Garage Heroes (In Training)

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

Bill Fischer

GHIT 0119: Eric Meyer – NASA Great Lakes Chief Instructor

  • Eric Meyer
  • Eric Meyer and Ross Bentley
Eric Meyer alone and with good friend and colleague Ross Bentley

Just in time for the upcoming NASA Great Lakes event at GingerMan, Chief Instructor Eric Meyer was kind enough to join us and discuss his past and current association with racing and instructing, as well as the genealogy and philosophy that has led to the current NASA Great Lakes HPDE program curriculum.  It is by far the best of the HPDE instruction we have attended across the country and we think highly enough of it that we regularly attend their HPDE events that are sometimes well over a 10 hour drive each way from us.  Eric also is another great counterexample of the false age-old adage about “those who can do, and those who can’t teach” as he has won a ton of racing trophies in Grand Am, World Challenge, and Touring cars, among others.  Our Dominating with Dawson segment goes over the practice of left foot braking, its potential advantages, and how to try to begin to incorporate it into your driving repertoire.

We hope you enjoy the episode and we would love to see you at the upcoming NASA Great Lakes event in GingerMan!

  • Eric Meyer in RX 8
Eric Meyer racing in two of his RX-8’s

Best regards,

Bill, Vicki, Jennifer, and Alan
Hosts of the Garage Heroes In Training podcast
and team members in the GHiT
Immature Endurance Racing Team

Highlights from the episode include:
1)  How he originally started racing at a track and how quickly and deeply the hook was set.
2)  Some of the issues that he encountered when first entering the sport and how they shaped his interest in helping others
3)  Where he sees opportunities to continue to improve our sport and how he can give back to the racing community.
4)  How NASA Great Lakes history has led to their focus on the educational path has led to the current HPDE structure.  It is a great balance of driving on the track with the classroom and download education.
5)  Eric turns the table on Bill to answer Bill’s own question.  It was tremendously fun and allowed Bill to brag about the NASA Great Lakes HPDE.
6)  A discussion on the priorities of teaching driving skills and situational awareness as foundational aspects of the NASA Great Lakes HPDE.
7)  We believe that we may have uncovered Eric is secretly competing in sewing.  We may be wrong.
8)  Eric also goes into some of the philosophy of what his team is looking for to progress through the levels as well as some of the criteria in transitioning from level one to level two, as an example.
9)  We discuss several of the drills that you will do within the various HPDE levels, some of which we have lovingly stolen and use on our track day practice sessions.
10)  We even go into some of the educational techniques former podcast guest John Santiago uses in the HPDE 1 classroom and track sessions.  Vicki and Jen will be getting the full experience next weekend.  Bill is jealous and will attend as many of their classroom sessions as his HPDE schedule permits.
11)  How has the COVID related challenges and rules impacted the event and the HPDE sessions specifically, especially the traditional right seat style in car coaching and the various group classroom sessions.  It sounds like things may be even better than the prior structure.
12)  One of the surprises we may see at GingerMan may have been revealed.
13)  Eric says that we need to add Mosport to the track bucket list and Bill is already pondering how to possibly get to the Chin event at Barber in November.
14)  Tips and tricks to the upcoming GingerMan event, both on track and off.  Jen is thrilled with the runoff areas GingerMan affords to assist with learning with less potential detrimental impact.
15)  We have an informal agreement to meet at the local microbrewery.  Now we just need to have time and energy.
16)  A Pinto makes a podcast appearance again, much to Vicki and Jen’s pleasure.
17)  We aren’t absolutely sure if Eric really liked our Fast and Furious questions but he really faked it well if he didn’t.
18)  Eric has a weakness, and apparently it is Mazda rotary engines.
19)  If you are ever at a bar and need to know how many kegs you can fit into a 1964 Oldsmobile Cutlass, this is the podcast for you!
20)  Bill forgets to thank Eric for an earlier long conversation they had related to Bill’s goal of becoming a qualified instructor as soon as possible.

GHIT 0119: Eric Meyer – NASA Great Lakes Chief Instructor

GHIT 0118: John Pagel from Evil Genius Racing and the Tech Tyrant from the 24 Hours of Lemons

John Pagel mugshot

John Pagel is our guest for this episode.  John Pagel is the Tech Tyrant and is the head of tech inspection for the 24 hours of Lemons and has a shop called Evil Genius Racing in Davis, California that serves a wide variety of metal fabrication needs for racing teams.  John also teaches how to fabricate roll cages.  When he comes east, we will be attending one of these sessions.  We thank John for all his efforts and the entire Lemons team for their endless work to keep everyone safe at our races.   We did have a few dropped words due to connection issues, but the episode is a must listen.

