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8 Mar 2012, 23:20 (Ref:3037307) | #1 | ||
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The Perfect Race Start
Some footage from a recent Race Driver Training day I did at Blyton Park that I thought might interest readers here.
Part of the days program was working with the race drivers on Race Starts. For many drivers the number of race starts they've done is equal to the number of races the've done. If you can master the race start you can make up 3-4 places and sometimes more, if you fluff it that means 3-4 places lost and you are then in a totally different race. If on pole it can often give you the breathing space for a few corners by which time your opponents may be fighting and a race win is then just a question of getting your head down and setting some decent laps and take the flag. The prefect start requires quick reactions but more than this a great launch. It is generally regarded (and has actually been studied) that the perfect launch requires 11% tyre slippage, which means the wheel needs to rotate 11% faster than the road speed. A tyre gives more grip when it is sliding slightly which is the same for braking as well as cornering, as well as acceleration. The first video shows a RWD Mazda MX5 doing a very good start, perfect? who knows but you can see the weight transfer, the tyre slip and eventual bite, in a more powerful car this would have lasted longer. In a FWD car it's the same although you don't have the extra traction generated by the rearward weight transfer. Hence a RWD car will always get a better launch than a FWD car. You can then see how much it helps this driver in a real life competitive start. In the 2nd video you can see more of the practice session, a rare chance to get so close to cars being launched from the grid. Perfect Race Start (inc Slo Mo analysis) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzKfEjxvCRg Race Start Practice http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bp4RWR4ejP8 Malcolm |
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9 Mar 2012, 17:26 (Ref:3037595) | #2 | ||
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Is the engine note in the video the car we are watching? If so there seems to be an initial dip in revs then pick up as the weight transfers and the tyres start to slip. Is that done by slipping the clutch slightly, or is it a clutch side-step and purely throttle control?
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9 Mar 2012, 17:44 (Ref:3037602) | #3 | |||
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Quote:
I have a torquey engine so I use just enough revs to get the car rolling and then control wheel slip with the throttle, the rest is just down to reaction time to the lights going out. |
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9 Mar 2012, 21:09 (Ref:3037696) | #4 | |||
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Quote:
Malcolm |
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9 Mar 2012, 22:39 (Ref:3037733) | #5 | ||
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I wondered about that because I usually add power and slip the clutch to prevent engine revs dipping as I get the car rolling. Perhaps that's my mistake, and why I'm slow off the line compared to Tim.
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9 Mar 2012, 23:05 (Ref:3037746) | #6 | |||
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Quote:
Also, to get an even better start, in a RWD car with a working handbrake you'd hold the handbrake on as you ease the clutch up, such that you get that 'dip' you see in the video and hold it there .... letting off the handbrake as you bring the clutch further up and at the same time press the gas pedal ... looks ugly if you get it wrong though! and if the handbrake stays on ... prepare to be 'boarded' 8-@ |
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9 Mar 2012, 23:29 (Ref:3037756) | #7 | |||
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Quote:
My tactic is to qualify 3 or 4 places/rows higher than I should with that well prepared car and a freek quick lap; then on the grid approach, take it out of first, wiggle it a bit, then wonder why the hell I did that, then put it back in and check its engaged (sneaking a cheeky yard in the process) then look up to see the light has already changed, so importantly, knowing that you are only on 30-50% revs, dump the clutch like a dodky korma and sit there for a few seconds, thus ensuring you are back with your old mates at the back of the grid, ready for the dream fightback through the pack !!! Easy Peasy - who needs datathingamyanalysiswhatsists! |
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Muttley |
9 Mar 2012, 23:38 (Ref:3037762) | #8 | ||
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LOL
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10 Mar 2012, 10:55 (Ref:3037846) | #9 | ||
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Lol. In one series I raced in it wasn't uncommon for good drivers to improve the "excitement" of their race by pottering round in qualifying, not try too hard at the start, then make "spectacular" progress through the field. Trouble is the idea caught on and we were in danger of actually building reverse grids. In the end the organisers had to start awarding championship points for qualifying positions to sort it out.
