Speed Secrets Podcast

Billy Johnson joins me so we can dig deeper into the topic of what makes the best drivers better than everyone else. As one of the winningest drivers in sports car racing, we talk about what makes him fast, but he also shares what he’s learned from some of his co-drivers.

Billy drives for Chip Ganassi Racing in the Ford GT in the World Endurance Championship (WEC). He made his NASCAR Cup series debut last year driving the #43 Richard Petty car, and is tied for being the winningest driver in the Continental Sports Car Challenge series.

You can follow Billy at:

Web: BillyJohnsonRacing.com

Facebook: facebook.com/BillyJRacing

Twitter & Instagram: @BillyJRacing

Chuck Davies joins me to talk about the future of safety in motorsport, head and neck restraints, helmets, harnesses, and racing and track day events. We touch on the effect Dale Earnhardt’s crash had on the sport, as well as SFI, Snell and FIA standards.

Chuck is the CEO of Simpson Performance Products, a company that is synonymous with safety in motorsport. Their Hybrid S is the only head and neck restraint device that is certified effective for use with 3-point seatbelts.

Chuck’s Speed Secret: “If you use good safety equipment, and you know it makes you safe, you’ll be confident and you’ll go faster.”

To take advantage of the 10% discount that Simpson is offering between now and September 15th, 2018, go to www.TeamSimpson.com, or call 1-800-654-7223 (RACE) and use the code “SECRETS.”

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

Twitter: @SimpsonRacing

Kevin Madsen joins me to talk about the one technique that’ll make the biggest difference to your driving. This show is all about helping you be an even better driver, with lots of great tips and advice – things you can use right now to improve your driving. We dig in deep on vision – more than just saying look far ahead and that vision is important. Then Kevin shares his thoughts on the biggest mistake that drivers make, and send with his Speed Secret: Be prepared.

Kevin is a very experienced and accomplished driver, having won 7 NASA and SCCA championships in 4 years. He’s also one of the best driver coaches around, with experience with people from those who have never driven on a track before to novice HPDE drivers, and pro racers to very experienced track day drivers. As an instructor for Exotics Racing, Porsche Driving Experience, Hooked on Driving, and many more, Kevin has seen a lot, and loves to share what he’s learned with others.

Follow Kevin on Instagram and Facebook @madsenmotorsports, and contact him through his website at www.madsenmotorsports.com.

Matt Farah joins me to talk about becoming better at anything, whether making YouTube videos or driving fast cars. Since he drives a couple of hundred different cars each year, we also talk about whether to adapt to the car, or let the car adapt to us. Then we dig into the fancy footwork of the best drivers, which corners really are the most important ones, and finish up with Matt’s Speed Secrets (two of them!).

Matt’s Speed Secret #1: Learn to heel & toe – and adapt it to any car you drive.

Matt’s Speed Secret #2 : To manage the art of weight transfer, ride a motorcycle.

Matt Farah is the man behind The Smoking Tire YouTube channel and podcast, as well as a contributor to The Drive. With over 200 million views of his videos… if you’re not watching them, you’re missing out on something that all of us love.

 Follow Matt at TheSmokingTire.com, as well as @TheSmokingTire on all the social media channels.

Toni Calderon joins me to talk about managing one’s career, no matter what type or level of the sport you’re involved in. We discuss what he’s seen that works, and what doesn’t work, from sponsorship to working with teams. Toni then talks about gentleman drivers – the subject of a documentary that he’s produced (it will be released in a few months), and the importance of being marketable.

Toni’s Speed Secret is: Don’t think you can do it alone – surround yourself with the right people, and be humble enough to listen to them.

Toni and his business partners James Hinchcliff and David Martinez founded and run Speed Group, a “one-stop shop” company that helps drivers with coaching, management and marketing. Learn more about them by going to www.Speed-Group.us, and follow them @speedgroup1.

Mike Smith, Josh Herbert & Chris Graham join me to talk about their experience moving from HPDE to Time Trials and now to wheel-to-wheel racing in NASA Spec Miata. They share thoughts on the highs and lows, costs, and what they’ve learned. Mike talks about how he’s striving to improve his vision skills, they tell us about how they’re finding and working with sponsors, and Josh shares a great Speed Secret: Just go to a track day and drive!

Mike Smith, Josh Herbert & Chris Graham started and run Spec13 Motorsports, and have fun learning and helping others. You can follow them and their team through their website at www.spec13.com, and on social media at www.facebook.com/spec13motorsports and @spec13motorsports.

To register for the Self-Coaching for Drivers webinar, go to SpeedSecrets.com/Self-Coaching.

Loren Elmer joins me to talk about his book, Stay Alive While Driving, The Secrets of a Race Car Driver. Obviously, there are many skills & techniques that we learn driving on the track that lead to us being better drivers on the street – Loren shares a few of his secrets. We also talk about how you can help others be better drivers on the street.

Loren has instructed drivers from teens to race drivers, and everyone in between, having taught at the major racing schools and teen driving programs. His book, Stay Alive While Driving, The Secrets of a Race Car Driver, is a fun, easy read combining common sense (to us, maybe!) advice and fun stories. Pick up a copy of the book… and then share it with a teen driver or fellow everyday motorist. You’ll be doing the driving world a favor!

Loren’s “speed secret” is: “Take your eyes out of the job that the seat of your pants should be doing.”

Contact Loren through email at [email protected] (be sure to put “Stay Alive” in the subject line), and be sure to get a copy of his book through Amazon (paperback or Kindle versions).

Steve Welk joins me to talk about why so many racers and performance drivers make such good entrepreneurs. What is it about them? Of course, since Steve is a great driver coach, we have to dive into some driving topics, too. In fact, Steve shares his thoughts on the techniques and skills that the best drivers use.

Steve is a former driver, a very successful driver coach, and an entrepreneur. He founded and runs Styled Aesthetic, a clothing company that specializes in motorsport gear. In fact, walk around just about any race track paddock and you’ll see shirts, t-shirts, jackets and hats that Steve’s company have sourced and printed.

Follow Steve and Styled Aesthetic online at www.styledaesthetic.com, on Twitter @StyledAesthetic, @swelk57 on Instagram and Twitter, and www.facebook.com/steve.welk.1 on Facebook.

To learn more and sign up for the Self-Coaching for Drivers webinar I mentioned, go to SpeedSecrets.com/Self-Coaching.

Brian Maksejoins me to talk about the differences and similarities between a few production cars and the factory-built race versions of the same car, the new TCR race platform, a book he’s just completing all about Rolex Daytona 24-Hour race winners (and their watches), and what you can do to get the most out of a coach/instructor.

Brian is first a race driver, and second an automotive author and presenter (he’s quick to point out that he’s not an automotive journalist).

Follow Brian on Instagram and Twitter @brianmakse, and on YouTube at BrianMakse.

Colin & Melissa Braun, as well as Sean Rayhall join me as I drive a Kia Ceed to the Le Mans circuit, and then from there to Paris after the race. We share stories about our not-so-beautiful chateau in the French countryside (cold showers, cats, flea bites), our best and worst air travel experiences, how to pass on the outside of a corner, what it takes to make a career in racing, and what to do with the brake and gas pedal!

Follow Colin and Sean:

@colinbraun on Twitter and Instagram

@seanrayhall on Twitter and Instagram