How to get my ''full'' mojo back?
 

I need some advice and hopefully some other members experiences with wreaks/ spinouts. Whether on the track or what not. In case you don't know or remember my thread on my story here's a link.

http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-p...good-pics.html

It's been three years since this happen. And I haven't been back in a sports car or any car with some sort of decent power/ handling to keep my game sharp. They say once you fall down get back up and go right back at it. Well I didn't have that opportunity.

So now that I'm back and trying to refine my skills back to what they were. I'm doing good and somewhat feel I still have it. I do feel I'm a great driver. Above average. That's just my confindence speaking. Even though I'm getting there pretty quickly. I can't get it out of my head that I'm going to just run off the road due to my accident that happen. Just paranoid through every turn I make. And the thing is that day was just bad conditions mostly. Cold weather and pea gravel. Yes I shouldn't of been pushing it hard that day but you get carried away.

What do you guys think it takes. Time? Practice? What do you suggest? Besides smart comments. I'd also like to hear from guys that may of had similier experiences.

If you're able to get some track time somewhere locally, I would think that would be the best bet. Slowly work up your confidence in a safe and controlled area where you're able to work up your speed and car control. Hopefully, if you slide off, there would be no car damage and you could continue on.

Hope there's something close to you where you could do something like that.

I just read your story, and I'm glad to hear that you were OK and were able to walk away from the crash. The only thing I could think of is to maybe try having a little fun on a remote road, where even if you do go off the road, you wont hit or fall off anything. Maybe like a country road or something where there is just like grass on the sides of the road. That way you can slowly start building up your confidence in the turns and not have to worry about anything crazy to happen if you happen to go off. Make sure there aren't any other cars around. Good luck, hope you get your full mojo back soon :tup:

Edit: Track would be good too.

Well, regardless of how good you are you should never "test your skills" so to speak on the street. I think if you can get some track time in and feel comfortable driving at about 80% of your ability on the street, you'll feel much better about yourself.

I go for spirited drives on the street but I never push myself to the point where I know it's likely that I'm going to have to make some corrective control inputs to keep the car on it's desired path. Save that for the track, where you've got a controlled environment and can afford to spin if you have to... and if you do hit something chances are it's going to be a soft barrier or a glancing wall... not a tree, light pole, innocent bystander, etc.

I defiantly have a controlled area. That's where I went today. It's a small private air strip with two sweeping turns. One tight, one long.
I agree. Just know guys I'm not pushing it in areas with traffic. And I will defiantly only go 80% on spirted driving trips in the mountains. Another reason next week I'm ordering better brakes and LSD that I didn't have last time.

Spohn, only exposure to the situation that creates the anxiety will work, especially if it is repeated with short intervals in between the trials.

Since you have a safe closed course to try, I'd say schedule several runs a day for as many days as you can, starting slow and building up to pushing the limits.

Good luck and keep us posted :tiphat:

That's what I keep thinking. Just hope it will leave my head. Then again maybe it gave me more respect than fear.

Dude, crazy accident. But that was entirely avoidable.

For a while I thought I was becoming an experienced driver. However, I learned that being experienced and gaining experience are two entirely different things. Over the past two driving seasons, I've been gaining experience which is the key to becoming an accomplished, seasoned driver. I'm far from that goal though.

I don't know your track day experience, racing history, autocross time, etc but if you don't have much of any of those, you are a novice. Period. Donuts in the parking lot and fish tailing around corners is not the seat time you need to become a great driver. It's THINKING you're a great driver to early that gets you in accidents like you posted above. Being humble goes a long way with this type of learning.

Once you've got the right mental attitude (ie you're a sponge with a lot more to absorb), then seat time during track days and autocross is the way to gain skills. I've found that a mix of solo driving and instructor ride alongs is best for me. Every instructor is different and some are better than others. But I'd guarantee that every instructor you go out with has at least one unique, helpful bit of information to add to your repertoire.

Learning to drive the limit is not for the streets. You can learn and practice skills on the street, but they're not driving 10/10ths. Street practice can include proper steering wheel grip and steering technique, heel-toe down shifting, rolling into and out of the brake and accelerator...you don't have to go fast or be reckless to practice these skills. Practicing this every day will make you better on track.

When you go on track, it's not a free for all of driving at the limit either. You should start with VDC on which gives additional safety. Focus on driving consistently and smoothly as this will make you fast. Focus on one corner and improve on it...brake deeper before turn in, carry more speed at turn in and through the turn, get on the accelerator a bit sooner each time. This progressiveness makes you improve. Once you have that corner, move to the next, and work your way around the track.

Most importantly, choose the corners and track sections where you'll begin to push the limit WISELY. Driving 10/10ths through a corner with an armco 10 feet from the track edges is asking for sadness. Pick a corner with a wide runoff, smooth surroundings and nothing to hit. This is your learning corner.

