Jump to content

Photo

Race Driving specific training

- - - - -

  • Please log in to reply
25 replies to this topic

#1
Tom Hampton

Tom Hampton

    Egregious Member

  • SMembers
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,060 posts
  • Location:Mckinney, tx
  • Region:South west
  • Car Year:1992
  • Car Number:41
  • Arg! I lost a whole long post....second attempt, using notepad to type it up, instead.

I wanted to start a discussion about racecar driving specific training. Specifically, who does raceing specific training? What types of training do you do?

I've been looking for information regarding this topic, and have found a few general "the internets" type things (hard to validate, zero referenced literature stuff), and the publicly available videos from Jim Leo/Pitfit/safe-is-fast folks. I've also found a few general public books, that are or varying quality. If anyone has looked into this in more depth, and has found some reasonable scientific research that corelates various skills training to actual race-driving performance I'd be interested in following that rabbit trail further.

At the moment, really all I have is a fairly obvious set of skills that are necessary for driving a racecar and ways to train those skills, but nothing that validates that the training modes demonstrably translate from the "gym" to the racecar. For example, does being able to balance on a wobble board / balance board clearly (measurably) improve your ability to sense the balance of the race platform on the racetrack?

At the moment (until I locate reseach to validate or alter my plan), I'm taking it on faith that training the various skills in the gym CAN translate to the racecar. the way I see it, the following are the skills (and methods for training them):

Balance (in order of difficulty)

  • Balancing on each foot (one the ground, on a beam)
  • Balance Board - Standing
  • Wobble board - Standing
  • Balance Board - seated
  • Wobble board - seated

Hand-eye coordination

  • Juggling
  • Reaction Ball
  • Racing/flight Simulators

Reflex/Reaction (hand-eye specifically)

  • Reaction ball
  • Computer reflex trainer
  • video games (1st person shooters are good)

Strength
Shoulder/Arms

  • lateral raises
  • shoulder press
  • push ups
  • pull ups
  • seated rows
  • internal/external rotation
  • steering

Core

  • planks
  • bridges
  • leg raises
  • back extensions
  • ...lots of options here to keep things varied...

Neck

  • flexion
  • lateral flexion
  • extension

Focus/concentration

  • juggling alternating with intensive exercise
  • reaction alternating with intensive exercise
  • juggling for extended durations following cardio workouts

Heat tolerance

  • cardio workouts in the heat of the day (or indoors witout a fan)

So, that's all fine and dandy, but it's not a detailed plan that tells me "what am I doing tomorrow?". To that end, my current approach is:

Monday/Wednesday/Friday:

  • AM: Stationary Cycling 50 minutes, basic continuous Juggling for 5 minutes
  • Lunch: Computer based Reflex training
  • PM: Strength (excluding Core work), Reaction ball 5 minutes
  • PM2: Race Simulator at upcoming racetrack, 1 hour
  • PM3: Balance board while watching TV

Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday:

  • AM: rowing machine 50 minues, basic continuous Juggling for 5 minutes
  • Lunch: Computer based Reflex training
  • PM: Strength (excluding Core work), Reaction ball 5 minutes
  • PM2: Race Simulator at upcoming racetrack, 1 hour
  • PM3: Balance board while watching TV

Sunday:

  • AM: Long Outdoor bike, at 1.5 times the duration of longest race

I look at the above as "base training":: Developing most of the skills in general isolation without much regard for translating them to the racecar. As the season progresses, a typical training program would then work towards more "sport specific" aspects and begin trying to bridge the gap between the isolated skill and the racecar.

Once each area is developed to a sufficient level (I haven't really set any benchmarks to obtain, yet), I'll begin combining them in various ways (circuit training, juggling while standing on balance board, alternating balance/reflex/coordination/simulator training with intense exercise, etc).

I'll post those up here (if there is interest), as I develop and refine my thoughts and the training season progresses.

If you are still reading, cool. I'm interested in anyone elses thoughts or other experiences. I know dstevens said that he has actually trained with PitFit.


  • Chris Ashcraft likes this

-tch
Build: www.tomhampton.info

video: vimeo.com/tomhampton

Support: X-Factor Racing

 

I didn't lose, I just got outspent!

Beta-Tester - Assisted us with beta testing the website. Donor - Made PayPal donation Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver

#2
ChrisA

ChrisA

    Veteran Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 659 posts
  • Location:Richmond, VA
  • Region:NCR
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:58

What, you don't work for a living?? Have someone that does all your chores & errands, too?? Morning, lunch and 3 PM sessions, six days a week is too much. The body & mind needs time to rest and recover as well, unless you workouts are pretty passive.  :devil:  You don't want to burn out or create repetitive stress injuries.


