I really hope that some advanced drivers here on evom can provide some tips as how to increase the corner entry speed. I've done 11 HPDEs so far, and feel like I am getting good exit speed, but still struggling with the entry and mid corner speed into the turns. This is the most apparent for corners at the end of long straights.

I am still running on stock suspension and have no plan to upgrade or change the suspension yet. So please keep the comments on driving techniques rather than modifying the car.

That said, my questions are as follows;

1) Do you increase your entry speed by applying 'late-braking' techniques?

2) How much does the smoothness (of brake pedal modulation) effect the entry speed? I've noticed that smoother I release my brake pedal, the better balanced car is to take a set. How critical is it to smoothly release the brake pedal?

3) How can I fix my tendency to over-brake into the corners (at the end of long straights)? Use more of reference points?

I understand that experience and seat time play big roles in learning these things. However, it will be really beneficial for newbie drivers like myself if you can share some of your knowledge or' know-hows' in maximizing the entry speed. Thank you.

-smp-

 

I think exit and mid turn speed is more important than entry speed. It's all about being smooth with small inputs on steering and gentle brake transitions.

 

Sung, reference points are very important out on the track. Start at a point where you feel comfortable and slowly move up. Dont start experiementing with braking at the 300ft mark, go "Hey, that wasn't so bad" and shoot right for the 200ft mark. Make baby steps.

It's very important to make visual references rather than "feel" as it is not consistent. Newbies and pros all use visual aids, the best ones will be actually on the track surface. If you want to read up, I would highly recommend reading "Drive to Win" by Carroll Smith and "Going Faster" by the Skip Barber racing school, lots of good info on technique.

Of course, seat time triumphs all. Shoot me a PM, i'll give you my cellphone number and we can chat.

 

Trail braking will also help keep a consistent mid corner speed. As far as late braking goes, yest it will definitely help out with corner entry; however, you must still maintain a smooth transition. If you press too hard on the brakes, you may end up locking up, as what happened to the HKS Evo at Tsukuba.

 

Braking or not to increase entry speed you are relying on "handling." So improve your car in that dept. Aka, suspension set up/

 

I'm pretty sure that he should learn to control the car as is before messing with suspension. The Evo is a horrible platform to learn on (Covers up lots of mistakes) and is amazingly capable in stock form.

 

Trail braking will also help turn in and remove understeer. What might help is to not threshold brake but rather start your braking a little earlier at about 7/10 force. Carry the braking through into the corner (modulating depending on cornering force and car balance) until you have the car aligned where you want it and then get back on the power.

As you get better you can up the braking force again.

Skip Barber's "Going faster" has some great descriptions of traction circles. Great book

 

Go do a lot of autox, then u wont need reference point anymore and can carry max speed at any corner, no need to do it 100x times to find it cause u r looking ahead. u need to develop that feel and connection with the car.

Using reference point make u lazy and dont look ahead.

Think about this, do u need reference point when u stop on a red light?
if not, y not?
if u do, we r not on the same page.

 

No, this is completely wrong. Completely and utterly wrong. Pro drivers need and use reference points all the time. Feel alone is not what will get you to turn consistent lap times. Don't get me wrong, looking ahead is important and that is why it's important to develop reference points that are on the track or close to the track.

Comparing a red light stop to a sweeping turn at race speed is just ridiculous.

 

if reference point meaning the road, (for EX:apex and exit, i agree.)
if reference point meaning markers, i dont agree. I will give u a reason for this.

ur car changes during a race, ur brake fades, ur car can be loose at first then it become pushy later. condition change. what u can do in lap1 does not mean u can do the same on lap2

if u use reference point like marker and stuff. what will happen? what if ur tires is heat up more now and can hold more speed? what if ur brakes is not as good as the last lap? what will be the point to know to brake at marker 3 anymore?

The only way to take the turns at its limit is always listen to what ur car is doing.

I THINK THIS IS THE "ONLY" WAY TO TURN CONSISTENT LAP TIMES

"Comparing a red light stop to a sweeping turn at race speed is just ridiculous."

I disagree with this, ur minds go though the same thinking. it just happen to be faster.

Please explain to me if i am wrong, I am a student of the sport and is never to old to learn =)

 

No offense, but have you ever been on a road course in your entire life?

 

yes, many times. But if u r trying to say u did x amount more then me. so u should STFU. then I am done here. I am not into that kind of stuff.

 

Wow your wrong becuase you base your inputs off of your references. You see things and note where and how and when you do them then you modify them as the car changes.

You brake at brake marker 3, and notice that you coasted for a while before getting on the power so decide to brake 10 feet fast brake marker 3 next lap.... thats how it works.

Cracks/paint/grass/anything can be an input that you get through your eyes. you follow your eyes.

Scorke

 

Not what I am trying to say, stop being so defensive, it's incredibly childish, this is an internet message board.

First, A car should not be subject to factors such as frequent brake fade, looseness, etc. If that is the case you need to seriously rethink your setup or your abilities as a driver. Fading your pads because you are braking too late is a sign that you are overstepping the boundaries of your car. Had you a reference point that you can start at and slowly begin to improve on would help you avoid this. Things happen on a road course too quickly to "feel" things. Additionally, I know of nobody who has "felt" their way to properly apexing a turn. You need reference points for proper turn in, where you want to end up and where you want to track out to. Yeah, you can get a "feel" for the course by doing it a hundred times, but this is not the way to become fast. This also assumes you are driving the same car on the same course. I would feel incredibly hesitant "feeling" my way around a course I have never been to. it is not the fast way to do things.

 

This tells me u have no idea what i am talking about. how do u know ur car push? how do u know u car oversteer? by feel

How do u drive the car without feeling what its doing?

"Things happen on a road course too quickly to "feel" things"

If you think road course things happen fast. you need to open ur eyes.
Autox happen 10x faster, theres no time to find reference point.
The only way is to feel it and know where u r going. feel is a lot faster then ur eyes.

last word, if u use reference point to drive, u will be slow and u will be chasing ur tails.
If u look at where u r going and know the car limits, u will be fast

we just have to agree or disagree.