In the Quest of “My Kind of Seat Time”
In my last article in the CHECKPOINT, I talked about driving techniques—one of them was the importance of seat time. I mentioned a particular type as “my kind of seat time”…however, due to space limitations, I was not able to explain it further which prompted questions like, “If going to all the KCR AX/RX or National events don’t count as your kind of seat time, then what does?” I’m glad they asked. To explain, please let me go back a few years so you can better understand why and how I use this methodology.
Since I was ten, I’ve always been involved in organized sports. Though I participated in many types, the one constant I had was a coach (not counting my life-coach father, & Navy fighter pilot). I benefited from each one, but none more than Bob Timmons (Google him, now). What I’ve learned, I have been able to apply successfully to other sports like Martial Arts and now Motorsports. I know that regardless of your level of talent, coaching and practice is instrumental in all sports…from 9-year-old little leaguers to, say…Patrick Mahomes. I bring this up, so I can point out that in AX & RX there is no real practice at all, nor do we have coaches (i.e. crew chiefs). Furthermore, our five minutes of seat time is often limited to 8-10 once-a-month regional events where you are competing for, but not limited to: class points, pax points or just against yourself…and you don’t dare try, for instance, a totally new technique (or 2-3), because you don’t want to ruin what could be your best run. Driving in these events, is like a basketball team that only plays when they are competing against another team…with no practice…and no coach…for 5 minutes. You can imagine their success. So, when I say “my kind of seat time”, it is not at local or National events (though ANY seat-time still helps). My kind of seat time is at other mid-div region’s sites.
We are very lucky. Kansas City is uniquely located within 1 and 3.5 hours of 8 or 9 SCCA regions, including the site of the Solo Nationals and Pro Solo Finale. That means between mid-March and late November, there is an event…somewhere… every Sunday and a lot of Saturdays (ask me how I know). That’s over 30 events. What I suggest is for you to go to as many of those events as possible, but not to “compete.”
When you go to them, do as you might do in our local events…if you have competitors in your class with a similar car, ask about their car set-up. Listen to their exhaust note while on course to hear when they are on/off the gas and watch when/where you see their tail lights. Pick other driver’s brains. Ask questions like: are you tight on that first cone before that sweeper? etc. Since these are new-to-you drivers, you could get valuable and fresh tips. Get ride-a-longs with the local fast guys and vice-a-versa. Ask for multiple-element feed-back on your driving from the fast guys, ones in your class AND the ones who were working while you were running, they saw everything you did…yes, coaching! Stay for their fun-runs. Go to their test and tunes and attend an EVOLUTION School. Since their surfaces are different, you will gain insight and knowledge in your car’s set-up behavior, as well. This will help back home.
In these now “practice” events, with no pressure to perform, this is the time to try different car set ups, spring rates/shocks, techniques, theories, ideas and even tire scrub-in. Go back to October’s 2020 CHECKPOINT, make a copy of my driving tips and take it with you. I might add, even if you are using data-acquisition, be careful not to combine more than one new item per run. If you combine items, it’s possible you won’t know which one actually helped. I don’t remember how many times I “fixed” multiple mistakes from an earlier run, only to be shocked when my new time was slower.
Okay, so now you have an avenue to get faster with practice seat-time. Good! I should tell you that you will have to constantly remind yourself you are not competing. I guess, its just human nature, but I bet you will experience an overwhelming compulsion to just drive as fast as you can, with the same ‘ole habits to try and get a good time. If you succeed and do have a good practice, be prepared to have your class or PAX competitor to be happy they “beat” you…just swallow your pride and know you are learning and getting faster.
Next, is the coaching aspect of your strategy. Well, for AX & RX you probably are going to be your own coach. (I don’t think RACERS360 will help experienced AX/RX drivers, but maybe you could try them…its $100) This is the hardest part. Unless you’ve been coached and coached well for many years, chances are you are going to be just O.K. at it. Some reasons can be attributed to the lack of being able to disconnect the driver from the coach in yourself…you’re bucking human nature and the difficulties of self-insight. Another is, obviously, it’s hard to personally have track-side observation of yourself, like a crew chief does. Sure, we all correct things we think we did wrong on course when we get back to grid. That’s akin to coaching, but one could easily say, if you have no idea you are doing something wrong, how can you possibly correct it? Or, even if you do know what you did wrong…how do you know your solution is the best one? You could be stuck in a catch-22 and not even know it.
You, as your new coach, can try this: Many coaches are good because…
- They’ve learned from the best (get a mentor).
- They’ve had a great deal of experience (a lot of events).
- They’ve seen umpteen competitors in umpteen situations (different event & sites).
- They study other great coaches (drivers) and incorporate their ideas, concepts and techniques. After games (events), they study the stats (times & data) of both teams (competitors), watch tape (Go-Pro video) and make appropriate corrections/additions in not only their approach, but during future games (races).
DRIVER + COACH = FULL POTENTIAL
In conclusion, I believe “my kind of seat time” can help solve our two-fold problem in AX and RX. It will give you the practice that will help you grow not only as a driver, but as your own coach…and together, you can reach your full potential.
“Words embody power to inspire or motivate us, but it is only we who have the power to open up to see and feel it.”
Anuj Somany
See you out there!
Mark Hill,
4-time SCCA Champion, 500+ AX wins