The Malta Drag Racing Association (MRDA) can give a helping hand to the drivers who are competing in Sicily by providing a safe environment for braking and gear changing practice.
In circuit racing, shaving a fraction of a second at every corner at the Autodromo Valle dei Templi could make the difference between a very good lap time and a mediocre lap time. Given that at this 2.53 km Autodromo there are no less than 11 corners, saving a fraction of a second every time could result in the best personal fastest lap or a slower one for each of our drivers.
In addition to clipping the apex of the corner at the right place, it is very important for drivers to brake and change the gears at the right spot for each and every corner taking care that the revolutions per minute of their engine are kept in check.
As our drivers do not take part in circuit racing every weekend, it is important for them to practice braking and gear changing when and where it is possible. This is where the MDRA can be very useful to give its contribution to our drivers. Team leader of the Malta Grimaldi team, Joe Anastasi, together with the members of the Malta Motorsport Federation could make the necessary arrangements with MDRA.
There is a very simple and yet important procedure to practice braking and gear changing. This was taught to me several years ago by Jim Russell at his International Racing Drivers’ School prior to the other lessons at Snetterton Circuit.
Four markers
The Hal Far Raceway could be converted very easily for this type of practice. MRDA would need to set up four markers at each end of the quarter mile raceway. All the drivers – one at a time - would need to accelerate to the appropriate rev limit and then brake at the first marker, change gear at the second marker, brake again at the third marker, and change down one more time at the fourth marker.
At this point they would have reached the “hairpin” around which they would go, accelerate again and repeat the same process at the other 4 markers on the other end. The “hairpin” at each end of this temporary simple straight line track may consist of a few tyres.
This may seem boring but it is the only safe way to practice braking and gear changing in the absence of access to the circuit itself. It is not as easy as it seems, and if one is not concentrating enough the four markers can go by very quickly without performing the necessary braking and gear changing.
A safe braking and correction area after the fourth marker and “hairpin” is needed so that drivers may get accustomed to this procedure without any problems if they fail to perform this technique correctly on their first attempt.
The markers could consist of flags in different colours, plastic pylons, tyres or whatever is available. The important thing is that they can be easily seen by the drivers.
Each session may consist of a number of laps, and a short break to allow helpers or track marshals to change the position of the markers. These practice sessions could be conducted in different directions, that is clockwise and anti-clockwise, in which case the markers will have to be moved to the other side of the “hairpin”. In this way drivers may practice for both right-hand corners as well as left-hand corners.
MRDA could make the raceway available for such practice sessions in the evenings, or during the weekend. Motor sport enthusiasts may be allowed to watch such unofficial practice from the appropriate spectator areas, and after the practice sessions could meet with the drivers, and possibly contribute a small donation to cover some of the expenses incurred to travel to Sicily.
Everything seems to be ready for the third and final round of the Sicilian championship for circuit racing on 25-26 July (next weekend) and it is hoped that our drivers will register very good results once again, after their successful performances in the first two rounds.