APPROACH
So, where do you
want to improve?
The first question. A very important one. And I will ask you this at the beginning. I want to understand what matters to you - as it is all about you. Your goals, dreams, what you want to achieve. Everyone is different - and with me you are not judged against anyone else. Your only competitor is you. Your reasons are completely valid. It's no-one else's business. You might want better car control skills to be a better driver on the road. Or you may want to compete in Super Sprints, Hill Climbs or Motorkhanas. Or you might want to get to the next step of actual racing. Or you might already be competing and want to improve in some particular area or overall. Whether it's the first step or the next one, I'll coach, guide and mentor you to get there.
A lot of different skills required to go fast
Sure gaining excellent traction sensing and vision skills or executing an effective racing strategy is important. However, so is being well organised (that's you), plus having a healthy attitude (that's you again) and being physically healthy (still you) and having your car well prepared, matters too.
High Performance and competition driving is a cerebral centralised activity. Yes, it's all starts between your ears. I'm interested in ensuring that you are in good healthy shape both physically and mentally.
At the track or virtually.
Depending on where you are, our first appointed meeting can be at the race track or virtually via Zoom/Teams. Remember, prior I'll need to know what you want to achieve and your experience level. We can talk over the phone for that. If you have any previous in-car video footage that would be very useful. Almost always I like observing your driving first-hand but it's still workable via video if I can't.
At the beginning of our association, I will typically write you a Lesson Plan. This sets out the learning objectives and the skills to be attained. Regardless of your level, I set out tasks that are quite challenging without you becoming totally overwhelmed. Pressure is good for growth - too much is counterproductive.
I will recommend that you have a GoPro type camera in your car. I want to see how you steer and the line driven. I want to listen to how and when you pick up the throttle. One of my key driving principles is ensuring correct car placement - as it's the easiest way to be faster. Even if I'm observing you at the track, I'm unable to see everything - so the camera helps. Depending on your car and particular track days requirements, I may ride with you as a passenger to observe and guide.
I will discuss with you my own track day or racing video footage to assist with ensuring that you have correct car placement. We will compare the ideal line with what you may be experiencing. Mastering the ideal line matters because it's the quickest way consistently around the track.
At some practice or track days, I may be able to follow or "tow" you around with my own Subaru BRZ. "Towing" helps reinforce the correct line. Following helps me see what the driver is doing. I can be both fast or slow enough to do this. And there may be a good reason to put you in the BRZ's passenger seat to see the correct line and understand the track's personality firsthand.
If we are together at the track, I may temporarily fit my VBOX datalogger into your car. It's easy to do. This is very useful for refining where spedd gains may be made in the entry, apex and exit phases of particular corners - and to confirm how much G force is being generated when braking.
And I'm able to review your videos post event. We can do that together at a mutually convenient location or remotely via Zoom/Teams. From that review, the next Lesson Plan is determined to gain additional skills, speed and confidence.
