Strange little tips that make a big difference
Discussion
Have you noticed any seemingly insignificant tips that make a big difference to your driving?
I read in a magazine recently that you should try and 'push' the steering, by applying the force with your hand on the outside of the turn (ie push the steering wheel predominantly with your right hand for a left hand bend, rather hand pulling it with the left). I tried it this morning and it really does seem to improve the feel during turn in (may be wishful thinking, but it seemed that way).
A related one was to try and steer a constant radius once you're into the turn. I have a [bad] habbit of taking repeated bites at a corner and it really smothers the feedback, compared to keep the steering steady.
So, any others?
I read in a magazine recently that you should try and 'push' the steering, by applying the force with your hand on the outside of the turn (ie push the steering wheel predominantly with your right hand for a left hand bend, rather hand pulling it with the left). I tried it this morning and it really does seem to improve the feel during turn in (may be wishful thinking, but it seemed that way).
A related one was to try and steer a constant radius once you're into the turn. I have a [bad] habbit of taking repeated bites at a corner and it really smothers the feedback, compared to keep the steering steady.
So, any others?
I'll try that first one - I'm usually pulling rather than pushing, so it'll be different.
Taking bites at a corner could suggest that you're not looking far enough ahead - if your concentration is too close to the car you'll end up making constant corrections. Try noting where you're looking, and raise your eyeline to the exit of the corner and beyond.
Taking bites at a corner could suggest that you're not looking far enough ahead - if your concentration is too close to the car you'll end up making constant corrections. Try noting where you're looking, and raise your eyeline to the exit of the corner and beyond.
ing around with the steeringChris71 said:
Have you noticed any seemingly insignificant tips that make a big difference to your driving?
I read in a magazine recently that you should try and 'push' the steering, by applying the force with your hand on the outside of the turn (ie push the steering wheel predominantly with your right hand for a left hand bend, rather hand pulling it with the left). I tried it this morning and it really does seem to improve the feel during turn in (may be wishful thinking, but it seemed that way).
A related one was to try and steer a constant radius once you're into the turn. I have a [bad] habbit of taking repeated bites at a corner and it really smothers the feedback, compared to keep the steering steady.
So, any others?
Just to be a PITA:I read in a magazine recently that you should try and 'push' the steering, by applying the force with your hand on the outside of the turn (ie push the steering wheel predominantly with your right hand for a left hand bend, rather hand pulling it with the left). I tried it this morning and it really does seem to improve the feel during turn in (may be wishful thinking, but it seemed that way).
A related one was to try and steer a constant radius once you're into the turn. I have a [bad] habbit of taking repeated bites at a corner and it really smothers the feedback, compared to keep the steering steady.
So, any others?
Mario Andretti used to say that, in steering, you ought to have your inside hand be the dominant one. His reason was that the muscles in use for that pulling movement (inner arm and bicep) were more sensitive and controllable than the muscles used for pushing (tricep and shoulder).
Constant radius steering is elegant and satisfying, and can provide good exercise for developing hand/eye coordination (put fixed lock on here, hold it, and see how close you come to arriving at apex there). The nearer you are to the limit of grip, however, the more that discontinuities in the road surface (bumps, camber changes) will demand frequent steering corrections. This practice is most obvious in in-car racing videos, where the drivers will be near the limit of grip the whole time, and almost constantly making steering adjustments.
Chris71 said:
Have you noticed any seemingly insignificant tips that make a big difference to your driving?
I read in a magazine recently that you should try and 'push' the steering, by applying the force with your hand on the outside of the turn (ie push the steering wheel predominantly with your right hand for a left hand bend, rather hand pulling it with the left). I tried it this morning and it really does seem to improve the feel during turn in (may be wishful thinking, but it seemed that way).
A related one was to try and steer a constant radius once you're into the turn. I have a [bad] habbit of taking repeated bites at a corner and it really smothers the feedback, compared to keep the steering steady.
So, any others?
