The incredible MIND of A Professional Racer

On this weeks episode Mark and Kevin talk about motorcycle racing and the supernatural powers of racers and their ability to concentrate, focus, and even attain an altered state of consciousness. Check out the show and see if you can attain a "flow state" with us! Well, check out the show...
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[@omilianful]

Honestly the best motorcycling podcast I've come across. Fantastic, thanks so much.

[@alanwarner8489]

At the top of his game even after 40+ years.

[@stravoxylo3678]

The breadth of Mr. Cameron's knowledge is fascinating!

[@terryboehler5752]

The depth isn't to shabby

[@KingBroleslaw]

That he knew about my van’s transmission was the deepest part…

[@Michael-qo8bs]

Absolutely stunning! Makes me want to ask him about what came first chicken or the egg? Existence of God Is change real? Can God create a rock so big ..he can't lift it? One of the must intresting person I have met and conversed with... I buy anything he writes!and have a Cameron file back to 1972i believe... Smart man!!

[@Michael-qo8bs]

Speaking of transitions...I'm abig strong guy.6'9 280lbs..when racing something with a long wheelbase...on transition the rear of bike always seemed to lag..in trail behind the front...

[@TechnikMeister2]

I rode A Grade 350s in Australia and yes, you can get into this "state of grace." You can get to a point where you and the bike are one. You can feel when you are just at the the limit of adhesion and all the little messages come to you in your bum, your legs, your hands and arms. And the best way to experience this is to compete in the rain, because it all happens sooner and at slower speeds. If you can become fast in the wet, you will be very fast in the dry. Since then I have done waterski racing where you are winding up a river at 130mph and through your feet, you can feels whats happening between the ski and the water. Can you make the turns? Our best racer used to say to the boat driver. "Just go for it and forget I am out the back". He broke the record. My third career was as a data centre engineer for our biggest bank. I got to feel the noises when things were getting overloaded. The heat increased, more fans come on in the mainframes. I could sense it and it was my job to get the best performance of our of 12 mainframes, just like a motorcycle. You develop a sense of it all. e.

[@carlhokanson9160]

The fumes from hundreds of new tires in a box truck must have been intoxicatingly enlightening.

[@kennyirish5021]

When I’m in the state of grace and some guy blows by me and suddenly I come back to reality. Yea that sucks haha. Is bliss when you’re there man

[@user-nl6st8eu5x]

hello Cats, Ken Austin here. I have had access to this higher level in everything that was important to me. step A was a high level of skill from intense practice. step B was a deep and total focus on the job at hand. one thing I had never expected was what I called an out of body experience, even though I'd never heard of such a thing. in 1977, I was riding a 6 hour race at Brainerd on my Laverda SFC 750. about an hour into my stint, approaching turn 4 with about 5 riders ahead on much slower bikes, on different lines, I thought "man, I'm glad I took so much care fitting the bike to my body (levers pedals bars...) it's like my body and the bike are one". next thing I know, I'm looking down at a motorcycle from great height. I think "hey there's a bike down there !" next thought "hey, that's my bike ! " (orange Laverda). next thought "hey, that's my body on the bike !". next thought "holy shit , I'm way up in the sky !" next thought "should I be worried ?" next thought "no, I feel nothing can go wrong in this state". I don't know how long it lasted, but I blew through the 5 riders, didn't crash, finished my hour and 15 stint, told the boys what happened, and they said "man, you're smoking too much dope ". but I know what happened. it's so great you're talking about this ! other cultures feel that we are constantly able to be guided by our ancestors if we only ask.

[@marcusgeorge1825]

The most important part why the worlds best are as fast as they are is due to them not being born on this planet. I know when I was racing in the Australian Superbike Series, I would simply sit with headphones on listening to some favourite songs and shutting out the rest of everything except thinking about going around the track mentally with gear selection and throttle/brake control. As you’ve already built a strategy into your brain that simply gets switched on once the lights go green and taking advantage of the endorphins you have in reserve. Never looking backwards also helps along with having total confidence in the setup of your bike so you can just focus on what you will be doing in the next 2 and 3 corners, always, with each lap.

