DE instructor hand signals
#16
[QUOTE=Veloce Raptor;6571674]Oh yeah...I definitely have a hand signal for some students.
That's sorta quid pro quo from the student point of view as well.
And why can't you cheap-*** instructors spring for intercom systems that cost more than $12.95?
That's sorta quid pro quo from the student point of view as well.
And why can't you cheap-*** instructors spring for intercom systems that cost more than $12.95?
#17
The Penguin King
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
#18
Rennlist Member
I have seen this one.
(You knew it was coming).
(You knew it was coming).
#19
Rennlist Member
#20
Race Car
[QUOTE=sig_a;6571877]
Ever try using one in a 20 knot cross wind with the windows down?
I have a host of signals:
Brake - clinched fist
Brake hard - shaking clinched fist (the harder i shake the harder they better be braking!)
move left/right - hand (palm side) pushing left or right
go deeper (into a corner) - 2 fingers pointing in a wave motion forward until the brake point, then fist
back off the car in front - palm of hand up with fingers waving in the "come here" motion
If a student can get around a track with those........pull into pits and get out
I have a host of signals:
Brake - clinched fist
Brake hard - shaking clinched fist (the harder i shake the harder they better be braking!)
move left/right - hand (palm side) pushing left or right
go deeper (into a corner) - 2 fingers pointing in a wave motion forward until the brake point, then fist
back off the car in front - palm of hand up with fingers waving in the "come here" motion
If a student can get around a track with those........pull into pits and get out
#22
Rennlist Member
#25
Race Director
In my opinion, if your hand gestures need detailed explanation, they are probably too complicated. At 100mph approaching the braking zone, I don't want my student to be wondering, "Is his finger going counter-clockwise, or clockwise -- should I be slowing down, or speeding up?"
Thus, for me, slowing down involves moving my hand away from the dash, and toward the rear of the car, coupled with verbal instruction. For braking, a fist works well - again, coupled with verbal instruction. To accelerate more - "let's go" plus a finger pointing forward. To show direction, I'll extend my hand forward (like I'm going to shake your hand), and point my fingers in the direction the student needs to go.
I like the finger pointing to the mirror sign. What I'll do as well as that is make a mini 'point-by over the roof' gesture to let the student know he needs to do the same thing.
If the students hand is resting on the gear shift ****, I will gently tap the top of his hand and point to the steering wheel.
If the student is doing will, then lots of 'thumbs up' signs. Positive feedback is very effective.
-Z-man.
Thus, for me, slowing down involves moving my hand away from the dash, and toward the rear of the car, coupled with verbal instruction. For braking, a fist works well - again, coupled with verbal instruction. To accelerate more - "let's go" plus a finger pointing forward. To show direction, I'll extend my hand forward (like I'm going to shake your hand), and point my fingers in the direction the student needs to go.
I like the finger pointing to the mirror sign. What I'll do as well as that is make a mini 'point-by over the roof' gesture to let the student know he needs to do the same thing.
If the students hand is resting on the gear shift ****, I will gently tap the top of his hand and point to the steering wheel.
If the student is doing will, then lots of 'thumbs up' signs. Positive feedback is very effective.
-Z-man.
#26
Rennlist
Basic Site Sponsor
Basic Site Sponsor
Every instructor should be able to yell "brake" at 120 decibels.
In all seriousness though, nothing beats the immediacy of a well functioning communicator (Chatterbox, Nady, etc). There are many things that hand signals just cannot convey, and a well placed word or two at the moment is far superior to minutes of de-briefing in the pits afterwards.
In all seriousness though, nothing beats the immediacy of a well functioning communicator (Chatterbox, Nady, etc). There are many things that hand signals just cannot convey, and a well placed word or two at the moment is far superior to minutes of de-briefing in the pits afterwards.
__________________
Larry Herman
2016 Ford Transit Connect Titanium LWB
2018 Tesla Model 3 - Electricity can be fun!
Retired Club Racer & National PCA Instructor
Past Flames:
1994 RS America Club Racer
2004 GT3 Track Car
1984 911 Carrera Club Racer
1974 914/4 2.0 Track Car
CLICK HERE to see some of my ancient racing videos.
Larry Herman
2016 Ford Transit Connect Titanium LWB
2018 Tesla Model 3 - Electricity can be fun!
Retired Club Racer & National PCA Instructor
Past Flames:
1994 RS America Club Racer
2004 GT3 Track Car
1984 911 Carrera Club Racer
1974 914/4 2.0 Track Car
CLICK HERE to see some of my ancient racing videos.
#27
Rennlist Member
#28
Race Car
#29
Rennlist Member
One simple signal really means a lot to students:
A firm "Thumbs Up" for something done right..
