Rich responds (snip) to Charlie's comments (snip):
>> There are some things you DO need to consciously remember. I helped
>design the > course, gave the novice walkthrough, and in the 2nd run
>group I promptly dove
>> down to the apex, way too tight, on my first run. I managed to stay
>out by
>> consciously thinking about it on runs 2 & 3. The rest of the course
>was more
>> easily read by just looking ahead.
>We're getting close to nitpicking here but when there is something that
>I think needs remembering, I stand on course and look at it until
>I can remember the picture, tell myself what to do when I see it
>again, and then let the programming work by itself when actually
>driving. Usually works, too, if I've had enough sleep.
>
>All I know for sure is that when I have a rare fine run it's when I
>haven't
>thought a single thought during it.
>Rich
After a while we each develop pre-run preparations/techniques that best suit
our individual needs.
For the two years in the early nineties, when I co-drove Dwayne Komush's
Nationally competitive EP Ford Escort Mexico with Howard Wolf, Howard would
walk the course only once or twice and be ready to run, even at National
events. BTW, Howard was EP National Champ in the car in '92, his second
champioship.
For myself, I seem to benefit from more thorough preparation.
WARNING: STOP NOW, if you aren't into, opinionated, minutiae!
Even when my run group is in the afternoon, I try to get to the site early
enough to walk the course several times before the morning first group.
During those walks, I try to decide and visualize how to accomplish both the
entrance and exit for each turn, including lines, braking, shifting and
acceleration points.
After a couple of (alone, no chatting) walking laps, in addition to making
decisions on approximate braking and shifting/gearing selections, slalom
cone spacing, etc., I'll stop, close my eyes, and try to "run" the course in
my mind. If necessary, I continue this process, as I walk additional lap(s),
until (hopefully) I can correctly link all the parts of the course in my
mind. I use this linkage "memory" later for my between-runs evaluations.
With the course flow, essentially, committed to memory, I, then, try to
determine if there are any places on the course where I might want to make
any "on-the-fly" decision(s) concerning gearing or shift points, during my
first run. I try to limit these "decision" options to only one or two places
on the course. For, as Rich alluded to, if you start thinking much while
on-course, you go slow due to the thinking-distraction detracting from
concentration on your driving.
The next thing I try to do, after walking, is decide what, specific,
course-dependent changes (shock setting changes, bar changes, air pressure
settings, tire cooling, etc.) to be prepared to make to the car set-up
between runs. Again, I try to limit these change options to only one or two
adjustments. With practice and experience, on a car with a setup/tire
combination that's pretty well "dialed-in", this advance planning really can
pay dividends. BTW, its especially helpful when there are two drivers in the
car as there are more opportunities (five VS two) to make changes but less
time between runs to make those changes.
When my run group is in the afternoon, I try to walk the course a couple
more times at the break in order to determine if, both from having watched
cars run earlier and from observing the condition of the course (clean line,
bumps, etc), I should alter my run "plan".
Additionally, imediately after each run, I try to review the run in my mind
to decide, first, if I want to make any changes to the "plan" or the car
"set-up"for the next run. Secondly I use additional mental review of the run
to decide where I need to be faster by deeper braking, use more braking, use
less braking, stay on the gas longer, use more of the course on exiting a
turn, etc.
When things go well for me, all of this mind-boggling discipline can result
in a last run where everything "comes together". Happens every now and then!
Now, for some advice to those of you, who've "hung-in" to the end of this
verbal diarrhea.
First, this is what works for me, it may not work for you. Its taken a
lot of years to develop the discipline for me to be able to follow this
approach most of the time.
Second, even if some of this seems like it may be helpful for you, don't
try to do all these things at once. Pick one or two of the ideas, then try
to see if they help you. If so, try some more after you've "mastered" the
first.
Hope this is helpful.
Don
|