[@patheally]

As a software engineer myself, I find motorcycling a natural pastime. It's similar to programming insofar as it requires extreme focus. Oh, I'm also a musician, which oddly gives me the coordination I need between limbs. So long as you have the risk-tolerance, these other skills lend themselves to riding

[@one-of-us9939]

Interesting... My first year of track riding i experienced that level of blocking unwanted thoughts... and i just fell into that zone easily. I tried to explain it to the far better racers and they just smiled and said, "You might be a natural." That, was the greatest compliment.

[@TheInfantry98]

And yet you never went pro

[@Andrei_K1G1K]

A real thing. I spend time in the mountains to expend my pent up energy on the rock. The activity of being ernest to overcome that simple task of getting tot he top of the trail has a wonderful ability to sterilize your feelings about whatever issue you may be having.

[@chrismoody1342]

I always put down my best laps when I was smooth and not fighting to go faster or deeper into a corner. It all came together in a nice fluid lap. I’d didn’t expressly try for that out of body experience, being in a state of zen. But when I did put in a good lap it always felt so easy and repeatable.

[@gordonborsboom7460]

I recall Colin Edwards speaking about his state of mind when racing Troy Bayliss for the WSBK championship in the last race of the season. I believe he basically said that he and the bike were one

[@Ghostdog4]

Professional Racer or professional Athletes are all a different breed of animal that us civilians will never understand. It's not just a switch they push and turn it on. It's burned into their souls, it came with the body and brain. Practice training lifes lessons only sharpen a rare skill set. All the new computer assisted controls on current race bikes make for faster lap times but less talented racers.

[@upsidedowndog1256]

The "Grace" is certainly a fleeting the older we get. I used to seek it out often. Now days I am still on the hunt but it comes less often. But is no less great to find it!

[@nuttyDesignAndFab]

"fast enough that you can't think anymore" hits so right

[@colinross7800]

This podcast was fascinating and brought to mind a fall day in New England in 1975 on a Kawasaki Z-1 being in the zone for the day of 100 mph plus riding for hours. Thank you.

[@briankalagher6687]

Really enjoyed this one. Hearing about Edwards, Baylis, and especially Gobert was awesome. The way riding a motorcycle fast forces you to be in the present moment makes me want to get out for a long ride. God I love motorcycles. Thank you both for this one!

[@micyclesport]

These are fantastic discussions

[@AlField-dm9sx]

As usually, excellent content about the mind of a racer. How do they go so darn fast? You guys are spectacular together like Click and Clack, The Tappet Brothers on NPR radio, Boston,Ma.

[@alanwarner8489]

Kevin's Freddy Spencer insights indicate it ain't all black magic so don't give up (although sadly Freddy did). Even from the stands you can gain insights like the sprint car I saw wheelying while spinning up the rear tires. When the weight transfer was enough that both rear tires suddenly found traction, the smaller diameter inside tire instantly propelled the car into the wall so when in doubt gas it doesn't always work! Been waiting for the sequel to 'Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Mechanics.' Guess I found it.

[@user-wd8qm5hl8l]

Johann Hari in his book, Stolen Focus, has several insights into flow state and how mere mortals can achieve it, not just the Grand Prix aliens. This conversation dovetailed quite nicely with his book.

[@Simulera]

I was unaware you were doing this and just watched 4 of them in the last 2 days. Can’t continue that but I’m a fan for sure. I enjoyed 40-ish years of CW follower fandom, not sure of the exact number but many years before the print CW magazine ended. I tried the 1/4 ly version/coffee table mag and then the E version upon the demise of the 1/4ly paper compromise and, wonky initial internet delivery aside, somehow felt the magazine magic was lost. But these conversations on this KZbin channel are basically what must be a bit of the office grist lead to all that great paper mag content. Mssrs Parkhurst, Jennings, Edwards, you, and the other writers/editors, Egan, Cameron, and all the others Im not mentioning, made such a great motorcycle magazine happen. I found the web distribution somehow let you down a bit. Some things about it are ok. But the monthly paper magazine arriving in the mail was part of the rhythm of life. Seriously. I still recall the Husky on the cover of the iconic January 1975 magazine that introduced the R90S. I also remember the last CW print with a CT125 on the cover. BSA ladies. All of it was just so great for motorcyclists A cycle world.There were Mr Anderson on a Helix for the Iron Butt etc. The technical writing of Kevin Cameron always was just so great; the evolutionary history of motorcycle racing is a favorite theme for me. I am a research scientist and, well, it’s just fantastic to read his stuff. Egan’s musings. The Fear and Loathing story. And many other things. The ads at the end of the old magazine taught culture and presented distracted opportunities to improve this or that. The other distribution formats don’t recapture the magic for some reason. But these KZbin conversation videos are a sort of perfect use of this medium to recapture a lot of the magic sauce. I’m impressed and glad to see you again! Thanks for this. Subscribed.

