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This is an interesting topic Mike and one that I have thought about. First I am not an instructor, just a participant in DE events. I read quite a bit and have read 3 of Ross Bentley's books which I happen to think are quite good although a bit vague which I think may be his point. You need to expand your mind and shape the ideas he gives you to fit your learning style. I am not sure they are the best for the beginner.
I believe "Going Faster" by the people at Skip Barber is an important book to read.
This is DE. My guess is there is little "mental preparation", the kind that Ross Bentley speaks of in his books, needed by most participants. That doesn't mean that the driving doesn't require focus and attention but DE doesn't demand race starts, driving at the limit, managing traffic, racecraft etc. which is all part of racing. Some drivers that drive their cars closer to their own personal limits and the limits of their cars may require more preparation before they head out to drive.
For me DE is very relaxing. I try to enjoy all the time that I have at the track and with friends. It's a great get away from work. I do not put any pressure on myself at a DE event to peform well. I want to perform well and I want to be fast but that's just because I love to go fast.
I am not a big fan of instructors driving fast with beginner passengers. I know of a specific case recently where a person was not comfortable going quickly and decided they didn't want to do DE events again. I know that if they had been shown the way more gently they would probably still be involved and having a great time.
As a beginner I think one of the things you should concentrate on before this season is making sure your car is safe and in good working order. Make sure the brakes and brake lines are all sound. The oil cooler lines and fittings are in perfect shape and not ready to fail. The belts aren't frayed etc. As the owner and driver make sure you go over the car and address all the issues that you can see. Bring your car to one of our tech events so we can look at it and point out any issues you may have missed. Once you have done this you can now go to an event and have a better chance of having a car failure free weekend and just concentrate on learning.
Once at the event just try to stay relaxed. Don't worry at all about going fast. It's not what it's all about. It's about learning and having fun. As far as specifics are concerned I think that there are some key points. First and you will hear this alot "Be smooth!!!!!!!" What that means is don't stab the brakes, PRESS them. Don't crank the wheel all at once, progressively turn the wheel and guide the car through the corners. Learn how to shift. If you can't heel and toe and double clutch downshift learn how. It goes along way to being smoother and being easier on equipment. You want your driving to be SEAMLESS and flowing in practice. If you do this speed will come. Why? Because as you're doing this you will also be learning the "line" and where your car should be on the track. (Truth is as you go faster PHYSICS will tell you where the line is, just ask my friend). The "line" is the path around the track that supports the most speed. Whenever you accelerate, brake or turn your car you're asking your tires to grip the road and do what you're telling them to. The tires have a maximum grip of 100%. They can do 100% of any one of the 3 tasks or in combination but of course they can't do more than 100% of what they are capable. If you're not smooth with your driving you will get spikes in energy that can cause you to ask your tires to do more than 100% of what they are capable of and this causes skidding and sliding which leads to going slower.
Ex. You're coming down the straight and approaching a right hand corner. You need to slow the car. You press or squeeze the brakes to slow the car. If you press the brakes you will have good muscular control over the pressure you're applying. If you stab the brakes with less control over the pressure you're applying you may go over 100% of the tires traction available for braking, lock up the brakes and skid the tires. As soon as you lock them you have now extended the time it will take to slow the car. Now you have to slow the car even more in order to make the turn. The longer you go straight and the deeper you go into a corner the sharper you have to turn the car and the slower you need to go to make it. If you're relaxed and smooth you will be better at sensing the speed that you need to slow the car to, you will slow the car for the turn in plenty of time and all 100% of the tires traction is now available to turn the car because you have completed your braking smoothly and efficiently.
So as a recap. Make sure your car is in great shape for the upcoming event. Once at the track be relaxed and enjoy your time there. Listen and do as your instructor tells you. Don't drive too fast. The instructor, even though they are in the car, doesn't have a steering wheel or brake pedal to save you and your car. I have seen unnecessary crashes happen too many times. Last, get a handle on the basic driving skills required to be smooth in order to go fast in the future if that ends up being what you would like to do.
