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 to the right, or just scroll through the pages and pages…), but if not, you can email it to me (use the big red button to the right).
Q: How do I get better at sensing different levels of grip at a race track that is new to me?
Q: “How do you go about learning the traction gradient at a new track? As a track day noob (just doing HPDE events), what scares me more than anything is running across a piece of track with a level of traction I wasn’t expecting — whether that’s because of marbles, dust, different pavement, a puddle, or even a bump.
Q: What is slip angle and how do I use it to drive faster?
Q: “What is slip angle? I hear it talked and written about, but I don’t really understand what it means, or how I can use this knowledge to drive faster.”
Q: What’s the difference between oversteer and rotating the car?
Q: “What’s the difference between oversteer and rotating the car?”
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?
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 do I get better at sensing different levels of grip at a race track that is new to me?
Q: “How do you go about learning the traction gradient at a new track? As a track day noob (just doing HPDE events), what scares me more than anything is running across a piece of track with a level of traction I wasn’t expecting — whether that’s because of marbles, dust, different pavement, a puddle, or even a bump.
Q: What is slip angle and how do I use it to drive faster?
Q: “What is slip angle? I hear it talked and written about, but I don’t really understand what it means, or how I can use this knowledge to drive faster.”
Q: What’s the difference between oversteer and rotating the car?
Q: “What’s the difference between oversteer and rotating the car?”
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?
Got Questions?
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