Garage Heroes (In Training)

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

Driver Education

GHIT 0170: The 2020 Dominating With Dawson Topics – Part 6

Ben Dawson with race car

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 series if episodes 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)  Goals for Endurance racing

2)  Factors that affect a turn and how your car will behave

3)  Fear as a factor in going faster

4) HPDE Goals

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 0170: The 2020 Dominating With Dawson Topics – Part 6

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 0168: The 2020 Dominating With Dawson Topics

Part 5 of 10 – By Popular Request

Ben Making that Spec Miata GOOOOOOOO

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 Dominating with Dawson covers:

1) Hand positioning

2)  Rotation

3)  Understeer

4)  Oversteer

5)  Penalty Box Discussion

6)  Red Flags

7)  Seating position and mirrors

8)  Downshifting at the track along with Goals for an HPDE

GHIT 0168: The 2020 Dominating With Dawson Topics – Part 5

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 0166: The 2020 Dominating With Dawson Topics

Part 4 of 10 – By popular request

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) Racing in the Rain

2)  Racing line etc.

3)  Using video and YouTube for prep and Driving

4)  Dive Bomb

5)  Driving a new to you car

6)  Fast turns vs slow turns

7)  Flags

GHIT 0166: The 2020 Dominating With Dawson Topics – Part 4

Earlier Episodes:

GHIT 0160: The 2020 Dominating With Dawson Topics – Part 1

GHIT 0162: The 2020 Dominating With Dawson Topics – Part 2

GHIT 0164: The 2020 Dominating With Dawson Topics – Part 3

GHIT 0164: The 2020 DwD Topics

Part 3 of 10 – By popular request

  • A Mor e Aerodynamic Ben Dawson
  • Ben Dawson His Car Flies
A More Aerodynamic Ben Dawson and His Car Literally Flies

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 Part 3, we go over:

1) What is an Arrive and Drive and how do they work

2) First time driving on track tips, including the don’t’s

3) What is an Apex and why are there so many talked about for each turn

4) A fun discussion about what is meant by “Two Feet In”

5) Buying a car for racing or HPDE

6) First time driving at a New Track and how to approach it

We hope you enjoy this bonus episode!

Best regards,

Vicki, Jennifer, Alan, and Bill

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

GHIT 0164: The 2020 Dominating With Dawson Topics – Part 3

Earlier Episodes:

GHIT 0160: The 2020 Dominating With Dawson Topics – Part 1

GHIT 0162: The 2020 Dominating With Dawson Topics – Part 2

GHIT 0163: Ian Korf

Teacher, Racing Driver, and Author of “You Suck at Driving”

Ian Korf
Ian Korf in a Boat

Ian Korf was our guest for this podcast.  Ian is an amateur racer and driving instructor when at the track, as well as the author of the book “You Suck At Racing” that is aimed at helping newer drivers progress, as well as his similarly titled blog.  Ian and Ben have raced together for several years on the west coast and obviously have had more than a few stories to share.  In spite of Ian have a well thought out and logical approach, he still enjoys racing as much as anyone we have met.

Since Ben was on, we took this opportunity to have a live Dominating with Dawson with Ian as a special guest.  For this Dominating with Dawson segment, we went into

You can find Ian’s book at: 

We hope you enjoy this episode!

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)  Vicki and Ian may have already met online gaming.  Still TBD.

2)  How his interest in driving started and how his blog progressed from examining racetrack incidents and eventually transitioned and led to the book.  It was that lure of the $500 race car.

3)  Ian went into his low-cost racing Yaris and how he has managed to find a way to actually make racing relatively inexpensive.  Does anyone have or know of a lower cost option?  We would love to know.

4)  Plywood splitters?  Absolutely.  This is almost low budget racing OEM equipment.

5)  Ian may have accomplished two things that we have been searching far.  His Yaris may be the car that races everywhere and more surprisingly, he may have more spreadsheets about racing than Bill.  Still TBD at this point, lol.

6)  We then discuss how to get people started in driving, both those that have interest and those who don’t.  The track is so much more fun and a way safer way to enjoy your car.

7)  The difference in helping novice drivers grow within our sport and how it is different, sometimes vastly different for intermediate drivers.

8)  Apparently Ian has zero black flags in his entire career.  I am 100% sure that none of us can say the same.

9)  Ian also goes into several ways to gain skills while off track, at least in meat space.  How virtual racing can assist in your driving.

10)  Breaking news related to an update of the book and potential expansion to intermediate drivers, including data.

11)  Why poker is a game of imperfect information and how racing is a game of imperfect amount of practice.

12)  Ian has a series of drills and we weren’t smart enough to ask what they area.  We will have to get together again.  One we did get was to drive the track without using the brakes at all.  Zero braking.  Hopefully, we can get a section on the next book.

13)  Bill sucks up to Ian and asks to help with the book.

GHIT 0163: Ian Korf: Teacher, Racing Driver, and Author of “You Suck at Driving”

Bonus Detail for making it this far:

Apparently Ian had further thoughts on some of our discussion and had the following posts on his blog to add further thought and discussion of some of our conversation. Great reading!

Part 1: GHIT extra: racing lines

Part 2: GHIT extra: decreasing vs. increasing radius