Speed Secrets Podcast

John Shoffner joins me to talk about how to maintain and even improve your driving performance as you get older. We talk about diet, supplements, mental training, fitness, and the basic differences between young and older drivers.

John started racing at the age of 58, and within a year was racing in the VLN series at the Nurburgring. With a steep learning curve like that, he’s done everything he can to minimize the effects of aging, and now feels he’s fitter – physically and mentally – than he was decades ago.

John’s Speed Secret: Always be at the limit.

Follow:

• Web: www.j2-racing.com
• Facebook:www.facebook.com/j2racingofficial
• Instagram:@j2racingofficial

097 – Matt Romanowski: Note-taking & Data – A Driver’s Best Friends

Matt Romanowski joins me to talk about how to make notes before and after on-track sessions in a way that will help you improve – and help your car improve. Then we talk about the use of data, and even how to integrate your note-taking with what comes out of your data logger.

Matt is a long-time contributor to Speed Secrets Weekly, a data coach who sells and supports data systems, a car setup tuner, and driver coach. Oh, and wheels a pretty fast Porsche 914.

Matt’s Speed Secret: Have a focus for every session on track.

Follow:

• Web: www.TrailBrake.net
• Instagram:@trailbrakematt

Matt mentioned the Shocks for DriverseBook that I publish, and if you’re interested in it, go to SpeedSecrets.com/product/Shocks-for-Drivers/

Tom Long is back on the podcast and we’re talking about getting past what seem like the inevitable plateaus in driving and racing. We talk about the mental blocks, the techniques, and corners where drivers have the most trouble. More importantly, we give you some strategies for breaking through. Tom is a long-time feature writer and expert panelist for Speed Secrets Weekly. He’s a Mazda-factory, championship-winning driver, and a sought-after driver coach.

Tom’s Speed Secret: Drive the car like you’re on a scale pad.

Follow Tom if you’re in the market for a great coach or to find out the results of the final championship race in 2018. Go to:

• Website:http://www.tomlongracing.com/(weekly blog posts/reports)
• Facebook: www.Facebook.com/TomLongRacing/
• Twitter:@TomLongRacing
• Instrgram: @TomLongRacing

And if you’d like more from Tom – and dozens of other drivers, coaches, engineers, data experts, and team owners – check out Speed Secrets Weekly at SpeedSecrets.com/SSW.

Russ Rosenberg joins me to talk about his book, Racing Under the Illusion of Grandeur. More importantly, we’re talking about the topic of his book: how to get started in racing after age 40 and what Russ learned when he took on that challenge. But oh, this book – and what Russ has to share – applies to any driver, of any age, in any form of motorsport.

Russ races two very cool cars - a ‘76 BMW 2002 and a ‘66 Yenko Stinger - in vintage races, as well as competing in World Racing League events.

Russ’s Speed Secret: You need to learn how to be fast offline.

Follow Russ at: www.facebook.com/TxCoyoteRacing/

And buy his book at: www.txcoyoteracing.com/racing-under-the-illusion-of-grande

Colin Braun joins me once again - while we’re traveling in Europe – and we talk about how to be fast in fast corners. There aren’t many – if any – faster drivers in sports cars these days, so Colin’s advice on how to work your way up to the limit in very fast corners is great information. Also, we talk about how to sense the limits of the tires when in these fast corners (hint: it’s not wiggling the steering wheel back and forth).

Colin has raced and won in everything from NASCAR to IMSA. He currently drives an Oreca LMP2 car for CORE Autosports in the Weather Tech IMSA series, CrowdStrike Racing in the Pirelli World Challenge, and United Autosports in the Michelin Le Mans Series.

Follow:

Web: https://colinbraun.com

Facebook:www.facebook.com/ColinBraun

Twitter:@colinbraun

Instagram:@colinbraun

Christian Maloof and I have a fun, casual conversation about what momentum cars really are, how they differ from non-momentum cars (if at all), and how to get the most out of them. We dig into the skills and techniques (braking, steering, throttle), as well as the mindset that these “roll speed” cars reward.

Christian is a super-fast racer, an instructor/coach, and all-round good guy. He’s the chief instructor for the Rally Sport Region of the PCA, and races a Spec Miata.

Christian’s Speed Secret: Have fun! You need rewards! (I think you’ve heard that before, but it’s always worth reminding why we do what we do)

Follow Christian on Instagram @thecarcouple.

Peter Krause returns on this podcast to discuss driver etiquette. Our topics include shared responsibility, trust, precision, respect, and learning control, not just bettering your lap time. Peter is a driver coach, data coach, data analysis expert, and he sells and services all your data needs. He is also a friend, colleague, and collaborator on the Virtual Track Walk video series. Peter’s Speed Secret: At the start of a race, pack closely. Mind the gap – keep it.

Follow Peter at: Website: www.PeterKrause.net; http://www.gofasternow.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/peter.krause

Twitter: @VintageProCoach

Instagram: @VintageProCoach

Andrew Rains is back on the podcast (was also on #56), and we talk about the squiggly lines that data systems of all levels produce, and how you can use them understand what’s going on inside a driver’s mind – or your mind. The subtle shape of these lines tell us a lot, but it takes just a bit of knowledge before you can really use it. And that’s what this show is all about – giving you that knowledge.

Andrew is a driver/racer and coach. He also works for APEX Pro, the very cool device that gives instant feedback to you while driving, letting you know whether you’re driving at, near and nowhere near close to the limit of your car.

Andrew’s Speed Secret: Find your why. Understand why it is you’re doing what you’re doing, know what your goals are.

For information about APEX Pro:

Web: https://apextrackcoach.com

Apex Pro User’s Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/163259564447950/

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/apexdigitaldrivingcoach/

Instagram:@apexdigitaldrivingcoach

Paul Tracy joins me to talk about his TV commentating skills, what made the difference when he won his Indy Car championship, the importance of adapting to the car, and about his comeback to racing this year in a Trans-Am car – what’s worked, and his desire to do more.

Paul really needs no introduction because he was one of the fastest Indy car drivers ever, and won the 2003 CART Champ Car championship. Throughout his Indy car career, Paul drove for the best teams: Penske, Newman-Haas, Team Green, and Player’s/Forsythe. Paul is now part of the NBC Indy car TV coverage team.

Follow:

• Twitter:@paultracy3
• Instagram:@paultracyblacklabelbaggers

After an unforgettable week with 20 guest drivers at the Nurburgring and Spa, as well as spectacular dinners and socializing, my co-hosts, Tom Roberts & Ron Simons, and I sit down and debrief on what we all learned – the drivers and the three of us.

Ron Simons is the RS of RSRNurburg, the leading provider of cars and instruction at the Nurburgring (as well as Spa and other European circuits). He’s been helping drivers experience The Green Hell for over 20 years, and has driven over 20,000 laps of what most drivers agree is the most challenging circuit in the world. Tom Roberts founded Euro Track Adventures a couple of years, when we partnered on our first experience of hosting a group of drivers going to the Nurburgring.

Follow:

Web: https://www.rsrnurburg.com

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/rsrnurburg

Instagram:@rsrnurburg

YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/rsrnurburg