Pro drivers Tell You 5 Things to Be a Better Driver
John Morton needs no introduction. A Le Mans winner and 9-time competitor, he worked in Carroll Shelby’s race shop and has driven everything from Datsun’s to 1,000 horsepower Can-Am cars. I rang him up for part 1 of this series.
5 things that make a great racing driver
Racing is more popular than it ever has been. If you track your LS based platform in any way shape or form these tips will help you. Whether you want to be a professional racing driver or take your track day game to the next level these are 5 things you need to know. By reading this article you'll gain a competitive edge over anyone you drive against. The best part? They don't cost a cent. Let's go!
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Mental Strength
“The first and most important thing is a mental strength,” Morton says. “You have to have the dedication that you’re going to do it no matter what. The resolve that you will succeed at it is number 1". It all starts between the ears. Whether your goal is to race for Chevrolet or dominate a local autocross you have to push through any challenges you might face along the way. From finding sponsorship to wrenching late on a Saturday night you have to be dedicated.
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Self Confidence
Next on the list is self-confidence according to Morton. You have to believe that you can do it. You know you’re going to try, but you have to have an innate unshakeable confidence that you are going to get the job done. No one can convince you otherwise. Confidence and mental strength compliment each other.
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Positioning Yourself
“This isn’t about driving. Being able to put yourself in a position with sponsors or potential sponsors to get in a car with the potential to win races. This might be the hardest thing of all,” he remarked. “It comes down to personality.” You have to know how to talk to people and identify what value you bring to the table. Then you have to have the skill to back it up! This applies to anyone trying to find sponsorship.
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Physical Fitness
Back in the day, you didn’t have to be as much of an athlete as you do now. Morton replied, “It’s hard to imagine running as hard as modern racers do for over 300 miles without being extremely conditioned.” In a past article I highlighted this idea, so get some weights, start running and get to training. Shifter karts are a great training tool that can be found on the cheap!
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Be Lucky
The final thing? Not the easiest thing to quantify. “I hate to say luck, but…luck.” John casually said with a laugh. He's right. We've all seen what happens when team Corvette goes racing. Hundreds of hours spent prepping cars, millions of dollars dumped into making sure everything is perfect and then some guy in a Porsche puts you into the wall. It's better to be lucky than good!
>>Join the conversation about Pro Driver's Tips on Being a Better right here in the LS1 Tech Forum!
Final thoughts
The great insight this advice provides is that you have control over yourself within the sport. Through hard work, grit, and determination you can go farther than you might think. Incorporating these points into your driving will make you better than you were at your last race or even track day. Hope you enjoyed. If you have something you want to ask a pro driver let me know!
>>Join the conversation about Pro Driver's Tips on Being a Better right here in the LS1 Tech Forum!
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