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Ultimate Speed Secrets: The Complete Guide to High-Performance and Race Driving?
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37 reviews of this product found across Reddit:
Why upgrade from the Fanatecs so soon? They're pretty solid. My inverted clubsports have taken a crapton of abuse and have good feel.
Biggest upgrade in my simracing has been this, FWIW.
Sure thing! I realized I forgot to answer the book question, the driving books that I learned a lot from were Ross Bentley's Speed Secrets books - less so on raw technique and moreso on thought processes and way to approach things. Back when I read them the first time (I was probably 11 ish so... 2006 I guess?) They came as a series of books but they're now all compiled into one book: it's on Amazon here and is absolutely worth the money. Plus it's way cheaper than it used to be. It helps understand how to break down corners and think about what's going on which then applies the knowledge you have of the vehicle to apply it. It takes longer than reading a simple how to but as a result you'll be a more complete driver after - and potentially get yourself the skill set to drive the fsae car or other cars more quickly and easily.
A good way to practice is iRacing or rfactor or pcars - something with a more real tire model than say Forza or Grand Turismo. Obviously this isn't cheap, sim racing on a college budget can be tough but it's something to look into. It's much more forgiving than real life.
I've been reading this books and it says you can practice left foot braking on your day to day drive to help build sensitivity.
Also trail braking.
But I agree, unless you are proactive, nothing from just regular driving
the complete guide Kindle one has all the books in one: https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Speed-Secrets-Complete-High-Performance/dp/0760340501/ref=sr\_1\_1?crid=2R7H1GE1L4ZTJ&keywords=speed+secrets&qid=1643138393&sprefix=speed+secrets%2Caps%2C280&sr=8-1
im aware how how weight shifting works and how to implement it in driving. its true most fwds have more weight in the front but under braking you know where the weight goes. this gives fwd an advantage on entry but due to the the disadvantage on exit they take a later entry line which lets them have higher exit speeds. i dont think ill change my mindset much but im sure itll grow and develop. rwd usually has a worse and less stable entry than fwd but a better mid corner, its easiest to think about this as rwd is in the middle and is decent before, in and after corner.
its true im not very old but i have experience in a mass variety of vehicles because i work in an auto shop and have to test drive each vehicle. you are probably thinking well that doesnt give very much input about the limit of the car. although i have driven quite a few cars at the limit.
if you havent read ultimate speed secrets i highly recommend you do.
Ross Bentley's "Ultimate Speed Secrets: The Complete Guide to High-Performance and Race Driving" book is a treasure trove that collects many aspects of high-performance driving in one resource with clearly understandable writing and good illustrations. My copy has several dog-eared pages and lots of highlighting. While I'm no world-record holder, this book has definitely helped me improve substantially.
There are lots of resources available for learning/improvement:
• DrivingFast.net
• TurnFast.com
• Skip Barber - Going Faster (YouTube video)
• iRacing Racing School (YouTube video playlist)
• Simpit Driving School - Weight Transfer (YouTube video)
• Driver61 - Driver's University (YouTube video playlist)
• Safe is Fast (YouTube channel)
• "Performance Driving Illustrated" by Ross Bentley (PDF e-book)
• "Ultimate Speed Secrets: The Complete Guide to High-Performance and Race Driving" by Ross Bentley (book)
Also consider doing some recon for the particular track(s) & car(s) you're practicing: searching YouTube for a track name (like "Brands Hatch") along with keywords like "track guide" or "hot lap" or "world record," plus maybe the name of the car or class you're practicing with (like "GT3"), and possibly even the name of a game/sim (like "Project CARS 2") will often provide a list of videos showing how faster drivers attack the track. If you observe those videos closely & pay attention to things like when they brake, when they turn in, where they apex, etc., you will likely pick up some clues on how to improve your own lap times.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%22Project+CARS+2%22+%22Brands+Hatch%22+GT3+%22hot+lap%22+OR+%22world+record%22+OR+%22track+guide%22
Coordinating the timing between inputs requires awareness & precision, and it can all happen so fast at every turn:
• when/if to brake
• how hard to brake
• how long to brake
• when to turn in
• where to apex
• where to track-out
• when to get back on the throttle
• how much throttle
...etc. Those are the types of variables to experiment with to improve lap times, and all of those variables can change depending on which car you're driving, what conditions you're driving in, how other cars around you affect your line, etc.
...And, of course, there's no shortcut or substitute for lots of quality practice.
Good luck & have fun!
> rossysaurus : "...I've not been able to devote much time to actually getting good... I've been considering looking for a coach or instructor..."
