Eyes Closed, Then Drive Fast!

To drive the May 10th CVR AutoX course faster, try this trick. No fooling, it works!

*It might take 40 seconds to walk to the next cone, but only 2 seconds to drive it. How do you prepare for that rush? Close your eyes! (Marc Casslar photo)*

First, walk through the course like you usually do. Absorb where the course goes, what it looks like, and plan what “line” you think will be best. Chat with others for their thoughts as you walk, and ask an instructor. Identify and remember the few “key cones” to simplify the course. Usually, there are only 15-25 of those on any given course, which is much simpler than trying to remember all the other 150-200 cones typically used. All those other cones are there just to keep you safely on course, and to guide you to the next key cone!

*Only 2 Key Cones to look for on this section; all the others just guide you to those. (Paul Roth photo)*

Now here’s the trick. When you drive, the cones will come at you 10-20 times faster than when you walk the course. So, as you walk it the second time, close your eyes for about 10 steps before opening them for just one step, then keep repeating this process all the way around the course. Start by closing your eyes only every other step and work your way up! This lack of visual input to your brain really forces it to study those snapshots and stich them together into its own action movie of what it will feel like when you drive. Your self-preservation genes provide extra motivation for your brain to really pay attention to the minimal visual information it receives, especially to spot the next key cone and where you are in relation to it. Similarly, you brain will prioritize other landmarks, like big directional arrows, 3′ tall cones, or even zebra grass cone bushes, or the occasional inflatable deer. I thought of this trick many years ago and it still helps me to this day, de-rusting my vision skills and recalibrating my brain. After all, looking far ahead at the right things is the most important prerequisite to driving the course fast.

*An AutoX course can feel overwhelming…unless you know a few tricks to simplify it. (Paul Kudra photo)*

*Ahhh…much simpler once you see there are only 3 “key cones” to remember in this section, and you are looking far ahead to the second green cone from this point on the course. (Paul Kudra photo)*

After your first run, reflect back on that slow-walk to fast-drive conversion to refine this skill. Soon you’ll be able to do it with just the occasional blink-step to remind yourself of the difference. While it’s great to have fun and chat with friends and instructors on a course walk, be sure to really concentrate on at least one walk by yourself. This eyes-closed trick can help prepare you for the rush you are about to experience.

“Look Mom, no hands”, or Eyes! Moms, and everyone else, are all welcome to the May 10th CVR AutoX to “see” for themselves how much fun a day of AutoXing is and to learn Better Driving…Faster! Registration and other helpful info is on the CVR AutoX web page: AutoX – Connecticut Valley Region PCA . Now, close your eyes!