Videos from my first DE.

[Kong Sheng Han]

Hey guys. Went to the TWS PDS on the 18th and 19th, and I thought I'd share some videos. It was a lot of fun, and I met a lot of people, including some forum members. You can critique anything but my helmet and camera placement, angle, etc.

Day 1, session 4. I forgot to bring my camera mount extension, and that's why the mirror is in the way. I had a two wheel off incident at 15:10.

Day 2, session 2.

Day 2, session 4.

Some pictures, waiting for the high resolution ones to come in.

View post on imgur.com

[The HACK]

Originally Posted by Kong Sheng Han

I forgot to bring my camera mount extension, and that's why the mirror is in the way.

That's actually a good thing, if you intend to use the video(s) as a way to improve upon your driving vs. showing off your mad driving prowess to the intarweb. Because you can see your eyes clearly in the video. It will give you an opportunity to re-assess whether or not you're looking at the right spot at the right time.

[Kong Sheng Han]

Originally Posted by The HACK

That's actually a good thing, if you intend to use the video(s) as a way to improve upon your driving vs. showing off your mad driving prowess to the intarweb. Because you can see your eyes clearly in the video. It will give you an opportunity to re-assess whether or not you're looking at the right spot at the right time.

Hmm. I didn't think about that. I noticed I was looking around a lot. I don't know if that's a good or bad thing, experts should be able to tell me though. And yes, I made the videos for analysis purposes. I'll keep the camera inside next time.

[M3 Number 86]

Damn - I wanted to critique the helmet, instead I will ask two questions: why thumbs up like that and then why is your arm SO DARK (I'm assuming you're asian) when pointing by?

[Kong Sheng Han]

Originally Posted by M3 Number 86

Damn - I wanted to critique the helmet, instead I will ask two questions: why thumbs up like that and then why is your arm SO DARK (I'm assuming you're asian) when pointing by?

Thumbs up on the wheel? Bc my instructor told me to. At one point in the video, you can see him move my thumb to that position. I'm not the Chinese Asian you're thinking of, as my name suggests.

[M3 Number 86]

Originally Posted by Kong Sheng Han

Thumbs up on the wheel? Bc my instructor told me to. At one point in the video, you can see him move my thumb to that position. I'm not the Chinese Asian you're thinking of, as my name suggests.

Hmm - I've never heard of thumbs up on the wheel. And I'm asian too - just wondering why so DARK?! HAHA

[ThunderMoose]

Asia is a big continent.

Good job on your first weekend. You're miles ahead of where I was when I first started.

[dmw16]

Good start.

I clicked thru the video to a few spots and just a few tips/observations/what-have-you's.

Lighten your grip on the wheel; drive with fingers, not hands.

Don't chase the apexes...I saw a few places where you turned in late and then chased the apex...instead, once you've missed an apex just focus on hitting your track out...no sense in "crying over spilled milk".

Eyes up. This goes without saying and even guys with a fair bit of seat time let their eyes come down sometimes. For me it's been the hardest habit to break but I think the progression is: eyes are down and you don't know, eyes come down and you know, then eyes stay up. I'm still on that middle step.

Someone told me once that virtuosity is doing the common uncommonly well...meaning keeping your eyes up isn't a hard thing but doing it all the time without ever doing otherwise is doing the common uncommonly well and that's how the good guys are good (not just the eyes, it applies to all aspects).

[surlynkid]

Dmw16 - it was his first weekend. He did great for his first weekend from the video I saw.

Good rev match which you absolutely cannot practice for real on the street. He will relax his hands later. He was using way more track than most green students and I have put two off exactly where he did. He did well and just kept on going into T10 as though it was a non event. He has potential and is only 18.

[surlynkid]

His arm was white Sat morning. It got dark in the sun from all those points.

[Groundpilot]

Originally Posted by surlynkid

His arm was white Sat morning. It got dark in the sun from all those points.

[dmw16]

Originally Posted by surlynkid

Dmw16 - it was his first weekend. He did great for his first weekend from the video I saw.

Good rev match which you absolutely cannot practice for real on the street. He will relax his hands later. He was using way more track than most green students and I have put two off exactly where he did. He did well and just kept on going into T10 as though it was a non event. He has potential and is only 18.

Totally agree! Sorry if that didn't come across in my post.

OP, that was a very solid performance especially for a first weekend. Sorry if I didn't make that clear. I was just trying to provide some tips. I didn't mean for it to be anything else.

[Kong Sheng Han]

Originally Posted by M3 Number 86

Hmm - I've never heard of thumbs up on the wheel. And I'm asian too - just wondering why so DARK?! HAHA

Open your eyes (and your mind).

Originally Posted by ThunderMoose

Good job on your first weekend. You're miles ahead of where I was when I first started.

No need to lie, you can say I'm a shitty driver. Kidding, good to hear that I'm off to a good start.

Originally Posted by dmw16

Good start.

I clicked thru the video to a few spots and just a few tips/observations/what-have-you's.

Lighten your grip on the wheel; drive with fingers, not hands.

Don't chase the apexes...I saw a few places where you turned in late and then chased the apex...instead, once you've missed an apex just focus on hitting your track out...no sense in "crying over spilled milk".

Eyes up. This goes without saying and even guys with a fair bit of seat time let their eyes come down sometimes. For me it's been the hardest habit to break but I think the progression is: eyes are down and you don't know, eyes come down and you know, then eyes stay up. I'm still on that middle step.

