03-04-2007, 12:57 AM
In the book "The Perfect Driver" author Ross Bentley discusses the importance of mental imagery and how it can play a beneficial role in developing skills as a driver gets better at his craft. It also goes onto explain how a driver can practice the excercises by getting into an almost meditative state.
I understand how valueable a tool the mind can be and the things that can be accomplished when someone has learned to "manipulate" (I couldn't think of a better word to decribe my point) the mind into thinking fantasy is reality, I understand all that.
So here's my question, more directed towards instructors but anyone please chime in because I really want to do well out there, do you yourself go through mental preperation and if you do what do you do to get yourself mentally ready for being on the track? And what do you tell your students to do or think about between run sessions?
I'm interested because the other day I was reviewing that chapter in the book and I had remembered my instructor at FATT & he had me do a complete run session in my mind as if I were behind the wheel, he then took me out in his car (996TT) during the instructors session. During the session he was constantly asking me were I was on the track in my car if I was driving (he was referring to my mental image), all the while we were driving at his speed. Fastest car I have ever been in, & he wasn't shy with the throttle either. Scared the crap out of me coming down the hill into Turn 4, every lap!! After that was lunch, during lunch he gave me instructions to think about ONLY the session that we had just completed. When lunch was over it was my run group. During the session in between instructing he was constantly asking where I was on the track, funny thing about it was I was in my car EXACTLY at the same spot he was in his car on any given point of the track, not going nearly as fast, but my point is his approach made a substantial impact on how productive his excercise was. Another thing that I noticed was I felt like I was driving much smoother. John Tekoya (I think that's how his last name is spelled) wanted to move me into Group 2 so I could get an extra run session but I didn't feel I was ready to be on track with those more experienced drivers.
Anyway, any & all input is much appreciated bcause at this point I'm like a sponge ready to absorb all the information I can, so, many THANKS for whatever input anyone can give.
I understand how valueable a tool the mind can be and the things that can be accomplished when someone has learned to "manipulate" (I couldn't think of a better word to decribe my point) the mind into thinking fantasy is reality, I understand all that.
So here's my question, more directed towards instructors but anyone please chime in because I really want to do well out there, do you yourself go through mental preperation and if you do what do you do to get yourself mentally ready for being on the track? And what do you tell your students to do or think about between run sessions?
I'm interested because the other day I was reviewing that chapter in the book and I had remembered my instructor at FATT & he had me do a complete run session in my mind as if I were behind the wheel, he then took me out in his car (996TT) during the instructors session. During the session he was constantly asking me were I was on the track in my car if I was driving (he was referring to my mental image), all the while we were driving at his speed. Fastest car I have ever been in, & he wasn't shy with the throttle either. Scared the crap out of me coming down the hill into Turn 4, every lap!! After that was lunch, during lunch he gave me instructions to think about ONLY the session that we had just completed. When lunch was over it was my run group. During the session in between instructing he was constantly asking where I was on the track, funny thing about it was I was in my car EXACTLY at the same spot he was in his car on any given point of the track, not going nearly as fast, but my point is his approach made a substantial impact on how productive his excercise was. Another thing that I noticed was I felt like I was driving much smoother. John Tekoya (I think that's how his last name is spelled) wanted to move me into Group 2 so I could get an extra run session but I didn't feel I was ready to be on track with those more experienced drivers.
Anyway, any & all input is much appreciated bcause at this point I'm like a sponge ready to absorb all the information I can, so, many THANKS for whatever input anyone can give.
mike
89 Carrera
#402
89 Carrera
#402