By Dev Clough
Some people believe that an occasional spin or crash is essential
to learning to drive quickly. This is not true. A spin or crash
is the result of an extreme case of exceeding the limits of the
car and driver.
Loosing control of the car is a hazard to the car involved as
well as the other cars on the track, and the driver usually learns
very little as he tries to save the car in a panic.
Consider this technique:
Enter the turn at a speed that is well within the capabilities
of the car and driver. Observe the braking points, corner entry
speed, establish a line through the corner, and observe
your corner exit speed. Make sure you can repeat this. Now, without
changing your braking point, slightly decrease your braking to bring
your corner entry speed up, in small increments, and observe your
speed at corner exit. You will have optimized the corner when increasing
your entry speed any further has a negative effect on your corner
exit speed. You now know the maximum speed you can carry through
the turn, that gives the best drive off the corner. Next, move your
braking point closer to corner entry, in small increments, to maximize
your braking.
No spins, no crashes, but you have found the limit.
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