rec.autos.simulators

Trailbraking is the technique where the driver does MOST of the slowing in a
straight line, but continues braking while turning into the corner, usually
gradually releasing the brakes while turning in.  This helps get the tail of
the car to slide into the turn, allowing sharper turn in, and setting up for
powersliding out of the turn.  It takes practice (alot), and you may find it
necessary to work both brake and throttle while turning to keep the car
going where you want.
Once you get the feel of trailbraking, you may find your lap times dropping.
You may find the bushes allot while getting used to the technique too.  You
may abuse the tires using this technique.

Can somebody please explain to me what trailbraking is in GPL.  How do
you apply the technique?  What are the advantages and disadvantages?
I have my gas and brake on seperate axis'.  

I'll take a stab at it....

Trailbraking, as the driving schools teach it, is carrying the last part of
your braking into the corner. Instead of completing all your braking in a
straight line, from the moment you apply then to when you ease off, you
actually use this "ease off" phase in the first part of the corner. You are
trailing off of the brakes as you turn in, hence the name.

The advantages are that you can get the car to rotate a bit as you turn in
if you trail brake. When done right, you can carry a bit more speed into the
corner. You actually use the technique in lieu of some steering lock: when
done properly, it will help steer the car into the corner with less lock. So
if you want to practice it, be prepared to turn the wheel less, or else face
snap oversteer.

The disadvantage is that if you have a really loose car, or very rearward
brake bias, the car will want to spin. And as said above, too much steering
lock is the enemy because trailbraking WILL help the car turn more.

Places I use it to good effect are the Parabolica at Monza, and many places
at Brands Hatch.

Now, some folks confuse left-foot braking with trailbraking. It's not the
same. Left-foot braking simply involves having the brake and gas on at the
same time. But trailbraking is as explained above.

Hope it helps.

-_Dave

--
Dave Schwabe

"If you're in control, you're not going fast enough" -- Parnelli Jones
The Aussie Toad -- GPL Brabham Page
http://users.wi.net/~schwabe

Completely ignoring trailbraking for a minute, I find that one of the most
helpful features of split axis pedals is the way it helps to avoid spins. If
you lose the back end of the car in a corner, so long as you are not on the
outside of the track, a quick stab at the brakes will lock the front wheels
(rear brakes tend not to lock as fast as there is still power being applied
to them).
This will bring the front back in line with the back and enable you to drive
out of the corner. The main disadvantage this has is that it will lose you a
lot of momentum compared to just riding it through on opposite lock, but you
can catch slides that would otherwise have been definite spins.
On a track with large run-offs like Rouen or Zandy, a lock-up and a slow
exit from a corner will lose you considerably less time than a spin into the
scenery.
Once you get used to this, you can (and probably will) develop this into
left-foot braking, and then possibly trail braking to lose less time (or
even gain time) in the process.

Just my tuppence worth...

Mike West

3DNow! UK: www.3dnow.freeserve.co.uk