Watkins Glen I

NNJR “Trackside Classroom”

Getting Back on Track July 26, 2020

iCVGVenture Consulting Group, Inc

Disclaimer

The techniques shown here have been compiled from experienced

sources believed to be reliable and to represent the best current

opinions on driving on track. But they are advisory only. Driving at

speed at Watkins Glen, or any other track, requires skill, judgment and

experience. These techniques assume the reader has high

performance driving knowledge and applies them as applicable to their

level of driving experience.

High-performance driving can be very dangerous, carries inherent risks

and may result in injury or death. NNJR and PCA make no warranty,

guarantee or representations as to the absolute correctness or

sufficiency of any representation contained herein. Nor can it be

assumed that all acceptable safety measures are contained herein or

that other or additional measures may not be required under particular

or exceptional conditions or circumstances.

Watkins Glen: Back on Track

• Time Off => Back to Basics

• How to “Get Back on Track?”– Driver

– Car

– Traffic

• Avoid Mistakes

• Q&A

Slide 3NNJR: Northern New Jersey Region Copyright 2020

How Long Since You Last Drove?

• VIR (November 1, 2019)

• Lightning (October 13, 2019)

• Before?

8 Months?

9 Months?

10 Months Since WGII, 2019

Longer?

NNJR: Northern New Jersey Region Copyright 2020 Slide 4

What Have You Done to Stay Sharp?

• Watch videos?

• Read articles/books?

• Simulator?

• Visualization / Mental Imagery?

• Reviewed your track notes, track map?

NNJR: Northern New Jersey Region Copyright 2020 Slide 5

Back to Basics

• Time off means you’ve “lost”

– Reference Points (unless written down)

– Muscle Memory

– Sense of “Flow” or “Rhythm”

– Track Awareness

• Let’s assume your car is good to go (?)

• COVID means different DE procedures

• Seating Position

• Mirrors

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• Start in correct seating position!

• MIRRORS

• Rearview Mirror– Adjust to see entire rear window

• Left Mirror– Rest head against driver’s window

– Adjust to barely see left rear fender

• Right Mirror – Lean right so head is under rearview mirror

– Adjust to barely see right rear fender

Mirrors

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Proper Mirror Adjustment

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Mirrors

• Critical part of Situational Awareness

– MUST be aware of cars behind

• Should never be surprised by a car in mirror

• Scan mirrors (esp. rear view)

– On and end of straightaway

• Are cars closer or further away?

– Exiting a corner

• Confirms how close the next car is

NNJR: Northern New Jersey Region Copyright 2020 Slide 9

Back on Track

• Time Off => Back to Basics

• How to “Get Back on Track?”– Driver

– Car

– Traffic

• Avoid Mistakes

• Q&A

Slide 10NNJR: Northern New Jersey Region Copyright 2020

How to “Get Back on Track”

1. Re-learn the track

2. Re-learn the car (how to drive!)

3. Re-learn the traffic

4. Have Fun!

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Adapted from: Ross Bentley Speed Secrets Weekly 370

“There’s a huge difference between knowing what you need to do and being able to execute it.”

-- David Murry

1. Re-Learn the Track

• Like learning a new track

• Before Event

– “Mental programming” (Visualization)

• Which way does it go?

– Elevation, surface changes, etc.

– Turn Numbers, Flag Stations

• RP’s: lots more than TI, A, TO

• Run-off areas, bail out room, etc.

• Ideal line, when and how to use controls

– Turn by Turn (website)

– Video may help

– Your track notes

– Simulator

NNJR: Northern New Jersey Region Copyright 2020 Slide 12

Adapted from: Ross Bentley Speed Secrets Weekly 370

2. Re-Learn the Car

• How much have you driven (any car) lately?

– Your track car?

• Before event: Treat car as new to you

– How does steering feel? Brakes?

– Does seat fit perfectly?

– Vision constraints with helmet and HANS?

– Mirror adjustments

– Drive it!

• How does it sound? Feel?

– “Mental programming” (Visualization)

– “Set it and forget it”

NNJR: Northern New Jersey Region Copyright 2020 Slide 13

Adapted from: Ross Bentley Speed Secrets Weekly 370

3. Re-Learn Track Traffic

• How many cars did you pass on the GSP lately?

– How many passed you? Closing speed?

• Before the Event

– “Mental programming” (Visualization)

• Closing speeds (in mirrors)

• Remember when you were surprised by a car in mirror?

• Expanded passing requires Courtesy

• Aggressive Driving won’t be tolerated

– Not giving immediate pass signal

– Weaving, lights, etc. behind

– Mirror Adjustments

– Adjust the ego and expectations

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At the Track

• Forget about “going fast”, lap time, etc.

