Speed Secrets Podcast

Ross Bentley: Performance & Race Driver Coach

The Speed Secrets Podcast is all about high performance and race driving. In it, Ross Bentley has conversations with guests, resulting in tips, advice and inspiration you can take to the track. Digging into topics such as trail braking, cornering lines, race track specific advice, data acquisition and video analysis, upshifting and downshifting, handling and car setup, steering techniques, and the skill of using the throttle - all while driving on track - the goal is to not just entertain you, but also help you learn. Along the way, these conversations will get into why we drive on race tracks, igniting your passion for the sport. Each episode (posted weekly on Thursdays) is about 45 minutes in length – just right for listening to while on your way to work, to the track, or while you're working out. read less
SportsSports
Start Here
No dumb questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 25
Jan 11 2024
No dumb questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 25
Welcome back to the last episode of No Dumb Questions (...but have no fear, we're not going far)! We sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers. Sam Smith joins us again, and we talk a little about the new podcast we’ve just launched (it’s live now!), called "It’s Not the Car." Please go check it out right now, subscribe to it, and let us know what you think.  On this episode, Jeff, Sam, and I answer two great questions: 1) what do you do, and how do you think differently, when you don't know what to do next, and 2) all things RWD downshifting. Jeff is one of the very best race car engineers in the world. He’s engineered cars at every level, and every type: NASCAR, karts, club racing cars, Indy, GT and Prototypes, and even Top Fuel dragsters. But what sets Jeff apart from many engineers is how he can explain what he’s doing, what a car is doing, and even how the best think. Sam Smith is a brilliant and hilarious storyteller, a writer, an amateur racer, and a journalist. Over the last 20 years, he's written for outlets as diverse as the New York Times, Wired, and Hagerty Media. From 2012 to 2020, he was executive editor and then editor-at-large at Road & Track.

Episodes

No dumb questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 25
Jan 11 2024
No dumb questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 25
Welcome back to the last episode of No Dumb Questions (...but have no fear, we're not going far)! We sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers. Sam Smith joins us again, and we talk a little about the new podcast we’ve just launched (it’s live now!), called "It’s Not the Car." Please go check it out right now, subscribe to it, and let us know what you think.  On this episode, Jeff, Sam, and I answer two great questions: 1) what do you do, and how do you think differently, when you don't know what to do next, and 2) all things RWD downshifting. Jeff is one of the very best race car engineers in the world. He’s engineered cars at every level, and every type: NASCAR, karts, club racing cars, Indy, GT and Prototypes, and even Top Fuel dragsters. But what sets Jeff apart from many engineers is how he can explain what he’s doing, what a car is doing, and even how the best think. Sam Smith is a brilliant and hilarious storyteller, a writer, an amateur racer, and a journalist. Over the last 20 years, he's written for outlets as diverse as the New York Times, Wired, and Hagerty Media. From 2012 to 2020, he was executive editor and then editor-at-large at Road & Track.
No dumb questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 24
Dec 7 2023
No dumb questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 24
Welcome back to another episode of No Dumb Questions! We sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers. This episode is a little different… We introduce a guest “host,” Sam Smith, who we are launching a new podcast in January with. It’s called It’s Not The Car, and is all about stories learning things, and having fun. On this episode, Jeff, Sam, and I discuss how to better instruct intermediate level drivers and how to use damper histograms in sim racing.  Jeff is one of the very best race car engineers in the world. He’s engineered cars at every level, and every type: NASCAR, karts, club racing cars, Indy, GT and Prototypes, and even Top Fuel dragsters. But what sets Jeff apart from many engineers is how he can explain what he’s doing, what a car is doing, and even how the best think. Sam Smith is a brilliant and hilarious storyteller, a writer, an amateur racer, and a journalist. Over the last 20 years, he's written for outlets as diverse as the New York Times, Wired, and Hagerty Media. From 2012 to 2020, he was executive editor and then editor-at-large at Road & Track.
No dumb questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 23
Nov 2 2023
No dumb questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 23
Welcome back to another episode of No Dumb Questions! Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers. On this episode, Jeff and I discuss whether we’d prefer to deal with a driver that is also engineering minded or one that can't speak engineering and therefore wouldn't second guess or poke holes in the car setup? This question leads into our second question: if you're a one man show, both the driver and the engineer, how would you recommend changing hats and not letting one job creep into the other?  Jeff is one of the very best race car engineers in the world. He’s engineered cars at every level, and every type: NASCAR, karts, club racing cars, Indy, GT and Prototypes, and even Top Fuel dragsters. But what sets Jeff apart from many engineers is how he can explain what he’s doing, what a car is doing, and even how the best think.
