KeriBlog

Cars, Security & a Peek into my Life

Put a Monk in a Race Car

Can’t concentrate? Can’t race.

Because really, all the tech, tires and money are for not if the driver drops their focus for one fast moment. Because that moment turns into seconds lost.

I’m speaking with Honda IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe. He’d just coached me around the DDT at Mosport (watch here)

We talk about his mind while racing, how he stays hyper-focused for 2 straight hours. It’s an almost-meditative state, he says.

That’s why my idea to put a monk in a race car –
their concentration is outstanding.

Read it online at Autonet.

Favourite line:

If winning comes down to a driver’s level of concentration, how about putting a monk behind the wheel?  Trophies ahoy!

 

Thanks for taking the time James! Best of luck this season.

Watch James coach me around my first track time here.

How he fared in this years Toronto Indy here.

Blog tag = the Mind (13)

Back to ‘Keri on Driving’ – Index

 

 

I Can Drive Anything

This was at a festival in Dundas Square.

I was taking my out-of-town friend and her kid for walk through the city. The kid wanted to try, during which the owner of the bike came over, “hey you should give it a go.”

“Nah it’s okay, I’m just here for the kid”… but he kept going, and I am petty and will almost always respond to a challenge.

So okay fine, and rode a flawless loop around the square like, people were clapping.

A decade of gymnastics pays off in the weirdest ways.

Thanks for letting me ride your bike!

(aside – in the same boastful manner as this post title, I also win the “driven the most expensive” game – here)

 

 

Tracked this Today #Porsche

Am still vibrating.

Hosted by Pfaff Auto at Mosport’s Development track, it was my 1st Porsche experience (and 2nd track experience (same track last week with Honda.))

I learned what a proper corner feels like… effortless?! Memorized that feeling.

And I get “throttle steering” now, accidentally did that once. And the CAR. Like, it’s… just woah.

Had a great coach, thanks Brad.

Pfaff Porsche Track

Have plenty more photos, and a video.  Will post that next week.

Thank you Pfaff!

 

 

5 Years of the Honda Indy in Toronto

2014 marks 5 consecutive years, thanks Honda!

Cheered hard for James Hinchcliffe, Honda’s driver and only Canadian in the race.  Felt for you on those 2 setbacks. Your time is coming, don’t be worried.

Indy photo by Kanishka Sonnadara

(great shot eh, it’s Kanishka’s)

I asked James about how he’s able to concentrate deeply for so long, that’s the topic for this week’s column.

That part is so interesting to me, because really, every single thing, all the tech, design, money and math that are poured into this car, are all superfluous if the driver’s focus wavers.

New headers.

As close as you can get, to the fastest point,
with the most noise. Earplugs out always.

This is just before turn 3, the carnage corner.

Most crashes happen on this ridiculousness, are you kidding this turn.

I got this scarf printed in the paper HAHA.

It’s the photo for a column, one of my new favourites: The Mystery of the Checkered Flag

5 Year Highlights include:

1 – the 2012 Backstage Tour of the Indy here
2 – in 2011, I attended both days here & here (ask me about this entrance IRL)
3 – security at the Indy here
4 – the steering wheel, and what $20,000 in tires looks like
5 – five years of this sound…

Forever a ‘Top 3 Favourite Sound’

The original Civic was on display!

1973 – 40 years old now.

Here’s some history of this car; I wrote a ‘then & now’, and used it to illustrate – When the Side Mirror was Optional

And then there was a 4th Generation Civic, a forever favourite, it gets its own post.

Here’s something kinda neat – 2 of the last 5 Indy’s, I’ve driven the display car, literally. (this year at Mosport, and the year the HFPs came out, at an airport)

And did you know Honda makes the world’s only manual transmission hybrid – the Honda CRZ.

More here.

Thanks for 5 amazing years Honda!

Here’s to your team this summer, wishing you lots of wins.

 

 

The Fondest Memories of the 4th Generation Civic

It was on display at the Indy.

Saw it and poof, was instantly awash with memories.

Maybe you are now too… remember these? Everyone and their dog had one, ahh remember discovering “the open road”… that crowd that customized this car had this great energy… remember the firsts…

Remember when 92 hp made us so happy.