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Old 12-17-2017, 08:53 PM
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jdistefa
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Default Want to be better? Get a coach.

I dig Gawande`s stuff. Has written some thoughtful books and a few NYer pieces.

Get a coach.

https://www.ted.com/talks/atul_gawan...ng_get_a_coach

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2.../personal-best
Old 12-17-2017, 09:08 PM
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Veloce Raptor
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Old 12-17-2017, 09:44 PM
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Old 12-17-2017, 11:40 PM
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So who is a good coach in the DFW area and where would we go to learn? Normally would do a private day at TWS, but that no longer exists. I can potentially do member days at Cresson. Over 7 years in HPDE and 2 years racing WRL. Want to get better and faster. Would have 2-3 guys all wanting coaching. I have AIM MXL Dash in racecar and AIM Solo DL for any other car. Let me know.
Old 12-18-2017, 12:47 AM
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Truth
Old 12-18-2017, 08:16 AM
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Gary R.
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Originally Posted by jaundice
So who is a good coach in the DFW area and where would we go to learn? Normally would do a private day at TWS, but that no longer exists. I can potentially do member days at Cresson. Over 7 years in HPDE and 2 years racing WRL. Want to get better and faster. Would have 2-3 guys all wanting coaching. I have AIM MXL Dash in racecar and AIM Solo DL for any other car. Let me know.
Do yourself a favor, do not share a coach for the day... Bite the bullet, have him to yourself.
JMHO from personal experience.
Old 12-18-2017, 08:26 AM
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Jason Hart, Eric Foss, among others...
Old 12-18-2017, 08:33 AM
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Veloce Raptor
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Originally Posted by ProCoach
Jason Hart, Eric Foss, among others...
Yep. And I'm in Austin but am at MSR a lot too
Old 12-18-2017, 08:45 AM
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TXE36
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Originally Posted by jaundice
Would have 2-3 guys all wanting coaching.
IMO, two is company, three is a crowd. I shared a coach with another guy during a full open track day and it worked out very well. We both got plenty of in-car coaching time as well as time to practice on our own and it was much more affordable. Split 3 ways, I don't think it would work nearly as well unless it was a two-day weekend and then you are taking chances twice on the weather working out.

-Mike
Old 12-18-2017, 09:08 AM
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Originally Posted by Gary R.
Do yourself a favor, do not share a coach for the day... Bite the bullet, have him to yourself.
JMHO from personal experience.
Originally Posted by TXE36
IMO, two is company, three is a crowd. I shared a coach with another guy during a full open track day and it worked out very well.
-Mike
All good advice.

A true professional coach, as opposed to a professional driver/coach, will always provide much more information and have many more drills than you can cover in a one or two day engagement, let alone split between multiple drivers. Ideally, you won’t just get coaching for that day, but instead be given information that you can chew on for many more events, if not for years.

Normally, it will take some time to evaluate where the client driver has opportunities for improvement, then to grade those, then to begin working through those. Having data is key to identify those areas, then measure if, in fact, there’s been improvement, however slight. Simple trends can help direct the course of study.

The point is, with a pro coach, you’ll either be in the car or in an intensive briefing before and after every in car session. There is never enough time to attend to all the work generated by a thorough evaluation, but with a more dedicated approach, both the pro coach and the client come away much more satisfied, especially the FIRST time.

Race weekends are a little different, just dollops, fine tuning and “big picture” information and optimization allow one pro coach to work well and efficiently with multiple drivers, in my experience.


Old 12-18-2017, 09:26 AM
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Pastor Maldonado always said he didn't need to use coaches.

Oh wait,....
Old 12-18-2017, 12:29 PM
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LuigiVampa
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Originally Posted by TXE36
IMO, two is company, three is a crowd. I shared a coach with another guy during a full open track day and it worked out very well. We both got plenty of in-car coaching time as well as time to practice on our own and it was much more affordable. Split 3 ways, I don't think it would work nearly as well unless it was a two-day weekend and then you are taking chances twice on the weather working out.

-Mike
Coaching is the best money I have spent to improve performance - hands down.

I don't mind sharing a coach with one other person for the day. Going back and forth actually allows me to go out on track, by myself, and try to lock in what I am being taught.

I agree that threes a crowd!
Old 12-18-2017, 12:55 PM
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Originally Posted by ProCoach
Ideally, you won’t just get coaching for that day, but instead be given information that you can chew on for many more events, if not for years.
Um, that would be me. I was still working on some of that advice when TWS closed for good...years later...

-Mike
Old 12-18-2017, 06:22 PM
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I've never "hired" a coach direct but my PCA region did hire David Murray a few years ago at Road America to just "be available." You could essentially walk up to him, he'd review some video and offer advice. Guy spent an HOUR with me looking at ONE lap of video from my GoPro I had stuck to my windshield. I couldn't believe the info he was able to see and share.

Two good friends of mine (both of whom I respect tremendously from a driver's ability perspective) have hired Dan Clarke - and both of them have both (a) come out significantly faster and (b) had GLOWING reviews of him and what they learned.

Seems hiring a coach is probably one of the single BEST ways to spend your racecar budget dollars. Once I get my car sorted, get a successful event or two under its belt, I plan to utilize a pro coach myself.
Old 12-18-2017, 06:31 PM
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I found value from it - it trained me to alter mindset and add lots of focus on making the car faster


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