Chris

 

Happiness is a dry martini and a good woman ... or a bad woman.
- George Burns


#3
Caveman-kwebb99

Caveman-kwebb99

    Veteran Member

  • SMembers
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 3,062 posts
  • Location:World Wide
  • Region:Great lakes
  • Car Year:2000
  • Car Number:99
16oz curles to build up wrist strength for crisp precise turn ins.

Brisk walking after inebriation to better be able to control the tank slapper from turning in to briskley.

Bad Minton tournaments to polish those eye hand skills

Catching flys with the bare hand to be able to catch the car in the kink at road America when the turn in is to late.

Shopping with the wife at Nordstrom to build patience used in waiting for the mistakes of your competitors
  • Tom Hampton, FTodaro, mhiggins10 and 3 others like this

K. Webb
Powered by East Street Racing (Best engines in Spec Miata)

Driver coach, Spec Miata Prep shop, Spec Miata Setup

2016 Hard Charger award passing 12 cars runoffs 2016 Mid Ohio

2016 P3 RUNOFFS OVER 40 DIVISION LOL!

2015 First consolation prize Northern Conference Majors Title Pageant
2015 Winner Circus Cat Majors Road America

2015 Winner BlackHawk Majors crash fest

My Signature is still not as long as Danny boy's
 

 

 

Donor - Made PayPal donation Majors Winner - Chatterbox - Blah blah blah... Blah blah blah Instigator - Made a topic or post that inspired other Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Make it Rain - Made Paypal donation of $100+

#4
Tom Hampton

Tom Hampton

    Egregious Member

  • SMembers
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,060 posts
  • Location:Mckinney, tx
  • Region:South west
  • Car Year:1992
  • Car Number:41

What, you don't work for a living?? Have someone that does all your chores & errands, too?? Morning, lunch and 3 PM sessions, six days a week is too much. The body & mind needs time to rest and recover as well, unless you workouts are pretty passive.  :devil:  You don't want to burn out or create repetitive stress injuries.


Fair enough.  I had a long post explaining more details.  Probably pointless.  Suffice it to say, that I've been training like this for a very long time---multiple decades.  I agree its not for everyone.  I am merely putting it out there as my way...to start a conversation about what other people might be doing. 


-tch
Build: www.tomhampton.info

video: vimeo.com/tomhampton

Support: X-Factor Racing

 

I didn't lose, I just got outspent!

Beta-Tester - Assisted us with beta testing the website. Donor - Made PayPal donation Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver

#5
ChrisA

ChrisA

    Veteran Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 659 posts
  • Location:Richmond, VA
  • Region:NCR
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:58

I've been into fitness most of my life as well. Was a personal trainer for while as well. Everybody's body responds differently to training and some are able to listen to what it's telling them and respond appropriately and some need constant or regular instruction. I'm on roughly a 6 day routine, some weeks 3-ON/1-OFF, others 6-ON. I generally try to hit each muscle group twice a week fairly hard (but not like in my teens & 20s  :) ) and at a good pace and get in 2-3 cardio sessions. When I do more, things start getting achy. Most important thing is you are maintaining an exercise regime. Be willing to play around with what you have above and see what the body responds to development wise and what you enjoy doing. Drop the other things.


Chris

 

Happiness is a dry martini and a good woman ... or a bad woman.
- George Burns


#6
Richard Astacio

Richard Astacio

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 339 posts
  • Location:Stamford CT
  • Region:NER
  • Car Year:2003
  • Car Number:80

Indoor go karting is fun in the winter also. 


Richard Astacio

2003 Spec Miata VVT & 2013 Cup Car
 

We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Donor - Made PayPal donation Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver

#7
Caveman-kwebb99

Caveman-kwebb99

    Veteran Member

  • SMembers
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 3,062 posts
  • Location:World Wide
  • Region:Great lakes
  • Car Year:2000
  • Car Number:99
I nearly forgot about:

Doing doughnuts in a snow covered parking lot where no police are near, in order to perfect those NASCAR like doughnuts on the victory lap when given a chance by scca :)
  • av8tor likes this

K. Webb
Powered by East Street Racing (Best engines in Spec Miata)

Driver coach, Spec Miata Prep shop, Spec Miata Setup

2016 Hard Charger award passing 12 cars runoffs 2016 Mid Ohio

2016 P3 RUNOFFS OVER 40 DIVISION LOL!

2015 First consolation prize Northern Conference Majors Title Pageant
2015 Winner Circus Cat Majors Road America

2015 Winner BlackHawk Majors crash fest

My Signature is still not as long as Danny boy's
 

 

 

Donor - Made PayPal donation Majors Winner - Chatterbox - Blah blah blah... Blah blah blah Instigator - Made a topic or post that inspired other Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Make it Rain - Made Paypal donation of $100+

#8
LarryKing

LarryKing

    Veteran Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,659 posts

I jump to conclusions.

