I was at Virginia International Raceway again last week (no surprise there!) for an SCCA test day as we continue to prepare for the upcoming SCCA Runoffs in October. It was a fun day, but also an interesting dichotomy because the two clients I was with were in very different cars.
Headed out for a short data reference lap run.
The cars were both Mazdas and both momentum cars, but that’s about where the similarities end! Their required driving styles were different, as was the speed potential of each car: one driver was in a third-generation MX-5 and the second was in a first-generation RX-7. What was really interesting, though, was how both drivers gained a lot of insight from each other’s challenges and experiences throughout the day.
We did group debriefs, which can really be beneficial, even in situations where drivers are in cars with varying characteristics. Two sets of ears are listening to information that can create value for both drivers, even if the information is geared toward a single driver or based on one driver’s data.
I’ve talked before about teaming up with fellow racers to help each other off the track with spotting and other tasks. Remember, a fellow racer doesn’t have to drive the same model car as you in order for the two of you to learn from each other. A lot of racing lessons and track-specific knowledge are true no matter what you’re driving!