This has always bugged me

[Guard Dad]

In the movie "Days of Thunder", Tom Cruise's character was a gifted driver, but he didn't know anything about cars.

Is that possible? For me, anyway, my ability to handle a car in extreme conditions comes from my understanding of how a car works, as well as how physics play upon the mass of an automobile.

The tires, suspension, steering gear, the type of drivetrain, brakes; they all determine how a car will respond. And understanding of forces such as centrifugal force, inertia, aerodynamics, and momentum is crucial to maintaining control of a car in extreme conditions.

So could Cole Trickle really be a great race driver given his lack of understanding?

Yeah, that's pretty random.

 

[rolltidega]

Tom Cruise is a Scientologist thus Cole Trickle must be. Cars run on alien juice and he controls the car with his mind.

 

[cptlo]

So could Cole Trickle really be a great race driver given his lack of understanding?

I'd say yes.

 

[Boss 302]

I'd say yes.

I agree. They have schools now for those who want to be race car drivers and all they do is go over the driving dynamics a drive must know on the track.

 

[lotstodo]

Drivers now-a-days are raised from birth. Many have never held a wrench, let alone fixed anything. I'm afraid that your vision of a high level race car driver died with the true Nascar "stock" car, and the four cylinder Offenhauser USAC engine.