Reddit reviews Speed Secrets: Professional Race Driving Techniques

If you're interested in continuing to talk with him about this, ask him how weight impacts tire grip, and how the force needed to turn plays into that.

You see... more weight does mean more grip from the tires. The problem is, the added grip provided by the weight is less than the added grip needed to control the weight. So more weight means less grip:force for the same move. Adding weight to the car means its maximum cornering speed is lower.

If you're interested in more, Think Fast has a good breakdown, without being overly heavy or technical. Speed Secrets is another good book on the subject of performance driving, but my memory is that Think Fast does a more effective job of succinctly explaining technical/engineering realities in an easy-to-understand fashion.

Learn more about driving.

Many techniques and principles from racing can be applied on the road at perfectly legal speeds. Some of this can be demonstrated at 30mph or even less.

The techniques can make you a safer driver as well. Practicing the various skills as you drive, even on something as simple your commute will help keep you engaged and focused on your driving. This helps keep you attentive like you should be anyway, so it's just a bonus.

Buy. Read. Learn.

>teach each other racing techniques

Kind of seems like you are familiar but for those who aren't, Speed Secrets by Ross Bentley is usually recommended for new people looking to understand a bit more about fast driving techniques.

Ah, I've had this same problem myself sometimes. There are a few ways to approach the problem.

TRANSMISSION

You can look at your transmission, as mkhockeygeek mentioned. I recently posted a short gear ratio tuning guide here. My procedure is for using the engine's power band, which should give you efficient performance in general as you accelerate through your gears. This is a different strategy than what BIGSTIG recommends, so your mileage may vary.

Adjusting your transmission will only fix the problem if your car has plenty of power that was not being utilized. Unfortunately, installing an adjustable transmission adds to your PI points, which means a sacrifice somewhere else, so it may not help you. I think that the highly experienced tuner "Worm" said that a race transmission is almost never worth it.

All-wheel-drive cars have fast launch and acceleration, but lower top speed, so you'll get passed on the straights. Keep that in mind if you converted your drivetrain.


TIRES versus ENGINE STRENGTH

But there is something more basic to think about. You mentioned you can hang in the corners, but you get passed on the straights. I think this means that your car has good handling, which is important, but this comes at the expense of speed. For example, if you install narrow tires or less grippy tires, you can move those PI over to the engines power. Because many human beings like flashy powerful things and "big numbers", a lot of people are tuned for speed, not handling, so they are really fast on the straights. Downgrading your handling will let you upgrade your speed stat and compete on the straights.

"It is the car that wins in the straights, but it is the driver who wins in the corners." I like this quote. I am personally more interested in corners than straights. However, any great racing teacher will attest, rightfully, that torque wins races. You spend more time accelerating than cornering. Make sure you have the torque you need to beat the pack.

YOUR DRIVING

Usually the driver who begins accelerating earlier out of a corner will be the fastest. You should think carefully about your racing line and make sure you take corners in the way that lets you (1) maintain as much speed as possible and (2) accelerate as soon possible! Here is where BIGSTIG's tuning guide can come in handy, since by adjusting your roll bars, differential, camber, and springs, you may be able to corner faster and accelerate sooner.

The "driving" is how slower cars beat fast cars. A weak car used effectively can of course beat a powerful car that is sloppy.

You are going to have to try some different things to see which impact times the most (make notes of you changes and the results. One thing to keep in mind is after the long fast straights, try to hold speed as long as possible by early apexing the turns. Before the straights, you want to late apex so that you can straighten out the turn and get on the gas earlier. Check out some racing books too like: https://www.amazon.com/Speed-Secrets-Professional-Driving-Techniques/dp/0760305188/ref=nodl_

I just started -- the first thing is just learning how to drive like a race car driver. It's a lot different than other racing games.

There are a lot of good resources online on how to drive fast. Or if you want a good book check out https://www.amazon.ca/Speed-Secrets-Professional-Driving-Techniques/dp/0760305188

The first little while will be pretty frustrating. Learning a new track and new car involves a lot of spins and crashes. There will be new stuff you're not used to -- going over a small bump in the track will cause the wheels to lose grip. Braking and turning at the same time will send you into a spin.

Spend a whole just learning the track -- several hours at least, until you can drive clean laps without wrecking.

Once you can get around the track a couple times without going off, then jump into an open practice. There you'll learn how to be on track with other cars. Try following other cars around the track. See if you can drive close to them without wrecking. Learn to follow someone into a corner and stay with them coming out.

When you're ready to move up to racing, don't think about winning for the first little while. You'll just end up wrecking and feeling frustrated.

The first job is just to get the car back safely. Think of a race as just lapping with other cars. Honestly if you start in last place, you will probably finish fourth or fifth if all you do is just keep the car on the track. Learn how to let a faster car go by without hitting them (harder than it seems.)

As you get faster, you'll start to be competitive and then you can start racing. Then you'll learn how to pass people without hitting them (also harder than it seems.)

The more you can stay calm and avoid crashes, the better off you'll be. That's true at every level.

Also as you level up, don't feel like you have to race in the highest class. I moved up to the IMSA races too quickly and I wasn't really ready for it. I got DQ'D from.a couple races, and it knocked my rating waaaay down.

So I've dropped back down to the Skip Barber car and I'm having a lot more fun. This isn't like other games where you have to level up to have fun. Your rating is about your driving skill, and it's better to have along slow climb than to yo-yo up and down, wrecking along the way.

Oh -- also check out the Crew Chief app. I just installed it (it's free) and it's way better than the built in spotter.

Good luck! Have fun!

Here is the desktop version of your link

https://www.amazon.com/Speed-Secrets-Professional-Driving-Techniques/dp/0760305188

Disclosure: I've never read any of these. Going just by what's popular.