If you've not been able to devote much time to improving, you won't have time to be coached/instructed and to practice what a coach/instructor recommends.
There's a wealth of free & low-priced content available for everyone looking to improve at high-performance driving, such as:
• DrivingFast.net
• TurnFast.com
• Skip Barber - Going Faster (YouTube video)
• iRacing Racing School (YouTube video playlist)
• "Performance Driving Illustrated" by Ross Bentley (PDF e-book)
• "Ultimate Speed Secrets: The Complete Guide to High-Performance and Race Driving" by Ross Bentley (book)
...and much more (...and most of what a "sim racing coach/instructor" would likely say has already been said elsewhere in sources like these listed here).
Also, there's no shortcut or substitute for lots of quality practice... unless you're just naturally gifted with supernatural abilities. ;)
• DrivingFast.net
• Skip Barber - Going Faster (YouTube video)
• iRacing Racing School (YouTube video playlist)
• Simpit Driving School - Weight Transfer (YouTube video)
• Driver61 - Driver's University (YouTube video playlist)
• Safe is Fast (YouTube channel)
• "Performance Driving Illustrated" by Ross Bentley (PDF e-book)
• "Ultimate Speed Secrets: The Complete Guide to High-Performance and Race Driving" by Ross Bentley (book)
Ultimate Speed Secrets: The Complete Guide to High-Performance and Race Driving
(book by Ross Bentley)
Skip Barber - Going Faster
(90-minute YouTube video)
iRacing Racing School
(YouTube playlist with 17 short videos adding up to around 70 minutes total)
• Skip Barber - Going Faster (90-minute YouTube video)
• iRacing Racing School (YouTube video playlist)
• DrivingFast.net
• TurnFast.com
• "Ultimate Speed Secrets: The Complete Guide to High-Performance and Race Driving" by Ross Bentley (book)
• DrivingFast.net
• TurnFast.com
• Skip Barber - Going Faster (YouTube video)
• iRacing Racing School (YouTube video playlist)
• Simpit Driving School - Weight Transfer (YouTube video)
• Driver61 - Driver's University (YouTube video playlist)
• Safe is Fast (YouTube channel)
• "Performance Driving Illustrated" by Ross Bentley (PDF e-book)
• "Ultimate Speed Secrets: The Complete Guide to High-Performance and Race Driving" by Ross Bentley (book)
Consider doing some recon for the particular track(s) & car(s) you're practicing: searching YouTube for a track name (like "Brands Hatch") along with keywords like "track guide" or "hot lap" or "world record," plus maybe the name of the car or class you're practicing with (like "GT3"), and possibly even the name of a game/sim (like "Project CARS 2") will often provide a list of videos showing how faster drivers attack the track, and if you observe them closely, you will likely pick up some clues on how to improve your own lap times.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%22Project+CARS+2%22+%22Brands+Hatch%22+GT3+%22hot+lap%22+OR+%22world+record%22+OR+%22track+guide%22
(In no particular order...)
• DrivingFast.net
• TurnFast.com
• Skip Barber - Going Faster (YouTube video)
• iRacing Racing School (YouTube video playlist)
• Simpit Driving School - Weight Transfer (YouTube video)
• Driver61 - Driver's University (YouTube video playlist)
• Safe is Fast (YouTube channel)
• "Performance Driving Illustrated" by Ross Bentley (PDF e-book)
• "Ultimate Speed Secrets: The Complete Guide to High-Performance and Race Driving" by Ross Bentley (book)
Ultimate Speed Secrets: The Complete Guide to High-Performance and Race Driving (book by Ross Bentley)
Skip Barber - Going Faster (90-minute YouTube video)
iRacing Racing School (YouTube playlist with 17 short videos adding up to around 70 minutes total)
• Ultimate Speed Secrets: The Complete Guide to High-Performance and Race Driving by Ross Bentley (book)
• Skip Barber - Going Faster (90-minute YouTube video)
• iRacing Racing School (YouTube video playlist)
• DrivingFast.net
• TurnFast.com
Have you completed the game's Driving School, Mission Challenge, & Circuit Experience modes?
