Tenth Chasers / the Mental Game

Dennis Wolfe

When they say “it’s all in your head”, they mean it. And they’re right… If you think about it, EVERYTHING is “in your head”, because that’s how you process the world around you. There are many, many ways you can invest in making your car go faster, but by far the best investment you can make is working on your mental game. Indeed, the most important piece of equipment at the track is the one between your ears. So what are we talking about, exactly… If you talk to elite athletes, they will all tell you that they have mental routines that get them in the zone for competition, just like you would stretch out before going for a run. And these routines run the gamut, but here are some basic words of wisdom to help you optimize your mental performance. Get PLENTY of sleep the night before, and limit (or preferably, eliminate) any alcohol consumption. If your alarm goes off at 5am for a track day, you should be in bed by 9pm at the latest. I cannot stress this enough. If you’re tired, groggy, or a little hungover, you will NOT perform well at speed. Eat a good, healthy breakfast focused on high protein foods (think eggs, bacon, smoothies). Bread, muffins, pastries and donuts will all slow you down. At least 20 minutes before you head to grid, stop chatting with people and start getting yourself together: Turn on your car so it warms up to temperature, and run the A/C if you have it to cool off the interior on a hot day.

Once in the car and headed to grid, turn off the stereo. Turn off your cell phone. There should be no audio distractions in the car. You don’t want a call to come in while you’re carving up a slalom. Visualize the track. Try to see each element, and how you will be setting up for it. You should do this between each lap at autocross. Find a mantra that works for you and repeat it several times mentally before you head out. Here are some suggestions:

Get both hands on the wheel at 9 and 3, wait for the starter to wave you on, and GO GO GO!!!! These are but a few of the many ways you can build a pre-track routine, which combines both mental and physical activities. The main objective here is focus. Keep your mind on the task at hand and watch those tenths fall away. Next edition of Tenth Chasers: Tires And Pressures Happy racing! - Dennis Got questions? Hit me up: denniswolfe101@gmail.com

Photo: Luis Vivar

Thanks to all ourfriendsat POC foraterrific year of club racing, friendship,andmemories. We look forward toa fun, fastfuture together.