As a former Olympic skeet shooter, I achieved great heights in that sport. Years after actively competing, in my mind I was still so confident in my skills that, even if I were to take a long break, I could still compete at that level. Boy, was I wrong!
NASA founder Jerry Kunzman and I went to the gun club to shoot some skeet one day, and, to be honest, even though it had been years since I had competed, and even though Jerry is a good shot, I was looking forward to showing off a bit. Little did I know I was not even going to come close to what I had been capable of earlier in life as a world-class competitor. To say it was humbling would be putting it mildly.
After that miserable performance, I decided to get back out to the gun club and regain what I considered acceptable scores, but even after several days, my high scores were not nearly as consistent as I wanted them to be.
This same scenario happens all the time. I’ve known NFL players who after injuries, or breaks from competing for whatever reason, signed contracts so they could get back at it. Like me, they too knew they “still had it.” But soon realized their game was not what it once was. Many hall-of-famers ended their careers with miserable stats and regretted not hanging it up while in their heyday.
We all believe we “still have it” in our designated sport. That doesn’t mean we can’t get it back, but as much as we find it impossible to believe, it’s almost as if we must start all over again like we did when we first began competing.
This stands true for driving a racecar. After layoffs, you’re not going to buckle up and post those same lap times you were turning back when you last were on track. Just get over it and accept the fact it’s time to earn your comeback. Keep in mind that old adage, “It’s just like riding a bike,” doesn’t apply any more. This is going to take some work.
After years of high-level competition, accepting the truth is bittersweet at best. Seeing others beat your scores or lap times is humbling, frustrating, and can even be depressing.
What I did in my case was wake up one morning and tell myself, I’ve done it before, and I can do it again. After all, I have the experience and now I know all the shortcuts. Having a positive outlook on anything related to sports is paramount. Time at the track, or in my case at the gun club, was all I needed. And the best part of all was seeing the scores begin to climb back to where they once were.
It didn’t happen overnight, but the feeling of success was exuberating. I haven’t raced in some time, but I now know this same lesson will apply to getting back into a racecar. I must say, I’m looking forward to starting at the rear of the pack, like Jerry Kunzman and I used to do just for fun. I can’t wait to feel the rush I will get while passing others.
So, if you’re starting over, here are a few tips:
Rebuild slowly. Take things gradually to avoid putting too much pressure on yourself.
Persevere and be persistent, but remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Reassess your goals. You’re not going to win races at first. Focus on decreasing lap times, no matter how small the increment.
Don’t allow yourself to be depressed. Push yourself, but have fun. That’s what racing with NASA is all about.
Great observations and advice! Thanks.
When driving at the amateur level, whether it’s HPDE, TT, or racing stops being fun, exciting, etc., it’s time to take a break and do other things for a while.