there to get through Turn 5 at Road America?
Q: Does a car with less roll result in more cornering grip?
Q: Does a car with less roll result in more cornering grip?
Q: Should drivers “point-by” other cars when racing wheel to wheel?
Q: “During a race, should ‘point-bys’ be used to help with an overtake?”
Q: Should I trail brake to the apex of a corner, and then apply the throttle starting at the apex?
Q: “What is your opinion on the frequently expressed dictum “trail brake until apex then back on throttle starting at the apex”?”
Q: With a Front-Wheel-Drive car, should I rotate it early in the corner to reduce wheelspin on exit?
Q: “With FWD in a slow corner is some rotation a good way to solve inside wheelspin on exit?”
Q: Which corners should I use trail braking in, and which shouldn’t I?
Q: “Which kind of corner requires more or less trail braking? Or is that always car dependent?”
Q: How do I improve my driving abilities when I feel I’m pushing beyond them?
Q: “I feel like I am pushing beyond my driving limits for better laps times, so what are your recommendations for improving my driving abilities so I can keep progressing?”
Q: I’m faster when chasing another car – why and how can I be fast when not following another driver?
Q: “Why am I faster when I’m chasing another car in a race than I am by myself?”
Q: How do I improve my corner entry speed when driving on a racetrack?
Q: How do I improve my corner entry speed when driving on a racetrack?
