Garage Heroes (In Training)

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

Cars, Mostly ours

Our Autobahn Country Club HPDE

Vicki on ACC Track

October 2021

GHIT 0246:  Our Autobahn Country Club HPDE 2021

Vicki and Bill attended the recent NASA Great Lakes HPDE at the Autobahn Country Club.  It was the first time Vicki was on this track and she was in the HPDE 2 run group.  Bill was in HPDE 4 and instructed a HPDE 1 student Saturday and Sunday.  Bill also completed his MSF Level 2 instructor in car training on Friday and had a great time with the drills and the mentors.

We cover a lot of the Autobahn South track and here is a track map if you need it:  https://autobahncc.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/2019-south_circuit.pdf  

If you would like to help support our 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 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.  They are a great system and truly invaluable in safely increasing your speed on track and/or autocross etc.  The recently released second generation systems and app increases the capability of the system greatly.

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)  Right off the bat, Bill mis-speaks during his joke, Herb vs Abe, my apologies.

2)  Vicki goes over her track prep since this was her first time at this track.  Luckily, the track is relatively flat and fairly easy to learn.  Vicki’s favorite section was the 8-9-10 turn complex.

3)  We both shared the 2019 Mazda Miata (ND2) and Vicki was able to settle into the new track car.  We also go over her impressions of the Garmin Catalyst which is especially useful at Autobahn since the track is relatively short and you get a lot of laps in each session.

4)  Our car prep issues with the 2004 BMW M3 (E46) were quite a story.  We thought we had our prep processes under control but found something else we can do wrong.  And then it snowballed, lol.

5)  Lifting on the long straightaways?  Vicki had that problem.  Emphasis on “had”.

6)  How did the MSF Level 2 evaluation go for Bill?

7)  What trailer does Vicki envy?  ALOT.

8)  Vicki was unintentionally “that guy”.  Or was she?  You can be the judge.

9)  We also cover how Vicki’s Instructor (Brandon) did vs the Garmin Catalyst?  (Quite well)

10)  Vicki (and Bill) had some major accomplishments during the weekend.  Any guesses?

11)  Some of the issues Bill had instructing at the event.

12)  TREC Racing.  Ever heard of it?  We discuss it and we finally have a plan for this next season.

GHIT 0246: Our Autobahn Country Club HPDE 2021

EveryDay Driver Hosts Todd Deeken and Paul Schmucker

Everyday Driver

GHIT 0242:  EveryDay Driver’s Todd Deeken and Paul Schmucker

Everyday Driver started as one of the early YouTube channels in 2007. They then started an early podcast in 2014 that Bill first discovered in late August.  The fundamental premise for Everyday Driver is that ours cars can and should be fun. Paul and Todd work tirelessly to help by testing virtually all types of new cars and many used cars.  In addition, most podcast segments are aimed at helping their listeners find the car that matches their needs. And that also maximizes the fun of driving everyday.

Paul and Todd were eventually able to grow this into a full time business. Now each of them and have a television show that is on its 9th season on the Motor Trend channel. they have also produced several of the finest automotive feature films, including the history of the 911, each of the BMW 3 series M cars, and every generation of the Corvette among others.  At one point, we were even going to race Road Atlanta with Todd, Paul, and Chance. Unfortunately, things fell through due to scheduling issues. We do have a rain check issued and we hope to cash it in post Covid.  Paul and Todd are usually asking the questions or answering car related questions, so we tried to learn a bit more about them and their background during this episode.

Everyday Driver provided the final push to our team starting racing.  So you can blame then in part for our podcast, lol.  

If you would like to help our podcast,

You can subscribe to our podcast on the podcast provider of your choice. This includes the Apple podcast app, Google music, Amazon, and YouTube etc. Also, if you could give our podcast a (5-star?) rating, that would be great. Even better would be 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, look under under shows. Then 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.  They are a great system and truly invaluable in safely increasing your speed on track and/or autocross etc.  The recently released second generation systems and app increases the capability of the system greatly.

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 Everyday Driver episode include:

1)  We start of talking about our postponed endurance race and the potential for Todd and Paul to join us in a coming endurance race.

2)  Paul and Todd were kind enough to go into their respective pasts and go through their individual processes that has allowed them to transfer from a part time YouTube channel to a full time operation that has a show on Motor Trend, several feature films, two YouTube channels, and a twice weekly podcast that is closing in on 650 episodes with well over 1,000 hours of the podcast content.  And in their spare time, lol.

3)  If you have ever wanted to drive the Nurburgring and/or Spa, Paul and Todd also run an annual tour of both that allows you to arrive and drive both tracks as well as the transit between.

4)  Paul and Todd share the passion for cars and driving, but each are different in their preferences and driving style to compliment each other.  They often end up discussing the different cars and end with different preferences.  It is close to watching a version of the “Siskel and Ebert” show that is aimed at cars and driving. (with a bit less disagreement lol)  Bill seems to usually be a “Todd” and Vicki seems to usually fall into the camp of “Paul”.

5)  We also go into how they transitioned from a part time, side operation to the more than full time operation that they now have.  The highs and lows, as well as what was a bit harder than they expected.

6)  Bill takes the opportunity to ask his Ladder question to Todd and Paul.  It is roughly stated as what is the lowest price car available to you that you want to own. And then moving up the ladder. What car would be the next rung up the ladder. A rung car is defined as one that you like that is better “to you” than everything else that is less expensive.  Repeat until we get to cars in excess of $100,000 or so.

7)  We inadvertently almost broke news on this podcast of a future series that they have yet to announce.  Tune in to the Everyday Driver YouTube channel in the next few weeks for the reveal.