 

I also lift weight. . .                 . . . every time I stand up.


  • JRHille likes this
2017 - SMSE SEDiv ECR Champion
Donor - Made PayPal donation Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver

#9
wheel

wheel

    Veteran Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 800 posts
  • Location:Kansas City
  • Region:KC
  • Car Year:1992
  • Car Number:20

stretching, lifting, sit ups, etc.  all as part of engine changes and body work.  Before the season I reduce the number of cigars and martinis.  Actually, I promise to reduce the number, I don't actually reduce them.  


  • Todd Lamb likes this

#10
Mike Collins

Mike Collins

    Big Cheese

  • Moderators
  • 1,262 posts
  • Location:Summit Point Motorsports Park
  • Region:Washington DC
  • Car Number:75

I must use the same trainer as the caveman.


Mike "MEATHEAD" Collins
Founder - Partner
MEATHEADRacing
240-476-1593

www.meatheadracing.com
Make it Rain - Made Paypal donation of $100+ Sponsor / Advertiser - Site sponsor / advertiser... support these guys! Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver Sugar Daddy - Made PayPal donation of $500+ Donor - Made PayPal donation Beta-Tester - Assisted us with beta testing the website. MX5 Cup Participant - Has Participated in a MX5Cup.com Series Event Instigator - Made a topic or post that inspired other

#11
Tom Hampton

Tom Hampton

    Egregious Member

  • SMembers
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,060 posts
  • Location:Mckinney, tx
  • Region:South west
  • Car Year:1992
  • Car Number:41
Lmao. Well that took a left turn. :)

-tch
Build: www.tomhampton.info

video: vimeo.com/tomhampton

Support: X-Factor Racing

 

I didn't lose, I just got outspent!

Beta-Tester - Assisted us with beta testing the website. Donor - Made PayPal donation Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver

#12
Bench Racer

Bench Racer

    Different strokes for different folks : )

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 5,508 posts
  • Location:Wauwatosa, WI
  • Region:Milwaukee
  • Car Year:1990
  • Car Number:14

^ Don't they all!!!


Broken record - You are starting to sound like a broken record. Donor - Made PayPal donation Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver

#13
Caveman-kwebb99

Caveman-kwebb99

    Veteran Member

  • SMembers
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 3,062 posts
  • Location:World Wide
  • Region:Great lakes
  • Car Year:2000
  • Car Number:99

Lmao. Well that took a left turn. :)

 

 

Sorry!  but this is the off season... We should not be discussing serious topics, while most of us are in our sun deprived depression state.  also known as SAD!


K. Webb
Powered by East Street Racing (Best engines in Spec Miata)

Driver coach, Spec Miata Prep shop, Spec Miata Setup

2016 Hard Charger award passing 12 cars runoffs 2016 Mid Ohio

2016 P3 RUNOFFS OVER 40 DIVISION LOL!

2015 First consolation prize Northern Conference Majors Title Pageant
2015 Winner Circus Cat Majors Road America

2015 Winner BlackHawk Majors crash fest

My Signature is still not as long as Danny boy's
 

 

 

Donor - Made PayPal donation Majors Winner - Chatterbox - Blah blah blah... Blah blah blah Instigator - Made a topic or post that inspired other Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Make it Rain - Made Paypal donation of $100+

#14
FTodaro

FTodaro

    Veteran Member

  • SMembers
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 3,084 posts
  • Location:Columbus Ohio
  • Region:Great Lakes
  • Car Year:2001
  • Car Number:35

I must use the same trainer as the caveman.

Your trainer has a blue ribbon.


  • Mike Collins likes this

Frank
TnT Racing
SCCA Ohio Valley Region
 

Make it Rain - Made Paypal donation of $100+ We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver Donor - Made PayPal donation

#15
Tom Hampton

Tom Hampton

    Egregious Member

  • SMembers
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,060 posts
  • Location:Mckinney, tx
  • Region:South west
  • Car Year:1992
  • Car Number:41

Sorry!  but this is the off season... We should not be discussing serious topics, while most of us are in our sun deprived depression state.  also known as SAD!


Off season??? Says who?!? Then why has my car already had an encounter with a wall? Oh yeah...'cuz I don't live in the winter wonderland known as "the frozen hell!"
 


