Curated Content Editor

Top Mistakes People Make at the Race Track
By Christopher Hurst

After coaching hundreds of people these are the top things I see enthusiasts doing wrong on the race track. Let’s get right into it.

davidc1

Good interesting article and I would agree with all suggestions of what you should do on a track day. However, you said:

Going over the limit is just as bad as staying under it. You have to fine-tune your sense of when the car is going to slide and predict it as opposed to reacting to it. Slightly counter steering through corners means you’re right on the limit. It’s not easy to learn, but it’s something I see a lot of “veteran” drivers struggle to do. Watch any tarmac rally specialists or F1 drivers and you will see them apply subtle amounts of opposite lock mid-corner to corner exit. Staying in your comfort zone is a mistake. Pick corners where you can safely go over the limit and let the car move around.

Well, perhaps F1 back in the day. But in todays F1, you never, ever want the car to slide. Any sliding or application of opposite lock will slow the car down.

BoboTheMonkey

I debate whether larger tracks or AutoX are the best places to start. While AutoX gives you a better opportunity to learn limits and more opportunities for fine car control, the larger tracks give you time to think a little between corners. I can't sip my coffee on the straight at an AutoX track, it just spills all over! The larger tracks also allow you repetition. If you do 4 laps with several minutes between on an AutoX day, its harder to to figure out where you are making mistakes compared to doing lapping sessions. Braking too much and too early was my biggest issue, but I really scare people now with how willing I am to brake deeeppp into corners when needed. Just have to believe it the car and its capabilities!