Road Driving

HPC Honours Three

Introduction

You don't need to be an engineer to understand why this works. - For some this is useful for others it will be confusing and that's good because out of confusion comes order!

Our "Honours Three" course builds upon the candidate's existing car control skills. The course is a challenging exploration of the dynamics of handling a car at the limit of the performance envelope (the limit of grip).

The summary below outlines the specific skills that a driver will be able to demonstrate on successful completion. As many of the competencies are interrelated and developed simultaneously, these are not separately defined under each skill heading.

This is just the beginning. People come back again and again because they learn more applications of these principles every time they come to improve towards mastery. Mastery means understanding the principles, putting them into practice (in the muscle as it were) and being able to generate innovative solutions to minor circumstances simply and easily over a wide range of circumstances, simply as a matter of course.

Fundamentals

• An overview of a simple model explaining the overall philosophy of successful driving.
• An overview of the coaching process applied to the course.
• An overview of vehicle dynamics and the interaction of the human body (ergonomics).

Understanding Grip

• Understanding Tyres - Basic construction and behaviour.
• Understanding slip angles.
• Understanding grip vs slip angle diagrams.
• Understanding self-aligning torque.

Managing Grip

• Understanding the basic dynamics of vehicles.
• Exploring understeer and oversteer.
• Managing weight distribution.
• Managing grip near to the limit of adhesion.
• Managing power induced oversteer.
• "Heel and Toe" gear changes.

Steering

• Steering techniques.
• Oversteer correction.
• Understeer correction.

Competencies

• Recognise the human activities required of a driver that indicate when a vehicle is on, near to and over the limit of adhesion.
• Understand how to manage and maintain a clear, relaxed internal state of mind and body that enables car control to become simply a matter of fact almost irrespective of circumstance.
• Consistently look in the right place to position the vehicle appropriately.
• Operate the steering at the limit of adhesion to appropriately manage vehicle stability throughout the corner.
• Operate the throttle at the limit of adhesion to appropriately manage vehicle stability in fast, medium and slow corners.
• Operate the brake to optimise braking efficiently at the limit of adhesion.
• Combine the use of controls to optimise performance in transients from braking, through cornering and acceleration.
• Understand and manage dynamic weight distribution.
• Ability to recognise oversteer and correctly determine the proper response.
• Be able to heel and toe.

Demonstration

• Drivers will be able to explain clearly how they know when they are near to the limit of the performance envelope at corner entry, mid corner and exit phases.
• The driver consistently focuses on the optimum line for the intended course.
• The driver displays judgement of terminal (gross) understeer and displays the effective use of steering to improve turn-in when understeer is apparently terminal.
• Demonstrate oversteer and reliably correct the situation by effective use of steering and/or throttle.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the effect of changes in dynamic weight distribution under braking.
• Demonstrate optimum steering technique coupled with appropriate use of throttle and braking systems to change the attitude of a vehicle near the limit of its performance envelope in mid-corner.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the way in which grip is monitored and managed throughout the corner from turn-in through the transient phases to exit of the corner. Removal of steering input at corner exit and precise judgement of application of accelerator.
• The driver will manage the transient from braking to cornering to acceleration (including smooth gear changing as necessary).
• The driver remains focused on good technique irrespective of minor distractions or errors.
• The driver displays the ability to manage the dynamic weight distribution using steering, throttle and brakes to modify vehicle response in a range of situations to optimise control and stability as appropriate.
• Recognition of the response of the steering at the onset of oversteer and the ability to adjust the steering to manage the situation with smooth and seamless operation.
• Be able to smoothly select a lower gear whilst braking at the same time and matching engine speed to road speed for the gear selected. Smooth downshifting at the same time as braking. (heel and toe).