How do you mentally handle it when the driver in front of you is NOT driving the line?

 

You focus on driving your line. Thatis all you can do. You can note where they are off line and plan for a pass.

 

I like that part It is just VERY distracting - mind over matter

 

Definitely challenging, but with more practice you'll be able to ignore it

 

Be careful planning that pass. Someone who doesn't know the line may well move over on you in an unexpected location.

This happened to a teammate of mine at the SCCA Runoffs this week. The other driver apparently never looked in his mirrors until he felt the contact; by this point, contact had already been made with the concrete wall at triple-digit speeds. $$$$$

 

That is why I said to watch your quarry carefully before you attempt a pass. Until they are consistent give them a wide berth.

 

The trick is look ahead, planning ahead. For a novice driver, one should patiently wait for a point by before trying to attempt a pass.

 

Thanks guys for all the advice. I got plenty of practice this weekend. Just made them invisible, until I came around a corner and one was looking at me. Where was the flag?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

When I get behind cars that aren't driving proper lines, I tend to consciously call out what they are doing wrong--missing the turn in point, apex, exit, etc--which helps me concentrate on the line I have to hit.

But usually, when the cars in front aren't driving the lines, they tend to be much slower so I just make sure they see me behind them by running relatively close to them, then make a pass on a safer part of the track.