I'm about 5/6 of the way through the first Speed Secrets book and it's pretty good, I'd recommend it to all. The first half restates and runs through the basics that most drivers should hopefully understand, and it gets more detailed throughout.

Anyone else read them or any other driving book? I also have the 2nd in the series waiting on the shelf.

 

Read "Going Faster" on Va Cay once, will read it again.

 

my father gave me all the speed secrets books before i got my license when i was 15. i have been racing karts since i was 5 so most of the information was second nature to me but i have re-read them several times and they have some great info! have you read the 3rd book "inner speed secrets" with the "mental strategies"? thats a great one too.

 

What series/types of karts did you run? I ran at NTK a few times during the SKUSA regional tour, great track.

 

i started racing karts back home in denmark. i competed in local championships in copenhagen and went on to compete in danish national and then scandinavian championships. when i began karting i drove a baby 50cc and then as i got a bit older my father got me a nice super a tony kart! unfortunately, my parents decided to move to texas when i was just getting to the national level in competition. they didnt think motorsport was anything more than a hobby. but good news is i am heading back to europe next year to start racing again!

ill tell you why i think scandinavian drivers are so good...its because most of the time we are racing on a frozen track and stone cold tires. we are on the limit the whole time so it really teaches you how to manage a car on the limit for extended periods while you are still battling for position. so driving on the limit becomes kind of a subconcious thing, its not something you even think about. your mind is on your racecraft and your strategy. anyway, best of luck on the track!

 

i have met Ross a couple of times, a long time ago, very cool guy..knows his stuff...

very calm and re assuring to talk too...Speed secrets series are a good read, but will never replace seat time... use it as a guide for testing, practice, thought process...

i find the more books i read, the more little different tips i pick up. it helps aswell to have a friend running SUperCup who is a great driver to give me pointers toO!!

 

I have read it and it's a good book....but if you really want to improve your driving go to a driving school.

 

practice makes perfect. high performance driving concepts are actually simple when you boil it down the core...

Ross's books is great and very insightful. i didn't read his whole series but i did specifically read about the sponsorships and the path/tips to becoming a pro as that is my primary interest. very good series IMO.

 

Ghetto, you're not pro yet?

 

reading the books are eccential to possessing the proper tools for driving.
Your eyes cant see what your brain doesnt know. read, drive, read, drive as much as you can to develop the knowledge and skill base to become skilled.
Too many students expect you to teach them everything they will need and that is impossible.
If I have to waste time talking about what an apex is or what track out means its less time doing something else.
Mdrums above comes to the track prepared mentally and phyiscally to be at his best, a far cry from some other students.
You get out of life what you put into it.

 

nope, haven't even raced a full season yet. just getting my feets wet. my goal is to turn pro by 40. i was talking to my buddy Craig Stanton yesterday @ Laguna Seca. he told me he raced for about 10 years 1986 to 1996 before he started to get paid for some rides... that made me feel a whole lot better.

i've been buildling connections on all fronts though. i'm quite confident i will achieve my goal.

i am a pro instructor now... sorta. i'm getting paid now and i have a dozen of well off private students.

 

If I could do some pro racing in my lifetime and break even for the weekends I'd be happy. Not planning on making a living sportscar racing, but I'd love to get a seat at the Rolex a few times.

Since I quit karting and am doing the college thing, I've put that on hold but hopefully before 30 is a goal, with at least a decent test by ~25 or so.