Performance Driving

Time and money (and availability of nearby Driver Ed dates) almost always limit your track experience.

Well, how'd you like to get in 50 to 100 hours of performance driving time every month? Free?

No, you don't have to buy your own racetrack; just practice performance driving every time you climb behind the wheel. Any car (or truck or--gulp--minivan), anywhere, anytime.

Wherever you drive, look for the correct 'line' on the course--um, I mean the road you're traveling on. Analyze the turns: What would be the best line through this corner? Picture your car on that line, or even drive that line if it is safe to do so. All this happens at normal, safe, and legal speeds. Remember that you are not learning the limits of handling, you are studying the course.

Every stop sign on your daily drive offers a chance to practice smooth braking, the foundation of car control. I have been told that I do quite well at threshold braking and trail braking. Threshold braking is optimal braking, just short of lock-up; a sort of human ABS. Trail braking is where you brake into a turn, then gradually let off the anchors as your tires trade grip forces for turning forces. If done correctly, trail braking can significantly lengthen the straights by delaying braking. If you're close to the limit and you're not smooth with all controls, the car will probably spin.

I have to give credit for my braking skill to practicing on the road. In order to perform threshold braking or trail braking, I have found it necessary to be sensitive to car control inputs and outputs. In this situation, the input is my right foot on the brake pedal, and the output is the sensation of braking force of the car (technically an acceleration or deceleration, not a force). We do not need to be at or even near the braking limit to practice and teach the right foot to control the car accurately under braking.

One of the tricks I have is a braking exercise when approaching a stop sign or signal. I'll start braking gradually, with the goal of making a seamless change from driving to braking. Then, as I approach the stop, I'll let up bit by bit on the brake pedal so that the car makes a smooth transition to a full stop. My objective is to make it unapparent when I truly started to brake and when the car really stopped. This requires careful sensing through the seat of the pants, and some practice.

With experience, I can bring the car to a short, gentle stop, precisely at the line, with imperceptible transitions -- complete smoothness with no front end diving or bounce. This exercise can be done with light braking; the idea is to educate and train your right foot and your senses. If you can make the car do exactly what you want on the street, you will have the foundation for the skills needed to brake optimally under track conditions, whether for threshold braking, trail braking, or any other braking situation.

Corners of the mind: practice track moves on the road