- Joined
- 27 June 2003
- Messages
- 1,197
I got into this interesting discussion over lunch with a few collegues at work. None of them has any HPDE or even autocross experience and some of them cannot even be described as car enthusiasts. Anyway, the discussion came about when I said that everyone should be going to such events, if it is not for fun, at least to become a better driver and find out about what their car is about or... not. Some argued that they will never drive on the street the way they would on a track and therefore whatever is practices at the track is irrelevant for the street. I counter-argued that this is absolutely not true as in a relatively safe environment (like a track or autocross), one can experience things over and over again, learn how to react under conditions which might one day save its butt on the street. I even shared my experience when one time someone almost made me be in an accident, if it wasn't for my quick thinking on avoidance strategy and knowledge on how the car would react (not enough time to stop, oversteer tendancy the second time I would yank the steering wheel to avoid oncoming traffic,...). At that point some argued that "it had to be reflexes. If I had time to think, I had to have enough time to stop". However I do remember very well that day, that I did realize there was not enough time/distance for me to stop safely and avoidance was my only option.
What do you guys think ? Aren't with extensive practice, some reactions other see as reflexes, in fact processes thought and executed by the driver ?
What do you guys think ? Aren't with extensive practice, some reactions other see as reflexes, in fact processes thought and executed by the driver ?