AFTER this Zarathustra returned again
into the mountains to the solitude of his cave,
and withdrew himself from men,
waiting like a sower
who has scattered
his seed.

His soul, however,
became impatient and full of longing
for those whom he loved:
because he had still much to give them.

For this is hardest of all:
to close the open hand out of love,
and keep modest as a giver…

Thus Spake Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche, trans. by Thomas Common, The Child With The Mirror No. 1

I continue to reflect upon my experience behind the wheel of the Z06 Corvette. Four laps at the Autobahn Country Club track were exhilarating, and not nearly enough to become settled piloting a 670 horsepower machine. For an extra fee I received a video recording of the four laps, which includes the voice and the hand instructions given to me by the Master Instructor riding along in the passengers seat.

Stepping back, withdrawing in order to reflect, allowing mind and body to assimilate what has occurred is essential for learning. If I were lucky to drive another four laps, what would I do different? How would I make those changes in my behavior? Would my chances of piloting the car faster and cleanly be improved by reflection? I think it would.

I remember something that the instructor said to me, while we waited for the “go” signal to move from the pit lane onto the track. He said: pretend that you have a raw egg under the accelerator pedal, press on the pedal with a smooth action, do nothing suddenly to break the egg… Operate the car smoothly, allow the car to tell you how much. Do not force anything…

I would pay again for another go with the Z06 Corvette. How difficult it is to hold something back, to restrain oneself, to hold something in reserve, permitting that which stands face to face with you, to whisper quietly to you what is needed? Not only when and how much to press the accelerator pedal, when to lift, letting the car roll, when to brake and how much…

But also the timing and manner of response to a friend in difficult circumstances, when to say nothing (like letting the car roll)… And there’s the moment when one ought to express forcefully, clearly one’s angle of view of another’s difficult circumstances.

Are not we all, as if on a racetrack, exhilarating and dangerous, doing our best to get through this life, lap by lap? The rule-of-thumb is modesty… Keep modest with one’s words and deeds.

Never forget that you have a raw egg under that accelerator pedal!

Mounted behind the seats is a 670 horsepower engine, and the engine will sing. The car is engineered for racing…

Relax! A bit of modesty please!