Garage Heroes (In Training)

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

Driver Education

Discussing and Defining “Tenths”

tenths

DwD 0295:  Discussing and Defining Driving at “X” Tenths

On this issue of Dominating with Dawson, we talk about one of those concepts that is always discussed in the paddocks, especially at HPDE’s and endurance races.  This week we go through a discussion of driving “intensity” that is often referred to in the arbitrary units of “tenths” as in driving at 8 tenths or 9 tenths or never drive at 10 tenths in an endurance race etc.  What does this really mean?  We discuss this after a quite side discussion on driving other peoples cars.  Then we wrap this up with a tremendous article that our friend Peter Krause and former guest wrote about an example of a quantitative description of his definition of each of the “tenths” from low intensity to the higher and highest levels possible.  

We hope the discussion is helpful in not only starting to refer to each level on a common reference but also the discussion it leads to when describing and defining your own personal driving limits and target.

If you would be interested in helping grow our sport of high performance driving and 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, look under shows. Then click on the podcast you can leave a (5?) star rating and enter your review. 

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

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. With our code, 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.

Best regards,

Vicki, Jennifer, Alan, and Bill

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

DwD 0295:  Discussing and Defining Driving at “X” Tenths

Getting Advanced in HPDE Too Quickly

– It Sounds Good, but Is It?

Progressing too quickly

DwD 0293:  Getting Advanced in HPDE Too Quickly – It Sounds Good, but Is It?

On this issue of Dominating with Dawson, another listener submitted question leads to a discussion of getting advanced too quickly in HPDE.  While this may initially be flattering to one’s ego, it may not be the best for the HPDE student’s overall progress and development as a driver and can also lead to increased risk on track that does not directly lead to increased skill for the driver and/or other drivers on track.

If you would be interested in helping grow our sport of high performance driving and 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 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. 

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

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.

Best regards,

Vicki, Jennifer, Alan, and Bill

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

DwD 0293:  Getting Advanced in HPDE Too Quickly – It Sounds Good, but Is It?

Entering a Race with Zero Experience

no experience needed

DwD 0290:  Entering a Race with Zero Experience

On this issue of Dominating with Dawson, we go into a listeners question related to racing wheel to wheel on track with zero track experience.  While there are several opportunities to race with zero or little experience, we also go into several alternative paths that may be better choice for certain drivers.  As a bonus, Vicki, Jennifer, Bill, and Ben all recount some of the stories that came to mind from our first experiences racing on track with zero experience (since all four of us did this at our first events).

If YOU want to ask Ben a question, please send it to us on Instagram or via email at [email protected].

If you would be interested in helping grow our sport of high performance driving and our podcast:

You can subscribe to our podcast on the podcast provider of your choice. For instance, 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, 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 and look under shows. Then click on the podcast you can leave a (5?) star rating and enter your review. 

A link to the episode is: https://tiny.one/ZeroExp 

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.

Best regards,

Vicki, Jennifer, Alan, and Bill

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

baby racer

March 8th: Survive The 25

2021 Competition Edition – Quick Snapshot

Top 5’ish

PositionEntrantPodcastPoints
1Alex LListener75 points
2BillGHiT63 points
3Eric KListener41 points
4Vicki GHiT39 points
JeffE1R39 points
6Jon91 Octane33 points

Full Update as of February 2, 2022

Survive the 25

February 2nd update: Sometimes with a hobby, things can get out of balance. Especially if your hobby is in the least bit competitive and you are a competitive person. This is particularly true of racing drivers. And that is why we are starting the Survive the 25 challenge.

As such, four of the hosts from four of your favorite podcasts have joined together for a 2021 winter challenge.

We have agreed to a contest where hopefully we will all win.

By April 15th, each of us will have

  • Lost at least 25 pounds (~11.5 kg)
  • Read at least 5 racing books
  • Raced in at least 5 karting races or sim racing events for at least 1 hour

We would love it if you would like to join us.

Simply post on Instagram using the hashtag #SurviveThe25 and we will figure out how to get a leaderboard together and maybe some swag from your favorite podcasts.

Survive the 25 Podcast Host Challengers

In the South Jersey corner, we have Jeff Wakeman, one of the hosts of the Everyone Racers podcast

In the SoCal corner we have two podcast hosts.

Joining us from parts unknown, is Jamie, host of the Racer FF podcast.

Also from the SoCal corner, we have Jon who cohosts the NinetyOneOctane podcast.

And from the northeast corner of Pennsylvania, we have one of the hosts of the Garage Heroes In Training podcast.

Who will win?

Who will not win?

Do you have a favorite?

