A relaxed grip on the steering wheel blocks less steering feedback.

The feedback is the turning resistance which builds up to a peak just before traction goes away…engineers call this the top of the mu-slip curve.

Since less feedback is available with power steering, learning how to touch the steering wheel in the most kinematically efficient manner translates to opening up channels for reading what remains of the steering feedback…engineers call this improving the signal-to-noise ratio.

Each cockpit is laid out differently, and humans come in all ratios. 

So, by analyzing and learning your car’s ergonomics together with your body’s kinematics — with respect to your seating position and body proportions — you can operate the controls in your proprioceptive sweetspot.  This is the point where muscles are at their ideal exertion level for reading the steering feedback, or turning resistance.

Knowing how to analyze a turn properly as you approach it in the canyons will always keep you safe and under the limit.

So, driving the correct line at the proper speed through a turn is not only smoother, it’s safer, too.

Most drivers know to straighten out the turn as much as possible by starting and finishing on the outside areas of the turn…this is called “apexing”.

However, getting the car at the right ANGLE while approaching the apex is the secret.

While learning well below the limit, your confidence will build as you begin to recognize the telltale signs of disaster well before it occurs.

PHASE TWO

On the racetrack, speeds can increase more quickly since many of the unknowns on the street disappear.

This can allow you to begin dancing on the edges of the Friction Circle sooner with better focus since on the street you already developed a new feel for the top of the mu-slip curve at a lower threshold — using your new muscle memory — and your lines will be perfect, too.

Proper footwork allows you to dance with more finesse along the vertical axis of the Friction Circle.

In traditional stick shift cars you’ll learn how to downshift smoothly while braking into a turn.

However, since each car has its own unique pedal arrangement, you first need to learn the optimal foot-and-ankle orientation for transitioning smoothly from braking to accelerating…a procedure used to stabilize the rear end after a rotation which occurs just before peak cornering g’s.

Paddle-shifted cars come in all shapes and flavors. 

You will learn how to explore and make adjustments in the shift timing and brake pedal pressure for each of your car’s computer algorithms in the different driving modes.

Advanced Car Control delves into the realm where the car starts sliding around under you.

For racers, sliding the car slightly around the track is Standard Operating Procedure.

You will learn to get comfortable with the feeling of your car moving around underneath you while negotiating turns.

Turns out, a tire generates its maximum forces when it’s slipping slightly.

When the tire is turning, the sideways slipping is called a “slip angle” which is the difference between where the tire is pointed, and where it’s actually going…much like a plane flying in a crosswind.  Mind you, it’s trying to go where it’s pointed, but because of things like momentum it slips sideways a little.

When the tire is going straight, the slip is called a “slip ratio” since it compares how fast the tire is actually rotating to how fast it would be rotating if it matched the car’s speed perfectly and wasn’t slipping.

You will learn what it feels like to approach those limits without going past them.

However, in the event you accidentally venture too far past the ideal amount of slip, your familiarity with the feeling at the limit will make it easy to get it back…without trying to memorize a set of rules.

It’s all about developing FEEL.

Friction Circles were originally analyzed using the forces acting on the CAR’s tires.  The Fuzzy Dice Paradigm is just the opposite, and analyzes the forces the DRIVER FEELS.

Unless you’re on a racetrack, myriad variables can enter the picture very quickly giving you little or no time to react.  By learning how to FEEL your car’s behavior at and near the limit, it’s easier to maximize your realistic options for escape when the moment occurs.

Once the Science of Driving is explained in plain English, you’ll know how physics affects your car in every situation.  This method is far better than memorizing a set of rules which can lead you into trouble.

So, using plain English with everyday props — fuzzy dice, hairbrushes, and balloons — you can develop an feel for the limit, and intuitively know what to do well before it arrives.

You can then confidently predict your car’s behavior by visualizing how the weight will get transferred around the car as it navigates the incident in front of you.

In the event you have a “moment”, your body’s natural adrenaline dump can then be used to ENHANCE YOUR PERFORMANCE rather than cause you to choke and freeze due to fear of the unknown….if, for nothing else, because there are no more unknowns.

For this reason, after an accident drivers will sometimes say, “Everything seemed to happen in slow motion.”  Why? Because your internal body clock starts racing and you’re able to process more information in the same amount of time…which is how slow-motion movies are made.

Since every situation is different and can range from IndyCars to 50+ mpg hybrids, each program is individually tailored to match your driving needs and objectives.

Police Pursuit Training requires a different strategy than overcoming Freeway Driving Fears…very common in Southern California.

Unless you’re 100% comfortable, you cannot learn. 

By hiring Dellis, each lesson builds upon the first afternoon’s drive in the canyons, freeways, and side streets.  So, the first half-day is spent cruising around getting to know the you, your car, and your driving goals.

Depending on your comfort level, a more spirited approach can be used during the later stages of the first meeting, too.

At the conclusion of the first drive, your follow-up debriefing will include developing a strategy that helps you achieve your driving goals in the most efficient manner.  Strategies can range from off-peak freeway cruises to full-day trackday events at local racetracks.

Youth Driving Programs can involve learning the rules of the road, when to use courtesy, when to take the right-of-way, and common sense strategies for driving safely. 

Driving tips for Situational Awareness addresses emergency escape routes, parking lot safety, and safe lane positioning.

Safer digital etiquette for navigating with smartphones, and texting while driving is covered, as well.