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02-14-2010, 02:47 PM
Larry, references are good indicators or where you are on the track, but one way to look to using a braking references is when to stop braking not where to start. Same scenario would be to look towards the corner ( the direction you want to go) as you begin slowing the car. References coming down the front straight are for preparation, but your eyes are past that when you start your braking. There is not enough time to look out or to the side. Look forward into the turn.
When I started racing the idea of references is completely gone. You are stuck to someones bumper and cannot see crap or your being chased and your mirrors are busy. This is why learning to be a turn ahead is important. One advancement I made last year was having my car setup by a Pro and working with him to learn the techniques that make the Pros that much faster. This made braking a bigger challenge because your entrance speed to the apex is nearly equal to your track out speed. The only way to get good at this is seeing the braking zone as a path to the apex not a straight line, but an arc that begins with very brief straight line braking, but bends to the apex as you release. Since every turn is somewhat different, the technique follows the line to the apex. Just visualizing this makes one aware of the mistake made by braking the same way in every turn. When you get really good at this you miss the apex at times because of the commitment to fast entry.
When I started racing the idea of references is completely gone. You are stuck to someones bumper and cannot see crap or your being chased and your mirrors are busy. This is why learning to be a turn ahead is important. One advancement I made last year was having my car setup by a Pro and working with him to learn the techniques that make the Pros that much faster. This made braking a bigger challenge because your entrance speed to the apex is nearly equal to your track out speed. The only way to get good at this is seeing the braking zone as a path to the apex not a straight line, but an arc that begins with very brief straight line braking, but bends to the apex as you release. Since every turn is somewhat different, the technique follows the line to the apex. Just visualizing this makes one aware of the mistake made by braking the same way in every turn. When you get really good at this you miss the apex at times because of the commitment to fast entry.