Garage Heroes (In Training)

Returns for a Second lap

Samir Abid hosts the Your Data Driven podcast returns for his second lap with us.  We take advantage of his history in suspension systems and as a vehicle dynamics race engineer by asking the key question related to tracking data of “what should I keep track of” and how best to do this, especially if you are solo for the weekend as many of us are.  We also go into how to collect the data and how to analyze the data and ways of saving time and money, while remaining focused and efficient. 

If you would like to help grow our sport and this podcast:

You can subscribe to our podcast on the podcast provider of your choice, including the Apple podcast app, Google music, Amazon, and YouTube etc. Also, if you could give our podcast a (5-star?) rating, that we would appreciate that very much.  Even better, a podcast review, would help us to grow the passion and sport of high performance driving and we would appreciate it.

For instance, leaving an Apple Podcast rating is amazingly easy.  If you go to your podcast library, look under shows.  Then click on this podcast.  Here you can leave a (5?) star rating and enter your review. 

We hope you enjoy this episode!

PS  If you are looking to stream or save your integrated telemetry/racing data with you video, Candelaria Racing Products Sentinel System may be the perfect solution for you.  We are in the midst of installing the system in two of our cars.  If this sounds like something that may help you and your team, please use our discount code “GHIT” for a 10% discount code to all of our listeners during the checkout process.

PS2  Please do not forget that if you are looking to add an Apex Pro to your driving telemetry system, do not forget to use our discount code for all Apex Pro systems you will receive a free Windshield Suction Cup Mount for the system, a savings of $40.  Just enter the code “ghitlikesapex!” when you order.  They are a great system and invaluable to safely increasing your speed on track and/or autocross, etc.  The recently released second generation systems and app increases the capability of the system.

Best regards,

Vicki, Jennifer, Alan, and Bill

Hosts of the Garage Heroes In Training Podcast and Garage Heroes In Training racing team drivers

Highlights for this episode include:

1)  We begin with a definition of what the “data” is and how it can help you. The importance increases as you progress and improve your driving skills.

2)  Initially, we start with nonquantitative data that is free and available to anyone if they can pay attention while driving.

3)  Samir offers great insight in what you need to collect by looking at the critical question to bound your problem. He then looks to simplify what can be a daunting subject “what problem are you trying to solve?”.  This can not only simplify your data collection, but also save you a lot of time, effort, and money. All that can be applied in other aspects of your driving and racing improvement program.

4)  Samir offers a logical sequence of how to break a track up into the most useful number of sectors.  This aspect alone can really simplify the analysis and capture the pertinent information that would allow you to improve.

5)  How to use the data to be collected and then move to the why before assuming the best plan to improve.  This will prevent a potential to ignore the core reason for the information that is being collected.

6)  We begin to go over the patterns and basic information that is available from the speed trace. This includes the curves, shapes, and slopes of the speed trace. Next we go over what that can tell you and some of the shapes that are typical for certain basic corners.

7)  Things to look for:  The slope of the speed trace when accelerating (and the consistency)(and the length of time for your shifts).  The same would apply for the braking or deceleration aspects of the speed trace.  Other aspects would include the minimum speed of the turn and whether that turn is a gradual change that forms a U or a sharp change in slopes that resembles a V.

8)  A high level review of the G sum plot and the friction circle plot, that are often less intuitive than many would desire.

9)  Samir shapes his views on the minimum viable data collection systems. Including what they encompass, including several technical aspects like sample rate and other aspects that influences their utility.  We then look at several incremental steps up in equipment that are available commercially.  With his experience in the highest levels of racing, Samir has a great grasp of virtually all commercially available systems. Including their relative strengths and limitations.

10)  We also cover the minimum starting gauges that everyone should bring to the track.  We start with a stopwatch and an accurate tire pressure gauge and progress into more advanced measurements and equipment.

11)  As always happens, we get into the importance of the tires and how to adjust them to optimize grip and wear on track.

We will be doing a review of many (10+) of these systems that we have tested in an episode coming very soon.

A simple data collection hierarchy could be:  Lap Time, Sector Times, Speed Trace (speed vs distance), Lat g vs Long g, then reviewing the G Sum plot, etc.

To keep up with Samir’s latest information:

Handy Links:

The Your Data Driven newsletter:  https://www.yourdatadriven.com –

Data analysis intro course:  https://www.yourdatadriven.com/the-complete-beginners-guide-to-motorsports-data-analysis/

His Book:  https://www.yourdatadriven.com/the-motorsports-playbook/

The Your Data Driven Podcast:  https://www.yourdatadriven.com/your-data-driven-podcast

If you want coaching from Samir:   https://analysiscoach.com