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I know most folks here are straight line advocates and that's awesome by itself. But I'll bet brakes aren't a major consideration overall. From what little I was able to learn for a single stint on a road course, not even racing, I gathered that you'd trade brakes for horsepower in a skinny minute to get around the road course.
So I got 'em for next time. I'm finding there are ways to enjoy ballsy brakes without driving on a road course, just using road course techniques.
Driving to work this morning, dark as the inside of a cow (that's a Gomer Pyle quote).
Mouse Creek Road is hilly and curvy on the north end, VERY. The "Hill/Curve Restricts View" signs are only for strangers who are lost on that road, because all the locals already know it.
Signs say 35 mph. This morning I'm going a little over 40-something-ish in the dark on the "straighter" half of that road. I can see in the mirror that a car is approaching from the rear. Pretty quick, going somewhat faster than Red and me.
It drove up to my bumper. That's alright, I put the rear view on nightime and held my speed. I'm not driving any faster than I can see. That's it, I don't care who you are behind me.
So Driver and I finished the "straighter" part of the road with Driver tailgating me. The we got to the curves, the 12 WHOA curves on that road.
The term "outbraking" another car is easily misunderstood. Like, since my brakes are better, I stopped before I hit something but you went past me and hit it.
But the superior brakes let me drive farther before I even apply them. That's huge.
An interesting study this morning at about 45 mph. First sharp curve. Drove Red all the way up to it and before I had to turn the wheel, HARD on the brakes for about a second, off the brakes, now turn. Throttle back to 45 mph and I waited for Driver in the mirror. Ahhh, that was good for about 30 yards, he's not tailgating now.
Because if Driver was driving like most folks do on the street Driver probably rode the brakes 100 yards into that turn. Wearing the pads the whole time.
Over and over, I dropped that tailgater in those curves and didn't even hardly drive reckless in any way. I mean I dropped Driver to the point that I was gone. Not ever going faster, just not slowing down as long for each turn.
Brakes. Great brakes are fun.
So I got 'em for next time. I'm finding there are ways to enjoy ballsy brakes without driving on a road course, just using road course techniques.
Driving to work this morning, dark as the inside of a cow (that's a Gomer Pyle quote).
Mouse Creek Road is hilly and curvy on the north end, VERY. The "Hill/Curve Restricts View" signs are only for strangers who are lost on that road, because all the locals already know it.
Signs say 35 mph. This morning I'm going a little over 40-something-ish in the dark on the "straighter" half of that road. I can see in the mirror that a car is approaching from the rear. Pretty quick, going somewhat faster than Red and me.
It drove up to my bumper. That's alright, I put the rear view on nightime and held my speed. I'm not driving any faster than I can see. That's it, I don't care who you are behind me.
So Driver and I finished the "straighter" part of the road with Driver tailgating me. The we got to the curves, the 12 WHOA curves on that road.
The term "outbraking" another car is easily misunderstood. Like, since my brakes are better, I stopped before I hit something but you went past me and hit it.
But the superior brakes let me drive farther before I even apply them. That's huge.
An interesting study this morning at about 45 mph. First sharp curve. Drove Red all the way up to it and before I had to turn the wheel, HARD on the brakes for about a second, off the brakes, now turn. Throttle back to 45 mph and I waited for Driver in the mirror. Ahhh, that was good for about 30 yards, he's not tailgating now.
Because if Driver was driving like most folks do on the street Driver probably rode the brakes 100 yards into that turn. Wearing the pads the whole time.
Over and over, I dropped that tailgater in those curves and didn't even hardly drive reckless in any way. I mean I dropped Driver to the point that I was gone. Not ever going faster, just not slowing down as long for each turn.
Brakes. Great brakes are fun.
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