I learned the rules while taking the road racing course at theBob Bondurant High Performance Driving School here.
There's really no substitute for the four-day course, whichinvolves driving modified Ford Mustang GTs and race cars at SearsPoint International Raceway.
But many don't have the time or money, although it's time andmoney well spent. Lessons learned here can be used for one's drivinglife, and a variety of worthwhile driving courses are offered,besides the racing course.
"I've never heard anything bad about performance driving schoolssuch as Bondurant's," three-time NASCAR champion Darrell Waltriprecently told me. "Such schools can be valuable just because theytell average drivers what not to do."
One thing drivers never should do is slam on the brakes. Thatlocks the front wheels, destroys steering abililty and causes a carto slide into an accident. It'll happen every time.
So what do many do in emergency situations? They slam on thebrakes.
It's demonstrated at the school with an accident simulator thatit's easier to steer your way out of an accident without touching thebrakes because a car steers better than it stops.
Always look ahead for a place to go if there's an accident. Dothat, and you'll have a place to steer to when an emergency occurs.
Look ahead to where you want the car to go. People look attheir car's hood and road immediately in front of it, especially inturning situations, instead of where they want to go.
Thus, the car is "driving" them - they're really not in goodcontrol.
Driving involves controlling lots of weight. The weight is onfour small tire patches which are the only contact area between yourauto and the road.
Avoid abrupt braking or acceleration. You don't want suddenweight transfers that upset a car's stability and cause spins andslides that can lead to loss of car control.
In driving fast on a track, one immediately gets in trouble ifthey aren't smooth, consistent and don't concentrate hard.
Things happen slower in street driving. But one eventually willget in trouble if they lose concentration or are abrupt withcontrols.
"Smooth is fast, and smooth is safe - on the track or street,"says former top racer Bob Bondurant, owner of the Bondurant school.
Most people don't think so. They see autos moving fast on atrack and assume racers are quickly jerking controls around in thecockpit.
Greg Moore, my school instructor, took me around the track andshowed me how jerky driving immediately made a superb handling caract like a tire-squealing "pig."
Squeeze the accelerator and brakes. Don't pounce on them. Atfirst, you may find it takes lots of discipline to squeeze them,especially if in a hurry.
Don't yank or grab the gearshift. Treat the shift lever knobgently. Most transmissions shift easily if you smoothly guide thelever into gear.
It's hard to use the controls smoothly if you aren't sittingcorrectly.
Sit with arms and legs slightly and comfortably bent, hands onthe "three" and "nine" steering wheel positions, rear end tuckedfirmly against the seat's lower back and with your back erect andagainst the seat.
The position leaves you alert. And total contact of your bodywith the seat allows the car's tire patches and suspension to feedyour body information about road conditions through the seat.
Use the ball of your foot on the brake pedal, with the heel offthe floor so you can feel the pressure you apply.
This lets you feel when the brakes are beginning to lock up thewheels.
The quickest way to stop a car is squeezing on the brakes shortof locking them while keeping the auto in a straight line.
On the track, most braking is done in a straight line so the carkeeps its balance. It's a good rule for the street.
While steering, roll the steering wheel in a smooth motiontoward where you want the car to go. Don't jerk the wheel or move itin a series of quick, short motions.
"Cars like firm, gentle and consistent treatment," saysBondurant school instructor Bill Cooper.
"Never just sit and coast in a moving car, disconnected from itsaction."
Some dislike seat belts and shoulder harnesses, but they shouldbe worn snugly adjusted so cornering and braking forces don't causeyou to slide in the seat. You're in poor control if sliding.
Work on doing everything smoothly in a car because everythingyou do is interrelated. Do one thing abruptly, and it'll negativelyaffect the rest of what you do.
And, as with a racing car, a street car lasts much longer iftreated gently.
No comments:
Post a Comment