THSCC Forums

I've thought about this for a couple of weeks and had decided to let people figure out things for themselves...take their bumps so to speak. But after teaching at the recent Chicks School, some things have changed my mind.

This is addressed to the GUYS in novice class in particular, simply because I have not had or heard of the same situation with any of the ladies in the club. That's right no gals have done this to my knowledge.

GUYS, take a lesson from the ladies that attended the Chicks School. All of them accepted instruction willingly and soaked it up like a sponge. If you are a driver just starting out, running in novice class or not, and you've either been assigned an instructor or mentor or happen to be lucky enough to have an instructor or mentor offer to help you...DO IT. Believe me you are NEVER too good to learn and you can ALWAYS use another set of eyes to help you pinpoint areas to improve in your driving. I AM STILL A NOVICE in this sport...five years is not that long, championship or not. I STILL take schools, have people ride with me and ask for instruction.

If you decline instruction when it's offered to you on a regular basis, (I'm not referring to the run that you want to do solo after instruction to test what was observed), and then you complain that you're not doing as well as you expected....the joke's on you.

Good grief guys, use the FREE INSTRUCTION that's available to you. (For example, Evolution Schools are at least $200.00 each, more intense and different level of instructors, but still look at what is being offered to you at no charge.) THSCC has a HUGE amount of resources.

And like I said if you choose not to accept instruction...don't whine about how you did. And I epecially don't want to hear any whining when the ladies kick your butts because they were smarter about it.


OK I'm off my soapbox now.

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GO FOR IT! BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.

well put. thanks, Donna.

Well said Donna. Rebecca had a blast at the school and improved ALOT because of it. Also Graham has ridden with her on several occasions and has helped her also.

I still like having experienced people ride with me and tell me what I do wrong.

BTW - It must suck getting your ego beat by 3 Chicks, one of which is 5 months pregnant!!

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Todd Breakey
STS 42 - 1992 Sunburst Miata
Dammit!
"You souldn't play leap frog with a porcupine. You might get hurt." - Eliza

Screw what Donna said. She's all wrong, and silly to even say any of that stuff. Check in with your ego and your pride and see what they have to say. They will make the right call for you.


--Donnie, who wants to be sure *fewer* people have a chance to kick his butt This club has too much talent, I say! We don't need no more!

Well said Donna!

Checking your ego, macho, whatever at the door and taking help from ANY experienced autocrosser like Donna is a BIG WIN for you. Forget the gal/guy thing. That person offering to help you is very qualified to do so regardless of whether they wear skirts or pants. It has nothing to do with their ability to teach you.

The ladies seem to do so well with the ego thing not geting in the way. I'd say their Chick School program gives the best rewards to the students than our annual Novice School.

We've tried the Mentor Program this year as a way to help Novices. It's only starting and we've got a very limited number of people involved at this point. But even with that number I have had mentors come back to me and tell me the person really didn't want the help. You're joking right? Like Donna said. The joke is on you...

Novices: Please do not be embarrased or feel like you're being singled out somehow when an experienced person offers to help you. You will benefit from it and you'll have more fun learning at an improved rate. And they don't charge you a dime for the help. That's right it's FREE!!!

Thanks for posting this Donna. And thanks for always being willing to help teach other drivers. Hopefully you and folks like you will not get discouraged that some Novice decline help. It is their loss...

Graham

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http://www.greywinds.com

I have not kept up with the mentor program because I am not an active auto-Xer now. Early in the season I offered to make a couple of buttons. But I got no response.


And the flip side.

Some of you might not realize the second button is a joke.

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George Bright Member # 141
One of the youngest of the old farts.
Yes I voted against you joining the club.

George, can you make those such that they biometrically check the mood of the person wearing them and change based on that? Now *that* would be useful for me.


--Donnie

Hmmm, Mood buttons...I like!

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Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.

If you take the second button and insert the pin through your flesh, it should be accurate most of the time.

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George Bright Member # 141
One of the youngest of the old farts.
Yes I voted against you joining the club.

donna, i think everything you said is perfectly correct, although maybe a little simplified.

i had a lot of fun at the novice school and you taught me a ton during the school and the event the next day, thanks!

but! just because a novice doesnt want help on a particular day doesnt mean he thinks hes gods gift to autocrossing. i personally denied help through the formal program a couple of times for the following reasons:

1) i had one and only one goal for the day (LOOK AHEAD). i felt i could focus on this alone and didnt want to complicate things further.. baby steps

2) on like the 3-4th event when it was first offered i thought the newer novices should have a shot at it first since i had the novice school.

3) i had already arranged ride alongs with others (who i guess werent a part of the program)

4) sometimes i'm in a mood where i like to think and do things alone.. especially early in the morning

but don't misunderstand me. I KNOW I HAVE A LOT TO LEARN! and i know you guys can teach me! but everyone learns and absorbs differently. one piece of advice might last me a whole event or two or more. i know it can hurt you guy's feelings when we say no, and i'm sorry, but please don't just assume we think we're too good for it. theres more to it than that. i really appreciate everybody's willingness to help and teach, its really really valuable and much appreciated.

and now that i'm sneaking up on some people and feeling more comfortable i might just seek you guys out for that edge

thanks!

Dan, I gotta tell ya, for most instructors that would be an absolute blessing. I've been instructing autocross and track for a long time now and I always ask what a student's goals are. Unfortunately it's usually something like "well I want to do better than I did last time" or "don't hit the tree again".

I think we (instructors) are usually trying to convince them (the students!) to simplify their goals and work on one thing at a time. If you told me that was your goal, I'd ask you how you were planning to do it and go from there!

You've got a great attitude, keep up the good work.

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Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

OK. So when you have a plan and have made other arrangements...

DOOD JUST SAY SO! Don't just say "I'm fine. I know what I need to do." That kinda sounds like

Also make sure that the Mentor guys know not to send one of us around if you don't want us around.


And that goes double for the rest of you novice guys and gals!!!!



And now, once again back to " How the Autocross World Turns..."

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GO FOR IT! BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.

I don't know if it was my instruction or riding with me in the morning that made the difference or not, but the novice I mentored at Danville got a WHOLE LOT quicker in the afternoon.
PS: I asked Eric to ride with me in the afternoon and it helped me too.

You don't have to be a novice to get help, if you are too shy or don't know who to ask directly for help, ask the novice coordinators or a club officer to find someone for you.

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SPIN or WIN!
there's no glory for going slow.

Donna & Chuck, when i am sure i have my eyes off my hood ornament i will be callin. thanks for the offer. steve.

I can help with that.

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SPIN or WIN!
there's no glory for going slow.