Session 6 Debrief: Repetition of Yesterday

As the title says.

I did exactly the same stuff as the previous session but better. It is a win, considering my hands are setting well on the controls of the car, but I was hoping to do all that with my car in the future.

As far as the driving lessons are concerned, I am a bit torn between doing what I know better than before and losing out on yet another opportunity to learn something new.

There were some areas of refinement, especially downshifting while going over speed breakers or through corners.

But first, the recap.

Session 6 Recap

It was quite cold with the breeze this morning. Thankfully, the inside of the car is immune to the harsh weather conditions.

I was wondering if I would get a chance to practice U-turns on the empty ground. Also, at the same time, I just wanted to keep the sessions rolling forward, which includes following the predetermined practice regimen.

Anyway, we went for a usual ride on the outskirts of the town that featured limited morning traffic.

Usually, I drive the first or second leg of the session, taking the car away from the grounds. The return journey is the responsibility of other students. However, this time it was different. A few days ago, I was hoping for this because there was a sharp right turn on the way back I wanted to practice.

The drive went well. My steering control is certainly improving considering I was driving with one arm. The upshifts were smooth but the downshifts were a bit scrappy. 

I think it was the time of downshifting. Typically, on a motorcycle, I downshift going into a braking zone, whether speed breakers or corners, giving me a good exit. In the car, I am doing the opposite due to the advice from my instructor.

From the next drive onward, I will change this approach because my method is more effective.

Downshifting while entering the braking zone keeps the mind focused on getting a better exit out of the corner rather than the stick. Additionally, if I take my sweet time in the middle of a slow corner or right after a pair of speed breakers that open into the highway, bad things may happen.

I am not sure why my teacher advises the opposite to his students, including myself. 

Either way, this is not the first time I overruled my instructor’s suggestion as a novice driver. I drive with my shoes on, something he was against from the very beginning. I buckled during the first class but went back to my ways from the next session itself.

Areas of Improvement

As mentioned earlier, my focus is to improve my entries into slow zones to enhance the exit control and speed. When folks are honking behind me, it can be challenging to shift gear quickly, check oncoming traffic, and release the clutch slowly.

In a way, the drives that I’ve been bitching about for a while thinking they aren’t adding much value because the basics weren’t practiced enough, are actually useful. It is helping me figure out my personal driving preferences while giving me a taste of real driving conditions.

Anyway, apart from focusing on downshifts into slow corners, I still have to learn to take U-turns.

Of course, the clutch and steering could use some refinement, but these will happen over time as I get more hours behind the wheel.

For now, the two new (and pressing) aspects of driving include U-turn and reversing a car. I guess, my teacher will give lessons about parallel parking later on. The U-turn and reversing in controlled environments will enhance the clutch and steering control.

However, I suspect that it won’t be the case and I will be thrown into the deep end of the pool in the very next session — driving on Indian roads, through Indian traffic. If that happens, I must block out the external stimuli like horns from other drivers to focus on my journey.

Looking Forward: Preparing For Traffic

Based on what I know about the driving curriculum I signed up for, it is quite likely that tomorrow morning I will be driving through traffic. Such a scenario is suboptimal, considering I need to elevate my clutching and steering abilities on a finer level.

At the same time, I am a big believer in ‘it is what it is’ and the most effective way of dealing with such scenarios is to just get on with it.

I guess we will find out what tomorrow holds.

Until next time,

Tara

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Next Chapter: Session 7 Debrief: The Figure of Eight

Previous Chapter: Session 5 Debrief: Good Sharp Turns

Index (with Prologue): The Path to Driving License