Session 16 Debrief: Refuelled at Night

The day finally arrived.

Taking the car out alone at night had a lot of benefits.

It helped me get over the fact that I am, in fact, driving a vehicle all alone in the streets at a lonely hour. Moreover, driving in the dark trains you for night driving in general, which can be a valuable capability.

However, as with everything in life, there were some glitches. I ran into some hiccups, nothing serious, which led to me changing my session’s run plan at the drop of a hat.

My initial plan was to do about ten laps around the town in a predefined path.

So, what happened?

Session 16 Debrief

A couple of days before the practice run, I washed and covered my car. The washing was mediocre at best, considering I was tired and had a bucket at my aid. A hose would’ve been better, but it is what it is.

This translated to me uncovering the ride, running the whole session, and putting it under the hide at the end.

After taking it off, before the session began, I put it in the boot. Unbeknownst to me, the strap from the cover stuck out. I drove nearly a kilometer before a good samaritan pointed it out to me. 

Additionally, to make matters worse, I wasn’t in the best of spirits due to some distasteful incidents in the previous days, leading me to get complacent in the middle of the road and stalling the engine to a halt.

Thankfully, it was almost midnight and the roads were empty. Otherwise, somebody surely would’ve rear-ended me. Phew. 

Right after those two hairy moments, I ‘woke up’ and drove a bit more aggressively.

The rest of the session was pretty great if I am being honest. The corners, turn signals, pace, and driving around traffic were great. 

After completing a lap of the track I carved out in my head, I glimpsed at the fuel indicator to see I was running low. It was another opportunity to elevate my driving skills in tight spaces.

The first petrol station I rolled up to was closed. The one after that was too crowded. I finally decided to drive slightly out of town to yet another location. Unfortunately, the floor was being revamped, meaning the station was closed as well.

There were some street hustlers outside who were overcharging for fuel a bit. Due to my tiredness and frustration leading up to the moment, I called it. Got a few litres in and returned home.

Areas of Improvement

First and foremost, I need to drive the way I naturally drive and let go of the beginner’s mindset. 

I can control the vehicle fairly well and driving it at my natural pace and instinct yields better results anyway. Yes, some conditions like rough terrain with bumper-to-bumper traffic are still challenging, but I know the right protocol in those scenarios too.

Hence, driving with proper aggression and the right mentality is key. One of the roadblocks to that in my previous session was psychological damage. For a variety of reasons, I wasn’t particularly in the correct frame. Although I still executed the session fairly well, it fell short of my usual standards of professionalism.

Thankfully, the right recovery methodologies enabled me to fix those issues substantially. I can surely enter the next practice run with a clearer mind and higher confidence.

Embracing that mistakes can happen and driving at the proper speed (typically, at the higher end of the spectrum) can sharpen my skills further. Some additional lessons I’ve accumulated so far include:

• The rear-view mirrors are necessary when braking.

• The side mirrors are used when changing lanes, holding or conceding track position, taking corners, and parking.

• Always look ahead when driving.

• Hesitant driving makes you vulnerable to dangerous overtakes and close calls.

• Hit pedals and controls decisively (with the desired intensity), or not at all.

• Trust your instincts.

Looking Forward: Endurance Run

Last night, my buddies recommended a ride to a nearby temple. There will be all sorts of driving conditions along the way, making the run full of lessons. Moreover, there will be four folks in the car (me and three friends), adding to the chaos to mimic real-world driving scenarios.

I will likely drive for hours, hence classifying it under endurance. With my mind getting healthier due to the conscious elimination of a significant negative element from my days, the practice run will be smooth and fun.

Until next time,

Tara

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Next Chapter: Session 17 Debrief: The Arrival of Instinct

Previous Chapter: Session 15 Debrief: One Crash, Two Stalls, Three Friends

Index (with Prologue): The Path to Driving License