Dominating with Dawson covers some of the aspects of sway bars this week and the potential uses and adjustments they make possible. +

John Pagel inspection

We hope you enjoy the episode!

Best regards,

Bill, Vicki, Jennifer, and Alan

Hosts of the Garage Heroes In Training podcast

and team members in the GHiT

Immature Endurance Racing Team

Highlights from the episode include:

1)  John explains how he was originally banned for life from racing in Lemons after his team’s car hit Jay at an early Lemons race and the unlikely path that this actually led to him being hired as the head of tech inspection.

2)  We go into his work with the 24 Hours of Lemons as well as what he does from within his shop at Evil Genius Racing in Davis, California

3)  How he got his start racing showroom stock in a Ford Fiesta

4)  We recorded the episode a few weeks ago and speculate on when the racing series will resume.

5)  John also has custom designed universal seat mounts to better fit seats into all cars, but are especially useful for the smaller cars.  We will be ordering at least one set to try to get Bill to fit into his ND Miata with a helmet.

6)  Everyone should be very proud of the exemplary safety record of the series so far and what the future improvements may be to continue to improve the safety of Lemons racing.

7)  We go into the many common issues new teams (and old teams) will have with passing tech and the very simple ways to avoid issues.

8)  John was even kind enough to offer his thoughts on what a new to racing team should do to get their feet wet in racing, providing some of the best tips we have heard.

9)  A truly memorable discussion of the “Line” and the unrealistic expectation of using it in a race with 150 cars or more.

10)  Some of the car cages that has built in the past are quite impressive like a Lancia Scorpion, Borgward Isabella, or a Humber Super Snipe.

11)  How one team painted their cage to look like PVC, complete with barcodes and the purple adhesive at the joints.

12)  We will have at least three attendees when John teaches cage building on the east coast. 

13)  John also went into some welding tips, especially related to the settings of the helmet darkness.

14)  The differences between a halo and a down bar style cage.

15)  What a back bend is and why they are an issue in roll cages and should be avoided for structural reasons.

16)  A general discussion of the advantages of a custom cage vs a kit and also why bolt in cages are not suitable for most track racing (usually bolt in cages are only permitted for drag racing and circle track racing).

17)  Typical tech failure areas

18)  Bill tries to ask a question about our Splash Gate fuel spill incident but words the intent of the question poorly.  This did not go well.

19)  What are good expectations to be able to get out of a car if it’s on fire (<15 seconds or less) and what to do first after a wreck (Put your hand up in case you are upside down before releasing your harness belts)

20)   Some of the most entertaining and surprising Fast and Furious answers we have ever had.

evil genius racing
Evil Genius Racing

GHIT 0118: John Pagel from Evil Genius Racing and the Tech Tyrant from the 24 Hours of Lemons

GHIT 0117: Race Bar Returns – A Discussion of How Many Teams are Helping with the COVID 19 Pandemic

Race Bar is back!
Race Bar is back!

Jim “Daddy Earth” Webb, Pat “Richard Freelane” McHugh take over another episode of the podcast (lol), but it was for a great cause and contribution to our society during this COVID 19 pandemic.  Jim and Pat have been working with James Ballenger from Ballenger Motorsports to raise funds and to fabricate and distribute face masks, face shields, and all kinds of assorted PPE for the Richmond region and anyone in need across the country.  Hopefully, you can add to the relief effort in some small way.  To bring it back to racing, we did get into a good discussion on the details and decisions related to converting your car from an OEM fuel system to using a fuel cell.  This is a truly inspiring story of what a bunch of race drivers and James Ballenger’s team and Ballenger Motorsports were able to accomplish in a short amount of time. 

Race Bar Car

As we always say, racers are some of the best and most generous people we have met.  This crisis has still not passed, so if you or anyone can help, it could literally be lifesaving and I am also sure we would like to be in a better position if there is ever a bounce back in the infection rate.  It took a bit to get the editing done, but the message and need remains the same.  Even if you can’t be of assistance in fabricating or assembly, there is always something that needs to be done that would assist.

The Dominating with Dawson segment deals with what to do and what not to do when going on track for the first time.   

We hope you enjoy the episode!

Best regards,

Bill, Vicki, Jennifer, and Alan

Hosts of the Garage Heroes In Training podcast and team members in the GHiT Immature Endurance Racing Team

Highlights from the episode include:

1)  Working to make a difference in trying to contain and protect people from the COVID 19 virus

2)  Some of the unexpected challenges of helping deliver PPE to those in need

3)  How even little steps are significant, especially if we compound upon each other

4)  Karen makes an appearance for the first time on the podcast, lol.