...Also, have a look through these:
• Skip Barber - Going Faster (90-minute YouTube video)
• iRacing Racing School (YouTube video playlist)
• Ultimate Speed Secrets: The Complete Guide to High-Performance and Race Driving by Ross Bentley (book)
• DrivingFast.net
• TurnFast.com
• Skip Barber - Going Faster (90-minute YouTube video)
• iRacing Racing School (YouTube video playlist)
• DrivingFast.net
• TurnFast.com
• "Ultimate Speed Secrets: The Complete Guide to High-Performance and Race Driving" by Ross Bentley (book)
Here's a good cheat sheet:
https://driver61.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/iRacing-Setup-980x551.jpg
To better understand what exactly you're doing, you'll need to read and study a bit. Start here:
https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Speed-Secrets-Complete-High-Performance/dp/0760340501/
These 3 resources do a great job of covering the essential fundamentals of race driving:
• Ultimate Speed Secrets: The Complete Guide to High-Performance and Race Driving by Ross Bentley (book)
• Skip Barber - Going Faster (90-minute YouTube video)
• iRacing Driving School (YouTube video playlist)
Getting faster laps usually involves experimenting with the timing & precision of your inputs at every turn, such as:
• when/if to brake
• how hard to brake
• how long to brake
• when/where to turn in
• where to apex
• where to track-out
• when to get back on the throttle
• how much throttle
...etc. - and all of those can change depending on which car you're driving, what conditions you're driving in, how other cars around you affect your line, etc.
Do some recon for the particular track(s) & car(s) you're practicing with. For example:
search YouTube for a track/event name,
along with keywords like "track guide" or "hot lap" or "world record,"
and the name of the game
(plus maybe the name of the car you're practicing with).
...This will usually turn up a list of videos showing how faster drivers attack the track.
Watch those videos and pay close attention to details like when/where they brake, when/where they turn in, where they apex, when they accelerate, when they shift gears, etc., then try to apply that info to improving your own lap times.
Best tips to improve and make sure that you are driving at your best potential, get this:
https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Speed-Secrets-Complete-High-Performance/dp/0760340501/
These 3 resources do a fantastic job of covering the essential fundamentals of race driving (generally applicable in all motorsport titles):
• Ultimate Speed Secrets: The Complete Guide to High-Performance and Race Driving by Ross Bentley (book)
• Skip Barber - Going Faster (90-minute YouTube video)
• iRacing Driving School (YouTube video playlist)
Also, do some recon for the particular track(s) & car(s) you're practicing with.
For example:
search YouTube for a track name (like "Silverstone")
along with keywords like "track guide" or "hot lap" or "world record,"
plus maybe the name of the car or class you're practicing with (like "Porsche"),
and the name of the game ("Assetto Corsa Competizione").
...This will usually turn up a list of videos showing how faster drivers attack the track.
Watch those videos and pay close attention to details like when/where they brake, when/where they turn in, where they apex, when they accelerate, when they shift gears, etc., then try to apply that info to improving your own lap times.
These 3 resources do a fantastic job of covering the essential fundamentals of race driving:
• Ultimate Speed Secrets: The Complete Guide to High-Performance and Race Driving by Ross Bentley (book)
• Skip Barber - Going Faster (90-minute YouTube video)
• iRacing Driving School (YouTube video playlist)
Also, as others have mentioned, do some recon for the particular track(s) & car(s) you're practicing.
For example:
search YouTube for a track name (like "Silverstone")
along with keywords like "track guide" or "hot lap" or "world record,"
plus maybe the name of the car or class you're practicing with (like "Porsche"),
and the name of the game ("Assetto Corsa Competizione").
...This will usually turn up a list of videos showing how faster drivers attack the track.
Watch those videos and pay close attention to details like when/where they brake, when/where they turn in, where they apex, when they accelerate, when they shift gears, etc., then try to apply that info to improving your own lap times.
These 3 resources do a fantastic job of covering the essential fundamentals:
• Ultimate Speed Secrets: The Complete Guide to High-Performance and Race Driving by Ross Bentley (book)
• Skip Barber - Going Faster (90-minute YouTube video)
• iRacing Racing School (YouTube video playlist)
Also, as others have mentioned, do some recon for the particular track(s) & car(s) you're practicing.
For example:
search YouTube for a track name (like "Silverstone")
along with keywords like "track guide" or "hot lap" or "record,"
plus maybe the name of the car or class you're practicing with (like "Porsche"),
and the name of the game ("Assetto Corsa Competizione").
...This will usually turn up a list of videos showing how faster drivers attack the track.
Observe those videos closely and pay close attention to details like when/where they brake, when/where they turn in, where they apex, when they accelerate, when they shift gears, etc., then try to apply that info to improving your own lap times.