Steve W. Hoagland
I believe "Going Faster" by the people at Skip Barber is an important book to read.
This is DE. My guess is there is little "mental preparation", the kind that Ross Bentley speaks of in his books, needed by most participants. That doesn't mean that the driving doesn't require focus and attention but DE doesn't demand race starts, driving at the limit, managing traffic, racecraft etc. which is all part of racing. Some drivers that drive their cars closer to their own personal limits and the limits of their cars may require more preparation before they head out to drive.
For me DE is very relaxing. I try to enjoy all the time that I have at the track and with friends. It's a great get away from work. I do not put any pressure on myself at a DE event to peform well. I want to perform well and I want to be fast but that's just because I love to go fast.
I am not a big fan of instructors driving fast with beginner passengers. I know of a specific case recently where a person was not comfortable going quickly and decided they didn't want to do DE events again. I know that if they had been shown the way more gently they would probably still be involved and having a great time.
As a beginner I think one of the things you should concentrate on before this season is making sure your car is safe and in good working order. Make sure the brakes and brake lines are all sound. The oil cooler lines and fittings are in perfect shape and not ready to fail. The belts aren't frayed etc. As the owner and driver make sure you go over the car and address all the issues that you can see. Bring your car to one of our tech events so we can look at it and point out any issues you may have missed. Once you have done this you can now go to an event and have a better chance of having a car failure free weekend and just concentrate on learning.
Once at the event just try to stay relaxed. Don't worry at all about going fast. It's not what it's all about. It's about learning and having fun. As far as specifics are concerned I think that there are some key points. First and you will hear this alot "Be smooth!!!!!!!" What that means is don't stab the brakes, PRESS them. Don't crank the wheel all at once, progressively turn the wheel and guide the car through the corners. Learn how to shift. If you can't heel and toe and double clutch downshift learn how. It goes along way to being smoother and being easier on equipment. You want your driving to be SEAMLESS and flowing in practice. If you do this speed will come. Why? Because as you're doing this you will also be learning the "line" and where your car should be on the track. (Truth is as you go faster PHYSICS will tell you where the line is, just ask my friend). The "line" is the path around the track that supports the most speed. Whenever you accelerate, brake or turn your car you're asking your tires to grip the road and do what you're telling them to. The tires have a maximum grip of 100%. They can do 100% of any one of the 3 tasks or in combination but of course they can't do more than 100% of what they are capable. If you're not smooth with your driving you will get spikes in energy that can cause you to ask your tires to do more than 100% of what they are capable of and this causes skidding and sliding which leads to going slower.
Ex. You're coming down the straight and approaching a right hand corner. You need to slow the car. You press or squeeze the brakes to slow the car. If you press the brakes you will have good muscular control over the pressure you're applying. If you stab the brakes with less control over the pressure you're applying you may go over 100% of the tires traction available for braking, lock up the brakes and skid the tires. As soon as you lock them you have now extended the time it will take to slow the car. Now you have to slow the car even more in order to make the turn. The longer you go straight and the deeper you go into a corner the sharper you have to turn the car and the slower you need to go to make it. If you're relaxed and smooth you will be better at sensing the speed that you need to slow the car to, you will slow the car for the turn in plenty of time and all 100% of the tires traction is now available to turn the car because you have completed your braking smoothly and efficiently.
So as a recap. Make sure your car is in great shape for the upcoming event. Once at the track be relaxed and enjoy your time there. Listen and do as your instructor tells you. Don't drive too fast. The instructor, even though they are in the car, doesn't have a steering wheel or brake pedal to save you and your car. I have seen unnecessary crashes happen too many times. Last, get a handle on the basic driving skills required to be smooth in order to go fast in the future if that ends up being what you would like to do.
Steve W. Hoagland