How do you like to do it!??

[mattsedgley]

Righty then Guys and Girls!!

I've a question for you all and I'm looking for some tips!

Yesterday - I quite obviously threw away a final through lack of concentration..

I seem at present unable to consistently lap the track, I don't mean that I fall off the black stuff touch wood I seem to have mastered that for the majority of the time.

However I seem to end up driving every lap different... or mores the point loosing concentration and then not hitting apex's. It seems worse when there's not a car in front of me - for example if I play race with Les or Gray or Matt.H then I can follow them round the track tight on lines etc..(not saying I'm on the same time as them just I can follow them)

But put me in front of the pack like in yesterdays situation where by Martin Young gained 50 - 60 feet on me in the space of only a few laps... with me running wide etc etc...

Now I know I overdrive at times and carry to much speed into corners, wash wide through three and four etc...

So I guess the question is - What do you do to focus your brain, eyes and thumbs on to the task at hand, and get lap times/laps consistent??

Matt

[Gary]

Simple trade in your MK1 brain for the MK2 TC version. Trouble is I have found them to be in very short supply.

[Reuben]

when not racing I was observing the drivers on the rostrum and each one had their own little querk when racing - like body movement, they may not be aware of this and I wouldnt want to make them concious of it, as they may focus on that rather than the car, but could this be some sort of relaxation or "Flowing" technique.

I know I prefer using a wheel to sticks as I am able to easily move the controller itself (may sound weird) but move the controller as if im orchestrating the car arround the track (only very subtly, otherwise it would put others off me wilding swinging the tranny arround)

I find this helps me get into a "Rhythm" when theres no one arround me - so im concentrating purely on getting the car arround the track as smoothly as possible.

[lesbaldry]

Jan 5, 2009 17:46:58 GMT @mattsedgley said:

Righty then Guys and Girls!!

I've a question for you all and I'm looking for some tips!

Yesterday - I quite obviously threw away a final through lack of concentration..

I seem at present unable to consistently lap the track, I don't mean that I fall off the black stuff touch wood I seem to have mastered that for the majority of the time.

However I seem to end up driving every lap different... or mores the point loosing concentration and then not hitting apex's. It seems worse when there's not a car in front of me - for example if I play race with Les or Gray or Matt.H then I can follow them round the track tight on lines etc..(not saying I'm on the same time as them just I can follow them)

But put me in front of the pack like in yesterdays situation where by Martin Young gained 50 - 60 feet on me in the space of only a few laps... with me running wide etc etc...

Now I know I overdrive at times and carry to much speed into corners, wash wide through three and four etc...

So I guess the question is - What do you do to focus your brain, eyes and thumbs on to the task at hand, and get lap times/laps consistent??

Matt

Im not saying this is the case "and its not!!" but its a classic example of a new driver with too much speed/power!...I dont really know what the answer is Matt ...over enthusiastic?

Try this for a disaplin..next time you sneak of for a practice, place some brightly coloured rags or the Marshal cones 1mtr from the important apexes or the ones you have a prob with, drive at a reasonable pace,once you become consistent move them closer...that should make you concentrate and slow down

Ref Reubs post....I used to race with a chap called Mark Plested,nice guy ,good racer....but!!..no one would stand near him on the rostrum,there was always a 5 foot gap either side of him!....he used to hold his trany at chest hight with the mast at 45deg but wave it from side to side and up and down as if to follow the car round the track...hence his nick name "J.R.Hartly" the fly fisherman.

Another chap who shall remain name less for the sake of embarrassment used to "hum" to the sound of the engine "how sad is that!!"..but always denied he did when questioned...he was rather odd,smelt too!!

Many racers have odd little querks/body language when racing,it can be very amusing to watch ;D...Rob always makes me smile.his trany is under his chin,eyes wide open like an Owl and his mouth's in a perfect "O" when he's on the pace...but he's allways laughing when he's not

[saintroeer]

matt i dont know if there is an answer to this, for one everyone is different, i seem to be faster when i have a sense of injustice and get a little angry, my best time coming at the slcc and my rear wing become detactch on 1 side very early and was on a 45deg angle from the car! one thing is for sure, thinking about it too much isnt the way to go.

[Robin Howett]

Practice practice practice practice and then do another few laps just for fun.

I tend to go better when i've been on abit of a run of meetings so before a 'big one' i used to run a monday, wednesday, thursday and friday for a week or two before and although it takes it toll on the car(and me) and needs alot of rebuild time by the time you get to the meeting the thumbs are ready.
For example i think i probably did 300+ laps of bashley before the STCC one year.
Thats abit extreme but as with most things if you prepare before hand it makes so much easier on the day.

[Simon Crabb]

I like to hold that transmitter very close to my chin, I seem to then be able to focus on my thumbs and brain, and it's all very 'contained', like a shell, outside distractions have to work hard to get in.

Outside distractions include drivers and marshalls talking to each other, drivers wandering around the rostrum as they drive etc...

I also try hard not to talk on the rostrum when racing hard, I'll keep quiet, an occasional thank you (often a little delayed), I might answer a question from another driver if I have to, I might warn a car if I'm lapping, but mostly I'll try not to say anything, it just puts me off the business in hand!

As for the actual driving, you'll recall the thread on how people tackle each corner of the track, I think that's the key for me, I tackle a race one corner at a time, concentrating on the braking and turn in, and exactly what the sticks are doing.

I also set a car up to have too much steering, so I can get it right into the turn, and leave it up to my thumb to decide how much is applied, it also means if I need to push a bit harder I can, there's 'more left', I'll sometimes turn up or down the amount of steering during a run if I feel I need to.

[Simon Crabb]

Jan 5, 2009 20:23:09 GMT saintroeer said:

matt i dont know if there is an answer to this, for one everyone is different, i seem to be faster when i have a sense of injustice and get a little angry, my best time coming at the slcc and my rear wing become detactch on 1 side very early and was on a 45deg angle from the car! one thing is for sure, thinking about it too much isnt the way to go.

I totally disagree with Adam here.

If I get a little angry I usually just leave the rostrum, it's game over for me if I feel like that, I just get too frustrated and end up making mistakes. (And I'm not sure it's healthy to have to be angry to race well!?)

And, thinking about it too much is DEFINITELY the way to go for me, I need to be thinking about the car, the track, the corner, the competitors, transmitter settings, and both thumbs to be at my best... if I'm on autopilot I'm only at 90%.

[lesbaldry]

Its very hard to focus on a fun club day,especialy just after some pit banter with your mates!

As for big meets...I try and wonder off for 5 mins, distance myself away from the banter just befor a race and try and get into a "mean" mood but not angry...hard to do when you are enjoying your self

[catapult]

i cant concentrate at all the more i try to concentrate the worse it gets as youve all probably noticed

[James Calland]

I have noticed that when i am getting into 5/6 fast (no off) laps my arms and hads start to follow the car around the track almost like my arms are driving. I find this is exactly the same as what happens when i get really into a ps3 game. Wierd but it seems to work for me twisting and turning just slightly as if it makes a difference and i am direcxting the car with my arms.