Someone told me once that virtuosity is doing the common uncommonly well...meaning keeping your eyes up isn't a hard thing but doing it all the time without ever doing otherwise is doing the common uncommonly well and that's how the good guys are good (not just the eyes, it applies to all aspects).

Yup, I need to work on all three. Just gotta keep practicing.

Originally Posted by surlynkid

Dmw16 - it was his first weekend. He did great for his first weekend from the video I saw.

Good rev match which you absolutely cannot practice for real on the street. He will relax his hands later. He was using way more track than most green students and I have put two off exactly where he did. He did well and just kept on going into T10 as though it was a non event. He has potential and is only 18.

I was surprised with my heel-toe ability. My instructor told me to brake then downshift at first, but I just couldn't for some reason. He was fine with me heel-toeing after a session or two.

Originally Posted by surlynkid

His arm was white Sat morning. It got dark in the sun from all those points.

On Sunday, I was passing people who were passing me the day before.

[Kong Sheng Han]

Originally Posted by dmw16

Totally agree! Sorry if that didn't come across in my post.

OP, that was a very solid performance especially for a first weekend. Sorry if I didn't make that clear. I was just trying to provide some tips. I didn't mean for it to be anything else.

I understand. I asked for some critiquing, as long as it wasn't about my helmet. I appreciate the tips.

[ThunderMoose]

Originally Posted by dmw16

Don't chase the apexes...I saw a few places where you turned in late and then chased the apex...instead, once you've missed an apex just focus on hitting your track out...no sense in "crying over spilled milk".

good advice. I subscribe to the "dance with who you brought" approach to corners. If you miss the apex or turn early, just plan track out and speed accordingly. There's usually no way to make it up. At TWS, turn 2 is where I most often miss apex. It's a long turn and Apex is way way way way at the end. Once you miss it, you just got to dial back a bit to stay on track.

[M3 Number 86]

Originally Posted by surlynkid

His arm was white Sat morning. It got dark in the sun from all those points.

LOLS

But why can't you practice heel toe on street? I do all the time because my foot never leaves the floor to twist.

[Kong Sheng Han]

I was subconsciously chasing the apexes. It's going to take a while to get to a point where I don't do it much.

[dmw16]

Originally Posted by Kong Sheng Han

I was subconsciously chasing the apexes. It's going to take a while to get to a point where I don't do it much.

What you'll find as a nice offshoot of learning this is that your ability to pass off-line will improve. You'll learn to navigate the corner how it's presented to you. It also helps in the rain because the wet line is wherever the grip is and often times it's not the same dry line since water will often collect in the low spots of the track that are formed from constant use (as the dry line).

[Kong Sheng Han]

Originally Posted by dmw16

What you'll find as a nice offshoot of learning this is that your ability to pass off-line will improve. You'll learn to navigate the corner how it's presented to you. It also helps in the rain because the wet line is wherever the grip is and often times it's not the same dry line since water will often collect in the low spots of the track that are formed from constant use (as the dry line).

Good point. Just gotta keep at it. Unfortunately, school is gonna get in the way for at least four years.

[M3 Number 86]

Originally Posted by Kong Sheng Han

Thumbs up on the wheel? Bc my instructor told me to. At one point in the video, you can see him move my thumb to that position. I'm not the Chinese Asian you're thinking of, as my name suggests.

I was thinking about this and all don't get why you wouldn't put your thumbs in the wheel. I think it's so that you won't have a death grip but wouldn't it be better to rest your thumbs in the wheel?

what happens to your inside hand when you rotate the wheel enough you need to have a hinge or hand would come off.

what is the point of this if someone can let me know.

I drive with my hands slightly bent at the wrist as if holding a kitchen knife or swinging a golf club. allows me to be smooth yet deliberate and steer more with my wrists than my hands.

[Kong Sheng Han]

Originally Posted by M3 Number 86

I was thinking about this and all don't get why you wouldn't put your thumbs in the wheel. I think it's so that you won't have a death grip but wouldn't it be better to rest your thumbs in the wheel?

what happens to your inside hand when you rotate the wheel enough you need to have a hinge or hand would come off.

what is the point of this if someone can let me know.

I drive with my hands slightly bent at the wrist as if holding a kitchen knife or swinging a golf club. allows me to be smooth yet deliberate and steer more with my wrists than my hands.

I think it was mainly to help ease my death grip. Also, it was hot as hell, and with my thumbs up, I was worried my hands would slip bc of my sweaty palms. I'll be buying driving gloves before my next event.

I've adjusted my seating position so that I'm low and close to the steering wheel, and my wrists are like what you described, now.

[ThunderMoose]

Originally Posted by M3 Number 86

I was thinking about this and all don't get why you wouldn't put your thumbs in the wheel. I think it's so that you won't have a death grip but wouldn't it be better to rest your thumbs in the wheel?

what happens to your inside hand when you rotate the wheel enough you need to have a hinge or hand would come off.

what is the point of this if someone can let me know.

I drive with my hands slightly bent at the wrist as if holding a kitchen knife or swinging a golf club. allows me to be smooth yet deliberate and steer more with my wrists than my hands.

In general you don't want your thumbs inside the steering wheel in case you have off. If your tire catches something, it can deliver enough force to snap the steering wheel and break your thumbs. That aside, I am still a thumb in guy