Driving on a track usually starts with throwing out 90 percent of what you know about street driving. For instance, public roads are engineered to maintain a certain level of predictable curvature given the posted speed limit. Most track curves are exactly the opposite — they challenge you to maintain a semblance of speed while finding the best entry and exit point.
Learn more about track driving and prepare to have more fun in your car than ever before by reading these five important lessons you can learn from an Atlanta racing school:
- Start Slow
With few exceptions, first-time track-goers are guaranteed to feel like dorks. Remember, you are better off feeling like a dork for driving at “grandma speeds” than for almost losing control of your car. Always take it slow at first to learn the track, and then work up to more exciting speeds as you gain knowledge, skills and confidence.
- Brake Hard Before the Turn
Some drivers both on the road and on the track think they can sustain braking throughout the turn to help control speed and trajectory. This line of thought is somewhat true, but the majority of speed loss will ideally occur before the turn and not inside of it.Also, unlike road braking where drivers apply lightly then intensify as needed, track braking starts hard then tapers off. So brake hard approaching a turn, then gradually let off as you enter it. This tactic not only helps maintain speed control, but it also keeps the front end of the car from nosing down under intense braking.
- Adjust Speed to Steering Angle
When trying to accelerate rapidly and sustain top speeds, any angle in your front tires could potentially mean a loss of control. For this reason, track drivers try to open up the throttle only when they are completely squared up with a straightaway.Instructors sometimes call this the “string rule” since a good way to remember it is to imagine that a piece of string is connecting the bottom of the steering wheel with the gas pedal. As the wheel turns, the “string” pulls up on the pedal, decreasing acceleration in proportion to the angle. Just make sure you don’t try this with actual string.
- Hands Fixed at 3:00 and 9:00
When street driving, they tell you to keep your hands at 10:00 and 2:00 position on the steering wheel. Sometimes, we pass hand over hand when turning at low speeds or let the steering wheel slide through our palms.On the track, this style goes through an abrupt change. The recommended positions are 3:00 and 9:00 — straight across the wheel. As you turn, keep your hands fixed and let your arms twist up as they will. This technique can feel goofy at first, but it helps you keep track of your turning angle more easily as you get used to certain positions. It also helps prevent instinctive oversteering. - Practice What Your Atlanta Racing School Teaches All the Time
Motivation to practice will be easy to come by once you are addicted to the feeling of controlled speed and the excitement of finding perfect racing lines. Like everything in life, the more you race on the track the better you get at it. To get access to track practice times throughout the year, become a member at Atlanta Motorsports Park. We can give you professional instruction, access to luxurious amenities, and discounted track use for 60 days to as many as 180 days annually.