I am a new mini owner (2006 MCS JCW) and realize that I have some learning to do to get the most out of it. I don't want to race, but I do want to learn how to drive a sports car well.

I have searched on the internet for books on performance driving. Most of what I have found is books on "How I won races all my life". Some of these may in fact be very good, and I have already ordered three, but what I am really interested in is performance driving day to day (well maybe eventually Solo II). I have a good deal of motorcycle experience (not racing, although I definitely know how to ride), but I have a lot to learn about cars.

I would appreciate any suggestions about books (or online material) that would meet my needs.

 

Skip the books--go to a good driving school. Driving is kind of like golf or skiing; you can read all you want, and it may help a little bit, but it really takes a pro to show you how it's properly done.

 

I liked Secrets of Speed: Professional Race Driving Techniques by Ross Bentley.

 

The Ross Bentley book was recommended to me by my instructor at my last DE. I guess I should pick one up.

 

Well that's good, because the Ross Bentley book is one of the three that I have on order.
It's true that too much reading and analyzing can be counter-productive, like the centipede who tripped over his own legs trying to explain how he walked. But to each his own style: I work in a very skills intensive field, and long ago found that a certain amount of preparation helps me learn better from teachers and from subsequent experience. Having said that, I have already applied for a performance driving course next week. Unfortunately, it looks like it may already be full.

 

Speed Secrets - Ross Bentley.

But before you read it, take 2-3 driving events, so you know what the book is talking about, and can relate to it.

After that, it's whats inside you.

 

Any comments on these two?

"Sports Car and Competition Driving"
Phil Hill
"Going Faster!: Mastering the Art of Race Driving: The Skip Barber Racing School"
Danny Sullivan

 

My father had the Hill book from years and years ago. I read it years ago, but can't really remember it. The Barber book is good, but I'd echo the comments around the Speed Secrets series. Speed Secrets 1-3 are pretty much a must have.

What might be more useful than reading multiple books on how to drive, IMO, is to get some books on chassis setup. Understanding how a car works, what to change to improve it and what to do to adapt your style to what the car is doing is critical to getting the most out of your time on track.

 

I've got the "Going Faster!...." Skip Barber book & it is very good and covers quite a lot of material. However, that being said it is VERY heavily oriented toward rear-wheel drive cars and open wheel mid-engine race cars and has only a little bit about the different dynamics of driving a FWD car (The author's kind of not very positive with FWD for racing, but I would hazard to guess he hasn't driven a very good handling & well sorted FWD car like the Mini!). The good thing is that it helps you think more about what is going on with the car & its contact patches dynamically as you change the loads on it through accelerating, deccelerating & cornering.

 

The advice about taking a driving course is right on target (although I think I used up a month or two of brakes and tires).

The 1992 edition of "Sports Car and Competition Driving" by Phil Hill is truly excellent. I can't recommend it too highly. Emphasis on track racing, but also plenty on rally driving and street driving. The author's lifelong love of cars and driving, and his wide experience, make it a page turner I couldn't put down. Relevant to MINI drivers: lots of in depth discussion of front wheel drive. I guarantee you will know more about why a car handles the way it does (and the way it can!) after reading this book.