Ross Bentley - The Lost Art of High-Performance Driving: How to Get the Most Out of Your Modern Performance Car

How to Get the Most Out of Your
Modern Performance Car

ROSS BENTLEY

2017 Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc.
Text 2017 Ross Bentley

First published in 2017 by Motorbooks, an imprint of The Quarto Group,
401 Second Avenue North, Suite 310, Minneapolis, MN 55401 USA.
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Digital edition: 978-0-76035-794-1
Softcover edition: 978-0-7603-5237-3

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017934349

Acquiring Editor: Zack Miller
Project Manager: Madeleine Vasaly
Art Director: James Kegley
Cover Designer: Jeremy Kramer
Illustrations: Jeremy Kramer
Layout: Kim Winscher

Mark Twain said, There is no such thing as a new idea. And Andr Gide said, Everything that needs to be said has already been said.

These quotes are truemostly. When you dig down at the root of anything new, its often just a different spin on something that already exists, a combination of older thoughts and ideas or of existing concepts that have been elaborated in a new way. Truly unique ideas are rare.

What I write is the result of being able to think deeply about a sport that Im passionate about: high-performance driving. I take what Ive learned through experience and from others, and put it into a form that others can use in their own high-performance driving.

I am grateful to you, the reader, as I am to all of the drivers Ive coached, trained, observed, or learned from. Every time I write something, I learn; the best way to really understand something is to teach it to others. Without an audience for my books, I wouldnt get to learn through the process of writing. Thank you for being part of my audience.

I would also like to sincerely thank the instructors and coaches Ive worked with and around for nearly four decades, as well as the authors of books, articles, and videos Ive absorbed in that time.

One of my most-used phrases is, Theres always more. Not long ago I thought, thats it, Ill never write another driving book again. I wasnt sure where Id find enough new information to make it worth another book. But here I am again. Because, like driving, theres always more to learn, and I continue to learn.

Thank you to Motorbooks for helping me share what I love with you and others. Without a strong nudge from Zack Miller, this book wouldnt exist: he helped me see how this book could help driving enthusiasts.

In 2006, automotive journalist Mark Hacking contacted me and asked if Id coach him for a day. He was writing a story about different learning methods for high-performance drivers. So we spent a day at Buttonwillow Raceway, where I introduced him to the mental and physical training approaches I use. We became friends and have stayed in touch through the years. As I dug into writing this book, I knew that I needed someone with a deep knowledge of the leading edge in automotive technology, both to check the accuracy of what Ive written and to suggest additions. Mark was that guy. Hes easily one of the most knowledgeable automotive journalists in the world, and an accomplished driver, too: he races cars and tests some of the latest production cars all over the world.

Without Marks contributions, this book would not be as good as it is. Thanks, Mark.

Speaking of automotive journalists who know their stuff, I want to thank Kim Wolfkill for writing the foreword. As editor-in-chief of the one magazine Ive consistently read every month for the past 50 years, Road & Track, its an honor to have someone with his knowledge and experience about carsand his exceptional driving abilityshare his thoughts here

Finally, as always, thanks go to my wife, Robin, for helping me do what I love to do.

Walk into most any new-car dealer and its hard not to marvel at the impressive machinery on display just waiting to be driven. From sleek GT coupes and luxury sedans to sports cars and SUVs, the array of choices is as diverse as it is enticing. Never before has such a high level of performance, technology, and engineering expertise been available to purchase right off the showroom floor. Needless to say, modern high-performance vehicles are faster and easier to operate than ever before.

As editor-in-chief of Road & Track magazine, I have the good fortune of driving the latest new cars and meeting the development teams that create them. To a person, these designers and engineers are passionate about building the best vehicles they can. They integrate as much advanced technology as possible with the ultimate goal of making products that are safe, capable, and enjoyable to drive.

This ongoing technological evolution has led to developments that go well beyond once-groundbreaking tech like anti-lock brake systems and traction/stability control. Those features are now standard on nearly every vehicle and, in many cases, are supplemented by newer advances like active accident avoidance, selectable performance modes, and even semiautonomous driving capabilities. All of this new tech is generally a good thing, especially when it helps make the roads a safer place to drive. But does it also make us better drivers? And, perhaps most importantly to enthusiasts, are we still having fun?

In addition to driving and testing lots of cars, I also have the good fortune to call Ross Bentley a friend. Weve known each other for years, and before that I admired his skills behind the wheel of many a race car. Ross is one of the best drivers, coaches, and people I know, so I cant think of a better person to help enthusiasts maximize their cars most important performance feature: the driver.

While best known for his Speed Secrets series of racing-focused instructional books, Ross is not just about helping racers improve lap times or drive fasterhes about making everyone who climbs into a car a better driver. The Lost Art of High-Performance Driving does just that, tapping into his decades of professional coaching and instructing experience to clearly define and illuminate the meaning of high-performance. Not so much from the car, but more so from the drivers perspective, he makes sense of the amazing tech that enables modern vehicles to be so capable. He identifies where technology is a welcome asset and where sound driving fundamentals are far more valuable than any electronic aid.