As in T H E Ross Bentley?
Most people DO carry over their bad habits from the street to the track. It's one of the biggest reasons I make sure my street habits are as close to my track habits as possible, within reason.
I can't tell you how many times the first time out on the track for the weekend, I've reached for the turn signal stalk coming to the first turn.
Ross_Bentley wrote: In reply to Appleseed: Example? Something as simple as driving with one hand on the steering wheel and one resting on the shifter. I can't tell you the number of times I've had to remind a driver to use 2 hands on the wheel in the middle of turn. Or, looking just at the taillights of the car in front on them on the street and then having to remind themselves to look further ahead on the track. Or, as Peter says, brake application (typically, on the street, drivers brake harder as they get closer to the stopping point; on the track our pedal pressure should be reversed). Or...
This. For some students it takes a ride along session in your own car to show them. Brake modulation is also included in this. If the you can't get consistent braking from the student it is so much harder to get turn in correct especially since they are terrified and so are you and the car is non too pleased as well.
Ross_Bentley wrote: In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker: You may be able to switch back and forth, but many drivers carry over some of the most basic habits from the street and onto the track. I'm not talking about having to drive fast on the street - that's definitely not the point. But if every driver can make the switch, then why do so many drive on the track with one hand on the shifter, with low-aim vision, with inappropriate braking forces, with the wrong timing of shifts, with feet riding the pedals? So, if a major league baseball player played catch every single day holding the ball wrong, twisting his body in the wrong way, with the wrong foot in front of the other, with his glove facing the wrong direction... would that impact the way he played on the field? Even just a little bit? Fun discussion!
This again. You should write a book or two. 
Some people do not have the ability to switch. As instructors we must remember that we are asking to the students to actively ignore what their body is telling them and make an opposite move. For some first timers even the concept is difficult to grasp. Some students do not have a problem with braking but have a hard time with hands at 9 and 3. Some students shuffle steer, and some cannot process 3 things at once. Ross is making a gat point that some of us could benefit by practicing perfectly on the street as the situation allows. Just this past weekend the braking issue came up and I had to recommend practicing this on the street as it was impossible to fix in just 2 days.
It is easy to make this discussion about ourselves. I think Ross is correct and that everbody has something that they could reinforce with good practice on the street. For some people it is everything and for some it is less, but if we are all honest with ourselves we could find something to practice on the street and improve ourselves as racers.
Ross_Bentley wrote: Or, looking just at the taillights of the car in front on them on the street and then having to remind themselves to look further ahead on the track.
I was taught to look at the car five or six cars ahead.
When I was taught this, you could actually see through the glass in traffic... no prevalent SUVs and minivans or pedo tint.
You'll need to log in to post.
