Originally Posted by ZDan (Post 1250274)

It is almost impossible to drive a car anywhere near its limits "braking only in a straight line". This type of advice or instruction is totally counterproductive and slows down the learning process. As a newb driver years ago, I didn't get anywhere my first track day until I quit trying to "brake only in a straight line".

It is much much easier to gradually trade braking for cornering than to get totally off the brakes and then try to turn in. The car just wants to push. Very awkward, very unnecessary.

Trail braking is NOT an "advanced technique"! As an instructor, I often have to reteach beginning drivers to get them over the brainwashing they've received about how to enter a corner.
At a ZCar convention a few years back, I was asked to go out on the autoX course with a friend's wife who was having a hard time. At the very first corner, which she entered just fine, she apologized for not "braking in a straight line"! I told her she was doing fine, not to worry about it. I did practically nothing else, and she was 2 seconds faster and had a helluva lot more fun driving the course, vs. being forced to "brake only in a straight line" which her previous two instructors had totally insisted on.

Trail-braking is faster because it is smoother, and it makes it infinitely easier to hit the apex as it takes advantage of the front grip you get from increased load on the fronts under braking, and of course it also allows you to carry more speed a bit deeper into the braking zone.

That's not to say that braking deeper is always better or faster overall, you can go too far. But if you aren't trail-braking some amount at corner entry, you're doing it wrong. You pretty much *have* to trail-brake to execute a proper line into most corners. This business about getting completely off the brakes before turning in is stupid, makes the car much more difficult to drive, and is totally unnecessary. I expect my students to be trail-braking pretty much immediately. It's easier, feels more natural, and is faster.

Originally Posted by torqdork (Post 1250676)

Makes sense, I'll try it at the next track day this Sunday starting with open corners and ample runoff!

Originally Posted by ZDan (Post 1250274)

It is almost impossible to drive a car anywhere near its limits "braking only in a straight line". This type of advice or instruction is totally counterproductive and slows down the learning process. As a newb driver years ago, I didn't get anywhere my first track day until I quit trying to "brake only in a straight line".

It is much much easier to gradually trade braking for cornering than to get totally off the brakes and then try to turn in. The car just wants to push. Very awkward, very unnecessary.

Trail braking is NOT an "advanced technique"! As an instructor, I often have to reteach beginning drivers to get them over the brainwashing they've received about how to enter a corner.
At a ZCar convention a few years back, I was asked to go out on the autoX course with a friend's wife who was having a hard time. At the very first corner, which she entered just fine, she apologized for not "braking in a straight line"! I told her she was doing fine, not to worry about it. I did practically nothing else, and she was 2 seconds faster and had a helluva lot more fun driving the course, vs. being forced to "brake only in a straight line" which her previous two instructors had totally insisted on.

Trail-braking is faster because it is smoother, and it makes it infinitely easier to hit the apex as it takes advantage of the front grip you get from increased load on the fronts under braking, and of course it also allows you to carry more speed a bit deeper into the braking zone.

That's not to say that braking deeper is always better or faster overall, you can go too far. But if you aren't trail-braking some amount at corner entry, you're doing it wrong. You pretty much *have* to trail-brake to execute a proper line into most corners. This business about getting completely off the brakes before turning in is stupid, makes the car much more difficult to drive, and is totally unnecessary. I expect my students to be trail-braking pretty much immediately. It's easier, feels more natural, and is faster.

Originally Posted by Grip Ronin (Post 1257395)

were can i find cheaper track day events $300 per day is crazy to drive on a strip of pavement

Originally Posted by Gearhead1 (Post 1257304)

Is the DI seal failure a risk with an automatic transmission? Even with the AT, there are times at the track where I lift abruptly to rotate the car and then stand on it--like a couple of times each lap.

Originally Posted by Grip Ronin (Post 1257395)

were can i find cheaper track day events $300 per day is crazy to drive on a strip of pavement

Originally Posted by CSG Mike (Post 1258133)

I haven't seen any confirmed failures..

Originally Posted by normancw (Post 1296625)

Thanks for an excellent thread!

Would you recommend any of the supercharger kits for tracking reliably? I'm not looking for a lot of power, just some more mid-range torque.

Originally Posted by Stevo22 (Post 1298700)

@CSG Mike

Since you have the opportunity to drive multiple people's cars, what has been your experience with aftermarket exhaust and rear end lift? I know it is an issue, but have certain exhaust been worse and certain better? Was it eliminated with area (diffuser or aftermarket rear wing)?

Thanks