Practically all drivers, whether they are highly-paid professional race drivers or DE/track day drivers, have one thing in common: They practice the same way. They have the same practice strategy. And what is that strategy? It's "getting seat time." It's going onto the track and driving around and around. That's it.

Recall the famous Albert Einstein quote: "A sure sign of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting something to change." What do the majority of drivers do? They go onto a track and do the same thing over and over again (lapping the track) and expect to improve. If that's your strategy, excuse Albert if he calls you insane (okay, this isn't the first time you've been called insane for racing or track driving, right?).

There is research that has demonstrated the single biggest difference between the superstars in any activity and just the very good is HOW they practice. Between average and very good performers, the difference is the amount of practice - the very good practice on average 8 times as much as the average performer. But HOW superstars practice is different - it's deliberate. Superstars are very specific about their practice, and they don't practice the fun stuff as much - they find the difficult, non-fun stuff that is most important to the development of their skills and they practice that. The typical very good performer practices a lot (the same amount as the superstar), but they tend to practice what they like - the fun stuff (like going around and around the race track, doing the same thing over and over again).

There is a very good book, Talent Is Overrated, by Geoff Colvin that talks about much of this.

Here's an analogy: If a football, hockey or basketball team practiced like most race or performance drivers, they would show up to every practice session and simply play a game. Instead, what do they do? They run drills. They break the game down and practice specific skills. It's what researchers call Deliberate Practice. It's what I call Practice Strategy.

If I singled out just one thing that has made me successful as a driver and a coach, it's that I've used deliberate practice. When I'm coaching a driver, my number one priority is figuring out exactly what it is the driver needs, and then develop a plan or strategy that focuses in on that one skill, technique - physically or mentally. Please excuse the blatant promotion here, but it's what separates Speed Secrets coaches from other coaches or instructors. It's what my Electronic Driver Coach is full of (it's the reason for it - 30 years of experience in one place), and why I write the books. Again, sorry for the pitch, but I'm trying to get you to look at your development as a driver in a different way.

Of course, it's one thing to buy into the concept of using deliberate practice or a practice strategy, and it's another to know what that strategy should be. That is part of the black art of coaching. But at least if I get you thinking about how you can break your driving down into specific skillsets, and you begin to practice them, you will be farther ahead.

Think about it. Have you experienced this?

Ross;

I for one would like to thank you for sharing your vast experience and am looking forward to "picking" your brain. But more importantly, without giving too much away what are some examples of how us "rookies" should practice?

My plan/goal is to work on the corners (entrance or exit) that are giving me problems. Although I'm really new to this whole deal I'm trying to "feel" the car during the various turns to try to learn what my car likes and dislikes.

Thanks for sharing.

KO

Thanks Ross, I know you introduced the perfect practive theory in SS 1 & 2, but really talked about it in SS 3. I guess I should go back and review that material to help me get past my hang ups with T4 at Summit. Thanks again for the reminder.

Okay. Here goes. I've never been very good at strategy. Though I have had success with a couple of odd-ball techniques.

Strategy 1: 
Two years ago when I did Sebring for the first time I was concerned about leaning the track then having to race with a bunch of Porsches, Corvettes, and Vipers (PBOC). I didn't really have a chance to watch videos so I was really starting blind.

My strategy was to go out and just drive. I put no pressure on myself. I didn't look at a map. I just went for a drive in the country. Occasionally I would catch myself trying to "think" my way around, so I told myself to "stop thinking and drive". I was learning the track by osmosis.

It was a lapping day before the race day (instructor group). So after the first few awkward laps I found myself a rabbit to follow. A Cayman was going about the right speed. When he carried more speed in a corner, I figured I could too. When he didn't brake for a corner, I learned that I didn't need to either. When I found enough momentum, I moved on and faound a faster rabbit.

By the end of the day, I had learned the track and went on to some of my most impressive finishes of last season. All without studying!

Strategy 2:
Last fall I was fighting for the Championship and I had to go to Barber in AL (also PBOC). It was a 2 day race weekend with no lapping day. I only needed 3 class wins to stay in contention. My first day was Practice, Qualify, and the 90 min enduro with the same Porsches and Corvettes. So I was putting a lot of pressure on myself.

Remembering JP Montoya, this time my strategy was to play video games. I dug out my old USB steering wheel and downloaded a simulator from the Internet for $50. rFactor is not really a game but a very accurate simulator. It also has a lot of cars and tracks available. The BMW E90 touring car felt pretty close to mine and track file of Barber was available.

I spent about 8 hours alternating between the simulator and watching BMW CCA race videos on YouTube. For the simulator, I left it in single car practice mode. I also left all the driver aids on. I let the car shift itself and the Force Feedback steering wheel actively encourages you to stay on line. My goal here was not to go fast, but to program my brain as to where the corners went and roughly how much speed I could carry through them.

At the end of these sessions, I was turning fairly consistent 1:40-1:44s on the simulator. I did get down to a few 1:36s but then I crashed a lot.

The first session at Barber I felt immediately confortable and focussed on refining what I had learned - shift and brake points etc. But amazingly I didn't feel like I was learning a new track. In my second session I think I qualified with a 1:44 and in the races over the weekend the times hovered around 1:40-1:42 with a few 1:39s.

To go out on a new track I had never seen before and turn times within a couple of seconds of my weekend best just blew me away. I did get my 3 class wins and I did win the Championship.

I'm not sure a simuator is going to teach me much about a track I already know. But for learning a new track it's unbelievable. Gotta download Road Atlanta now...