More on focus

I find it interesting how much the autocross experience depends on your mental state.

The season is beginning to wind down; summer is too. The inevitable shift towards cooler mornings and shorter days is well underway in Montana. The steady shortening of the days picks up steam quickly in Montana once it starts. Cooler mornings are nice; they tend to invigorate.

Another two day session is on the agenda for this weekend - the Labor Day holiday. Preparing for the event, I began reflecting on the last outing.

Things just didn't click. When things don't click, there is no flow. When there is no flow, the results are usually poor. But, more importantly, the experience itself is not satisfying.

The ability to completely focus for that 53 (give or take) seconds is critical to a satisfying run that results in complete absorption and a maximal flow experience. That usually means a better time as well - but not always.

I think I am beginning to understand the concept of wu wei.

We'll see how this weekend goes.

No flow

Top Gun Autocross Event - Helena, Montana - 8/16/2014

There was no flow this day.

That is all.

Never build a race car.

"You never build a race car, you buy a race car."

How many times have I heard that? It is the litany of the hard core addict. Funny how many race cars there are for sale...

A couple of months ago, I realized it was inevitable that I would be gearing up for club racing this winter. Autocross, track days and time trials are just not going to be enough; time to see if I have enough life left to actually run in traffic. That means I needed a real race car. A car with everything non-essential stripped out and replaced with pure function: full roll cage, fire suppression, painted metal floors, etc.

I looked around to buy a race car. Did I mention there are a lot of race cars for sale?

I own a race car for sale. Well, not a real race car and not actively for sale, yet.

I own a heavily modded, but still street legal 2007 Miata. I understand why the rational person would never build a race car. 

Why? 

Because go fast parts are expensive. When you put them on a 2007 Miata and try to sell said Miata, most folks think you still have a 2007 Miata for sale; one that is under a cloud of suspicion as to where it has been and what it has been doing. Never mind that this 2007 Miata has just over 8000 original miles. What has that Miata been doing for 8000 miles? Good question.

Multiple thousands of dollars of go fast parts later, I have a 2007 Miata that I might or might not be willing to sell. Somebody would probably get a pretty good bargain.

That brings me back to the new race car. I tried to be rational. I tried to make the smart decision to buy someone else's investment of time, energy and money at a bargain price because I realize that after the first lap that new race car with all those new go fast parts will depreciate faster than deviled eggs at a summer picnic. 

But, in the end, I could not resist the urge.

I chose to procreate rather than adopt.

53 Seconds of Flow

It's all about the flow.

As I was getting ready for an autocross event last Saturday evening, I started to ponder my newfound attachment to motorsports. Tomorrow's event is 55 miles away. So, after hooking up the trailer, driving to the course and unloading the car, I expect to be about 1 hour and 45 minutes into the day. The event will last about 6 or 7 hours. It will probably take longer that 1 hour and 45 minutes to load the car back into the trailer and drive home.

An autocross "run" typically lasts less than 60 seconds.

On a good day, you might get to run the course a total of 8 times.

8 minutes of seat time.

Seems like a huge imbalance in ROI.

But, those 8 minutes are the most hyper-focused time you will ever spend. Years ago, I stumbled upon the works of Mihaly Czikszentmihalyi describing and studying the state of "flow." (If you are not familiar with the concept, take a look at this video.)

Total immersion for 8 minutes.

I bet you thought when I said "flow," you thought I was talking about being smooth through the cones...