Ask Ross
Q&A with Ross Bentley
Q: What is the apex of a corner, and what do I do with it?
Q: “What exactly is the apex of a corner, and what do I do with this information?”
Q: How do I retain focus in an endurance race?
Q: “Can you recommend some resources on retaining focus in endurance racing?
Q. As an HPDE instructor, should I tell my student about faster cars approaching from behind?
As an HPDE instructor, should I tell my student about faster cars approaching from behind?
Q: What’s causing my rear tires to wear on the outside of the tread more than the front tires?
Q: “My rear and front tires are showing consistent temp across the tread surface, but I’ve noticed my rear tires are wearing excessively on the outer side. What is causing this and what can I do to address this?”
Q: How can trail braking both help and hurt turning or rotating the car into a corner?
Q: How can trail braking both help and hurt turning or rotating the car into a corner?
Q: What do you recommend for a video and/or data setup?
Q: What do you recommend for a video and/or data setup?
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?”
Got Questions?
Send your questions to Ross by email. Or, if you want an immediate answer, use SpeedSecrets.ai. It’s as if Ross is right there, coaching you.