[@leadsled8961]

Riding a motorcycle allows me to live in the NOW for as long as I am riding.......freedom.

[@daniel-vm3qn]

fantastic podcast

[@galratner]

Excellent conversation!

[@terryboehler5752]

The talk of microphones in the tires..... I always dreamed of a headset that fed me exhaust note etc, without the ambient traffic/other distractive sounds.

[@Michael-qo8bs]

I have achieved state of flow in high level table tennis only...I did have one God day on my sr500 road racer...that day..that bike ..that track..those tires...I could push the front in...drift the rear out of every corner the whole race long....AND. IT WAS EASY-- THERE WAS NOTHING TO IT!

[@davidvanbrunt4233]

Once you get your pace , everything seems to slow down...it truly is an altered state of mind .

[@lcambilargiu]

Sometimes the transition also creates the sensation that time has slowed down.

[@JohnCunningham-sy5ug]

Top athletes always have the abilities to over power their competition mentality. When Rossi was in the field he was living rent free in the competitors minds. Jack Nicholas held that advantage in pro golf. The top dogs in all competitive activities get that. Focused.

[@Michael-qo8bs]

I wonder...if low self esteem might be a driving force...some racers clearly do the impossiable...with little apparent regard for them selves...almost desperate to suceed.....like prevailing is more important than life itself... I am always amazed and thrilled when the rivals turn laps faster at end of race on tires well past their optimums....than they turned in qualifying on qualifying tires!

[@InstructorCR]

You guys are GREAT. Chip Furlong

[@dilsherbuttar5424]

Very deep conversation.

[@Michael-qo8bs]

Ref hover v forney....on street...the lead rider is vulnerable...he will encounter everything FIRST. THE following rider can watch lead rider and USE what he sees in reactions of lead rider...on mountain road it is tough to "drop" a good rider...despite the percieved displacement "dis advantage" Hp rules the street...advantage in cornering speed is tough to use as it requires forethought of what is out of sight around bend ..right now!!

[@Michael-qo8bs]

The senna quote was good...my own experiments indicate the battles must be fought in the subconcious..or instinctive mind...the cognitive mind is too slow.... The cognitive mind is where you form the tools with which you compete.. there can be no doubt as to the relevance and validity of technique

[@user-ur8ku4ds1c]

Enjoying your podcasts. I have a recommendation for a discussion topic: engine heat. It seems to me that motorcycle engines produce a lot more heat on the rider now than in the past. I have sold a few bikes just for this reason, because they were just too hot to ride in any temperatures above 85 degrees or so. I suspect that emissions requirements are the primary reason for the consistent increase in heat, but not sure. But I would be interested in hearing the facts and also identifying motorcycles in categories such as adventure and touring bikes that provide the least amount of heat to the rider. For context I currently have my old 05 BMW R1200 GS that has been a great bike and runs pretty cool. I also have a 21 Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sport DCT that is also a great bike, but it is hot as hell. Thanks Mark

[@mpetra4537]

I remember the book Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.....interesting read.

[@suzukikawasaki5165]

Hi pain tolerance and minimal self preservation.. 😂

[@68orangecrate26]

It’s called compartmentalization…✈️

[@douglasgrosch228]

JOSH HERRIN -can you review him on channel.. won Daytona again !thanks

[@archiewilson4943]

Yeah in my life there is motorcycle riding and shit.

[@mountainmandale1587]

26's at Willow? You are fast! Supernatural!