Driving Lessons: Avoiding Myths
Where are Adam and Jamie when you need them?
We humans are weird. Every one of us. There are no exceptions.
Part of being weird is that we like certainty. Our brains don’t like to be empty (except, perhaps, in the case of a meditating Buddhist monk), so we fill them up with thoughts, ideas, and worries, even if they’re aren’t accurate—or even reasonable, at times.
We also have a fear of the unknown, and myths can replace the unknown with a known, even when they’re untrue or inaccurate. It’s like our brains are saying, “Hey, I’d rather have some nonsense up here than having nothing!”
When something is said (or written like I’m doing here), especially by someone with some level of authority (SPEAK LOUDLY and with conviction and you become an authority), and then it is repeated by others, it becomes reality. It can become a myth.
We often refuse to ask why, and dig into the reasoning for something, anything. Albert Einstein spent most of his life asking why, and he is recognized as a genius. Why? Because he asked why. Because he dug deeper.
Asking why, or even worse, understanding why, can upset our long-held beliefs. Beliefs are what make us do what we do and be who we are. They’re strong. And we don’t like it when our beliefs are challenged.
Having the beliefs we have is comforting. Without them we feel empty, confused, without direction, unknowing.
As I think and read about why we don’t like to dig into the why behind things, I realize that I’m looking for the why behind the why!
Following myths are easier than asking whether the myth is true or not. Our minds most often look for the easy way out. Assuming that a thing that someone has said is true and accurate is easier than doing the work yourself to find the truth.
For some reason, the written word is often given more strength and weight than the spoken word. That may have been due to the cost, effort, and support that being published once took. If something was published, it must be true, right? Of course, anyone can write and publish anything, anytime, anywhere these days. Just look at me for proof!
The definition of a myth, according to the Oxford Dictionary: “A traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a people or explaining some natural or social phenomenon, and typically involving supernatural beings or events; or, a widely held but false belief or idea.”
So, is a myth true and accurate, or not? As far as I’m concerned, not necessarily. Some things that are considered myths are true and accurate. But some are not. And some are plausible. That’s the difficulty: knowing what is and what isn’t true. I consider it my “job” to dispel the untrue ones.
In the performance and race driving world, here are just a few strongly-held views and opinions that may or may not be myths:
Beginners should not be taught to trail brake into corners.
Late apexes are safer.
There’s a racing line and there’s a school line.
The school line is safer.
Softening the front anti-roll bar/springs will reduce understeer; softening the rear anti-roll bar/spring will reduce oversteer.
The overtaking driver should be responsible for making a clean/safe pass.
Never coast.
In slow, out fast is always the fastest.
Late braking is the key to improving lap times
The most important corner is the one leading onto the longest straightaway.
Smooth is fast.
The driver who begins accelerating first will be the fastest.
More seat time will make you faster.
Visualizing will help you go faster.
A new set of tires is the key to going fast.
A fast driver can teach you a lot.
Heel and toe downshifting is not important.
Left-foot braking is the key to being really fast.
There is only one line around a track.
All your braking should be done in a straight line before the corner.
The best drivers never lose their focus.
The best drivers were born with more talent than everyone else.
Friends don’t let friends early apex.
Winners are ultra-competitive by nature.
The sooner you start accelerating, the faster you’ll be.
Always brake as hard as possible.
You should always be on throttle by the apex.
As I said, some of these are true and accurate, some or not, and others are somewhere in the middle. I’ve written and posted a number of “myth-buster” articles here, and will continue to do so. In doing that, I’ll be asking why, and I encourage you to do so, as well.
Let’s play a little game: Tell me, how many of the statements on the list above do you think are untrue myths? How many are accurate and true? Which ones? And who says they’re true?
Finally, ask yourself why you do what you do, and whether it’s simply because that’s what many people believe to be true, and/or it’s just the way it’s always been done. Ask yourself why?
A number of the myths on accelerate (I.e. back to throttle) early may have overlooked the real importance is to get to WOT early, even if that requires a little more patience mid-corner.
In addition, if one overslow during corner entry, one can often be back on throttle sooner, but that may not make up for the time already lost.
The real question to ask, IMHO, is how to get steering angle open as early as possible for corner exit.
Now in my 70’s I have had to re-evaluate most of the “Myths” you’ve listed. I now have just 2….
1). On any given day & lap, the quickest driver does everything based on training/experience/conditions it takes to record the lowest lap time.
2). Reading ‘Driving lessons’ always helps me to evaluate what I believe to be true, and often can either validate, or challenge my beliefs!
Keep it up Ross!
Mostly left foot braker, rarely quickest driver, trying to be a better coach-Jim