Guests & Interviews

GHIT 0119: Eric Meyer – NASA Great Lakes Chief Instructor

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**

**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 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. +

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.

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

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.

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

GHIT: 0113 Erik and Chris from the Lucky Dog Racing Series

Erik Torgeson and Chris Wilhelm joined us to talk about their racing history and the Lucky Dog racing series. Erik is the Director of Operations and runs the Dog Pound penalty area during the races. Chris is the head of vehicle safety and technical inspection as well as usually covering radio control and timing and scoring during the Lucky Dog races. Erik is also known as Bulldog while Chris is the Junk Yard Dog (JYD). In addition, we go into the upcoming race (hopefully) at the Charlotte Roval where Lucky Dog comes to the east coast for the first time. We cannot wait to go to another Lucky Dog race and we found a few items we will need to add to our list to pass tech for Lucky Dog, as well as several of the differences between Lucky Dog and the 24 Hours of Lemons series we traditionally race in on the east coast.

You can find Erik and Chris and the entire racing series at www.racelucky.com and say hello for us please if you see them a the races.

Apex of Failure on Facebook for the RX-8 project Erik referred to.

On Dominating with Dawson, Ben covers several of the racing lines and approaches to circumventing a racetrack in the most expeditious manner.

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) Bill apologizes for his pit lane violation at Laguna Seca by not stopping for his egg timer.

2) Vicki points out that we did not review the rules prior to the last race. This is not best practice. Perhaps her interpretation of the goal of the pit lane timer was a bit off, as well as her not attending tech inspection led to a good discussion of the safety practices for the Lucky Dog Series.

3) Why Lucky Dog has elected to use pit lane timers and why they chose to use window nets, as well as many of the key inspection points prior to a race, along with several of the key differences between the safety requirements of Lucky Dog and several of the other racing series.

4) Alan steals our Lucky Dog branded Hankook RS4 tires for his daily to “test” them, lol.

5) We also go into the importance of the attitude of the Lucky Dog series and how it magnifies the fun of the racing weekend.

6) A lot of the details related to the upcoming race in Charlotte.

7) Our to do list is adding in dash bars into two cars and window nets into one. We are planning on bringing three cars and have an undetermined number of drivers since it is difficult to firmly plan with everything going on currently.

8) Erik and Chris should get Lucky Dog style trophies to represent their Lucky Dog names.

9) Both Erik and Chris have a history of racing that includes autocross as well as their start with working with a series in ChampCar.

10) Chris goes into the excellence of a Ford Fairlane in autocross.

11) Erik sends out a non-controversial message to auto crossers. Please send you comments to [email protected]
and we will forward them to Erik for you.

12) We discuss the upcoming season and the uncertainty still within the system, especially with the different states and tracks involved.

13) How racing is not only tremendously fun but also generates great friendships that can last many lifetimes.

14) Car 196 may yet live on in the upcoming Charlotte Roval! (But in a new

form) We also discuss our mutual history with them in Lucky Dogs. It turns out it may not all be our fault after all. But it likely was.

15) Erik sends out a non-controversial message related to Honda-based race cars. Please send you comments to [email protected]
and we will forward them to Erik for you.

16) Vicki sets a new record for the number of edits when going into her Laguna Seca experience. This one will be tough to beat.

17) Bill reminisces about her services of the car at Laguna for Mental. It reminds one of the second autopilot scene from “Airplane”.

18) Probably two of the worst, and potentially scariest, “Ugly” story we have heard in a while. Some people can be very scary when under the red midst. Bill couldn’t help but make another “entrepreneur” joke from the recent YouTube and Facebook racing kerfuffle with a different, but perhaps related drivers. (THESE “DRIVERS” ARE FAR FAR FAR FROM TYPICAL)

19) Alan gets offended that Erik has the title of “Black Flag Guy” but it is for a totally different reason than he originally thought. Alan’s version of the title is still intact. Unfortunately.

20) Some of the key differences and details that are needed for the Charlotte race.

21) Race Invaders gets a shout out. We are long overdue for having you on.

22) Both Erik and Chris agree that ORP (Oregon Raceway Park) is there favorite track. We are adding it to our list. Now, how do we get a car onto the west coast? New project!

GHIT: 0113 Erik and Chris from the Lucky Dog Racing Series

GHIT 0112: John Lavin from Safety 3rd Motorsports

Safety Third Motorpsorts — **John Lavin points the way for the Safety 3rd Motorsports team**

John Lavin joined us from the Safety 3rd Motorsports racing team for a great discussion of his racing and team history, including how his background in racing snowmobiles, motorcycles, and snowboarding has led to and helped with his racing cars. His team started with an initial car that was intended for Lemons but ended up being a second gen Supra that was better fitting into an episode of “Better Call Saul” and ended up in ChampCar and started with the usual issues and tremendous stories as his team grew. The team is currently running in several ChampCar events each year, as well as several other organizations in multiple divisions.

We are hoping to talk John into letting us attend one of their upcoming races to learn more, if they will have us. Please follow them on Instagram at Safety3rdMotorsports.

In our Dominating with Dawson segment, we go into racing in the rain and while some complain, it’s really actually better in many ways for learning and definitely should not be skipped or avoided.

Safety Third Motorsports E36 Racecar — **Safety 3rd Motorsports E36 Racecar**

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) Sharing the pain of herding cats as the team manager’s primary role.

2) It appears John’s path is similar to Bill’s, just executed much better.

3) VIR gets another big endorsement, and it wasn’t from Ben this time.

4) First race stories for the team, a true 24-hour race at VIR.

5) Why they eventually switched from a Supra to a BMW to the annoyance of all the Fast and Furious fans.

6) Racing is really a situation of management by crisis, we agree and couldn’t have said it any better.

7) Several discussions on the differences and benefits of a racing school, as compared to HPDE’s and track days.

8) A comparison of ChampCar and the Lemons series, with a bit about AER as well.

9) How the teams racing philosophy has changed as they have become faster and a bit more competitive.

10) A very good discussion on transitioning a team from having run racing a car to racing to compete. A challenge our team is likely approaching.

11) We offer our excellent BBQ rub and BBQ sauce for some of their secret sauce, so far to no avail, lol.

12) Practicing at track days vs learning from an instructor and several other benefits of instruction.

13) A discussion on the various aspects of car control, what it is and several techniques that can be used to improve it.

14) The everlasting rumor of Lime Rock closing has reached Vicki for the first time.

15) John even sneaks in a discussion of the modern style racing line for Lime Rock.

16) Since John’s team races an E36, we can’t help but discuss some of his thoughts on the E36 setups and even more importantly how to evaluate and develop them for yourself or when using a shop to assist.

17) We even went into more depth around tire temperature and tire pressure and tire selection.

18) A dual team meetup is preliminarily in the works and sounds like it will be great fun! Still working on the Baja road trip invitation though. Lol.

19) Bill tries to talk John into lowering his standards and joining us for a race or for weekend racing fun. Still TBD to see if John is capable of making a decision that bad.

20) John was even gracious in acknowledging our difficulty with the rear hub bearing a few weeks back. We may even be able to replace the control arm Bill broke after our quarantine ends.

21) Towards the end, we even went into team HPDE and team bonding ideology that are helpful to all levels of teams.

GHIT 0112: John Lavin from Safety 3rd Motorsports