[z12358]

Let me state first that I've only had two DE track days in my life and I consider myself to be an average driver. To me this ABS and PSM discussion is not about whether a man can outperform the machine but more about frequency of measurements and adjustments (FMA). In both ABS and PSM, it is clear that the machine can measure and adjust more frequently than the driver. We now only need to decide when the benefits of FMA outweigh its costs (i.e. the time it takes to perform them).

I believe that over the long term and on average, FMA will improve the performance of ANY driver. Let me explain. A very good driver may be very good at nailing (sensing, anticipating, predicting, etc.) the threshold (lock or slide) 99 times out of a 100 without the benefits of FMA, but that 1 time out of a 100 when he misses it, the car ends up smashed into the concrete. With FMA, that same driver may slightly underperform during those 99 times but will signifficantly outperform that 1 time when he would have crashed otherwise. Having a car to drive and a life to live, to me, is a signifficant outperformance over the long run.

I also believe that by tweaking the FMA (optimizing time spent vs information gathered and adjustments made) it can be fine-tuned so that each driver can outperform with it even in those 99 times out of 100, making it a hands down winner. The FMA (PSM, ABS) in our cars have been tuned for an audience of millions, thus not optimally matched to each of us individually.

To those suggesting that FMA migt hinder learning, consider this: Decreasing the chance of ruin (car, limbs, life, etc) increases the average length of time a student will spend studying, and the level of enjoyment while doing it. So I do believe that a student with FMA will end up learning more than a student without one. Something like the tortoise winning over the hare.

It rained on my first track day, then the sun came out, making the track a mosaic of wet and dry patches in the afternoon. Both times that the PSM switched on, I was thankful that it did. My instructor didn't know I had PSM and he commanded me on "saving my a**" like a pro, each time me telling him that it was the PSM and not me. That same day, TWO GT3's from the black and red run groups slid out into a wall. I wonder if they had PSM, ABS, or none.

Z.