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That was a good article parisfal. Thanks for taking the time to write it.
I think that there are a couple of things that I take exception with for beggners:
I agree that braking late and hard is important for experienced racers, however, itis more important that a begginer learn the line and optimize his EXIT SPEED, if he wants to acheive faster lap times.
To quote a NASA instructor "Braking late offers the least payoff in time, and the greatest chance for disaster"
Brake early at first, concentrate on your entry speed. Take notice of how fast you are going when you reach the corner exit. Keep entering that turn faster until your exit speed is less(from scrubbing speed off with steering) This should be your optimum speed. Only then should start moving your brake point closer in.
if you brake half a second later you may gain a hundreth of a second. But if you exit a corner 1mph faster than you competition into a straight, you will carry that 1mph all the way to the next turn, earing you .5 to a whole second over him.
Second, I would say never use the hand brake, even in an emergency. If you have lost control of your vehicle , it is dangerous to perfrom and "flips" to try to avoid other cars. They will not expect it. I was involved in a wreck because an integra tried just this manuver, and was broadsided by a datsun race car trying to get through. At 100+ mph, you should just be trying to get out alive, not save your car or do fancy stuff. The best thing you can do if you are spinning is CENTER THE WHEEL and LOCK UP THE TIRES. doing anything else(countersteering to save a hopeless spin, e-braking, hitting the gas) will make your trajectory wild and unpredictable to drivers behind you, and earn you a collision. better to hit a wall of tires and spend money on body work than getting hit and paying for hospital fees and a whole new car.
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