richard nichols wrote:
> Sorry if you misunderstood me, Mark. The comment about "Don't worry
> 'bout smoothness, some of the best drivers are choppy" came from a
> novice walk-through before the event, was said in response to another
> driver's comment, and was from a different instructor. :]
Okay, then perhaps this is just a confusion of whether "smooth" is
describing the driver's inputs, or the car's actions, as Randy points
out.
>> That said, I no longer teach smoothness as a technique on its own at
>> my novice schools. Rather, I think smoothness is an effect, a
>> product of other good habits. If you look ahead, if you slow down
>> your inputs, and if you understand lines and weight transfer, then
>> smoothness comes naturally -- it's no longer something to devote
>> precious attention span to.
>
> Now, you can't have it both ways, Mark -- am I right, or am I wrong,
> to make the generalization about smoothness? ;]
I think we're in a mutual misunderstanding mode here... :-)
I'm not trying to generalize on how people should drive -- I'm trying
to point out that smoothness in itself is not, IMHO, something worth
concentrating on. Rather, concentrate on the elements from which
smoothness is derived. If one concentrates on smoothness, it is
usually at the expense of aggressiveness (and thus, often makes one
slower). If one concentrates on looking ahead and slow inputs (not
stomping on the pedals, not turning the wheel too fast and too far)
then smoothness naturally results, *and* one gets faster.
And yes, that's a generalization. But it's not a generalization about
every driver's weaknesses, it's a generalization about mental technique.
Mark
|