13 replies to this topic

[MotoFusi]

I took yesterday off and headed to Mid-Ohio for an Autointerests HPDE. I hired Kyle Webb to coach me. I was skeptical in the past if coaching was worth it. I changed my mind when Kyle helped me shave two seconds off my time with one sit down using data and video in my motorhome at the Majors a couple weeks ago. Yesterday was perfect. I did four 20 minute sessions with a debrief with Kyle on the radio, watching at different sections of the track followed by a review of the data and video. I also had Kyle take the car out himself one session because mine is the only spec Miata I have ever driven. The feedback was extremely helpful. The comment "This car is un-drivable". New shocks on order! LOL The last session was 50 minutes and I took all the coaching and put together some very consistent laps continuing to drop times by being smoother and more controlled. I ended up dropping 1.7 seconds off my previous best times at Mid-O. Is it worth it? Without a doubt. I highly recommend Kyle's coaching services to anyone looking to better themselves as a driver. He explains things even an old guy like me can understand and put into use. Thanks Kyle, I'm a believer now!

 

Still no website

[Caveman-kwebb99]

I was a bit shocked when my phone blew up yesterday with some texts about this post while i was out on a job site.  I certainly had no idea this post was coming, I can say that I appreciate all the kind things that Randy said above.  But I feel I must say this Coaching is absolutly the best money that I have ever spent on any sport that I have endevoured into, from Tennis, to Golf, to Racing.  Had I not been coached by and this is just my personal opinion, The absolute best spec miata coach in the country, there is no way I would have a clue of how to go out and coach someone on a race track while standing in a corner watching or just looking at a video and looking over data.  If not For the invaluable training I have gotten from Todd, I would not be the driver I have become winning plenty of regionals and even winning two majors races.  

 

Some will think my post is meant as some advertisement for either Todd or I, I can certainly tell you it is not, It is simply a platform to say a sincere and public thank you to Todd Lamb for all he has helped me with since I started working with him in 2011!  I count Todd as far more then just coach, he is a friend!  

 

Many others have helped me immensly along the way you all know who you are, I would go down the list but this thread was about coaching so I will keep to that topic.  

 

I will close with this, I have been humbled having been asked to coach both Adam Roberts and Randy, there is really no words to describe it!  so thanks guy...

[MotoFusi]

I call them like I see them. If you sucked, I would have posted that too LOL Now that we have gotten the low hanging fruit, I'm excited about the next level.

 

Wait! Todd is the best Miata coach? I thought you said you were........ LOL Todd won't coach me till I get a website............

[Todd Lamb]

Maybe I need to start doing websites!

[MotoFusi]

Todd, I contacted GoDaddy to get a website address. To my chagrin, WWW.MILFChaser.com was already taken. Back to the drawing board!

[ScratchRob13]

I watched Jonathan Goring coaching at lime rock a couple weeks ago (I chased the lead follow pair for a couple laps)... Nearly 3 Seconds faster for the driver by the end of the weekend... and From middle of the pack to the front....

 

I wasn't apart of the coaching, but it worked to say the least.

[Bench Racer]

Todd, I contacted GoDaddy to get a website address. To my chagrin, WWW.MILFChaser.com was already taken.

   But when the chase ends and she catches up, a guy could be in over his head.

[MotoFusi]

One can only hope Bench.

[Tyler Kicera]

I recently started working with Jim Kearney who was formerly a Pro Formula V champion and is now exclusively a driver coach.  He's got some clients currently in USF2000, FF, FV, SM, and coached an MX5 Cup driver last season.  He's coached drivers to both Runoffs and Pro championships.    

 

I'm not trying to pick up seconds like some who hire a driver coach.  He's been helping me fine tune the mental side of racing which is his specialty.  He's admittedly not a data guy but I've found having him there to ask questions and have a conversation about the car, handling, session approach, my strategy, etc really makes me think about things deeper.  Sometimes its easy to get caught up in things at the track, especially when you're wrenching on your own car, and it's easy to overlook a key decision point that could make the difference.  

 

This sport is all about mental toughness, focus, and discipline.  A coach might just be the edge you need to beat your competition.  

 

 http://kearneykdd.com/

[Caveman-kwebb99]

 

 

This sport is all about mental toughness, focus, and discipline.  A coach might just be the edge you need to beat your competition.  

 

 

 

 

In nearly every professional sport there is a coaching staff, having an outside influence some who is 100' from the action sees things from a different perspective then the athlete that is in the action!!!!

 

If a pro can benefit from coaching us amatuers for sure can, maybe moreso!

 

Good post Tyler!

[sentercut]

My two cents. I started to race last year and have about 5 race weekends under my belt. 3 of those have been under Todd's coaching. I am no prodigy or even mildly quick, but Todd has vastly shortened my learning curve. I can not even consider at this point where I would be with out his coaching. Trying to figure out how to go fast is not something that I could have ever figured out....ever. He has also been a great source for pretty much anything race related and like pretty much everyone i have encountered in this class is available for whatever I can think up to ask and always is willing to help. 

[UCFBrett]

We ran a feature on coaching in the March 2016 Speed News. I hired a different coach, but the experience was as worthwhile as Randy's — and it was certainly worth more than spending money to get more performance from the car. 

 

The feature is available here if anyone is interested:

http://www.derdizmed...uynvr&pageid=36

[Caveman-kwebb99]

 

 

The feature is available here if anyone is interested:

http://www.derdizmed...uynvr&pageid=36

 

I enjoyed the read!  very nice !

[Roberts37]

I will simply answer the question this thread started with, YES.  This is my First year in Spec Miata and I have far exceeding my expectations.  To date now after 3 weekends running in NASA Great Lakes and 3 Weekend with the SCCA Majors Norther Conference I have 1 NASA Pole, 2 NASA Wins, 4 NASA Podiums, 3 Majors top 5 finsihes, 2 Majors podiums and 1 Majors Win.  This season from the first race I have been coahed by "Caveman" aka Kyle Webb and I have him to thank for being a huge part of that success.  Coahing is by far the best investment I have made for my racing career and maybe the best investment I have ever made.  I would not have had the success and FUN with out it.  I beleive no matter how good, seasoned you are a coach and another perspective is alwasy helpful.  You can alwasy learn and get better, faster.