No dumb questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 22
Oct 5 2023
No dumb questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 22
Welcome back to another episode of No Dumb Questions! Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers. On this episode, Jeff and I discuss the future of technology in motorsports, specifically around “driver-less” race cars. Is it still “racing” if there isn’t a human being inside the car piloting it - either thru remote control or an AI pilot? Jeff is one of the very best race car engineers in the world. He’s engineered cars at every level, and every type: NASCAR, karts, club racing cars, Indy, GT and Prototypes, and even Top Fuel dragsters. But what sets Jeff apart from many engineers is how he can explain what he’s doing, what a car is doing, and even how the best think.
No dumb questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 21
Aug 31 2023
No dumb questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 21
Welcome back to another episode of No Dumb Questions! Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers. On this episode, Ross discusses proper head position during cornering, and Jeff dives into the differences in car setup between racing versus qualifying. Jeff is one of the very best race car engineers in the world. He’s engineered cars at every level, and every type: NASCAR, karts, club racing cars, Indy, GT and Prototypes, and even Top Fuel dragsters. But what sets Jeff apart from many engineers is how he can explain what he’s doing, what a car is doing, and even how the best think.
No dumb questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 20
Aug 3 2023
No dumb questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 20
Welcome back to another episode of No Dumb Questions! Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers.   On this episode, Ross answers how a driver can clear his/her mind of finding the same person repeatedly and running his/her own race, and Jeff answers what speed “aero” downforce starts happening.   Jeff is one of the very best race car engineers in the world. He’s engineered cars at every level, and every type: NASCAR, karts, club racing cars, Indy, GT and Prototypes, and even Top Fuel dragsters. But what sets Jeff apart from many engineers is how he can explain what he’s doing, what a car is doing, and even how the best think.
No Dumb Questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 19
Jul 20 2023
No Dumb Questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 19
Welcome back to another episode of No Dumb Questions! Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers. On this episode, Jeff and I tackle two great questions: is there ever a time when you would use understeer to your advantage; is there anything in racing/car setup that is definitive and absolute or does the entire motorsport world really always come down to doing what works best for an individual scenario? Jeff is one of the very best race car engineers in the world. He’s engineered cars at every level, and every type: NASCAR, karts, club racing cars, Indy, GT and Prototypes, and even Top Fuel dragsters. But what sets Jeff apart from many engineers is how he can explain what he’s doing, what a car is doing, and even how the best think.
No dumb questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 18
Jun 1 2023
No dumb questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 18
Welcome back to another episode of No Dumb Questions! Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers. On this episode, Jeff and I discuss the best way to lean your body while turning; how to set up for a turn; and considerations when thinking about driver weight, ballast weight, and how to minimize the impact of uneven side to side weight. Jeff is one of the very best race car engineers in the world. He’s engineered cars at every level, and every type: NASCAR, karts, club racing cars, Indy, GT and Prototypes, and even Top Fuel dragsters. But what sets Jeff apart from many engineers is how he can explain what he’s doing, what a car is doing, and even how the best think.
No Dumb Questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 17
May 4 2023
No Dumb Questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 17
Welcome back to another episode of No Dumb Questions! Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers. On this episode, Jeff and I discuss driver fatigue; driving style and car set up for bigger, heavier driver; and our favorite and least favorite turns on a race track from a car setup perspective versus driving perspective. Jeff is one of the very best race car engineers in the world. He’s engineered cars at every level, and every type: NASCAR, karts, club racing cars, Indy, GT and Prototypes, and even Top Fuel dragsters. But what sets Jeff apart from many engineers is how he can explain what he’s doing, what a car is doing, and even how the best think.
No dumb questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 16
Apr 20 2023
No dumb questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 16
Welcome back to another episode of No Dumb Questions! Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers.  On this episode, Jeff and I discuss what single quantifiable thing relating to a race car are we still unable to reliably measure that would be most useful for finding performance and eye placement when tracking a car. This week’s episode also features a bonus question… tune in to hear what question Ross has for Jeff! Jeff is one of the very best race car engineers in the world. He’s engineered cars at every level, and every type: NASCAR, karts, club racing cars, Indy, GT and Prototypes, and even Top Fuel dragsters. But what sets Jeff apart from many engineers is how he can explain what he’s doing, what a car is doing, and even how the best think.
No Dumb Questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 15
Mar 2 2023
No Dumb Questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 15
Hi there, thanks for joining us for another episode of No Dumb Questions! Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers.  On this month’s episode, Jeff and I discuss the validity of testing on used tires. We also dive into the concept of a “momentum car” and how the approach one takes when driving a “momentum car” may differ compared to other cars. Jeff is one of the very best race car engineers in the world. He’s engineered cars at every level, and every type: NASCAR, karts, club racing cars, Indy, GT and Prototypes, and even Top Fuel dragsters. But what sets Jeff apart from many engineers is how he can explain what he’s doing, what a car is doing, and even how the best think.
