Guests & Interviews

Ross Bentley Coaches Our Team

GHIT 0250: Ross Bentley Coaches Our Team

Ross Celebrates Episode #250 and Coaches US!!!!!!!!!!

Did you ever wonder what a driving coach does for their driver? We were always curious. Ross Bentley was kind enough to show us the start of the process.

Ross Bentley was kind enough to continue our tradition of having him on as a guest to help us celebrate every 50 episode anniversary. And as long as he keeps saying yes, we will keep asking him, lol. For this episode, Ross was kind enough to offer to help coach Vicki and Jennifer. While the exact recommendations may vary between the two ladies, the process that Ross follows could be applied to your own racing/driving and the suggestions Ross makes may be able to help you specifically as well. One thing that we learned during this episode was that we really want to work with Ross as a coach even more now after seeing what he is able to do in this short period of time. We cannot remember a time where Jennifer and Vicki were more excited to get back to the track and try out Ross’s suggestions. As always, when we have Ross Bentley on, this is a good one and we are adding it to our can’t miss episode collection. The way that Ross coaches is so easy to apply, it is amazing.

If you would like to help grow the sport of high performance racing 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, 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) Ross starts off with what tracks do we like and why. We end up talking a good bit of this episode about Mid Ohio, especially in the wet.

2) What are the first three questions that Ross asks nearly every student he works with?

3) Ross comes up with some great practice techniques that Jennifer and Vicki (and you) can do while driving to break some bad habits and train preferred habits away from the track to improve your on track performance.

4) We learn the importance of even minor improvements and how then can multiply over a lap or a stint and create some very large improvements in the lap time results.

5) Looking for alternatives to braking later or harder?

6) Ross also works with Vicki on several ways to help her (and you) stop over slowing for a turn

7) We also go over goals and ways of handling pressure and using pressure to improve.

8) How being too polite on a track can actually become unsafe

9) Ross also works with what the biggest ahh hah moments were for Jennifer and Vicki this year.

10) We love drills to try, especially at an HPDE or an open track day. Ross gave us some new ones to try. And we will at our next event. We will report back after or NJMP event in early November.

11) After the last podcast with Ross, we missed one of the listener questions related to breaking down a turn backwards. Sorry for the delay.

To find even more of Ross Bentley’s wisdom and information, several of our favorites are available at:

1) The Speed Secrets website: https://speedsecrets.com/

2) His Podcast: Speed Secrets is available at all the podcast platforms that we know https://speedsecrets.com/speedsecrets-podcast/

3) His Virtual Track Walks: https://speedsecrets.com/virtual-track-walks/

4) The weekly newsletter can be subscribed to at:

Speed Secrets Weekly

5) Free Track Maps: https://speedsecrets.com/trackmaps/

6) Free Driving tips: https://speedsecrets.com/driving-tips-2/

7) Free or nearly free eBooks: https://speedsecrets.com/ebooks/

GHIT 0250: Ross Bentley Coaches Our Team

The HPDE Junkie Himself Dave Peters

GHIT 0248: The HPDE Junkie Himself Dave Peters

Dave Peters started the HPDE Junkie website to help everyone to find a local HPDE track day by compiling every HPDE event across the United States at every track with every organization. He is an HPDE Junkie himself and has even had Ben Dawson as his coach early in his driving progression. The focus of this episode is on what an HPDE is and how to go about finding and preparing for a High Performance Driving Education Event, especially if this is new to you or a friend. It is a great conversation about what to do for a track day and what not to do. Further proof that anyone can go on track if they want to try high performance driving on a track.

If you would like to help grow the sport of high performance racing and our podcast,

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!

Best regards,

Vicki, Jennifer, Alan, and Bill

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

GHIT 0248: The HPDE Junkie Himself Dave Peters

The 91 Octane Podcast

GHIT 0244: The Hosts of the 91 Octane Podcast – Randy and Jon

The 91 Octane podcast is hosted by our two guests, Randy and Jon. The podcast focuses on car news and car culture, as well as their personal car passion related stories, including their projects and progression as drivers. They are based in Southern California, a hot bed for the world’s car culture. They obviously love cars and we are excited to see what paths they choose to follow in the coming years.

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!

Best regards,

Vicki, Jennifer, Alan, and Bill

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

GHIT 0244: The Hosts of the 91 Octane Podcast – Randy and Jon

EveryDay Driver Hosts Todd Deeken and Paul Schmucker

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!

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

A Garage Weekend with Alex Levinson

GHIT 0241: Our Garage Weekend with Alex Levinson

Alex Levinson has a ton or racing and wrenching experience, especially with Miatas of all vintages. So when he “volunteered” to come over for a work weekend, we quickly lined up everything we could think of to finish up several projects on each of the team’s 3 Miatas. However, our best laid plans did not come together as we had hoped. New car lift? Worked great and a game changer! Bribe/food prep was as always on point. Listen and learn about what can happen on a work weekend, especially early on in your wrenching career.

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/GaragingWithAlex

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

GHIT 0241: Our Garage Weekend with Alex Levinson