I couldn't agree more there. I've held a FIA instructor's license for close to a decade now and it is very very rare for someone to show up that is actually fast (even those that claim years of track experience or at the race licensing schools, or even prior racing experience). At the end of the last day of a weekend school when students think they're fast now, we usually have one session for a 'ok, go show us how fast you actually are now' session, which I often also use as a humbling exercise by driving their car for a few laps and showing them just how much they still have to learn/improve on. I have never had a student that was as fast or even close to as fast as I was. IMO rather than worrying about making a car the fastest it can be on the track, people should probably focus on improving their own driving as it should be far more rewarding/better for bragging rights. IMO the moment you stop learning on a race track and rely on upgrades on what you're driving to go faster is the moment you are forever slow.

Unfortunately my life experience says that most people who have been tracking for years turn their brain off to improving or listening to advice. I don't know why it happens so consistently (Even when I was learning from a former F1 driver I had to mentally remind myself to not be cocky and to just do what he says) but so far the only thing I've found that gives most people a reality check is humiliating them on the track. I had one student this summer going for his road race license that was convinced his lines were better than mine because he's been lapping the track we're at for years. Truth be told he was above average, but was a long way from being fast. After almost a full day of him not seeing the light and ignoring what I was saying about a lot of things, I told him ok, screw it, Go Full Out, you run your lines in front of me, and i'll try to pass you. Then we'll swap and you'll try to pass me while I'm running my lines. I was in a stock miata I just bought for the event on all-season tires because I figured if I had to do lead/follow (covid rules) instructing at a slow pace, I might as well buy a car that I could be somewhat close to the limit in rather than wanting to blow my brains out driving 2 full days at a snails pace. He's in a fully prepped bmw race car on race tires. Realistically he should take one corner and leave me in the dust. So off we go, and he does his thing, and I do my thing, and i'm having no problem keeping up, and am initialing passes on him exactly where I said I could pass him and then backing off to make pass attempt after pass attempt to hammer it home that it's not luck. I give the signal, we swap, and he's not able to do it. Couldn't make one passing attempt on me despite having every car advantage; power, weight, suspension, tires, etc. We come in to the pits and he's super excited, and goes 'You convinced me!'.

I understand that people want to look fast (especially if they aren't fast) and want their car to have every advantage to make themselves look fast, but no one is really paying attention unless you really stand out. And to get any sort of praise/respect/positive comments you either need one of the best cars (preferably by a huge margin) at the lapping day so the amateurs who don't know any better think you're fast, or you need to obviously drive better than those around you by a huge margin so it's obvious to all. I also know from experience that most people that show up with a track monster car like a GT3/Ferrari/GTR for their first track even never come back because of how obvious it is they suck at driving. Best to bring something less crazy, realize everyone sucks their first time, realize that everyone who tracks knows that everyone sucks their first time and no one good is making fun of you, realize you are soooo much faster your 2nd and 3rd time and that it's hugely addictive, and then bring the crazy car.