TheOtherEric

Hey what's wrong with leaving your arm on the sill, or heck, hanging outside the car?? Here's Randy Pobst droving my wife's car at Mid-Ohio:

Veloce Raptor

Maybe he wanted out?

Marc Shaw

Looks like he is holding onto a butt.

Marc

Nathan Muir

Flickin a sticky.

Boulder GT3

I got it and thought it was a good notion.

Humor is a bit short in some parts but I'm sure they don't take themselves too seriously.....

Larry Herman

Some people just don't know how to teach/coach. They're the same ones that you see yelling at 8 year olds to "get tough" and to "get in the game". Pathetic. Although the repercussions of mistakes can be serious, training drivers does not have to be heavy-handed nor command based.

One of the funniest moments that I have had (and it was on video) was where a certain student kept getting perilously close to the edge of the track at a braking zone in VIRs rollercoaster. I kept pointing it out that he was getting too close and was ramping up the seriousness each time he got close until he almost dropped a wheel off. In frustration I turned to him and asked "why do you keep doing that?" and his reply?...."because I'm a Dumb ***". We laughed for half a lap, but he never got close again. Sometimes you just need to approach the problem from a different angle, i.e. making them aware of their actions by asking them to explain them.

There are times for heavy-handedness and ultimatums, but that is usually after all else fails.

Phokaioglaukos

Larry, I remember having you instruct me at Pocono my second event ever. I was in the bowl and considering whether I should shift or not. As I pondered, my right hand lingered on the gearshift lever. You reached over and moved my hand from the lever to the wheel. I was SOOOOOO embarrassed, but I have never made that error again! You did it matter of factly and did not say a word, then or later, but the point was glaringly obvious. I appreciated it.

Veloce Raptor

Chris, he just wanted to touch your hand....

Bonster

I agree with Larry, definitely. I'm not saying that the more serious approach is not acceptable, but the last thing I want my student to do is get so wrapped up in the scene that he or she makes mistakes that they don't even remember. Driving at the track brings about enough adrenaline as it is -- we don't need to add to the recipe by getting on their case in a negative matter. I never treat a student as though they are not on my level -- I instruct in a manner that shows them how to be at my level some day. I don't play 'soup ****' or play the 'I'm better than you, so you better listen' type of game. I ask them questions, show them how to drive, and they have ALWAYS done well. Yeah, I get the occasional difficult student, of course, but even then I just keep my cool. If I'm nervous, or upset, my student will be the same. If I am calm, my student will be, as well. My first goal is to keep my student calm. Yelling at them or pulling the reigns in too tight will only upset them. Seeing as my life is basically at risk, I'd rather have a calm student. Hopefully I've written this post in a way that you all will understand. All this said, I've never had an upset student when the day was done (that, or they just didn't say anything, lol).

Larry Herman

Hey, hey, hey! Save that stuff for the G-R forum.

Bonster

G-R forum??? What the hell is that??? Isn't that the forum where people bench race? ROFL.

Veloce Raptor

It's OK, cupcake.

Your secret is safe here!

trumperZ06

Yeah Larry, just be glad you didn't post that little tit-bit over at the...

Viper Alley !!!

RickBetterley

I had a student hug me once...

Bonster

Yeah, Rick, but your wife doesn't count.