Ask Ross

Q: “I just finished re-watching a couple of your webinars as I work to step up to the next level and go to the Runoffs this season. Reviewing data I see my typical best lap is 1 to 1.3 seconds slower than the theoretical best lap from my data system. No one does the perfect lap, but should my goal be to close that gap to 0.5 seconds? That seems a reasonable goal. Thanks for all your books and webinars! They’ve really helped me improve and consistently run with the leaders.”

Q: “When I am in qualifying, or even just a test or practice session, I often post my fastest time within the first 3 flying laps. This happens despite trying different approaches to certain corners and segments that ‘feel’ faster. Many times I seem to try multiple things within a session, but always come out 1-3 tenths slower than that first fast lap. Could this be from over-driving the car?”

Q: “I have three questions for you. First, while listening to Podcast #99 (Driving with 3 Pedals), it made me think about my heel-toe downshifting. I had thought I was pretty decent at it, however when looking at my data and watching video of my feet I not only realized that I was lessening my brake pressure while downshifting but I was also pretty slow and sloppy with my footwork. Any advice beyond keeping your heels planted?…

Q: What gears should I be using on the race track? I’ve been thinking about a comment you made about “trying one gear taller.” You mention the sound of the car can make us think we are going faster than we really are. I get that but, I’m now driving a 2007 Cayman S and it is a total “momentum” car!

Q: “I have a question I was hoping you can help answer. I have been getting numbness and tingling in my hands, most recently after doing the 25 hours of Thunderhill it was really bad. Have you seen this before? Anything I can do?”

Q: “Why do some drivers pump/tap the brakes prior to a corner? I love watching footwork and how great drivers use their feet and work with their hands. I notice that some drivers tap the brake pedal on most straights. Is this just testing to make sure the brakes are still working? 

Q: “When using a data logger, is there a philosophy you use to decide where to divide up your sectors?”

Q: “I am an avid autocrosser, running a Porsche 914 race car. I only have 10-15 minutes between runs. I always have a course map (either provided by the organizers or drawn myself from a morning course walk), and my past habit is to close my eyes and carefully rerun the last run in my mind, making note of what went well, and where I think I can improve. That’s also very good for just calming me and putting me in a peaceful state of mind for the next run too. Is that perhaps better prep than worrying about the data? Your insights would be appreciated.”

Q: “My question to you is, how do you progress while having three different instructors in three different events. Yes, they were all helpful in their own ways, one even guided me to your books, but it is hard to track progress without any basis. My only basis to know I am progressing is becoming able to drive my car comfortably at the limit of my tires. I don’t have any information gathering devices to know track times, but I have taken videos of my events. Any advice?

Q: “I’m wondering if I should start by getting my competition license and doing sprint/club racing first, or endurance racing with series like AER/ChampCar. I get a lot of conflicting info about this and I’m wondering what’s your take on it. Endurance racing offers more bang/buck seat time and a lot more passing (and being passed), but sprint racing seems to be about raw speed in which it allows you to make decisions passing some very competitive people.”

Q: “As I’ve gotten quicker, I’ve been able to hone my technique and get tangible results. One area that I just can’t seem to get comfortable with is braking. I’m starting to chase tenths, and I feel like I’m leaving a few tenths out there because of sloppy braking. There’s no real consistency. Sometimes I even miss the brake pedal and that’s a terrifying half-second as I then frantically get my full foot on the pedal into threshold braking, and blow the rev-match for the downshift because my foot is not in position. And of course, the lap is now gone… What gives?”

Q” “Something I’ve been pondering lately goes well with improving the mental game, I think. I guess it’d be called mindfulness? I go out in the car for an HPDE session with a plan of a few things to work on and I think I do pretty well sticking to that – most times anyway! 🙂 But then I get out of the car and while I can remember certain moments from the session, like a huge pucker factor moment carrying too much speed into a turn, the rest of it is all a blur. Is there some sort of corresponding technique to visualization for this?”

Q: “Hey, I have a quick question. I can’t remember if I read it from the book you wrote or one of your online conversations/blogs, but I think somewhere you stated that starting in an open wheel car was the best way to start off racing. Is there any specific reason why this is the case in your eyes?”

Q: “What’s the preferred method of braking in a lightly-modified car (i.e., track brake pads and 200 tread wear tires)? Should an advanced driver engage full ABS or try to utilize threshold braking? I sense that my utilization of threshold braking is leaving too much stopping power on the table.”

Q: “Two weeks ago at a PCA track event I decided to do part of a session without any nannies. I switched them both off to see how it would go, and less than two laps later, I was sideways in the grass. This was my first time without any aids, and first time really going off track. Where do you stand on TC, PSM, etc.?”