• Focus on Deliberate Practice instead

• Use Sensory Input Sessions to

– Re-learn the track, car and traffic

• Proven way to “knock the rust off”

– Re-creates muscle memory

– Much faster learning curve

• And a lot safer

NNJR: Northern New Jersey Region Copyright 2020 Slide 15

Adapted from: Ross Bentley Speed Secrets Weekly 370

Deliberate Practice*

• Re-learn the Track– Reference Points

– Track Surface

– Safety features

• Re-learn the Car– Brake Application

– Brake Release

– Throttle

– Steering

• Re-learn the Traffic– Mirrors

– What Would I Do If?

• Sensory Input– Vision

– Kinesthetics

– Hearing

NNJR: Northern New Jersey Region Copyright 2020 Slide 16

* How you practice is more important than amountDo it in a focused way, With clear goals, Plan for reaching goals, andA way to monitor your progress

Sources: Ross Bentley, Speed Secrets Weekly 322

and 370; Talent is Overrated by Geoff Colvin, and

Peak. Secrets from the New Science of Expertise

by Anders Ericsson and Robert Pool

Deliberate Practice Worksheets

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Capture Learning: After Each Session

1. Capture learning right away

– First 10 minutes

– Write down what you saw, heard, felt

• What did I do well that session?

• Rate your performance 1-10; not the result

• Note as many details as possible

– “turn in at tire mark”, “loud noise in T10”

• If I could do just 2 things better next session, what would the priorities be?

– Before lap times, data, video, socializing

2. Relax, grab food, prep car, socialize

3. Time permitting, data and/or video

4. Mentally prep for next session

Trackside Classroom Copyright NNJR 2019 Slide 18

Source: Ross Bentley, Speed Secrets Weekly 309

Watkins Glen: Deliberate Practice

• 15 Sessions over 3 days

• Use most or all of them for Deliberate Practice

• 12 Worksheets Available on NNJR website

NNJR: Northern New Jersey Region Copyright 2020 Slide 19

Watkins Glen: Back on Track

• Time Off => Reminders

• How to “Get Back on Track?”– Driver

– Car

– Traffic

• Avoid Mistakes

• Q&A

Slide 20NNJR: Northern New Jersey Region Copyright 2020

Avoid Common “Mistakes”

• Trying to drive “too fast” thefirst few laps

• Early apex / late recognition

• Improper late braking

• “Jumping” on/off the gas pedal in a turn

• Failure to identify or anticipate track situations

• Lack of traffic awareness

• Giving a passing signal then moving “out of

the way” of rapidly approaching car

• Poorly timed passes

Missing a Flag

• Flags critical for your safety and others (duh)

• No excuse for missing any flag

– Why do drivers miss flags?

• Inexperienced drivers

– Not enough scanning (“glance”)

– Incomplete “mental picture”

• Experienced drivers

– Tunnel vision: e.g. chasing a car or a laptime

– Incomplete “mental picture”

– “In a rut” and forget the basics

NNJR: Northern New Jersey Region Copyright 2020 Slide 22

When to Look at Flag Stations?

• As Early as Possible!

– See Following examples

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Flag Station 1

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Flag Station 1

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Flag Station 1

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Flag Station 1

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Focus on What to Do…

“Ten Secrets to Going Faster”

1. Focus on Technique, not Speed

2. Do the Basics Well

3. Learn Car Control

4. Have an out

5. Warmup

6. Keep a stable platform

7. Focus on Learning, but Fact Check

8. Know what you don’t know

9. Drive to Learn

10. Brake lighter, not later

Click for article on NNJR website

NNJR: Northern New Jersey Region Copyright 2020 Slide 28

Watkins Glen: Back on Track

• Time Off => Reminders

• How to “Get Back on Track?”– Driver

– Car

– Traffic

• Avoid Mistakes

• Q&A

Slide 29NNJR: Northern New Jersey Region Copyright 2020

Q&A

NNJR: Northern New Jersey Region Copyright 2020 Slide 30

Appendix

Good Review Material

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“I never drove a perfect lap”Stirling Moss

Recognize and Avoid Mistakes

• Everyone makes mistakes

– Good drivers ID them early and correct

• CPR

• Focus on consistency and situational awareness

• Watch out for fatigue

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Early Identification

• When? Early. Really Early!!

• In a turn

• In a braking zone

• In a skid

• Recognizing mechanical Failure

Skip Barber: “If you’re any

good, the instant you turn your

hands into the corner, you know

if you’ve made a mistake.”

Situational Awareness

• Continually check all three Mirrors

– Count’em 1-2-3

• Pick the correct time & place to pass

• Pick the right time & place to be passed

• Don’t harass drivers in NO PASSING zones

CPR

• Correct (steering input)

– Do it NOW

• Pause

– Allow the car to settle

• Recover

– Bring the car under control

– Use all the track you need

– Sacrifice your line if you need more pavement to

slow down

Fatigue: How to Recognize

• Two mistakes in a row

• Three mistakes in one lap

• Failure to see upcoming traffic

• Inconsistent lap to lap

performance

• Feeling overheated

• Cramping in your hands

• Neck and shoulders fatigue

• Loss of attention to “detail” -trance like state.