In coaching I’m often working with clients that have hundreds if not thousands of laps on the track. Their body and muscle memory for how to drive the course is solidly burned in, and making a change can be really really hard.
First we have to identify the change and understand why it is needed. Then we have to come up with an approach to enable the driver to execute that change. Lastly, once they make the change, we need to imprint that change and make sure they don’t slide back to their old ways.
Here is the framework of how I approach change:
- Identifying and understanding
- Visualization
- Sim practice
- Step up to the change with small increments
- Emotional imprint
- Record, replay and reinforce
- Repeat
Identifying and understanding – Step one is to identify the change you want to make. This sounds easy, but it may require work to understand why the change is necessary, and if anything is holding you back from making the change. For example, you might know you need to take a corner flat without a throttle lift, but it doesn’t feel right or it feels risky. Then you need to bring together all of the changes that are needed, such as moving your visual references a bit further out, and/or slightly modify your line. Writing down all the elements to change is critical, ideally recording them on a track map.
Visualization – Now that you have identified the elements, start visualizing how those changes will feel, look, and sound when they are done correctly. Keep doing full visualization of the perfect execution over and over until it is flawless. Make sure to sit upright, arms to an imaginary steering wheel, and feet on the pedals. Include vision, hearing, and core body feelings in your visualization.
Sim practice – If you have a sim, try driving the key corner over and over until the execution is perfect. Make sure to use visual references, feel, and audible feedback.
Step up to the change – Ok finally on track and ready to execute. Depending on the change, you will usually work up to it in small increments. For example if you are trying to get rid of a lift at turn-in, you begin by holding a constant 60% throttle, starting well before the turn in. This will get you used to the feel of an even weight distribution. Then every lap add another 5-10% throttle until it is WOT. Just feeling how the car handles better without the rear getting light from a lift will be just what you need to get the confidence back.
Emotional imprint – Before this point you have probably been negative about not being able to execute this corner. Now I want you to do two things: 1) no negativity, if you miss the execution forget it, focus on the next try and remember how it felt when you visualized doing it perfectly, 2) When you do get it right IMPRINT it! SCREAM and SHOUT “OH YEA!!!!” Get excited and love getting it right. I tell my clients I want to hear them outside the car when they get a change right. This approach evokes a strong emotion and will help imprint the change, displacing the old way.
Record, replay and reinforce – OK now that you have done it right a few times, and imprinted it, record it. Mark the video so you can replay the perfect execution again and again. Record all the notes possible on your track map. Don’t forget to note visual, feel, and sound reference notes for turn in, apex and exit. Replay the video, and review the map notes before the next session. Reinforce the imprint when done well, and don’t have any emotion when wrong, just try again.
Repeat – The video and track map notes are there for the next time. Review notes, repeat visualization and redo imprint when you get it right. Keep doing it until it is the only way you execute that corner.