A firm "Thumbs Up" for something done right..
#30
Race Car
[QUOTE=993inNC;6572474]
Ever try using one in a 20 knot cross wind with the windows down?
I have a host of signals:
Brake - clinched fist
Brake hard - shaking clinched fist (the harder i shake the harder they better be braking!)
move left/right - hand (palm side) pushing left or right
go deeper (into a corner) - 2 fingers pointing in a wave motion forward until the brake point, then fist
back off the car in front - palm of hand up with fingers waving in the "come here" motion
If a student can get around a track with those........pull into pits and get out
Palm mimicking the throttle pedal. Progressive movement shows controlled throttle application all the way to full power. Full throttle is Palm on the dash. Palm lightly pounding dash means DONT CHICKEN OUT ON THIS ONE. GO GO GO GO! Palm violently pounding on dash means they don't pay me enough to endure this.
Brake. Clenched fist. Progressive toward dash to show progressive application. Fist on the dash means BRAKE DAMMIT BRAKE. PUSH THE PEDAL THROUGH THE FLOOR! Fist violently pounding on dash means they don't pay me enough to endure this.
Brake tap is a quick little fist point.
Two pointed fingers sweeping upwards = eyes up.
Karatechop hand directs the turn in point. Sideways karate palm then sweeps left or right to direct the speed of the steering input. Sometimes we need to slow it down, sometimes speed it up. I often do a parallel karate chop hands. Hands move revealing the hypothetical direction of the front wheels, not that anyone is looking or anything.
Outstretched arm pointing = sight your apex.
Some corners favor one hand gesture over another.
I hold an imaginary wheel along with verbal instruction to get people to set and HOLD the wheel through the turn with out winding, unwinding, rewinding, reunwinding. Then demonstrate tiny incremental unwinds as throttle permits. I think people rarely see this, even with peripheral vision as there is too much going on and too much to look at outside the car during a turn.
Single hand directing choir with a sweeping motion. Trying to elicit smoothness in left right combinations.
When combining with verbal queues, I think the most useful and effective hand signals are for braking and choir directing. If the student trusts me, it would be assuring when see my fist is not yet on the dash.
I will use the throttle hand if a student hasn't figured out "smooth application" yet.
I had one guy that would get lost on the track on his own (forgetting where he was and what came next) but he responded very very well to verbal cues. I almost lost my voice talking him around the track all day, but he and I had a marvelous time with it. I didn't use hand signals at all in the afternoon and don't think that they would have helped.
It is interesting to see the variation in hand signals used.
Ever try using one in a 20 knot cross wind with the windows down?
I have a host of signals:
Brake - clinched fist
Brake hard - shaking clinched fist (the harder i shake the harder they better be braking!)
move left/right - hand (palm side) pushing left or right
go deeper (into a corner) - 2 fingers pointing in a wave motion forward until the brake point, then fist
back off the car in front - palm of hand up with fingers waving in the "come here" motion
If a student can get around a track with those........pull into pits and get out
Brake. Clenched fist. Progressive toward dash to show progressive application. Fist on the dash means BRAKE DAMMIT BRAKE. PUSH THE PEDAL THROUGH THE FLOOR! Fist violently pounding on dash means they don't pay me enough to endure this.
Brake tap is a quick little fist point.
Two pointed fingers sweeping upwards = eyes up.
Karatechop hand directs the turn in point. Sideways karate palm then sweeps left or right to direct the speed of the steering input. Sometimes we need to slow it down, sometimes speed it up. I often do a parallel karate chop hands. Hands move revealing the hypothetical direction of the front wheels, not that anyone is looking or anything.
Outstretched arm pointing = sight your apex.
Some corners favor one hand gesture over another.
I hold an imaginary wheel along with verbal instruction to get people to set and HOLD the wheel through the turn with out winding, unwinding, rewinding, reunwinding. Then demonstrate tiny incremental unwinds as throttle permits. I think people rarely see this, even with peripheral vision as there is too much going on and too much to look at outside the car during a turn.
Single hand directing choir with a sweeping motion. Trying to elicit smoothness in left right combinations.
When combining with verbal queues, I think the most useful and effective hand signals are for braking and choir directing. If the student trusts me, it would be assuring when see my fist is not yet on the dash.
I will use the throttle hand if a student hasn't figured out "smooth application" yet.
I had one guy that would get lost on the track on his own (forgetting where he was and what came next) but he responded very very well to verbal cues. I almost lost my voice talking him around the track all day, but he and I had a marvelous time with it. I didn't use hand signals at all in the afternoon and don't think that they would have helped.
It is interesting to see the variation in hand signals used.