Younger people tend to make better racers, not only because their vision is generally better, but they tend to have quicker reflexes as well.

I've seen just about everything you could ever wonder about covered here on H-T but I've never seen anything on this topic. Does anybody take these skills into consideration when trying to improve their performance on track? If so, what types of things have you found to better your ability to track multiple objects and react more quickly?

One study I read about on the topic of object tracking was related to video games. It concluded that people who play "first person shooter" type video games scored higher on object tracking tests than those who played simpler games like Tetris or a slow strategy game. While this was interesting, it didn't give much to go on as far as trying to improve your object tracking ability other than just saying "track multiple objects and you'll get better at it". I don’t believe they even mentioned what the “object tracking test” consisted of or how it was scored.

Only information I found on reaction times was either advertisements for yoga books and things of that nature or topics on drag racing, which is more anticipation than reaction.

Just some topics I've been wondering about

PS: I found an amusing little game while searching http://dsmstyle.com/tree.html

 

I had one instructor literally yell out questions at me while driving on the track at speed like:

What color is the car in front of you? (the one two corners ahead of me)

Was there a car at pre-grid?

Was that last Apex cone standing upright?

He was blasting me for about 5 laps with these questions which forced the "visual awareness" for a long time. I found it quite an interesting drill, and was grateful to have such an instructor.

The reason I bring this up is that the drivers alertness to situations is a big factor in determining how much time it takes for the body to react properly.

 

Well if there are points given to reaction time training, then throw some this way since I've been playing ping pong for about ten years now. I'll take any of you on any day!

As far as how important it is, I do think that having a faster reaction time is better (at least to some degree) than having a slower reaction time. However, having better "predictability"(?), meaning that you know what the car is about to do before it does it, is ten times better than having a quick reaction time, but always "reacting" to events. Imo that's what makes those with years and years of experience fast drivers, while how quick their reflexes are is not nearly as important.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Hracer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">As far as how important it is, I do think that having a faster reaction time is better (at least to some degree) than having a slower reaction time. However, having better "predictability"(?), meaning that you know what the car is about to do before it does it, is ten times better than having a quick reaction time, but always "reacting" to events. Imo that's what makes those with years and years of experience fast drivers, while how quick their reflexes are is not nearly as important.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I remember in the 1990s when Lyn St. James was racing in CART, they were doing a profile on her. In it they demonstrated an exercise that she did where she was in front of a (computerized) board full of lights or spots that would light up, one at a time on random locations on the board.

She had some kind of a pointer in her hand, and the task was to touch the light that would light up before it went out again. Afterwards she would check how well you did.

This topic also reminds me of a shot from an onboard camera from the documentary "Lime Rock: The sectet valley of racing" It shows this one driver in a open wheel car dodging all kinds of debris after someone lost control in front of them. Pretty amazing stuff, unbelievably fast reactions. I wish I could rent that movie somewhere.

 

Lyn St. James helped found a race car driver training center called Human Performance International. They analyze and train pro drivers from all over the world. The board you were talking about w/ lights all over is still used there. They also have a CD ROM which is used to increase concentration and focus.

http://www.human-performance.com/motorsport.htm


Modified by F1HONDA at 6:07 AM 7/24/2003

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Hracer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well if there are points given to reaction time training, then throw some this way since I've been playing ping pong for about ten years now. I'll take any of you on any day!
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Let me get practiced back up, and I am SO there man!

Do you/ Did you play in any tournaments?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JHill &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I had one instructor literally yell out questions at me while driving on the track at speed like:
What color is the car in front of you? (the one two corners ahead of me)
</TD></TR></TABLE>
hmm... cool, I'll have to remember that, and give it a try sometime...

What is the color of the car you just passed?

What is the color of the corner worker's shirt at Turn 3?

What... is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by XR4racer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
hmm... cool, I'll have to remember that, and give it a try sometime...

What is the color of the car you just passed?

What is the color of the corner worker's shirt at Turn 3?

What... is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?

</TD></TR></TABLE>

African or European?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JHill &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

African or European?</TD></TR></TABLE>
Huh? I-- I don't know that. Auuuuuuuugh!

 

There is a big difference between left and right brain processing. Different activities require different processing. Apparently, you have both parallel and sequential processing capabilities. Our sequential processor works when we are scared or tense. It allows us to focus intensely on one thing at a time before moving on to the next.

Our parallel processor allows us to think of many things at once and draw conclusions based on a wide variety of data. This is what people call "being in the zone" - we make the right decisions without seemingly thinking about them. We can make lots of observations that don't apply to the task at hand. That is what your instructor was trying to get you to do: Think in parallel mode.

Since most novice drivers are scared or tense they tend to stay in sequential mode. As they get used to the speed, they can drift into parallel mode. This is when it all becomes easier, there's a rhythm, things slow down and we start going faster.

There probably have been books or articles written about "being in the zone" I don't know how you practice that skill but it is very different than reaction time training.

 

Good stuff, here's a link to more on that from Warren Chamberlain, http://supervroum.free.fr/pilotageetcerveau2.htm

I sometimes try to focus near then far then near then far as rapidly as possible during boring meetings.

 

actually it goes something like this:
"those arent horses, those are coconuts. coconuts are a tropical fruit, this is a temperate region...how did they get here?"
" maybe a bird brought them"
"what kind of bird?"
"a swallow"
"what kind of swallow, african or european?"
" I dont know, European"
" Are you trying to tell me, that a 4 ounce swallow can carry a 4 pound coconut?"

 

&lt;ot&gt;I believe he was refering to the scene at the bridge of death rather than the french castle &lt;/ot&gt;

 

ya gotta love the obscure monty python references....

and: "it's not a matter of grippin it, it's a matter of weight ratios!"

nate-and after the spankings.....the oral sex!

 

I play Live For Speed online occcasionally.. There is a very good chance there will be a multi-car pile up at Turn 1, Lap 1 every race. It's my habit to start in the back and navigate through it without contact (or minimal, anyway).. At first it was rather tough.. now I have a real sense for what the simulated cars driven by other people will do and who will hit whom/what/where/when.. I still get collected occasionally because I can't predict people's reactions/frustrations perfectly, and sometimes I don't see the loose barrier tires until too late since they were blocked from view by another car.. but the improvement in my success ratio is definitely significant..

dunno if that's on topic or not..

 

Damn good link, especially the "Concentration for the Racer" segment.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ponyboy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Damn good link, especially the "Concentration for the Racer" segment.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yea that was really good. A few weeks ago Scoot (RR98ITR) posted some vids from the Rose Cups and I made a comment what went something like "damn your good n' smooth for someone who is as technical as yourself."
I guess Scott's Corpuscolosum is doing its job!
(Cliff notes for those who didnt read the article linked above, the Corpuscolosum is what links the left and right sides of the brain. Those who are very technical are left brained, as those who are more sensual are right. Balance the 2 and you will ownz everyone!)