That steering tip was something I learned from karting. You don't push to start with though. You still start with a pull, but as your outside hand (eg. the right hand in a left turn) rises toward the top of the wheel, you switch dominance to that hand. This results in better steering stability, firmer control over the rotation, and the ability to rapidly reverse the lock in the event of oversteer. Particularly useful if you don't have supportive seats.I read in a magazine recently that you should try and 'push' the steering, by applying the force with your hand on the outside of the turn (ie push the steering wheel predominantly with your right hand for a left hand bend, rather hand pulling it with the left). I tried it this morning and it really does seem to improve the feel during turn in (may be wishful thinking, but it seemed that way).
A related one was to try and steer a constant radius once you're into the turn. I have a [bad] habbit of taking repeated bites at a corner and it really smothers the feedback, compared to keep the steering steady.
So, any others?
Something from me:
When upchanging, leave a tiny bit of throttle on instead of releasing the accelerator pedal completely. I used to have an aweful time matching revs. This helped me maintain feel of the throttle, at the expense of longer gearshifts (but my shifts used to be needlessly fast anyway).
Edited by Jungles on Wednesday 21st January 00:10
flemke said:
Chris71 said:
Have you noticed any seemingly insignificant tips that make a big difference to your driving?
I read in a magazine recently that you should try and 'push' the steering, by applying the force with your hand on the outside of the turn (ie push the steering wheel predominantly with your right hand for a left hand bend, rather hand pulling it with the left). I tried it this morning and it really does seem to improve the feel during turn in (may be wishful thinking, but it seemed that way).
A related one was to try and steer a constant radius once you're into the turn. I have a [bad] habbit of taking repeated bites at a corner and it really smothers the feedback, compared to keep the steering steady.
So, any others?
Just to be a PITA:I read in a magazine recently that you should try and 'push' the steering, by applying the force with your hand on the outside of the turn (ie push the steering wheel predominantly with your right hand for a left hand bend, rather hand pulling it with the left). I tried it this morning and it really does seem to improve the feel during turn in (may be wishful thinking, but it seemed that way).
A related one was to try and steer a constant radius once you're into the turn. I have a [bad] habbit of taking repeated bites at a corner and it really smothers the feedback, compared to keep the steering steady.
So, any others?
Mario Andretti used to say that, in steering, you ought to have your inside hand be the dominant one. His reason was that the muscles in use for that pulling movement (inner arm and bicep) were more sensitive and controllable than the muscles used for pushing (tricep and shoulder).
Constant radius steering is elegant and satisfying, and can provide good exercise for developing hand/eye coordination (put fixed lock on here, hold it, and see how close you come to arriving at apex there). The nearer you are to the limit of grip, however, the more that discontinuities in the road surface (bumps, camber changes) will demand frequent steering corrections. This practice is most obvious in in-car racing videos, where the drivers will be near the limit of grip the whole time, and almost constantly making steering adjustments.
The biggest benefit I found to constant radius steering was that it improved my perception of the feedback - that way it isn't distorted by steering input. On the road I'm not usually close enough to the limit to require any adjustment, but I do find it gives me a better idea of how far the tyres are from their limit of traction.
firstmk1 said:
The decision not to overtake is never wrong.
Thanks, that's a good one I try to live by / wish more drivers would recognise. I've nothing against 'making progress', its the inappropriate overtake that I'm wary off (and hate meeting on the road).My 'strange' little tip - make sure your seated position is comfy / in the right place every time.Just something I've become more critical of recently, but keeping it exactly right makes a heckuva difference in how a drive proceeds.
1. To change down a gear (not while braking) don't move your accelerator pedal AT ALL, just dip clutch and move gearlever. This automatically rev matches down to the next gear.
2. Try starting your steering input far earlier and far slower. Someone on the Forum used the expression "Hinting At The Corner". Makes the transition into the corner a lot smoother.
(I personally disagree with the idea of treating every other road user as an idiot)
2. Try starting your steering input far earlier and far slower. Someone on the Forum used the expression "Hinting At The Corner". Makes the transition into the corner a lot smoother.
(I personally disagree with the idea of treating every other road user as an idiot)
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