Your worst student

[Phokaioglaukos]

I would not address a RTR moment here, but at Skip Barber at Laguna Seca I promised myself to spin (their cars) regularly to as to push the envelope. In the sweeper following the corkscrew I was slow. One of the instructors told me to trust the car (a top heavy, under-powered formula car on slippery street tires). The next session I kept my foot on the floor (I thought) and spun BIG TIME. Massive, long black marks. Flat spot tires (were they the least bit sticky) sort of spin. Of course the half of our class not on the track were watching that turn, too. I pitted and had the talk with the chief instructor. What happened? Mega speed increase, panic and a lift lead to a massive slide. Lots of tire smoke. Why did it happen? "John told me to do it." The CI said that he was deeply impressed with my awareness of the event and willingness to push John under the bus. The rest of the class, a day and a half, had constant references to John's error. I did not learn much there more than I had learned at an RTR DE, but I had fun in their cars and the instructors were almost as much fun as the RTR instructors. John included.