Instinct vs Input
A week of mirrors, machines, and motorsport truth.
This week on DRS Diaries: We’re breaking down ORVMs like you’re five (yes, including convex mirrors, blind spots, and why that biker is closer than he looks), rewinding to 1925 when General Motors went global by acquiring Vauxhall, stepping into The Driver’s Room to ask whether too much data has made modern drivers less instinctive, and wrapping it up with a Petrolhead Pick that fixes your car’s AC smell without jugaad or placebo fresheners. Let's get into it!
Car Tech Explained Like You're 5
ORVMs (Outside Rear View Mirrors)
Imagine you’re walking and someone is creeping up behind you…
Wouldn’t it be nice to have eyes on the back of your head?
Congrats. Your car already does.
They’re called ORVMs.
ORVMs are the side mirrors that tell you:
- Who’s behind you
- Who’s trying to overtake
- Who’s honking like it’s their birthright
Without ORVMs, changing lanes would be a YOLO decision.
Now here’s the fun part:
That little line on the mirror that says:
“Objects in mirror are closer than they appear”
That’s because ORVMs are convex mirrors.
Convex = wider view = you see more area
Small trade-off: things look farther than they actually are
(Yes, that bike is closer than you think. Much closer.)
Here are some Modern ORVM glow-ups:
- Electric folding (for narrow parking drama)
- Auto-dimming (no more night blindness)
- Indicators (communication > aggression)
- Blind-spot warning (car saying “bassss”)
In simple words:
ORVMs are your car’s side-eye system.
Ignore them and the road will humble you real fast, or a rickshaw-wala, whichever strikes first.
This Week in Petrolhead History : Jan 16, 1925
General Motors goes global with Vauxhall
On 16th January 1925, General Motors made a bold move that quietly reshaped the global auto industry. It acquired Vauxhall Motors, marking GM’s first major manufacturing footprint outside North America.
Until then, GM was very much an American powerhouse. Buying Vauxhall Motors gave GM:
- A strong entry into the UK and European market
- Local manufacturing instead of exports (big brain move)
- The blueprint for becoming a truly global automaker
This single acquisition later helped GM expand across Europe, influence Opel, and build cars that weren’t just “American-sized problems” on European roads.
No flashy reveal.
No V8 soundtrack.
Just pure corporate chess at 220 IQ.
In simple words:
Before GM sold cars to the world, it first bought its way in.
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The Driver’s Room
Too much data has made drivers less instinctive
Are drivers driving… or just executing engineers’ spreadsheets?
Once upon a time, drivers felt the car.
Grip was a conversation. Tyre wear was intuition.
Now? It’s delta minus two, box this lap, lift-and-coast to Turn 7.
Don’t get it twisted. Data is powerful. It wins races.
But somewhere along the way, instinct got benched.
Drivers are coached to:
- Hit targets, not chase feel
- Follow numbers, not nerves
- Manage tyres like accountants manage Excel
The radio has more words than a podcast.
By the time a driver “feels” something’s wrong, the engineer already knows three laps ago.
The uncomfortable question:
If you mute the radio and kill the screens who can still drive their way out of trouble?
Because racing isn’t always clean data:
- Rain lies
- Traffic improvises
- Tyres degrade differently for every driver
That’s where instinct used to shine.
Data should guide. Instinct should decide.
Right now, the balance feels inverted.
So yeah, are drivers driving?
Or are they just very fast interns executing a spreadsheet at 300 kmph?
Petrolhead Pick
MICHELIN AC Duct Foam Cleaner
If your car’s AC smells like “ outing memories + regret ”, this fixes it.
- Expanding foam cleans inside the AC ducts
- Removes dust, mold & odor (not just masks it)
- Restores airflow
- Safe for plastics & metal
Use: spray → wait → run AC → breathe better.
In simple words:
Not a performance mod, but your cabin will feel brand new.
Your nose will thank you.
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Keep revving,
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Parth Kusalkar
Founder, DRS Diaries.
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