Why aren’t you listening to all of these podcasts?

Please let us know in the comments below.

Last updated: Just started

CompetitorsPounds Lost
(1 pt per pound)
(2 pt per lb
– Sundae Cup)		Books Read
(5 pts ea)		Races Completed
(5 pts ea)		Total
max
75 pt		Winner?
Podcast Hosts
AKA
Sources of the Swag
Jaime
RaceFF
Podcast		-5 lb5 pts
1) Making Sense
of Squiggly Lines		10 pts
Nov
Dec
Jan		25TBD
Jeff
Everyone
Racers
Podcast		-7 lb5 pts
10 pts
Nov
Dec
Jan		27TBD
Jon
NinetyOne
Octane
Podcast		-8 lb10 pts
1) How to Build
a Car		5 pt
Nov		23TBD
Vicki
Garage
Heroes In
Training		-4 lb5 pts
1) Optimum
Drive		10 pts
Nov
Dec		23TBD
Bill
Garage
Heroes In
Training		-9 lb15 pts
1) Optimum
Drive
2) How to
Build a Car
3) Winning is
Not Enough
4) The Mechanic’s Tale		15 pts
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb		49TBD
Tony
Unaccepted Podcast		5 pts
10 pts
Nov
Dec		15
Listeners Entered
Alex L-12.5 lb
Complete!		420pts65TBD
Amanda T-4 lb1) Speed
Secrets		10 pts
Nov
Dec		23TBD
Dave C-7 lb10 pts
Nov
Dec
Jan		22TBD
Eli V-4 lb218
Eric K-6 lb216
Jake-10 lb10 pts
Nov
Dec		20
Justin-6 lb1) Race to
Win
2) Race Car
Engineer		5 pt
Nov		21
Patrick C10 pts
Nov
Dec		10
Could be YOU
Updated as of: February 2nd, 2022

Thank You Three Pedal Mafia

Mental Exhausting
Chris and Mental
decor
decor 2
3PM
Engine Breakdown
New suspension
Suspension install
Fit

GHIT 0285:  Thank You Three Pedal Mafia

We have four members of the Three Pedal Mafia come up to help Vicki and Bill work on the two Honda project cars for this winter.  We had originally planned a full cage party work weekend but had postponed it until February or until the COVID spike recedes.  What we were able to accomplish with their skills in such a short time was amazing.  They came, they saw, and they fixed.  Some day we hope to be able to perform at that level and repay them in some way.

If you would like to help grow our sport and this 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 for this episode are:

1)  Details of the work plan for the invasion by the Three Pedal Mafia visit this past weekend including a surprise visit by Jim.

2)  Shut up we are having fun, lol.

3)  Driving skill review and training was an unexpected addition to the agenda for Miss Vicki.

4)  It was so very cold (for Pennsylvania) that we had to create a micro climate heating area for Miss Chrissy’s feet.

5)  Why we had to replace the exhaust on the 1993 Honda Civic since we will be endurance racing the car this season.  Mental led the festivities on the exhaust project while we set up several of the other projects.

6)  Bill’s planning failure.  And yes, this bothers him greatly.

7)  How the work went on the Honda Civic radiator and oil cooler installation and required fabrication.

8)  While Vicki and I were distracted, the Three Pedal Mafia assaulted the rusting carcass of the Honda Fit that we are looking to race in Grid Life’s Sundae Cup at Lime Rock this year.  The Fit has yet to fully grow into the warm spot in Vicki’s heart.

9)  We try to describe the depth of the love that Mental has for rust, but may not have fully achieved a full description.

10)  As always, Vicki loves to provide wonderful food and drinks as a thank you. We “bribe” everyone who comes over and this weekends was no exception.  Bill added in some of the new thermal barrier coating for increasing the heat control of header and exhaust wraps. The coating also creates a protective layer to protect the system from abrasion and water/chemical attack.

11)  Bill’s engine disassembly is nearly complete for a replacement engine after being guided by Chris, Our Mr. Honda.  Now if anyone knows of any good machine shops in north east Pennsylvania, please let us know. Either by Instagram or via our email at  [email protected]. 

12)  Vicki had a bit of a heel toe down shifting discussion with Chris and Chrissy. This should help her with her down shifting, especially at the end of the long straights.  Hopefully, she will get to drive and ride with an instructor this season, hopefully with Chris.  She also has some practice that she can start with ahead of that while driving on the street.

13)  Obviously much more to follow in coming weeks.  We need a few parts, some tools, and some machining assistance, but we will keep you posted as we learn.

GHIT 0285:  Thank You Three Pedal Mafia