Car Racing Thoughts

I just started thinking about car racing and Riley Racing.  The Riley's have done business with my father and they have serviced our cars at their shop.  In the past we have watched them race at Lime Rock in Litchfield County, Connecticut. Their son A.J. also went to UCONN.

I haven't been to a race in awhile but I randomly went on their website.

They posted some cool videos.

www.rileyracing.com

A.J. Riley is the only race car driver I know, so let's get a few things straight.  HE WORKS OUT ALL THE TIME.  He is always tweeting about track workouts and he loves cycling.  So yes, race car drivers can be athletic and often are in good shape.  They aren't all like Dick Trickle, who had a cigarette lighter in his car according to what I have read.   Trickle is the exception from what I can best tell...although there is no telling what goes on in some parts, which I learned from going to the Rodeo way back in October.

So in watching the videos I started to think about how different race car driving is then actual driving.  First of all, you need great reaction times.  I had to dodge a ladder on the road this year and that really tested my ability to swerve and avoid something on the highway while going 70.  It took an instant reaction, sharp to the right, sharp back to left and then snap back to the right with the wheel before I got going steady again.  You need quick reactions for hours. 

You also have to understand momentum and how to maintain it on road courses especially.  How you enter a turn is a big deal.  I know this from cycling.  When I know there is no traffic I can make a big swoop and accelerate through a turn and up a hill easily.  If I am forced to the inside because of traffic it becomes a lot more difficult.  Corner entry and exit is a big deal.

One thing I'd also love to do is try to control a car on old, worn and hot tires.  When we drive we are so used to a car doing exactly what we tell it to do.  That happens all the time for us, because cars don't go fast enough on the roads to be put to their limits.  When you race, cars don't always do what you want them to do.  Some sliding happens, the brakes get hot etc.  You have to learn to be able to put the car where you want it and when using more skill than what a normal driver needs.  Racing is so much more complicated.