Garage Heroes (In Training)

Learning as we go. Come along with us and Enjoy the Ride!

GHIT 0176: The 2020 Dominating With Dawson

All DwD Topics Episode – Part 10 of 10 – By Popular Request

  • A More Aerodynamic Ben Dawson
  • The Dominating Face

The fundamental basis for our podcast has always been to help drivers at all levels improve and while we still have a fun on every episode, we are always trying to improve and help others improve.  One of the best received additions to our podcast has been the Dominating with Dawson topics that Ben Dawson was kind enough to help us with.  Here is the first annual episode that compiles all of the segments for this year.  

If you could let us know what your favorite topic was, we would love to know.  Also, if you have a topic for us to discuss, please let us know and we will make sure it comes out as soon as possible.

On this episode DwD covers:

1) The Perfect race car

2)  Throttle Steering

3)  Understeer

4)  Vision and looking through turns

5)  Weight Transfer and Controlling it to improve your driving

PS  Please don’t forget that if you are looking to add an Apex Pro to your driving telemetry system, don’t forget to use our discount code for all Apex Pro systems you will receive a free Windshield Suction Cup Mount for the system, a savings of $40.  Just enter the code “ghitlikesapex!” when you order.  We have two systems for our team and Bill is looking to add a third for this season, pending CFO approval from Vicki.  They are a great system and truly invaluable in safely increasing your speed on track and/or autocross etc.

GHIT 0176: The 2020 Dominating With Dawson Topics – Part 10

Earlier Episodes:

GHIT 0160: The 2020 DwD Topics – Part 1

GHIT 0162: The 2020 DwD Topics – Part 2

GHIT 0164: The 2020 DwD Topics – Part 3

GHIT 0166: The 2020 DwD Topics – Part 4

GHIT 0168: The 2020 DwD Topics – Part 5

GHIT 0170: The 2020 DwD Topics – Part 6

GHIT 0171: The 2020 DwD Topics – Part 7

GHIT 0173: The 2020 DwD Topics – Part 8

GHIT 0174: The 2020 DwD Topics – Part 9

GHIT 0175: Talking NaZCAR

with Jacob Simonsen

NaZCAR

Jacob Simonsen joined us to talk all things NaZCAR which is leading the way in New Zealand for opening up racing to everyone with their entry-level low-cost endurance racing series and he is also starting a series to graduate to for the more serious and faster cars and drivers called NaZCAR Pro.  NaZCAR was formerly the New Zealand affiliate of the 24 Hours of Lemons. Recently. it has split off to form its own brand, two racing series, and a licensing/sanctioning body for racing in New Zealand.  We would love to get to a race, or two, or three, with their series and hopefully we can put this together for 2022, but we aren’t sure exactly the route for our race car and trailer at this point, but we have time to make a plan.  We would love to help grow their series, it sounds like a blast.

  • NAZCAR where the cones strike back
    Revenge of the Cones
  • NAZCAR JAAAAGGGG
    NaZCAR Jaaaagggg
  • NAZCAR hampton downs finish
  • NAZCAR Community
  • NAZCAR entrant
  • NaZCAR team
  • NAZCAR raising money for charity
    NaZCAR: Raising Money for Local Charities

On this episode’s Dominating with Dawson, we go over one of the techniques that can be used to catch your car if things are getting out of control.  The technique involves inputting the correcting input, pausing for the brief time to where the car accepts the input and is near neutral and balanced and being ready to recover as soon as that point is reached.  It is sometimes called CPR or Correct, Pause, and Recover. 

You can subscribe to our podcast on the podcast provider of your choice, including the Apple podcast app, Google music, Amazon, and YouTube etc. 

Also, if you could give our podcast a (5-star?) rating or even better, a podcast review, we would greatly appreciate it and it would help us to grow the passion and sport of high performance driving.

For instance, leaving an Apple Podcast rating is very easy.  If you go to your podcast library, under shows and click on the podcast you can leave a (5?) star rating and enter your review. 

We hope you enjoy this episode!

PS  Please don’t forget that if you are looking to add an Apex Pro to your driving telemetry system, don’t forget to use our discount code for all Apex Pro systems you will receive a free Windshield Suction Cup Mount for the system, a savings of $40.  Just enter the code “ghitlikesapex!” when you order.  We have two systems for our team and Bill is looking to add a third for this season, pending CFO approval from Vicki.  They are a great system and truly invaluable in safely increasing your speed on track and/or autocross etc.

