Prior to the weekend, I had only won novice races at Monza and Spa. I spent
a lot of time at these two tracks learning how to drive a GPL car. Probably
would have been better to have started at Monza and Watkins Glen, but I just
love Spa. Anyway, it took me a long time to win races at these two tracks. I
had to learn how to start competitively, and not get left behind by Hill and
Clark and Brabham (clutch start), and I had to learn how to trail-brake
(still have not mastered it, of course), and I had to learn how to be
consistent (err, practice!).
But on the weekend and today, I managed to win at 3 more tracks,
Silverstone, Mexico, and Mosport, bringing my total to 5. I gauge my
performance at a track by seeing how I do in a race. Getting to pole is
usually not so difficult - after all, it may have been a lucky lap - but
winning a race, even if it's at novice level, requires 10-15 minutes of
consistent speed. So I was surprised by how quickly I managed to claim a
race victory at these three tracks. Mosport, in fact, took me 1 hour: about
30 minutes of training, then practice, then 3 attempts at a race (crashed
out the first two times during the first lap, but the 3rd time managed to
make a good start and keep the lead for the rest of the race).
I suppose it's explained by the fact that since starting at Monza and Spa,
I have gained a significant amount of skill in driving and racing these
cars. Starting at a new track is no longer so daunting. I now have a routine
which I put into practice whenever I start a new track. First, try out a few
laps with the Cooper. Learn the important things about the track with this
car. Then switch to the Lotus, and learn the more subtle things about the
track. Then race until you win. Now, you are ready to really start learning
the track. :)
Bendito;