More seriously, the point you make about practicing starts is important. You say that for some the number of race starts they've done is equal to the number of races they've entered. This is particularly true for series that don't have a green flag lap, but would it also be true to say that "practice starts" aren't actually allowed on track (other than if there's a green flag lap) or is that just F1? |
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10 Mar 2012, 20:33 (Ref:3038019) | #10 | |||
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AFAIK there is a specific painted 'box' for F1 Free Practice where they can do practice starts. |
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10 Mar 2012, 20:40 (Ref:3038022) | #11 | |||
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Yep they have a special box that they are allowed to use during practice sessions and maybe before the race start but im not sure |
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10 Mar 2012, 21:08 (Ref:3038033) | #12 | ||
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There is a specific rule for green flag laps, Q12.14. Practice starts are frowned on at any time - I've had a couple of drivers invited to Race Control for practice starts on the "cooling down" lap of qualifying sessions.
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10 Mar 2012, 21:26 (Ref:3038042) | #13 | |||
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As Dave said, they are still frowned upon in this scenario as, at best it delays the start of the formation lap with drivers 'waiting for space' but at worse driver A in 6th pos tries his 'demon' start right behind driver B in 4th pos who doesn't get off the line and ... oops. |
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10 Mar 2012, 21:39 (Ref:3038047) | #14 | |||
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I have actually seen the second part of it happen with a couple of very close shaves at the start of the green flag lap |
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10 Mar 2012, 22:13 (Ref:3038057) | #15 | ||
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Well if not on the track, or in the pit lane, where do we practice starts.... in the garage?
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11 Mar 2012, 00:35 (Ref:3038096) | #16 | ||
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Listen to your engine revs, watch the lights to fade, (lights to go off and your to late) and dump the left peddle.
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11 Mar 2012, 04:13 (Ref:3038139) | #17 | ||
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go sprinting and hillclimbing, plenty of practice starts possible there...
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12 Mar 2012, 09:01 (Ref:3038675) | #18 | |||
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Quote:
I was just about to post about speed events but MGD beat me to it, guess where we cut our teeth? Re the clutch slip, one of the illegal things to do to Rotax Max clutches is to oil them up so they slip at low revs then bite with a bang a bit later with the engine spinning more. If it's illegal it must be a good dodge then |
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20 Mar 2012, 23:56 (Ref:3045716) | #19 | ||
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Read this thread with some interest as although I've done 3 seasons racing I've never done a race start........as I've always run in CSCC two-driver races as second driver and pit-lane speed limits tend to militate against full bore starts from the pits......although I did leave a perfect "11" in the Cadwell pits one time after the car had needed a bump start..engine caught, nearly stalled and I gave it some revs and "gently" fed in the clutch......fortunately its a short pit-lane so I don't think I broke the limit.....
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16 Apr 2012, 13:37 (Ref:3060226) | #20 | ||
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Here's my 2nd race start on saturday at Lydden, had to start at the back because of a DNF in the first race
http://s951.photobucket.com/albums/a...l2012_0002.mp4 Quite happy with that, class win and quickest 7 overall. Last edited by Stainless Steve; 16 Apr 2012 at 13:43. |
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16 Apr 2012, 14:26 (Ref:3060253) | #21 | ||
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Steve,
Indeed a cracking start. Not a conventional start (revving as opposed to holding revs) but it did work for you (prob had a 50% chance of not though). What did it was your reaction time, it made the other guys seem half asleep Maxx |
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16 Apr 2012, 14:27 (Ref:3060254) | #22 | ||
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Can you teach me to do that please?
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16 Apr 2012, 21:04 (Ref:3060497) | #23 | ||
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I'll bear that in mind in the future Maxx, I've never done it any other way.
Stems back from years of bike racing and the fact that I've got a bike engine, albeit turbocharged. I'll try your method next time and thanks for your advice. |
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