NaZCAR Racing Under The Lights

Best regards,

Vicki, Jennifer, Alan, and Bill

Hosts of the Garage Heroes In Training Podcast and Garage Heroes In Training racing team drivers

Highlights from this episode include:

  1. During the podcast Jacob is sitting in a beautiful area of the country, the sun is shining brightly, he is tan and warm. And the New Zealand race season is just starting up while we are in the midst of a big snowstorm.  We are so jealous.
  2. Jacob and his team are committed to making sure that there is a place for entry level, low-cost endurance racing. They also giving people a place to move to if they are faster, more serious, and possibly a bit higher/more midrange budget that has recently become a sanctioned National Championship Series.
  3. We go into the challenges and opportunities of racing in an area that is somewhat a remote “island”. A lot of ingenuity can be required to make and keep a race car running well, especially for endurance racing.
  4. Jacob shared a ton of great stories from past races in the New Zealand series.  Now we really have to get to one of their races.
  5. A great history of how racing in New Zealand has developed over the years and some of the things Jacob is looking at doing to help grow the sport by increasing inclusivity.
  6. The advantages of also being a licensing agency for racing in New Zealand.
  7. How the two-racing series will interact and complement each other. 
  8. Jacob covers several of the tracks and events that they hold within the two series.  Somehow Bill asks about the logistics of racing so far away.  What could he be planning?
  9. We go through some of the highlight cars from the series and few wishes for future car entries.  Time to start building.
  10. Perhaps the best solution is to do an arrive and drive swap.  Now if we can only get a sister team in New Zealand. Oh, and it would be helpful to be allowed to travel again.  Hopefully, they won’t expect us to drive like the Speedy Cop team.
  11. Vicki goes into the logistics of staying at or near the track. And also, how to set up the paddock for a race in NZ.
  12. Bill goes car shopping for cars to race in NaZCAR or to bring back and race in the US.  And no one is surprised.

If you want to follow the series

Facebook at NaZCAR

Website is Nazcar.nz

GHIT 0175: Talking NaZCAR with Jacob Simonsen

We had an earlier epsidoe with a team from the series here:

GHIT 0097: Nathan and Mike Howe from the Lemons New Zealand racing team Hooncorp

GHIT 0174: The 2020 Dominating With Dawson

All DwD Topics Episode – Part 9 of 10 – By Popular Request

  • DwD D'ing on Track

The fundamental basis for our podcast has always been to help drivers at all levels improve and while we still have a fun on every episode, we are always trying to improve and help others improve.  One of the best received additions to our podcast has been the Dominating with Dawson topics that Ben Dawson was kind enough to help us with.  Here is the first annual episode that compiles all of the segments for this year.  

If you could let us know what your favorite topic was, we would love to know.  Also, if you have a topic for us to discuss, please let us know and we will make sure it comes out as soon as possible.

On this episode DwD covers:

1) Speed through a turn

2)  Sway bar

3)  Talent vs learning

PS  Please don’t forget that if you are looking to add an Apex Pro to your driving telemetry system, don’t forget to use our discount code for all Apex Pro systems you will receive a free Windshield Suction Cup Mount for the system, a savings of $40.  Just enter the code “ghitlikesapex!” when you order.  We have two systems for our team and Bill is looking to add a third for this season, pending CFO approval from Vicki.  They are a great system and truly invaluable in safely increasing your speed on track and/or autocross etc.

GHIT 0174: The 2020 Dominating With Dawson Topics – Part 9

Earlier Episodes:

GHIT 0160: The 2020 DwD Topics – Part 1

GHIT 0162: The 2020 DwD Topics – Part 2

GHIT 0164: The 2020 DwD Topics – Part 3

GHIT 0166: The 2020 DwD Topics – Part 4

GHIT 0168: The 2020 DwD Topics – Part 5

GHIT 0170: The 2020 DwD Topics – Part 6

GHIT 0171: The 2020 DwD Topics – Part 7

GHIT 0173: The 2020 DwD Topics – Part 8

GHIT 0173: The 2020 Dominating With Dawson

Topics – Part 8 of 10 – By Popular Demand

The fundamental basis for our podcast has always been to help drivers at all levels improve and while we still have a fun on every episode, we are always trying to improve and help others improve.  One of the best received additions to our podcast has been the Dominating with Dawson topics that Ben Dawson was kind enough to help us with.  Here is the first annual episode that compiles all of the segments for this year.  

If you could let us know what your favorite topic was, we would love to know.  Also, if you have a topic for us to discuss, please let us know and we will make sure it comes out as soon as possible.

On this all Dominating With Dawson episode we cover:

1) Relative importance of Commitment vs Perfection

2) Seat and Mirror positioning

3)  Shuffle Steering

4)  Single Inputs progressing to more complicated multiple inputs

5)  Slow Turns and Fast Turns

PS  Please don’t forget that if you are looking to add an Apex Pro to your driving telemetry system, don’t forget to use our discount code for all Apex Pro systems you will receive a free Windshield Suction Cup Mount for the system, a savings of $40.  Just enter the code “ghitlikesapex!” when you order.  We have two systems for our team and Bill is looking to add a third for this season, pending CFO approval from Vicki.  They are a great system and truly invaluable in safely increasing your speed on track and/or autocross etc.

