Q: “Do you have any insights, or have you ever talked to a data engineer who could explain how Ayrton Senna made that technique work for him? I would have thought that quick, successive stabs at the throttle would immediately break the rear tires loose, which should dramatically reduce their grip level.”
Q: “I’m having issues with light braking while downshifting before a fast-ish corner. I drive a Spec Miata so over-braking can be a significant problem. Do you have any advice on how to improve/practice lighter braking while heel/toe downshifting?”
“Can you suggest a good way to practice braking (mostly, threshold braking)? I am sure that I can brake later, harder and for less time. My problem is part confidence, and not knowing how to gauge when I’m doing it correctly, at the limit. Can you suggest any methods I can use to practice this skill?”
Q: “I race in the Champcar Endurance Series, formerly Chumpcar. One of the many things I’d like to get better at is dealing with traffic. Sometimes it’s cars that are a lot slower than ours, sometimes close in speed, and then there are the ones that are faster. I’m a long-time autocrosser and the addition of others around me can be a serious overload of stimuli. We just finished up our 4th season so I’m better at this than I was, but still feel like there’s a long way to go. To add to the challenge often we are on a new-to-us track, or one that we only go to once a year. Can you address this topic?”
Q: “Would you address what differs (or maybe does not differ) for middle-aged newbies to learn performance driving as compared to the younger folks? The body and mind work quite a bit differently than when I was in my teens and twenties, but I have patience and, hopefully, wisdom now (or so I think).”
“What, besides tires, would be the best bang for the buck to improve lap times as far as suspension goes. His answer was a good seat. I was a little surprised, but agree with him. I would be very much be interested in your thinking.”