-tch
Build: www.tomhampton.info

video: vimeo.com/tomhampton

Support: X-Factor Racing

 

I didn't lose, I just got outspent!

Beta-Tester - Assisted us with beta testing the website. Donor - Made PayPal donation Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver

#16
davew

davew

    Veteran Member

  • SMembers
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,297 posts
  • Location:Beloit, Wi
  • Region:Chicago
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:72

I must be a lightweight, as I only do 12 ounce curls. Sometimes only 1 ounce!!!!!


Dave Wheeler
Advanced Autosports, the nations most complete Spec Miata shop
Author, Spec Miata Constructors Guide, version 1 and 2.0

Building Championship winning cars since 1995

4 time Central Division Spec Miata Champion car builder 2012-2013-2014-2017

Back to Back June Sprints Spec Miata 1-2 finishes 2016 and 2017

5 time June Sprints winner in Mazda's

6 Time Northern Conference Champion Car Builder

2014 SCCA Majors National point Champion car builder

2014 SCCA Runoffs winner, T4 (Bender)

2014 Central Division Champion, ITS (Wheeler)

2013 Thunderhill 25 hour winning crew chief

2007 June Sprints winner, (GT1, Mohrhauser)

Over 200 race wins and counting.
www.advanced-autosports.com
dave@advanced-autosports.com
608-313-1230

Survive the 25, NASA Thunderhill - Survive the 25, NASA Thunderhill We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Sponsor / Advertiser - Site sponsor / advertiser... support these guys! Donor - Made PayPal donation Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver

#17
Todd Lamb

Todd Lamb

    Driver Coach // Racer

  • SMembers
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 980 posts
  • Location:Atlanta, GA

This is sorta the gold standard in the US for driver training...

http://pitfit.com/e-...ining-programs/


Full disclosure: SMAC chairman, my opinions do not reflect anything to do with the SMAC unless specifically stated.

Todd Lamb
Atlanta Speedwerks
www.atlspeedwerks.com
SpeedShift Transmissions - reliability and performance

Spec Miata / Spec Boxster / Spec Cayman specialist

Spec MX-5 Challenge Series Director

Global MX-5 Cup team

MX5 Cup Champion - Has won a Season in the MX5 Cup Survive the 25, NASA Thunderhill - Survive the 25, NASA Thunderhill NASA Champs Winner - NASA Champs Winner ARRC Champion - Won the ARRC Race in a Spec Miata We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Series Champ - Won a points based series in a Spec Miata Donor - Made PayPal donation Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner Majors Winner - World Challenge Winner - World Challenge Winner

#18
Mike Collins

Mike Collins

    Big Cheese

  • Moderators
  • 1,262 posts
  • Location:Summit Point Motorsports Park
  • Region:Washington DC
  • Car Number:75

do you think maybe the 1.6 drivers lack the same training as the '99+ drivers do?  Can we create a rule or force the "99 drivers to sit on the couch and watch cnn all day and not allow them to stay at a Holiday Inn Express on race weekend to achieve parity?


Mike "MEATHEAD" Collins
Founder - Partner
MEATHEADRacing
240-476-1593

www.meatheadracing.com
Make it Rain - Made Paypal donation of $100+ Sponsor / Advertiser - Site sponsor / advertiser... support these guys! Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver Sugar Daddy - Made PayPal donation of $500+ Donor - Made PayPal donation Beta-Tester - Assisted us with beta testing the website. MX5 Cup Participant - Has Participated in a MX5Cup.com Series Event Instigator - Made a topic or post that inspired other

#19
FTodaro

FTodaro

    Veteran Member

  • SMembers
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 3,084 posts
  • Location:Columbus Ohio
  • Region:Great Lakes
  • Car Year:2001
  • Car Number:35

This is sorta the gold standard in the US for driver training...

http://pitfit.com/e-...ining-programs/

Wow and here I thought the Beer and Cigarettes was the state of the art?


Frank
TnT Racing
SCCA Ohio Valley Region
 

Make it Rain - Made Paypal donation of $100+ We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver Donor - Made PayPal donation

#20
MPR22

MPR22

    Veteran Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,138 posts
  • Location:Houston
  • Region:Southwest
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:22
One of the most important things you can do is learn to focus when stressed and tired. So do mental exercises between sets at the gym. This has helped me tremendously over the last year.
Shattering - For those who cant drink tequila NASA Champs Winner - NASA Champs Winner Majors Winner - Novel Approach - When a paragraph simply won't do... We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver Donor - Made PayPal donation




0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users