5)  You can learn more at [email protected] or contact them through email

6)  The parallels between this program and what happens in an endurance race are amazing.

7)  This effort will continue into the future as the economy starts to resume and a larger population of people can use shields and masks.

8)  If you want to donate to the effort, you can go to GoFundMe.com under Virginia Needs PPE

9)  Bill volunteers to let James and the team pass us during our next race.  It is the least we can do, lol.

10)  Even the next generation of Race Bar, Oliver, comes in for a brief podcast experience.

11)  A short Race Bars race car fleet review and its recent new addition with a super-secret theme

12)  Fuel cell discussion on details, locations, options, and aspects of the conversion and installation including some of the best options for venting the fuel cell.

13)  Ben is still sorting his nuts and bolts.  We hope he finished soon. 

14)  Jim’s latest deep dive is in the area of fuel discriminator valves.  Because Race Car.

15)  Rob Krider’s magnetic towels for catching fuel as you fill gets another shout out.

16)  Some good discussion points on the morals of resuming racing events at this point.

GHIT 0117: Race Bar Returns – A Discussion of How Many Teams are Helping with the COVID 19 Pandemic

Doubleshot: GHIT 0115: HPDE with NASA Great Lakes at Mid Ohio and GHIT 0116: Car Prep Weekend Progress and the NASA Great Lakes HPDE at Mid-Ohio Wrap UP

  • Action at the Hangar
  • Toyota 86 Prepped and Ready for a NASA GL HPDE
Work Weekend at the Hangar and HPDE Weekend at Mid-Ohio

A quick episode to cover the highlights of today’s HPDE event at Mid Ohio with NASA Great Lakes.  We also summarize the changes within the event to account for social distancing and how it impacts the event.  We will have another episode later this week to go into greater detail, as well as review Sunday.  

  • 2OF Racing
    Two Old Farts Racing,
    Awesome guys with a great team name
  • Awesome Vehicles Abound at a NASA GL Event
    Awesome Vehicles Abound at a NASA Great Lakes Event

Vicki, Jennifer, and Bill tried to talk through the recent work weekend at the garage and then we reviewed the NASA Great Lakes HPDE Bill attended at Mid-Ohio.  Everyone was quite tired from the weekend, but we wanted to get this out while it is still fresh in our minds and to fulfill the “fix” of a few listeners who wanted more detail from the HPDE after Bill’s “too short” episode from Saturday.  If you have any more questions, we will have at least two more NASA Great Lakes Episodes in the coming weeks with other instructors and drivers from the event, so please let us know.  We also had two competing tools of the week from Jen and Vicki while they were prepping the cars for their new theming.  On this episodes “Dominating with Dawson” segment we go into Pre-Race Thoughts and how we prep for a race weekend and a driving stint, with some of our usual digressions along the way.

All Work and No Play, No Worries

We hope you enjoy the episode and apologize for being a bit scattered and tired during the recording!

Best regards,

Bill, Vicki, Jennifer, and Alan

Hosts of the Garage Heroes In Training podcast and team members in the GHiT Immature Endurance Racing Team

Highlights from the episode include:

1)  We start our discussion Live, inside the Hindenburg, or at least it sounds that way.  We are sorry but our microphone unplugged as we started recording .
2)  Progress on the mechanical and electrical projects that are needed in the BMW E36 race car, including the new passenger seat for HPDE usage
3)  Progress on the fuel cell and sway bar projects for the El Jeffe Chevy S10 race truck and the beginnings of the new theme.
4)  Our progress tape system we are using to communicate the progress and status of our various projects between all the team members that are working.  Hopefully it will help us (and you) to keep track of things and eliminate silly/avoidable errors, like torqueing lug nuts.
5)  Two new additions to the team, Randy and Dennis, who are helping us out and Randy may even drive with us in the upcoming races.
6)  We review and compare the three types of painting we have used on prior cars.  This includes spray cans/rattle cans, Plasti-dip spray cans/spray wrap, and auto paint using a HELP system.
7)  If you do use a normal spray can or rattle can, please make sure to use the auxiliary handle to make it much easier to hold the nozzle open.  After 40 or more cans, your fingers will be much happier.  Details are on our website under the tips and tricks section if you are not familiar with this attachment.  Its usually around 5-8 dollars.
8)  The demise of our “Bob Ross Penalty” adorned to the side of the El Jeffe/Bad Hombre race truck
9)  We then discussed the HPDE at Mid-Ohio and how the changes to the Toyota 86 affected the handling of it on track
10)  Bill goes into the preparation process he uses for an HPDE, as well as for a new track.
11)  We also go into a few of the bad habits we have developed from our primary racing in endurance racing.
12)  The COVID/social distancing related changes and impacts on the event schedule and potentially on upcoming HPDE and racing events
13)  Our dogs Zoey Lemons Fischer and Ziggy Stardust Skripchuk made guest appearances throughout the episode in the background.
14)  Bill messes up by calling a C Z06 Corvette a Camaro.  Boy, he was tired, lol.
15)  Bill gets into the track prep and track map notes he makes prior to going to a new track using Mid-Ohio as the example.
16)  We describe the four drills that we used in the HPDE 2 run group this weekend.
17)  The final two sessions were Bill’s favorites of the day, likely due to his being more comfortable with the track and hopefully his improved driving skill.  TBD.  Everything went well until Bill mixed his lefts and rights in describing the chicane going into the keyhole. 
18)  Bill’s goals going into the HPDE we accomplished, and in some cases too much in the other direction.
19)  Best practices and habits for getting the most out of an HPDE event.
20)   Bad endurance racing induced habits:  Slow to learn a track, no firm fixed points for each turn, too comfortable winging it and adjusting line and speed by visual and by feel, need to tighten up and be more consistent, especially in an open track condition and an HPDE.
21)  Goals for Bill’s next HPDE session include:  1)  better prep,  2)  Fixed points on the track for BoB and EoB, Turn in, and Track out.  (apex is set)
22)  Jen’s tool of the week is a grinder with a wire wheel to remove rust and paint because it is so Zen.  Vicki’s tool of the week is the Power Bleeder for bleeding brake fluid and changing brake fluid.  Thank you Randy for letting us borrow it.  The tool of the week should have been a pillow.

Jen Having Her Zen Moment

23)  We finally figured out why Bill is here.
24)  Vicki wraps it up when she was done, lol.

Doubleshot:

GHIT 0115: HPDE with NASA Great Lakes at Mid-Ohio

and

GHIT 0116: Car Prep Weekend Progress and the NASA Great Lakes HPDE at Mid-Ohio Wrap Up

GHIT 0114: Time Travel – Our First team race at NJMP

We used our time machine to before we had a podcast and have a post-race review of the first every Garage Heroes In Training team racing event at NJMP.  We had a blast!  It was so easy that we doubled our team size and started racing two cars at each race.  All you need to do is prep the car, race the car, and then drive home.  Why was everyone saying this was hard?  We didn’t understand.  Yet.

On “Dominating with Dawson” we go over dive bombing, what it is, what it means, and how to avoid it, both from the passing and being passed perspective.

We thought we would have a post-race episode; it has been so very, very long.  We hope you enjoy the episode!

Part 2 with our Thompson race will follow shortly.  Hint:  It did not go nearly as smoothly.

Best regards,

Bill, Vicki, Jennifer, and Alan
Hosts of the Garage Heroes In Training podcast
and team members in the GHiT Immature Endurance Racing Team

Highlights from the episode include:

1)  How our team came to be and how our first 2 (well really three, oops) cars started

2)  Alan fidgets in the background.  Must have been shiny.  He later goes for a walk in the bird sanctuary?

3)  Liam and Cassian’s teenage humility, mechanical talent, and dominant driving skills coming into the their first race.  The only question was who would get the fastest time of the weekend and who would finish second.  The rest of the field was inconsequential relative to their skills.  Lol.

4)  Chris bashes Liam and Cassian’s domination dreams for the weekend at the Friday practice.

5)  The rules do not preclude you from looking at a track map, nor looking at racing laps on the track before you go there.

6)  We proved yet again the age old adage that it is better to look good than to be good and we looked Marvelous!  Just ask Billy Crystal.

7)  Our plan for 30-45 minute stints was tremendous (to start our weekend) but we probably should have extended them after the first set for everyone.  It is still a great idea to start short on your first stint the first time out on track.

8)  A podcast first, Vicki said track out correctly for the first time ever.  Training is working!!!!!

9)  We talk about our first ever track walk and the value of it.

10)  All that we learned along the way.

11)  “We found our idiots!”

12)  What is a post-race weekend hangover and how to get tiger stripes on your left arm.

13)  I think Alan started wither sorting nuts and bolts or washing dishes.  Still tbd.

14)  We learned so much during our first race.  We were such newbies.

15)  All newbies can go racing too!

16)  A very good discussion of driver stints and optimizing for each driver and their experience level and preferences.

17)  Alan proclaims his love (and slight stalker tendencies) towards watching the in car video from Futility Motorsports.  Alan would appreciate a hand signal at the next race to say hi, if you could.

18)  We go over our bad initial training of Jen with driving an manual transmission.

GHIT 0114: Time Travel – Our First team race at NJMP