I keep a log of things to remember and tidbits I've learned so I can refresh my memory often. I find it extremely helpful.

Provided nothing bad happens.

It's important to gradually increase your exposure to the anxiety eliciting stimulus (or in this case, context) -- start out on a track and get comfortable there.

Maybe you should get a fwd car? :icon17: ;)

Track time.

I'm with you on that, Jordo. Although there is lots of evidence that flooding (sudden and complete exposure) works just as well or better than gradual.

The nice thing about Spohn's arrangement is he can immediately try again if he spins out. No time for anxiety to really take hold and produce avoidance that way.

Thanks for the great info. There's a couple things you mention that I haven't been taking into consideration. I defiantly relate to what your saying. I have some good amount of time in. It's just been awhile. I come from a dad who has over a decade of track time driving open wheel cars and has defiantly taught me alot of things.

I just feel there is a mental fear that I'm having a hard time letting go and that slows me down. I know this is funny, but it's kind of like the movie Days of Thunder. Something that I have to find a way to overcome. Just the fear of letting myself down again. Even if it was just a basic spin out on a track without a incident.

The anxiety is the biggest thing.
That would be the day.:icon17:

That about made me sick hearing that.

I hear ya. I had a spin on the track that freaked me out. It still lingers in my mind during track days. But that spin was far less costly (no damage or issues whatsoever) than doing the same thing on a city street.

The safest place to start getting your confidence back is probably autoX. Aside from killing some cones, you're not going to damage anything. The track is probably second. The first few track sessions (and perhaps TRACK DAYS), just take it easy. Reacquaint yourself with the sensations. Then pick the safe parts of the track and start working through your fears and apprehensions. It wouldn't be so much fun if there wasn't a bit a thrill involved! Just take calculated risks.

I like to keep a sticker on my steering wheel that says "this is not a race". That way I don't start pushing to pass slower cars in passing zones or getting upset they're slowing me down in corners. It also keeps me slower in the 'dangerous' corners.

When my brake line let go and I flew on the grass at Pocono, I had to sell the 350. I never was able to overcome it completely......

Auto-X is definitely the best place to regain your confidence pushing at the limit (and beyond) especially if you can find one that has some decent speed. Track is good to but you have to be far more progressive as there are still plenty of things to hit.

To the best of my knowledge, flooding is more likely to result in a panic attack than anything but I'll take your word on it.

I vote for the track.

Well well, I sure missed THIS thread. If it makes you feel better, I have plenty of footage of my incident :)

http://www.the370z.com/mid-atlantic-...v-16-17-a.html

Everyone I talked to who is FAR more experienced than I simply said that I'll be better for this. It was true - I hit the track 8-ish months later with a clear head (and better instructor), and had a GREAT time!

Pointless to type more on my feelings - spearfish did a great job summarizing all my thoughts. Get your confidence back, preferably on a track, and go forward.

On the street:

My suggestion is not to give it the gas until the wheel is pointed straight/you are sure of the surface. If it spins, clutch in, gas off, and don't try to look like a hero.

I wrecked a car one time trying to play hero in a corner in less than ideal conditions and that is the lesson I took home from it. Cheap lesson, all considered.

On the track: Get some exposure, have fun, only get on it when there is no chance (or greatly reduced, as there is ALWAYS risk) of damage to yourself or your car from a spin-out.

In general: When you no-longer feel anxiety about the possibility of something bad happening when you push man and machine to the limit, you have crossed from confidence to stupidity. A little anxiety is healthy. It's called self-preservation.

Amen to that :iagree:

I agree about being better for it happening. I really believe if your not spinning out or losing control your not pushing yourself to the limits to know them. Great vid. I watch it about 20 times. I spend alot of time watching all types of video of others to try to see different ways of enter turns, braking, and what not.

I like that.

Another great option for improving skill is carting. My buddies and I have found that we do much better at autoX events if we do some indoor carting the week prior.

Now that I would be up to. There's a great Mario A. one here GA also.

:icon18:

Instead of worrying about your anxiety, you could consider its benefits and use it as a positive. Like others have said above, anxiety is a healthy (and to some extent preferable) response in dangerous situations. In moderation, anxiety can keep you focused on an intense task and heighten your senses. If you're not scared, something is wrong! That is also why I refuse to go rock climbing with people who have absolutely no fear.

I never really never thought of this way until everyone on this thread stated it. Thats why I'm glad I did. I'll come to a peace of mind to embrace this. Thanks.

saw your video with the crash, s9orry to hear that. i am glad you are back out, i love vir. what can match the surge of the climbing esses?

Well, there's a lot of prep and it helps to have a trained professional there. But going to the track and trying little by little still creates the exposure effect. Having support during those runs would help a lot, too. :tup:

Those climbing esses are intense, but hitting the rollercoaster just right was my favorite feeling. Naturally, that corner just happened to be the one that bit me in the *** the one time I pushed it too hard haha