A crucial step in driving consistently around a track is being able to find and utilize reference points. Reference points are simply things on the track that you can easily find again and again that tell you where your turn in, apex, and track out points are. Sounds simple enough, but it can take longer than you’d think to find suitable reference points to let you be consistent. The most important thing to remember is that THERE IS NO WRONG REFERENCE POINT. By that I mean any reference... Read Full Story

All of us are invading NHMS on Monday for a track day: The Miatas and my Protege will be there, and we’ve got a few new people who we’ve turned into track junkies. We’re hoping for good weather–and to get some good video. For now, here’s a look back at Noah lapping at NHMS late last year. Monday’s film should be even better. Read Full Story

One of the biggest problems I see when instructing students on a racetrack is that they will enter corners fast enough that they cannot slow down in the corner itself. The issue is that when you push the envelope enough, you risk spinning from either lift-throttle oversteer or brake oversteer. The threshold for either brake or lift-throttle oversteer is MUCH lower than the ultimate cornering capability of a car, and that can get people into trouble. Its not that my students intend to take... Read Full Story

DISCLAIMER: The opinions and analysis expressed in this post should not be construed as legal advice, nor do they establish any attorney-client relationship. Consult with an attorney to ensure you understand the law and any consequence that might stem from your actions or inactions. While most officers treat people fairly and courteously, there will always be instances where some officers enter questionable territory or outright violate people’s rights. In these cases, justice is usually... Read Full Story

I went to Lime Rock with the SCDA yesterday, and borrowed Henry’s Miata while my Miata awaits a coil-pack replacement. I was completely blown away by how solid and rewarding of a driving experience his old ratty car afforded. Although Henry’s car started life with the original 1.6L engine, we did an engine swap on it last year and now it sports a second-generation 1.8L Miata engine. Make no mistake, it is still pretty slow with two people in it, though that is to be expected with any car... Read Full Story

Most people will naturally take evasive action when they begin to spin, or to avoid an accident. But after these efforts have failed, most people simply give up and let the car take them for a ride. This tendency is extremely dangerous, and can cause far more damage and injury than the initial inicident. The golden rule is that you MUST remember is that YOU ARE NOT DONE DRIVING UNTIL YOUR CAR HAS COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. Read that golden rule again. Once it sinks in, then we can move on... Read Full Story

CNN has an interesting article on the rise of fake cops pulling people over, and what to do if you think you are being pulled over by a fake cop. They go through all the normal advice - keep driving slowly with your blinkers on until you get to a populated area, call 911, keep your doors locked and windows opened just enough to slip your license through - but the way they describe such encounters is off in la la land. Sure, most policemen, most police departments, and most judges will be... Read Full Story

Everything that Clint said about my Saturn in his review is spot on. In fact, the Saturn has been deteriorating steadily since his review to the point that I am now getting rid of it. It is, by anyone’s measure, a terrible driving experience. But while driving my roomate’s Honda CRX today, I realized that there is one aspect of the Saturn, and indeed of any crappy car, that simply cannot ever be met by a nice car. In the Saturn, I never had the urge to drive sportively. Indeed, the speed... Read Full Story

If John Staddon’s article in the Atlantic arguing that our roads are unsafe because our traffic laws are too numerous and restrictive had appeared on a forum or as a blog post, it would probably have been dismissed as shallow and juvenile. And had it first appeared in a major newspaper, I imagine there would have been some tedious backlash from the hoards of experienced and safety-conscious drivers who have only a minute or two to skim a few articles while they’re driving to work. His... Read Full Story

If you have ever seen the BBC show “Top Gear,” you probably noticed the decent-sized audience whenever the crew is at the studio. Well it turns out that you too can be in the audience, but there is a slight wait of 21 years. 336,000 people have sent in applications to be on the show, with some reportedly even putting their new born babies’ names on the waiting list. Read Full Story