Finding the apex

[Jay Laifman]

My son, 11, has been taking karting lessons at Jim Hall in Oxnard. I've been doing it too. It is an absolute blast of course. They of course has shown us where the braking zones, trail braking zones, and apexes are on their whole track. But, they actually haven't instructed how to analyze any given corner for other tracks. Of course like any 44 year old guy with an overinflated ego who has been driving sports cars for 30 years, I have a belief that I somewhat understand finding a good line and apex of various corners. But, I realize I really don't know for sure.

This weekend, my son is having his birthday party at the MB2 indoor go kart track in Sylmar. I'd kind of like to be able to discuss with him the best lines for that track. I've been trying to find something on line that will help with tips to supplement what I know I don't know. I've searched without much luck.

Anyone know of anything on line?

Unfortunately, I do know that the track layout that MB2 has on their web site is not their current track set up.

Thanks.

[304065]

Driving in competition by Alan Johnson. Best thin single volume about analyzing corners and working up new tracks there is. Not online, but can be bought online cheap.

[jluetjen]

I'm a big fan of "The Technique of Auto Racing" by Piero Taruffi. For the video generation, there's also "Going Faster" from the Skip Barber racing School. Both do an excellent job of describing the apex.

Skip's video sums it up as...
1) Start with a late apex, which will result in you having left over road at track-out. It's safer.
2) Incrementally make the apex earlier until you are tracking out right on the outside edge of the pavement.

In all cases you should be turning smoothly, without pinching the corner at the apex.

[Netspeed]

Originally Posted by Jay Laifman

My son, 11, has been taking karting lessons at Jim Hall in Oxnard. I've been doing it too. It is an absolute blast of course. They of course has shown us where the braking zones, trail braking zones, and apexes are on their whole track. But, they actually haven't instructed how to analyze any given corner for other tracks. Of course like any 44 year old guy with an overinflated ego who has been driving sports cars for 30 years, I have a belief that I somewhat understand finding a good line and apex of various corners. But, I realize I really don't know for sure.

This weekend, my son is having his birthday party at the MB2 indoor go kart track in Sylmar. I'd kind of like to be able to discuss with him the best lines for that track. I've been trying to find something on line that will help with tips to supplement what I know I don't know. I've searched without much luck.

Anyone know of anything on line?

Unfortunately, I do know that the track layout that MB2 has on their web site is not their current track set up.

Thanks.

There's an indoor kart track in Sylmar? Awesome! I always thought the only one around was Dromo1 way out in Anaheim. How does it compare to Dormo1 and do you have a website or link to them?

[aston@ultrasw.c]

As a newbie to closed circuit driving something dawned on me the other day.

It's OK to talk about apex, turn in point, braking point and so on but when one is out on the circuit, we must not look directly at any of these points!!

My instructor often tells me to; look across the corner, look down the straight, keep my head up etc...

I find I drive much smoother (and hence faster) if I keep my eyes focused down the track and only allow specific reference points to float in and out of my peripheral vision.

Anyone else experience this, or has another way of describing it?

[Jay Laifman]

http://mb2raceway.reachlocal.net/

It's off the 405 right after leaving the Valley and becoming the 5.

[gulf911]

The apex is of course the center of the corner, hence, the terms late apex, early apex etc., how you approach a particular corner can depend on the car, the next corner etc. You will generally read you want to be at or near full throttle at the apex of the corner. That being said, being on the gas as early as possible through the corner to exit will usually result in faster times. The hardest part sometimes is usually trying not to turn in too early. use late apex's to start with and then try to see where you can get on the gas early and shoot out of the corner. Anyway, just some thoughts. YMMV.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Another good book, "Secrets of Solo Racing" by Hank Watts.

A good mantra for most track experiences is, "Look ahead look ahead look ahead look ahead". You are supposed to look for your turn-in, apex, track-out points--but you should not be looking directly at them, most especially while you are driving by them! If "letting them drift in and out of your peripheral vision" is how you can keep looking further ahead, that's perfectly valid.

I personally try to focus and commit the car to a path. I then try to shift my attention to the next thing that I can affect, while keeping in mind the adjustments that are needed to make the car actually do what I have committed it to do in my mind. At least, that's what I'm trying to do; it doesn't work nearly as well in practice.

--DD

[ZOA NOM]

It's simple; the driver who turns his front wheels the least wins.

[Netspeed]

Originally Posted by ZOANAS

It's simple; the driver who turns his front wheels the least wins.

Very true...unless you're rallying

[Jay Laifman]

Thanks everyone.

[fredmeister]

A good way of finding the apex thru a turn is to see where the cement has been added to the track asphalt surface. Usually the track is torn up by cars on the fastest line thru the turn, so they need to repair the damaged areas by ading cement to and ordinarily asphalt surface. Next track day your on keep that in mind and see if running the cement surface tracks thru the fastest line and likely the apex for the turn.