How I fix braking live at the track
If you see me jumping around trackside like I'm deranged here's why.
Hi, welcome to a 💎Free Edition💎 of the Terence Dove On Racing Drivers newsletter. Every week I'm aiming to give you a mix of driving techniques and new perspectives, to keep you fired up in the most worthy pursuit in the world; being a racing driver.
Learn the nuts and bolts of kart driving excellence in my book, then come here for the deeper stuff!
Before we start, you might want to check out a free sample from my book, the braking chapter here first.
Now let’s get more into how I deal with braking issues live at the track in a coaching session!
Braking technique is by far my favourite skill to work on with drivers because it is so instrumental in creating breakthroughs in performance. It transforms lap times, overtaking and wet driving immediately.
Here are the steps I go through with drivers to sort their braking live at the track.
Step 1. Do you brake hard enough?
I ask the driver to sit in the kart and hit the brake just as they do on the track. Nine times out of ten their left foot moves slowly onto the pedal and they push the pedal, increasing pressure as they go.
I say right, now kick the pedal like you are trying to snap the thing! Hit it hard and fast. I’ll keep saying kick it, hit it harder, move your foot faster - until they hit the pedal with sufficient force and speed.
Usually they can’t believe what is needed.
If I’m feeling energetic I will push the kart along the ground and ask them to hit the pedal until they can skid the kart. Again it takes a few attempts to get them to brake hard enough. Then we go through how releasing the brake pressure gets all the control back.
Step 2. Try it on track with a safe corner and I will give signals.
I’ll choose a corner with a medium approach speed and good run off so risk is low of hitting anything. We choose a braking point earlier than usual to give even more margin for error. I’ll stand where the driver can see me and encourage them to hit the brakes hard enough each lap.
The ‘brake harder signal’ ranges from a subtle hand gesture to me jumping up and down clapping my hands together, and even kicking my leg out like ‘kick that pedal!!!’. I’ll keep doing that until I start to see the driver creating very sudden stoppage of the rear tyre. Very often they approach locking without actually managing it for the first run, so we go through it all again verbally and have another go.
When they get the first sign of locking I will give a thumbs up. If it has taken a few sessions to get there I might jump around and give applause.
Step 3. Refine and correct common braking faults.
The most common problems here are that they do lock the brake, but they take too long to get the tyre locking. This is because they are too tentative on the initial hit on the brake. I might do another session of jumping around clapping my hands together to ask them to get snappy with the brake. If they don’t they will be carrying too much brake pressure deep into the braking zone and lose the rear way too much on turn-in, so getting the tyre to lock quickly is paramount here.
Step 4. Taking lock ups further to create flamboyance and confidence.
This is the most fun part - how much angle can you create and can you leave 11s down the track and create smoke?
Once the driver is comfortable with standard locking up in a straight line I’ll ask them to see how far they can take it with total disregard for lap times. They can let the kart step out at the rear, fully lock up producing smoke and generally indulge themselves in their new found skill. So long as they bring it all back under control before the turn in they’ll get a lot of thumbs up and general worship.
The aim here is to build up total confidence that they can get themselves into all kinds of situations without triggering any panic reaction, keeping the amygdala responses totally out of the equation. This pays off big in racing situations.
Step 5. Refinement for speed and perfection.
Next we go through finding what really works best for overall performance with the new braking skills. This amounts to backing off the wild style and containing the braking flair a bit. According to the driver’s preferences we find a braking style that suits. Most common is to produce quite minimal locking that you can hear, then bleeding off the pressure as you approach the apex.
There are lots of options and a combination of data and feedback can go into finding the fastest method for that particular driver.
And that’s about it, my trade secrets to getting your braking sorted.
Quick Summary and takeaways
1. Personal Passion for Teaching Braking: I find coaching drivers on braking techniques incredibly rewarding, as it's a pivotal skill that directly impacts performance, lap times, and handling in various conditions including wet driving.
2. Starting with Hard Braking: My first step is to teach drivers the importance of applying brakes with enough force. I often find they're not hitting the brakes as hard or as quickly as they should be. Demonstrations, sometimes involving pushing the kart to induce skidding, help in understanding the required force.
3. Application on the Track: On the track, I choose a corner with a medium approach speed for safe practice. Here, I give clear signals to the driver to brake harder, ensuring they understand the intensity needed for effective braking. This approach helps in gradually achieving the desired sudden deceleration.
4. Correcting Common Braking Errors: I address common issues such as delayed braking and over-cautious approaches. I emphasize the need for quick, decisive braking to avoid carrying too much speed into corners.
5. Encouraging Bold Lock-ups: To build confidence, I encourage drivers to experiment with dramatic lock-ups and more flamboyant braking techniques. This not only boosts their confidence but also teaches them to handle various scenarios calmly and effectively.
6. Refining Skills for Optimal Performance: The next phase involves refining these skills to find a balance between aggressive braking and controlled, efficient techniques. This is tailored to each driver's style, focusing on minimal locking and precise pressure management as they near the apex.
7. Customization and Data Utilization: I work closely with each driver, using a mix of data analysis and personal feedback, to develop the most effective and personalized braking strategy, enhancing their overall racing performance.
All the best
Terence