Formula Race Car Club of America

as a driver first it's hard for me as Chief instructor to spend as much time with you As I would like to help with your driver development ( this is mainly for the new to the Class guys ) would it be helpful to you during your practice sections to have an F/PA Driver in the field? You could observe his lines, braking points etc Let me know if you think this would be helpful. Thanks Andy

I would certainly welcome that. 

I think  FRCCA should start a library of videos for each track with narrative to help new drivers get familiar with track prior to arriving.I know there’s nothing like seat time but it provides me an additional level of comfort when starting out at a new track.   

Both ideas have a lot of merit.  If anyone has video of Beavrun please send it to me also need one of Shenandoah counter clockwise.

Thanks,

John

As one that wants to learn as much as possible about the FRCCA tracks,

I think the videos are a great idea.

Found this on youtube ; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pqK3ETSHJ4

I know this in UK, just thought the removed body was great.

So you see gear changes etc.....

Steve W 

I am more than willing to share all my videos from the V for this upcoming season with our new camera system but my guess is although the line will be the same or close the braking points (I probably brake much deeper and less often) and shift points will not be of much use to FF guys.

Sorry John, didn't mean to cause you extra work. I have a video of  Shenandoah counter clockwise but it is only 30 seconds long. Besides a sane person would proably find another sport after watching.

Great ideas, but don't follow Andy, he drives on the wrong side of the road, and his video's need subtitles!  

Maybe this idea coupled with a mentor, there are also a lot of things that you can learn off track as well, I think AJ used to give demos or instruction on different topics at the track?  Do you know which corner is the most important?  

One thing I know for sure everyone in this club will share their knowledge, maybe not give you the answer, but send you down the right path to find out for yourself.  My 2011 season is a good example of that.  

In addition to a video is to walk the track, we have done several of these the past few years, if you get out on the racing surface you find out its features, i.e. : the textbook apex may not be the right line if there is crown in a corner surface.  

I only have video of me going around Summit Point with my dying motor.  Dont think it would be of any help.  

If you can't find anything else you can always go to google maps And look at their satellite images for at least a good track map

Going back to Andy's original question.  Playing follow the leader with a more experienced driver is a great idea.  However, that driver needs to slow down some to allow us less experienced drivers to keep up.  

Pretty much all of the practice sessions this year were open sessions with all the classes mixed if I remember correctly.    It would be great if a few of the F/PA drivers would be willing to drive at 75-80% for a portion of the session, so we could actually follow.  Most of the time last year, it was hard for me to learn much from the faster drivers in practice, as there was such a speed difference.

It was fun to watch the blur go by on both sides, but I'm not sure I was learning too much, other than talking to myself "stay on my line, stay on my line, stay on my line........."

I have a vid cc at Shenandoah, I placed well ,but from watching I see a few sections to improve. Greg Saunders I bilieve has a Beaver Run vid. I often try 2 follow Avanti drivers and only prove I am getting off the straight properly, but cant hang too see the tricky sections. I ask Dad about lines, and ask Avanti guys lots of questions, and almost always get a descriptive answer. Poccono last year Mr. Levine followed, and said he couldn pass me, but follow me next practice, as he would show a btter sweeper line. 1600 Champ Bill Carrol helped me there from his Fv, and many other times w the Euroswift. Dad helped me tons, I ask him stuff on the way to our race weekend nonstop, and talk to others especially where I lose them on the track or stand near that section and watch anybody fast to see thier aproach & line. Following Avanti racers would be great, you have my vote, and if it cant happen, draft em lookat at thier approach to the corner and ask lots of questions, as they are are jolly bunch of fellows -