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RE: Group (Un)Think

To: "'lella@gotnet.net'" <lella@gotnet.net>,
Subject: RE: Group (Un)Think
From: Kevin McCormick <ktm@unify.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2000 16:02:22 -0700

> -----Original Message-----
> My point is that anyone can drive well if they use their instincts and
> nerve endings. Too many in our Group (Over) Think.To prove it, and if
> someone dares me, I'll bet I can drive to TTOD at the 
> Divisional without
> walking the course a single time (and that's with the bennefit of only
> three runs)...... 
> 

Only take the bet if he drives the Neon....

Geez, talk about padding the deck!

Kevin 'think, analalyze, THEN drive with the mind/body doing the right
thing' McCormick


> I like A Challenge,
> (Malibu) Mike
> 
>        
> 
> ----------
> > From: Kelly, Katie <kkelly@spss.com>
> > To: 'ba-autox@autox.team.net'
> > Subject: Group (Un)Think
> > Date: Monday, June 12, 2000 11:02 AM
> > 
> > Regarding "SFR's Advanced Driving Techniques" Deitrich 
> Schultz writes...
> > 
> > >Sounds cool! The first thing that comes to mind for 
> > >me is a discussion of 
> > >walking a course, reading the course, understanding 
> > >lines. I always find 
> > >this really hard.
> > 
> > And then Ben Martinez writes...
> > 
> > >I'm still
> > >thinking of those turns, so next time i'll be 
> > >thinking a lot less and
> > >just going for it.
> > 
> > To aid in my "Advanced Autocross Research," Rich Urschel 
> just lent me
> this
> > most amazing book that was really popular in the mid-70's 
> called "The
> Inner
> > Game of Tennis." I'm only a little bit into it; I only read 
> a few pages a
> > night so it'll really sink in.
> > 
> > What I'm getting so far is that there are two minds: the thinker (or
> talker)
> > and the doer, Self 1 and Self 2. You'll be better apt to reach your
> > potential when Self 1 and Self 2 come to an 
> "understanding," says the
> > author, whose name eludes me at the moment.
> > 
> > What the author says, and what I agree with wholeheartedly, 
> is that your
> > subconscience is actually very intelligent. There comes a 
> point when you
> > realize you DO know how to drive an autocross course. You 
> know what an
> apex
> > is, you know when to accelerate, you know when to break, 
> and by "know" I
> > mean, it's embedded deep within the fleshy tablets of your 
> brain. You
> don't
> > need to think about it anymore.
> > 
> > So, how do you "know" this is true? Just try it. Walk the 
> course, but
> don't
> > study it. Kind of memorize where it goes, but keep your mind still.
> Remove
> > all thoughts of early apexing, braking, accelerating. Your 
> subconsience
> is
> > actually a working tape recorder, turned to position "on" 
> 24 hours a day.
> > Even by not studying the course, your subconscience is 
> recording it. Turn
> > OFF the critic, the one that says, "Brake here, accelerate here, tap
> here,"
> > so you don't distract your subconscience. Trust that your 
> subsconsience
> is
> > going to figure this out.
> > 
> > I'm currently on the part in the book that discusses 
> judgement. This is
> > something I tend to do a lot, and so does everyone else. 
> You come off a
> run,
> > and you say, "Oh, that sucked." Or, maybe you're just 
> elated. "That was
> > fantastic!" you think. And then the rest of the time, 
> you're trying to
> > remember what you did so you can repeat it, and now you're screwed.
> > 
> > This judgement comes from the ego-mind. Actually, your 
> subconscience just
> > records information with no value, good or bad, whatsoever. So, last
> night,
> > as I noticed myself stressing about my runs, instead, I 
> went to bed just
> > noticing what I did, i.e. where I apexed, where I braked, 
> how the car
> felt
> > as it drifted - with NO VALUE associated it. I just 
> accepted it for what
> it
> > was. I felt so relaxed, I fell asleep with a great sense of calm.
> > 
> > Well, I could just go on and on about this, but instead, 
> I'll leave you
> with
> > a couple little stories. One is something Jim Ochi told me. 
> He said that
> my
> > mom told him to try autocrossing without thinking, and 
> suddenly, now,
> he's
> > kicking my butt. That jerk. I noticed the same think about 
> James Creasy.
> He,
> > Rich Urschel, and I were just talking about this lack of 
> thinking at the
> AAS
> > event at Mather on Saturday. Sunday, now JAMES is beating 
> me. He's only
> been
> > autocrossing for two years!
> > 
> > But the real story I wanted to tell you was about Shauna 
> Marinus. As you
> > know, she was the first woman to win an open class national 
> title in her
> > RX-7, in 1999.
> > 
> > Before that, she had great success in her SS RX-7. Her 
> first year, they
> > called her "the Fastest Mortal," as she finished second, 
> and only tenths
> > behind the legendary John Ames.
> > 
> > The second year, it seemed like she was feeling a lot more 
> pressure. Even
> > though she finished a very respectable fourth, it still 
> seemed like a big
> > disappointment, as not only was she trying to win, but she 
> was trying to
> be
> > the First Woman to Win.
> > 
> > She and Ren sold the car, moved to CM, and I think she 
> broke some ribs,
> but
> > anyway, the NEXT year she got this really cool, ex-Craig 
> Nagler RX-7, and
> > everytime I talked to her, she just seemed to be having so 
> much fun. She
> was
> > training for a marathon, and was getting out in the world, 
> seeing what
> was
> > out there, and just enjoying herself. Because she was 
> involved in other
> > things, autocrossing seemed more like a day off. She took 
> the time to
> really
> > enjoy it. I don't know how to describe it, but it was like 
> she glowed.
> She
> > said that of course, she was going to try to win, but it 
> just wasn't that
> > important to her anymore. She was just living in the 
> moment, and really
> > appreciating the gifts life was bringing to her. They were 
> always the
> best
> > conversations.
> > 
> > Well, as you know, that was the year she won. I saw the 
> videotape, and
> I'd
> > have to say it was just one of those unbelievable moments in time. 
> > 
> > So, there's something to be said for turning off that 
> critic voice, and
> > allowing your subconscience, who really DOES know a lot 
> more than your
> > critic will give it credit for, do its thing.
> > 
> > After all, it REALLY is just a bunch of turns.
> > 
> > Well, that's what I'm getting from this book, "The Inner 
> Game of Tennis,"
> so
> > far.
> > 
> > By the way, this is TOP SECRET information, not to leave SFR. I can
> handle
> > losing to my "teammates," but not to the whole country! :)
> > 
> > later,
> > Katie
> > 
> > Happiness is the best cosmetic.
> > 
> 

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