When training for motorsport, how do you learn where the limit is when there is such a high cost for failing by going over the limit? Crashing is expensive and getting critically injured could put you out of the game for life.
Some racetracks have more “run-off”: area on the sides of the track where you can go off without hitting anything. For example, Thunderhill is in a large field essentially, when you go off, you’re just in a field. Not zero risk (could still roll). But I’ve gone off dozens of time and it’s ok.
Other race tracks are much less forgiving, e.g. Sonoma Raceway has a lot of concrete.
Risk of critical injury is pretty low with modern safety equipment. You can damage your car and cost you thousands of dollars, but serious injury and deaths are rare.
You can go over the limit slightly and have your tires lose traction for a bit, slide a bit, notice this, and correct. This is essential skill.
When aiming to get faster, advice is to very slowly increase. E.g. the first time you go through the turn is at 80mph, the next time 81mph, see what happens. Don’t jump up to 85mph. So when you go over, you only go over a bit.
You can take classes, which are done in large open flat areas where skidding or spinning your car won’t harm anything. I have taken the very beginning level myself, just to improve my driving skills, with no intention of ever racing. They had you do it in your own car, no specific prerequisites (other than being a legal driver, and an adult or appropriately supervised by one), maximum 25 mph (which turns out to be more than enough to start getting a feel for traction.) The next class, which I didn’t take, involved more safety equipment and higher speeds.
You totally start to get a feel for when your car is losing traction, after very little practice. (This helpfully taught me that, in a scary prior incident on a mountain road, my car had been starting to lose traction, and something about how and why. This kind of knowledge is why I took the class.)
Yeah, that’s what I went to—I didn’t realize that was a standard term for it. Mine was arranged through the BMWCCA, for some reason; few of the people attending had BMWs. (Although they mostly had much sportier cars than my 2012 Honda Civic; I think I might have been the only attendee with front-wheel drive.) They “required membership”, perhaps for liability reasons, but were selling it as a package deal with the class. Unfortunately, that specific outfit seems to run them very rarely these days, and their online scheduling interface is crap, or I would recommend an upcoming one.
Yeah, I’ve done the same one. I think they do them once or twice a year. (Audi Car Club also does them.) I also go to the racetrack with BMWCCA.
They’re not perfect. Feels like first half the day is focused on road safety and then they segue in to preparing you more for the racetrack (why would street drivers need throttle steering?). Still, it’s well worth doing.
Motorsportreg is where events are advertised. Mostly racetrack events, but control car clinics too and I think there are filters for event-type.
When training for motorsport, how do you learn where the limit is when there is such a high cost for failing by going over the limit? Crashing is expensive and getting critically injured could put you out of the game for life.
Some racetracks have more “run-off”: area on the sides of the track where you can go off without hitting anything. For example, Thunderhill is in a large field essentially, when you go off, you’re just in a field. Not zero risk (could still roll). But I’ve gone off dozens of time and it’s ok.
Other race tracks are much less forgiving, e.g. Sonoma Raceway has a lot of concrete.
Risk of critical injury is pretty low with modern safety equipment. You can damage your car and cost you thousands of dollars, but serious injury and deaths are rare.
You can go over the limit slightly and have your tires lose traction for a bit, slide a bit, notice this, and correct. This is essential skill.
When aiming to get faster, advice is to very slowly increase. E.g. the first time you go through the turn is at 80mph, the next time 81mph, see what happens. Don’t jump up to 85mph. So when you go over, you only go over a bit.
You can take classes, which are done in large open flat areas where skidding or spinning your car won’t harm anything. I have taken the very beginning level myself, just to improve my driving skills, with no intention of ever racing. They had you do it in your own car, no specific prerequisites (other than being a legal driver, and an adult or appropriately supervised by one), maximum 25 mph (which turns out to be more than enough to start getting a feel for traction.) The next class, which I didn’t take, involved more safety equipment and higher speeds.
You totally start to get a feel for when your car is losing traction, after very little practice. (This helpfully taught me that, in a scary prior incident on a mountain road, my car had been starting to lose traction, and something about how and why. This kind of knowledge is why I took the class.)
“Car Control Clinics” are a pretty good idea for anyone who drives. (Those are very very safe.)
Yeah, that’s what I went to—I didn’t realize that was a standard term for it. Mine was arranged through the BMWCCA, for some reason; few of the people attending had BMWs. (Although they mostly had much sportier cars than my 2012 Honda Civic; I think I might have been the only attendee with front-wheel drive.) They “required membership”, perhaps for liability reasons, but were selling it as a package deal with the class. Unfortunately, that specific outfit seems to run them very rarely these days, and their online scheduling interface is crap, or I would recommend an upcoming one.
Yeah, I’ve done the same one. I think they do them once or twice a year. (Audi Car Club also does them.) I also go to the racetrack with BMWCCA.
They’re not perfect. Feels like first half the day is focused on road safety and then they segue in to preparing you more for the racetrack (why would street drivers need throttle steering?). Still, it’s well worth doing.
Motorsportreg is where events are advertised. Mostly racetrack events, but control car clinics too and I think there are filters for event-type.