On Sat, 10 Nov 2001 00:44:19 +0100, "Jan Verschueren"
>Thanks for this gem of a reply Malcolm. More than I bargained for and it
>does open up a whole can of worms/questions for me, but I need to organize
>my thoughts before I can present them as something you might be able to work
>with. I'll get back to you.
>This is the 2nd time in my simracing "career" I've been blindsided by the
>comments of a better/more complete simracer from whom I sought advice. Last
>time I had to re-assess my motivation and priorities to be able to continue,
>this time I'm forced to question the way I "drive" (and I don't mean the
>techniques I use, but really fundamentally). Anyone smart/humble enough to
>re-evaluate his/her driving in the face of what you posted will benefit
>greatly, IMO.
Jan,
Very nice of you to say so, it's not just the premise of the "less
complete" [in your words] sim-driver who needs to step back
occasionally and re-asses. I certainly do it from time to time,
and many of the top real-world drivers that I know or have
read about do this also.
It actually fits in with the other sub-thread going on here
about practice.
MUSIC
When you practice a song, you will be be following a script in
your mind, while you are playing one chord you are thinking
about the next, or a tricky change-over up ahead.
Whilst you are singing the words you are visualising the line
in your mind and already "thinking" about the next word and
so on.
Yes, you can still do this on stage and perform a fair rendition
of the song, but it will probably lack feeling and IMO you won't
enjoy the experience as much.
SPORT
Lets take football and tennis, how often do you suspect, not
just the great footballers but also the Sunday afernoon club
footballers run through technique related issue in the course
of a game, or any tennis player.
If you are recieving a service do you "think", ah ok, this
ones going wide and long, I need to move to here and
perform this shot. I need to place it straight back on the
diagonal as I can see out of the corner of my eye that
my opponent is moving across court to block a straight
return.
That process does happen and dozens of other scanarios
as well but in the sub-conscious.
In order to perform those moves the player needs lots
of (technique) practice, in order to decide (subconsciously)
the best move in those circumstances requires that he has
had lots of prior experience and has put thought into
matcgplay tactics (conscious thought which is stored in
his sub-conscious for lightning fast retrieval).
Motor Racing is no different apart from perhaps its
breadth. Learn F.Ford well and have some degree of
talent and you should do well, then you have to relearn
a lot of driving and race technique for the aero cars
like F3, F3000 is a different challenge as the cars behave
very differently, then maybe F1, different again although
you have more to call on at this stage.
Then there are Saloons, Stock Cars, Hot-Rods, Grass Track
cars, Hillclimbs, Trials, Rallying, Truck Racing etc. etc. etc.
Going back to music briefly, I have often compared a GPL
race to a musical performance, or a real race for that matter.
I was for many years in my youth a performing musician so I
have experience of both sides. I particularly remember the
difference in mindset between a practice session and a
performance. For some reason it comes very natural to
think this way with music and other sports but from what Jan
has said and others I have spoken to, it seems we don't make
the same connection with GPL racing and often approach
racing in the same mindset as offline practising.
It still works but IMO not as well and is not so rewarding.
Another thing strikes me and I wondeer if any of the
rally sim drivers have a similar experience.
I find I drive a rally sim in 2 different ways, the actually
thing I'm doing is the same, either a single stage or
full rally and my motivation is exactly the same (to go
as fast as possible). I never have a mindset of
practicing technique.
Sometimes I will be looking ahead at each corner, the
apex, the outside verge and listening to the co-driver calls
intently. I am gripping the wheel qute tight and I can feel
tension in my shoulders.
I can put up a decent time BUT other times I'll sit, very
relaxed, almost zombie like. I won't make any real attempt to
interpret the co-driver calls (i.e if he says 200, 3 left I won't
THINK I need to this, then that. It will simply register and I'll
do what's required when it's required.
I won't consciously look at any apex of any verge. instead
I am sort of leaving my eyes wide open to take in the scene
and (I know this sounds kooky) just let this go straight
through to my sub-conscious without passing through and
being evaluated by my conscious.
I particularly like stages with lots going on (France etc.
in CMR2, Corsica/Monte Carlo in CMR1) as these just
force that process to happen for me.
If you've ever watched in-car action from the WRC you
will know what mean. The drivers seem incredibly
relaxed and have a fixed gaze rather than darty eyes.
There is no way that any of them are THINKING at
all about what they are physically doing, or about what
technique to use for the next bend, or even registering
what the next bend is.
It's why Makkinen had so much trouble getting to grips
with a new co-driver in Australia.
Anyway, more food for thought and probably kooky
enough to put anyone off replying :)
Cheers
Maxx