You can follow Paul and Todd at:

Website:  https://www.everydaydriver.com/  

YouTube Site:  https://www.youtube.com/c/EverydayDriver 

GHIT 0242:  EveryDay Driver’s Todd Deeken and Paul Schmucker

Jaime Garcia from the Race FF Pod

  • Jaime Civic
  • Jamie Garcia

GHIT 0239:  Jaime Garcia from the Race FF Pod

Jaime Garcia started the Race FF Podcast to share with everyone his racing and building progress and to help everyone get started in racing by showing them that it can be done.  Since we have essentially the same goals, it was natural to have him on the podcast.  As his podcast title indicates, Jaime races a Front engine Front wheel drive in both HPDE, time trials, and wheel to wheel.  His current target is competing in Honda Challenge in southern California.  Further parallels between the podcasts is that his fiancé has recently begun sharing the car and working towards her racing goals.  This episode was recorded live from the road on his recent trip back from having his car caged in Washington.

If you would like to help the podcast,

You can subscribe to our podcast on the podcast provider of your choice. This includes the Apple podcast app, Google music, Amazon, and YouTube etc. Also, if you could give our podcast a (5-star?) rating. 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. There 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.  They are a great system and truly invaluable in safely increasing your speed on track and/or autocross etc.  The recently released second generation systems and app increases the capability of the system greatly.

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)  We confirm that both podcasts will be racing very similar 1993 Honda Civic’s next year but Bill doesn’t know as much as he should about ours.  Glad Jaime was here to help us know our own car, lol.

2)  A surprise guest bird flew into his window during the episode, actually our second guest bird.  It must be something to do with Honda Challenge racing that we aren’t familiar with.  We will need to talk to podcast guest and friend EJ2 Track Rat or more details.

3)  Jaime discusses one of the often overlooked benefits of instructing drivers in that it helps the instructor as a driver as well, often in very different ways than when they are driving.

4)  Jaime also discusses his transition from HPDE student, to time trial racer and instructor, to wheel to wheel racer into his upcoming Honda Challenge debut.

5)  We also discuss several ways to minimize the expenses related in getting started, even if you have no car and almost zero money.

6)  Jaime helps Jennifer with potential options for her HPDE and learning to wrench and daily driver car hunting.  Any guesses?  Who knows, maybe Jennifer will actually listen to this episode.  Lol.

GHIT 0239:  Jaime Garcia from the Race FF Pod

A Man's gotta eat
Please feel free to eat up this episode

Thompson 2021 Prep

For Our All Ladies Race Team

The Ladies at Thompson 2021
Elizabeth, Vicki, Jennifer, and Audra

GHIT 0221 Our All Female 24 Hours of Lemons Racing Team for Thompson 2021 Prep

We are planning for our first ever All Ladies 24 Hours of Lemons racing entry at the upcoming Thompson event.  Vicki and Jennifer will be racing in the 2003 Chevy S-10/Isuzu Hombre race truck.  They will be joined by past podcast guests Elizabeth and Audra, for her first wheel to wheel racing event.  Alan will be racing in the 1984 Mustang GT Turbo with his sons Bennett and Quinn. Quinn is joining us for his first race, and Elazar with Bill as a backup. 

We go through our Thompson 2021 prep of the drivers and cars. Next, we also discuss our team and personal goals going into the event.  We started our team with a goal of eventually having an all female team entry. Now we are finally able to do so at this event.  Elizabeth has raced in Lemons several times before. But this will be Audra’s first ever wheel to wheel race, although she has tons of experience in autocross.  The race is coming up this weekend.  We will try to keep you posted.

GHIT 0221 Our All Female 24 Hours of Lemons Racing Team for Thompson 2021

2021 PittRace HPDE with NASA GL

PittRace Track Map

GHIT 0218:  Our 2021 PittRace HPDE with NASA Great Lakes

Our season highlight is the NASA Great Lakes HPDE event at PittRace and this year was no exception.  Our team attendees consisted of Jennifer, Vicki, and Liam in the HPDE 2 sessions, and Bill was in the HPDE 4 group, as well as auditing several of the HPDE 1 and 2 classrooms and track sessions.  As always, we were joined by our Three Pedal Mafia/Everyone racers podcast friend Chris, Chrissy, Jeff, and Jim.  In total, we had 8 drivers in our paddock area in the HPDE classes and 6 cars for this event. 

In addition, our next gen trainees were all over the go karting track there and even raced a friend from the Penn State Formula SAE team from our Lemons races in NJMP and PittRace this year, Eric Junker.  As a super special addition to the event, Ross Bentley was also an attendee and was helping out in all areas and levels of the event.  We are very sure he is tired from this weekend, but it was great to finally meet him in person.

PS  Sorry for Bill’s audio, apparently his microphone did not work during this episode.

PittRace Paddock
Paddock with friends makes this even better

Looking to help the podcast?

You can subscribe to our podcast on the podcast provider of your choice. This includes the Apple podcast app, Google music, Amazon, and YouTube etc. Also, if you could give our podcast a (5-star?) rating? 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. Then you can leave a (5?) star rating and enter your review. 

A link to the episode is: https://tinyurl.com/PittRaceHPDE2021

We hope you enjoy this episode!

Morning meeting with Ross
ROSS BENTLEY in Person!!!!!

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.  They are a great system and truly invaluable in safely increasing your speed on track and/or autocross etc.  The recently released second generation systems and app increases the capability of the system greatly.

Best regards,

Vicki, Jennifer, Alan, and Bill

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

GHIT 0218:  Our 2021 PittRace HPDE with NASA Great Lakes