Speed News Vol. 1 Issue 7 August : Page 4

FIRST GE AR How to Train a Dragon other organizations offering track time and instruction. Years ago while studying at Stanford University, I met Dr. Norman Shumway, who was the first doctor to successfully perform a heart transplant in the United Gary Faules NASA Director of Mentoring States. He once told me that the way doctors get an education is, “Watch one, One of the subjects do one, teach one.” Back in that has most interested the day, heart surgery was me since my first days not well tested, let alone of involvement, and very successful. Today especially now as NASA’s it’s not at all uncommon director of mentoring, to hear of someone who are the beginners and had open heart surgery the broad spectrum of just a few weeks ago attitudes they bring to the and is now enjoying life track. Many times I have in the fast lane again. found myself sitting in on NASA has discovered the HPDE download sessions same method of success listening to the various as Dr. Shumway. Watch thoughts of what each of one, do one, teach one. them feels about his or her The entire NASA system first day. For the most part not only works, but it also they are excited and eager works with great success. to learn and, even better, is Many HPDE students the fact that NASA’s HPDE continue learning and instructors are equally as enjoying what they do, excited and willing to teach. much like a fraternity of NASA is far from my first medical students, until rodeo, and based on my they find themselves personal race history, I have operating on a race track found NASA’s instructors and, yes, eventually finding not only willing to teach, themselves teaching but equally as important, a newer generation they have qualifications of students. No pun that exceed most of the intended, but you might teaching staff found in say NASA’s students are 4 the heart of what we all know and love as one of the greatest grassroots sports in America. It is well known that many of the finest drivers got their beginnings in kart racing. The main reason many of these drivers have excelled is because they were exposed to good equipment and coaching before they learned many bad habits. A young student who is eager to learn will achieve good driving skills and habits much faster than some know-it-all, better known as a “dragon,” who has been street racing without proper coaching. Good instructors have heard it countless times, “Well, that’s not the way I do it.” Good students never argue. They listen, they do as they are told and they learn. I have said it many times. First-time drivers make some of the best students. They never doubt, they never hesitate and they do as they are instructed. The end result is a faster, safer and more confident driver and, in my mind, NASA is without a doubt the best place to “watch one, do one, teach one.” See you at the track. SN

How to Train a Dragon

Gary Faules

One of the subjects that has most interested me since my first days of involvement, and especially now as NASA’s director of mentoring, are the beginners and the broad spectrum of attitudes they bring to the track. Many times I have found myself sitting in on HPDE download sessions listening to the various thoughts of what each of them feels about his or her first day. For the most part they are excited and eager to learn and, even better, is the fact that NASA’s HPDE instructors are equally as excited and willing to teach. NASA is far from my first rodeo, and based on my personal race history, I have found NASA’s instructors not only willing to teach, but equally as important, they have qualifications that exceed most of the teaching staff found in other organizations offering track time and instruction. Years ago while studying at Stanford University, I met Dr. Norman Shumway, who was the first doctor to successfully perform a heart transplant in the United States. He once told me that the way doctors get an education is, “Watch one, do one, teach one.” Back in the day, heart surgery was not well tested, let alone very successful. Today it’s not at all uncommon to hear of someone who had open heart surgery just a few weeks ago and is now enjoying life in the fast lane again. NASA has discovered the same method of success as Dr. Shumway. Watch one, do one, teach one. The entire NASA system not only works, but it also works with great success. Many HPDE students continue learning and enjoying what they do, much like a fraternity of medical students, until they find themselves operating on a race track and, yes, eventually finding themselves teaching a newer generation of students. No pun intended, but you might say NASA’s students are the heart of what we all know and love as one of the greatest grassroots sports in America. It is well known that many of the finest drivers got their beginnings in kart racing. The main reason many of these drivers have excelled is because they were exposed to good equipment and coaching before they learned many bad habits. A young student who is eager to learn will achieve good driving skills and habits much faster than some know-it-all, better known as a “dragon,” who has been street racing without proper coaching. Good instructors have heard it countless times, “Well, that’s not the way I do it.” Good students never argue. They listen, they do as they are told and they learn. I have said it many times. First-time drivers make some of the best students. They never doubt, they never hesitate and they do as they are instructed. The end result is a faster, safer and more confident driver and, in my mind, NASA is without a doubt the best place to “watch one, do one, teach one.” See you at the track. SN

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