You might know how to ride a car and a motorcycle, it’s not difficult – almost everybody can do it. You might even think that you are very good at it. However, riding a race car or a race motorcycle is a completely different ballpark. It takes a completely different set of skills to endure the g-force and prevent your vehicle from going off the track.
Once you try racing and you see the appeal of it, you will want to get racer education in order to take your personal racing potential to the max and use your car’s or bike’s performance to their ultimate limit.
Driver’s Education
Participating in a racing school has multiple benefits. Apart from teaching you the proper techniques for riding fast, efficiently, and safely, it also gives you an opportunity to earn a racing license. Just because you are able to drive your car or bike 150 MPH on a desolate freeway does not mean that you are Ayrton Senna. You should learn how to corner properly, how to brake, how and when to accelerate, and so much more.
Learn the String Rule
The string rule is probably the first thing you are going to be taught when you enter a racing school. It is more closely related to car racing but the whole idea can be translated to bike racing as well.
You should imagine that there is an imaginary string tied to your steering wheel and your gas pedal. The more you turn your wheels to the side, the less you will be able to press the gas pedal. That’s the whole idea of it. Decelerate in corners and accelerate on the straights if you want to stay on the track.
Learn How to Brake
When you’re practicing to get your regular driver’s license, you told not to brake hard. Instead, you are told to anticipate when the braking is going to be necessary and take enough time to decelerate. Braking when you’re racing is completely counter-intuitive.
When racing, you should brake hard just before the corner and engage your brakes up to 80-90% of their potential. As you are going through the corner, you should release the brakes gradually and accelerate when you’re out. This will give you more control and let you corner more efficiently.
Don’t Let Go
By not letting go, we mean the steering wheel. You should grab your steering wheel at 9 and 3 o’clock and forget about the hand-over-hand maneuver. Never let go of the steering wheel unless you need to change the gear or use the handbrake. It’s tough to get used to it in the beginning but you soon realize the benefits.