• Ultimate Speed Secrets: The Complete Guide to High-Performance and Race Driving by Ross Bentley (book)
• Skip Barber - Going Faster (90-minute YouTube video)
• iRacing Racing School (YouTube video playlist)
• Ultimate Speed Secrets: The Complete Guide to High-Performance and Race Driving by Ross Bentley (book)
• Skip Barber - Going Faster (90-minute YouTube video)
• iRacing Racing School (YouTube video playlist)
Buy this book: Ultimate Speed Secrets: The Complete Guide to High-Performance and Race Driving https://www.amazon.com/dp/0760340501/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_5Y6VBFBVGR8Q6DWDGVWB
Read that: https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Speed-Secrets-Complete-High-Performance/dp/0760340501
It’s mostly about mental preparation and how your mental affects your driving.
• Ultimate Speed Secrets: The Complete Guide to High-Performance and Race Driving by Ross Bentley (book)
• Skip Barber - Going Faster (90-minute YouTube video)
• iRacing Racing School (YouTube video playlist)
Also, do some recon for the particular track(s) & car(s) you're practicing - for example:
search YouTube for a track name (like "Brands Hatch")
along with keywords like "track guide" or "hot lap" or "world record,"
plus maybe the name of the car or class you're practicing with (like "Gr3"),
and the name of the game ("Gran Turismo Sport").
...This will usually turn up a list of videos showing how faster drivers attack the track.
If you observe those videos closely and pay attention to things like when/where they brake, when/where they turn in, where they apex, etc., you can apply that info to improving your own lap times.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%22brands+hatch%22+%22gran+turismo+sport%22+%22gr3%22
• Ultimate Speed Secrets: The Complete Guide to High-Performance and Race Driving by Ross Bentley (book)
• Skip Barber - Going Faster (90-minute YouTube video)
• iRacing Racing School (YouTube video playlist)
Also, do some recon for the particular track(s) & car(s) you're practicing:
search YouTube for a track name (like "Brands Hatch")
along with keywords like "track guide" or "hot lap" or "world record,"
plus maybe the name of the car or class you're practicing with (like "Gr3"),
and possibly even the name of the game (like "Gran Turismo Sport").
...This will usually turn up a list of videos showing how faster drivers attack the track.
If you observe those videos closely & pay attention to things like when/where they brake, when/where they turn in, where they apex, etc., you will likely pick up some clues on how to improve your own lap times.
For example: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%22brands+hatch%22+%22gran+turismo+sport%22+%22gr3%22
Here are my two go to. First one is about general techniques like mental preparation. Second one is about the actual driving, racing lines etc.
https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Speed-Secrets-Complete-High-Performance/dp/0760340501
https://www.amazon.com/Going-Faster-Mastering-Race-Driving/dp/0837602262
Support the authors if you can ;)
Hi! I just had a look, that mod looks pretty great.
I’d go with the hardest spring. I have my LC pedals as hard as they go, even removed the little foam there and replaced with the next hardest urethane.
You know, once upon a time some guys were world champions running Logitech driving force pro/get wheels, some of them without FFB for some reason. What makes somebody better than others is practice practice practice and a lot of experience and technique.
Also, I believe someone with great technique and shit hardware will perform much better than the opposite. Go read the following books and you’ll stop wondering whether you can get better or not, you just will!
https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Speed-Secrets-Complete-High-Performance/dp/0760340501
https://www.amazon.com/Going-Faster-Mastering-Race-Driving/dp/0837602262
Do you have some physical limitation that makes controlling the cars difficult for you, like arthritis, or bad vision, etc.? (Not at all trying to be disrespectful by asking, just trying to see if there's an obvious challenge.)
If you haven't already, try reviewing materials like these:
• Skip Barber - Going Faster (90-minute YouTube video)
• iRacing Racing School (YouTube video playlist)
• DrivingFast.net
• TurnFast.com
• "Ultimate Speed Secrets: The Complete Guide to High-Performance and Race Driving" by Ross Bentley (book)
There are lots of high-performance driving resources available for learning & improving - here are just a few of them:
• Skip Barber - Going Faster (90-minute YouTube video)
• iRacing Racing School (YouTube video playlist)
• DrivingFast.net
• TurnFast.com
• "Ultimate Speed Secrets: The Complete Guide to High-Performance and Race Driving" by Ross Bentley (book)
...And, of course, there's no shortcut or substitute for lots of quality practice.
You can mix some of your hobbies into one, fellow simracer. Your desire for car knowledge can lead you at being a better driver. Using myself as a example, I have read this book to understand more about race techniques and this one to have a better general understanding of racing. I read them while I was bored at home or in a bus going/coming from college and at home I practiced those techniques.
Not the solution for all of your problems (I cant see a way to mix 3D modelling with anything else), but I hope that it helps a bit.
I would also recommend checking out this book. https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Speed-Secrets-Complete-High-Performance/dp/0760340501/ref=zg_bs_10532_19
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