GHIT 0173: The 2020 Dominating With Dawson Topics – Part 8

Earlier Episodes:

GHIT 0160: The 2020 DwD Topics – Part 1

GHIT 0162: The 2020 DwD Topics – Part 2

GHIT 0164: The 2020 DwD Topics – Part 3

GHIT 0166: The 2020 DwD Topics – Part 4

GHIT 0168: The 2020 DwD Topics – Part 5

GHIT 0170: The 2020 DwD Topics – Part 6

GHIT 0171: The 2020 DwD Topics – Part 7

GHIT 0172: The Shifting Points Podcast Hosts

  • Shifting Points Podcast Hosts
  • Shifting Points Podcast

All About the Shifting Points Podcast and Hosts

We are enthusiastic podcast listeners and found a podcast hosted by our guests called Shifting Points.  Their podcast is also aimed at helping people get started in our sport.  Luckily, they approach it from the perspective of autocross, so we haven’t lost our entire audience to them, yet.  Since we all share the same passion, we had to invite them onto our podcast and talk all things cars and driving.  They are a great group of ladies and we will be going up to an autocross event with them this season and plan on doing our best to get them into endurance racing.  Why should it be an « or » when it can be an « and ».  “And” is so much more fun.  Please welcome Kathy, Jess, and Audra to the podcast.

You can subscribe to our podcast on the podcast provider of your choice, including the Apple podcast app, Google music, Amazon, and YouTube etc. 

Also, if you could give us a 5-star rating or a podcast review, we would greatly appreciate it and it would help us to grow the passion and sport of high performance driving.

For instance, leaving an Apple Podcast rating is very easy.  If you go to your podcast library, under shows and click on the podcast you can leave a (5?) star rating and enter your review. 

On this episode’s Dominating with Dawson

We go into two types of drivers that we see, those that tend towards overdriving their car and those that tend to underdrive their car.  If you are learning or instructing a driver, it is useful to see how to best approach driving improvement by understanding the differences between these two personality approaches to high performance driving.  It is also useful to see how the other half lives and learns.  Neither is right or wrong and both approaches can learn to be really fast.  The only difference is in the path that they tend to follow and the way they increase their speed.

We hope you enjoy this episode!

PS  Please don’t forget that if you are looking to add an Apex Pro to your driving telemetry system, don’t forget to use our discount code for all Apex Pro systems you will receive a free Windshield Suction Cup Mount for the system, a savings of $40.  Just enter the code “ghitlikesapex!” when you order.  We have two systems for our team and Bill is looking to add a third for this season, pending CFO approval from Vicki.  They are a great system and truly invaluable in safely increasing your speed on track and/or autocross etc.

Best regards,

Vicki, Jennifer, Alan, and Bill

Hosts of the Garage Heroes In Training Podcast and Garage Heroes In Training racing team drivers

Highlights from this episode include:

  • 1)  It seems our two podcasts have almost the exact same taste in cars.  Seems like a future autocross battle in the making.  Hopefully, this summer.  Probably wise to place your bets on the Shifting Points podcast team for a clean sweep victory.
  • 2)  We go through the history of how our ladies started autocross driving, met each other and how this eventually ended up with them starting a podcast together.
  • 3)  Both podcasts started out knowing little about fixing and working on a car and have progressed rapidly with help from car friends and YouTube.
  • 4)  We review how to enter an autocross local to you, where to find them, and what is involved.  The barrier to entry is as close to zero as any type of driving event. Autocross is a great way to get a taste for high performance driving with almost any car and very little risk, cost, and prep required.
  • 5)  Tons of Mini stories.  Apparently, Mini’s have feelings.  Lol. 
  • 6)  Both groups go into why we started podcasting and some of the benefits and growing pains involved.
  • 7)  It took a bit of time, but we eventually did make our move to convince them to try endurance racing.  Vicki was less than subtle, but did you really expect anything else from us by now?  It may end up with an all-female driver GHiT team this year.  Bill will have to be relegated to sous chef for the weekend and let the talented drivers show their stuff.
  • 8)  We mined for a few tips and tricks from the Shifting Points podcast team to starting up and entering your first autocross event.  Autocross is truly accessible to everyone interested in having fun in a car.  Most of the prep is for the driver’s comfort with the weather and food.  Your car is probably already good to go as it is, but getting it checked over may be a good idea.  Well, you will likely have to clean out your car, but that is usually a good thing, especially for our cars.  Lol.
  • 9)  Kathy and Bill share a certain talent related to torquing lug nuts.  Stories were shared.  Hopefully, they will both grow out of it soon.  Lol.
  • 10)  Tips on how to find any autocross events within the area you live or may be visiting.  Also, if concerned, the autocross events are classed by car and many times there are classes for first time/new drivers.
  • 11)  Audra’s tap root car story broke Kathy
  • 12)  Jess just released an album with her band.  It would be great to hit the top hundred list with the latest release from The Strattones!  It might even pay for her next autocross event.
  • 13)  Jen asks her next question while on mute.  Eventually she figured it out, lol. 
  • 14)  Kathy may have discovered a way to get red wine out of cloth seats with a combination of red wine and Diet Coke.  Try at your own discretion.

GHIT 0172: The Shifting Points Podcast Hosts