What do you do in the off season to stay sharp

[Bobby Fazio]

Originally Posted by Chad Rhodes

I've had a practice tree for years, but never really developed a routine. I set my practice tree up on my desk with the pedal underneath. I created a spread sheet, which analyzes the data over every 100 hits (but does average the green lights every 10 hits as well). One of my new years resolutions is to take 100 hits at it every day. So far I've learned quite a bit about my own driving, what I've been doing wrong, and where some inconsistency is coming from. I haven't solved it yet, but i am seeing the patterns and noting what I'm doing differently. With lots of data, I've been able to find some things I was doing, that I would have sworn i wasn't. Hopefully I'll be able to eliminate my self from the list of variables on the starting line soon.

What are some of you guys doing to stay sharp, or improve yourself?

Chad, 100 hits is way too many in a day. You never get that in a race day. You will get faster and faster and start red lighting as you go. 5-7 very spaced out hits are all you need. When you are walking past it, do one, just like you would in a real race day. Try to simulate that pressure of having one shot at it. That's how you build confidence. Practice trees build confidence, that is all, they do little else to simulate a real race situation, that part you have to do on your own.

[Chad Rhodes]

Originally Posted by Bobby Fazio

Chad, 100 hits is way too many in a day. You never get that in a race day. You will get faster and faster and start red lighting as you go. 5-7 very spaced out hits are all you need. When you are walking past it, do one, just like you would in a real race day. Try to simulate that pressure of having one shot at it. That's how you build confidence. Practice trees build confidence, that is all, they do little else to simulate a real race situation, that part you have to do on your own.

That is the next step for sure. Was trying to build a database to judge against my in car average. My hair brained way of checking the roll out.

[Aubrey N Bruneau]

I wasn't sharp in the first place... so I have nothing to do, but freeze my ***** off here on the Canadian prairies.

[Michael Beard]

Originally Posted by Chad Rhodes

That is the next step for sure. Was trying to build a database to judge against my in car average. My hair brained way of checking the roll out.

This is talked about in-depth in the "Baselining Tracks and Timing Systems" section of my TIBR Guest Editorial on Bottom Bulb Reaction Times. TIBR members can find the article at http://www.thisisbracketracing.com/g...s=5F5409030A02

Although it's really old stuff, you can find some free information in my Guide to Bracket Racing I wrote in college in the sections: Reaction Time Clinic, Practice Trees, and one or more of the Learning Analysis Papers. I do get into reverse-engineering your rollout in one or more of those articles. See www.staginglight.com/guide/

[Ian Hill]

as mentioned below...i use my practice tree for 5 hits randomly as i am passing it by, looking for perfection from the first hit. i also tape off the first two yellows once in a while to hit some blinder style lights. i am never looking for .000, just the ultimate in consistancy, so that come track day, what ever the weather is i can tune my car to my style of reaction. Also i just came across the Jeg's practice tree for my phone. it was free for my android....now i can practice at work!!!!!!


Ian

[Bobby Fazio]

I also read up on ways I can play the ladder with the aid of a computer