No Dumb Questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 14
Feb 9 2023
No Dumb Questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 14
Welcome back to another episode of No Dumb Questions! Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers. On this episode, Jeff and I discuss how a track’s difficulty impacts a student’s learning curve, and we dive into drafting. Jeff is one of the very best race car engineers in the world. He’s engineered cars at every level, and every type: NASCAR, karts, club racing cars, Indy, GT and Prototypes, and even Top Fuel dragsters. But what sets Jeff apart from many engineers is how he can explain what he’s doing, what a car is doing, and even how the best think.
No Dumb Questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 13
Jan 5 2023
No Dumb Questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 13
You’re still here… and it’s been a year! A great big thank you to all for tuning in each week to our new (not so new anymore) podcast series. We enjoy being here answering your questions each week. Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers. On this episode, Jeff and I discuss shaving off that last second off your ultimate pace, understanding the role of a limited slip differential in track driving, and whether to take a more risky or conservative approach when planning out strategy. Jeff is one of the very best race car engineers in the world. He’s engineered cars at every level, and every type: NASCAR, karts, club racing cars, Indy, GT and Prototypes, and even Top Fuel dragsters. But what sets Jeff apart from many engineers is how he can explain what he’s doing, what a car is doing, and even how the best think.
No Dumb Questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 12
Dec 1 2022
No Dumb Questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 12
As we come out of the Thanksgiving weekend, stuffed to the brim (we almost needed to wave the red flag!), we want to thank you for your continued support over the years. We’re grateful you come back each month to listen to us chat away. And with bellies still full, time to green flag us into another episode of No Dumb Questions! (Ok, we’re done with the flag puns.) Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers. On this episode, Jeff and I discuss right foot braking and the time it takes to transition from braking to throttle, what changes an engineer can make in the race to change the handling of the car. We also have a bonus question this week: should you be able to swap tires under red flag conditions? Tune in for our new series!
No Dumb Questions With Jeff Braun: Episode 11
Nov 3 2022
No Dumb Questions With Jeff Braun: Episode 11
Welcome back! Happy to have you join for another episode of No Dumb Questions! Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers. On this episode, Jeff and I discuss how to transition tracking a FWD to a RWD, how important it is to check tire temperatures with respect to set up changes, and if we could go back in time, what races we would want to be an engineer for and a driver in! It’s a good time this episode. Tune in for our new series!⁠
No Dumb Questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 10
Oct 7 2022
No Dumb Questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 10
More rain on the pavement means it’s officially October, which means another episode of No Dumb Questions! Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers. On this episode, Jeff and I discuss when cross weight is appropriate on a road racecar to favor turning in one direction over the other, and dive deep into high-speed sweepers. Tune in for our new series!⁠
No Dumb Questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 9
Sep 1 2022
No Dumb Questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 9
You're still here? Just in time for another episode of No Dumb Questions! Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers. On this episode, Jeff and I discuss if a tire gives its peak grip on tarmac at around 10 degrees slip angle, why do rally cars on tarmac exceed this and in some cases practically drift around slow corners. We also dive into when the performance of the car/driver isn’t where you want it to be, how do you diagnose and determine if the fix is more on the race engineer (car setup) versus the driver (driver technique)? Tune in for our new series!⁠
No Dumb Questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 8
Aug 4 2022
No Dumb Questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 8
Thank you for joining us for another episode of No Dumb Questions. Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers.  On this episode, Jeff and I discuss what kinds of unspoken tricks or mind games pro drivers use on track (clean or dirty!) and whether the roll center theory is the opposite of the driving theory. Tune in for our new podcast series!⁠
No Dumb Questions With Jeff Braun: Episode 7
Jul 7 2022
No Dumb Questions With Jeff Braun: Episode 7
Welcome back to another episode of No Dumb Questions. Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers. On this episode, Jeff and I answer how you know where your End-of-Braking point is and if you can you use data to find it. We also discuss a common race car driver pastime: roasting your own coffee blends! Tune in for our new podcast series!
No Dumb Questions With Jeff Braun: Episode 6
Jun 9 2022
No Dumb Questions With Jeff Braun: Episode 6
Welcome back to another episode of No Dumb Questions. Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers. On this episode, Jeff and I tackle three big questions: 1) whether you should track test before testing on a 7-post rig and in wind tunnel (or the other way around) 2) what a K&C rig does and when you should use it and 3) whether you should ever use maintenance throttle and whether professionals disagree on this. Tune in for our new series!⁠ ⁠