Best ways to improve driving skills

[Kelk]

I was wondering what everyone's thouhts were on the best things to focus on to improve driving skills and race times?

I appreciate that practise and tons of it are good (for any activity) but I wondered what I should try to achieve / work on whilst racing - I race on astro so its not like just driving on the lawn in th garden surely?

Any tips welcomed.

Thanks

[DCM]

Well, try different settings on the car, take a notebook, make notes of what change you make and what it did, don't under-power the car, it hides a multitude of sins.

[SlowOne]

As well as the settings bit, I would not over-power the car. A really fast car hides a multitude of driving sins as every straight is a chance to catch back time when you get the entry and exit right to the straight, but miss a few apexes in the infield.

I'd suggest a lower-powered car because line and speed, and carrying corner speed, show up more on the clock than with a fast car. Once you have that off pat, put the same car on a slippery surface and try again - that will teach car control. When you can do that with your eyes shut, up the power and try again. It's about gaining the mental capacity to work with the car, to make the time to see what is going on and be able to plan and adjust in a race.

Just my thoughts. Have fun whatever you choose to do.

[Tomk26B4]

I was told by a very wise man to drive a corner adead ready to be setup for the next corner, try to change something each race and relise the difference and remember that you are in control of your car and will only go where you tell it too
(although I say this I'm still trying to do it)

[pro4nut]

The best advice i can give is this

1. Slow down a touch
2. Get your lines right
3. Stay calm
4. Let quicker drivers through and tag on
5. Watch what the quick guys are doing in practice

Often trying to hard to go quickly is what makes us slower, the best runs i ever have i often come down off the rostrum thinking i was slow.
Don't get me wrong car setup is important and adjusting the car for how you drive does matter but more time is lost through pushing to hard and then the time spent waiting for a marshall costs more than going a fraction slower but keeping the run clean.
I'm not quick or that slow but on good run i can get my average lap within 0.5 second of my fastest lap.

Hope thats some help

[pro4nut]

On another note i don't get to practice or race enough so to help my hand eye coordination i clock up a few hours on the ps3 to sharpen up my reactions.
The best for this for me is playing COD or Battlfield online

[Burty248]

Another one for going slow.

Im also relatively new to racing and was given the go slow advice, and that if you see a jump just roll over it. Its more about getting your average laptime low rather than one seriously quick lucky lap try and keep it consistent.

Chances are as a newbie changing much on the car wont do much if your crashing all the time making mistakes.

[Naushad]

I second that....important in my profession!

My tuning tool of the month is Vanquish...pure destruction!

All the advice is good...but slow or fast etc..the main thing is that you don't get bogged down by all the intricacies (unless you intend to be profession) but enjoy!

Originally Posted by pro4nut

On another note i don't get to practice or race enough so to help my hand eye coordination i clock up a few hours on the ps3 to sharpen up my reactions.
The best for this for me is playing COD or Battlfield online

[Hpi_guy]

I'm not the best to give advice but I find, 10.5 is the general all rounder for 2wd short course, turn it down to about 80% and don't get a massively fast servo, take it steady, make the right tyre choice and take corners steady

[Frecklychimp]

Originally Posted by Hpi_guy

I'm not the best to give advice but I find, 10.5 is the general all rounder for 2wd short course, turn it down to about 80% and don't get a massively fast servo, take it steady, make the right tyre choice and take corners steady

Good advice Will

practice and staying calm/concentrating when racing are the only keys to this hobby.

Decent equipment and lots of car maintainence is recommended too for reliability

[Rich D]

Some good advice above. Personally speaking i think you`re best to make the car slow enough for you to enable you to drive it for five full minutes without crashing. Concentrate on clean lines. As has already been said consistency is key.

If you are in a lower heat, the chances are that the majority of your competitors will be crashing. Even if you are slower over a lap you will still win your heat if you stay clean.

Setup isnt as important until you need to improve lap times. Just make sure that the car is mechanically sound and you are on the right tyres for the track and conditions. Thats 90% of getting it right. The right tyres !

[Fernandez]

Originally Posted by Kelk

I was wondering what everyone's thouhts were on the best things to focus on to improve driving skills and race times?

I appreciate that practise and tons of it are good (for any activity) but I wondered what I should try to achieve / work on whilst racing - I race on astro so its not like just driving on the lawn in th garden surely?

Any tips welcomed.

Thanks

drive a 2wd 1/10 buggy on a hardpacked outdoor dirt track.
when you are able to drive this buggy fast, you are good with any other car.