Nice vid from Swiss resident Keith Davies (SpeedyK) at Hockenheim.
Guess it must have been a “fast / experienced” session, given some of the overtaking!
Excellent example of ‘torque wins races’ a nice 180lb/ft from 4000-7500k rpm
What fun!
Interesting steering technique (pet interest of mine).
Ian
What fun!
Interesting steering technique (pet interest of mine).
Ian
Thanks for pointing that out.
I was taught in the UK � my driving instructor made me feed (shuffle) the wheel. Had to “unlearn” that for track driving of course, but had not actually analysed my technique. I hadn’t noticed e.g. that, in a right hander, my left hand is dropping from the “on the spoke” 10 o’clock position. Don’t know why � maybe I feel I can apply opposite lock quicker with the right hand leading… I’m just driving how I feel most comfortable.
I am very open to suggestion as to what might be better � if this is a special interest of yours please tell how it could be improved (technique and its rationale not just dogma).
Must watch myself next time I’m on track.
Edit to add another clip where the cam shows more of my left hand:
>clicky<
Try the Andy Walsh DVD ‘bending the rules’, his steering technique has prevented me from having a few moments on track.
Tim.
Try the Andy Walsh DVD ‘bending the rules’, his steering technique has prevented me from having a few moments on track.
Tim.
Thanks � I’ve heard that it is supposed to be good � seen excerpts but wasn’t convinced enough that I would be able to apply it myself.
Here^'s a fairly wild demo of my steering at a “Snow & ICE” event: >clicky<
I am very open to suggestion as to what might be better � if this is a special interest of yours please tell how it could be improved (technique and its rationale not just dogma).
Please don’t feel it is a criticism, I’m sure my hands do odd things and I just haven’t watched them on video. I just wondered if you were doing something specific on purpose.
I use the technique Andy Walsh taught me too. However, I have done some research and there are a few taught by different racing schools (including at least one with both hands held close to the top of the wheel). To be honest the conclusion I’ve come to is that I don’t think there is a best one (although I do follow the thinking that minimum movements lock-to-lock and good upper body balance is important) and it’s down to what suits you.
The technique I use is to basically pretend there is no top or bottom to the wheel, so you have to reach over and grab the other side if you go past 180o. As wheels are rarely completely circular (the hub isn’t normally bang in the centre) it apparently helps the brain with two solid reference points on the same axis. Watch the WRC drivers, it’s what nearly all of them use.
You need to practice and be very quick for the best benefit. Somewhere recently somebody posted an old BBC video of Clarkson with Gavin Kershaw with the S2 Elise when it was new. Gav took Clarkson out and about half way through the video he catches a slide and his hands move almost impossibly quickly, all done whilst he’s talking!
Ian
IDG
I agree, I think its all about having a sure-fire reference to the straight ahead position, getting back there quickly and being in control when it all gets hairy and knowing which way the wheels are pointing so that you can feel/guage the slip-angles and get control back if you overstep the mark.
Some people might feel comfortable with one hand on th esteering wheel but I guess it makes all of the above a wee bit more difficult ?
I try to do what Walshy tried to teach me as well - and I note its how most racers do it when you see in-car footage - not that i’m actually much cop when it all gets hairy
IDG
I agree, I think its all about having a sure-fire reference to the straight ahead position () and knowing which way the wheels are pointing so that you can () get control back if you overstep the mark.
I agree absolutely � I always try to have one hand at a clearly defined postion on the wheel while the other is moving, for exactly the reasons you describe. An additional help when it is so slippy that you can’t feel anything through the wheel, is to mark the straight ahead on the wheel as rally cars do. If you watch the “Snow and Ice” vid, you can just make out the yellow marker on my Pug 106 GTI’s wheel.
IDG
Some people might feel comfortable with one hand on the steering wheel but I guess it makes all of the above a wee bit more difficult ?
Looking at my vids, I believe I normally have both hands on the wheel � it’s just that you can’t see my left hand as I drop it down to a “twenty to” position when I take a grasp at “five to” to pull the wheel round in a tight turn.
You can see it better in this vid (first few days with car): [url=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6572709232849826174&q=speedyK]>clicky [/quote]
Maybe I should get this afterall!