Guests & Interviews

Global MX-5 Cup with Todd Flis of Flis Performance

GHIT 0283: Global MX-5 Cup with Todd Flis of Flis Performance

Todd Flis has been involved with various levels of racing and now his company Flis Performance provides all of the cars for the series. The Global MX-5 Cup is a great entry level series for professional racing. The races are typically some of the most competitive races we see with margins of victory usually measured in a few thousandths of a second. If you are looking to compare your skill in a pro level racing series, Todd’s cars and the Global MX-5 Cup may be the series for you and the costs are exceptionally reasonable cost of entry, as well as the costs associated with a racing weekend, especially if you can manage to place in the top 3 for a year. For instance, Mazda provides a first place prize of $250,000 each season.

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 Global MX-5 Cup episode are:

1) If you were ever interested in pro level racing, the Global MX-5 Cup may be the best series to balance low costs and high dependence on drivers skill and results in a series with some of the most competitive and close driving that we have seen in the past few years.

2) How Flis Performance partnered with Mazda Motorsports to be the sole supplier for all the cars for the series.

3) We describe what the normal weekend racing schedule looks like and in addition to racing with IMSA events, there will be two weekends where the series will be racing with NASCAR.

4) What is involved in converting the road car into the race prepped cup car that you see at the track. It is definitely not just a pretty paint scheme, although we all know that always adds a few horsepower. This results in lap times being several seconds improvement over a normal ND2 Miata.

5) Why the cars have recently changed from an H-pattern shifter to a sequential transmission from SADEV.

6) What is allowed to be tinkered with and adjusted within the series and what is not allowed to be altered.

7) Todd was also kind enough to share his teams recommended fluid and consumables intervals. He also provided a starting point for a nut and bolt procedure for the cars.

8) The level that the series goes to assure close racing and maximum dependence on driver performance. The series requires each race weekend to be raced with tired from the same batch of tires for all competitors.

9) We also discuss with Todd what other racing series the car would be competitive. Also, the potential for use in endurance racing without any modifications.

10) There are also several spots that can be awarded. This allows several drivers to race within the series by providing scholarships of up to $100,000 for each driver.

11) Todd’s team also provides a complete MX-5 Cup Car each year to the Lemons of Love charity. So far we have not been lucky enough but we have contributed to the charity each year.

To follow Scott and Flis Performance:

Flis Performance website: http://flisperformance.com/

Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/flisperformance

Instagram: @flis.performance

YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKxGpoK-UtoHO4bBOhPoemQ

To Follow the series: https://www.mx-5cup.com/

GHIT 0283: Global MX-5 Cup with Todd Flis of Flis Performance

Scott McMichael

Long Time Dirt and Endurance Racer

GHIT 0280: Scott McMichael – Long Time Dirt and Endurance Racer

Scott McMichael started out as a dirt track racer and has transitioned to endurance racing as and arrive and drive and grand poohbah of the Sir Jackie Stewart’s Coin Purse Racing and founder of The Unofficial Facebook Group of the 24 Hours of Lemons(TM). Scott was long overdue to come on the podcast. We discuss many aspects of both dirt track racing and endurance racing, especially with the 24 Hours of Lemons,

If you would like to help grow our sport and this 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

Highlights for this episode are:

1) Add another item to the things not to Google, the original Facebook group title was Lemons Party, No Not That Kind of Party

2) We answer Ben’s write in question of how Scott started out racing dirt tracks and when/if he will return. I think Ben may be looking to scratch an itch.

3) Scott’s endurance racing plans and interests, as well as a summary of some of the endurance racing highlights he has experiences so far.

4) Sometimes people will ask what do you get out of racing. Scott has a great story the describes the Spidey Sense that many drivers develop from racing on track. This also helps with street driving, especially for the newer drivers on your team or family.

5) We put out an APB for Aaron who we have lost track of since the summer.

6) Stories of how Derek’s clown shoes took out a potentially class winning Mini at PittRace.

7) Ton’s of pressure was applied when we ask Scott some of the best themes that come to mind. We also discuss what makes a great theme for those looking to enter a race. Also, what would seem to be an initially great theme but really isn’t.

To follow Scott’s exploits:

On Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/SirJackieStewartsCoinPurseRacing

On YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/user/RacingG73

or go to The Unofficial Facebook Group of the 24 Hours of Lemons(TM) at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1222036431151240

GHIT 0280: Scott McMichael – Long Time Dirt and Endurance Racer

Mike Kramer Honda Challenge Racing Driver

GHIT 0276: Mike Kramer Honda Challenge Racing Driver

Mike Kramer has been racing in Honda Challenge and is the two time H2 champion with NASA Southeast. In addition, he also races in endurance racing with the 24 Hours of Lemons and Lucky Dog. We have several goals for this episode and one of them is not so subtly aimed at convincing Vicki the our 1993 Honda Civic being a front wheel drive car is not so bad and how much fun we will have in 2022 using it as our primary endurance racing car. Mike is a great example of how to start out and grow into an accomplished racing driver by simply making the choice to jump into the high performance driving pool and see what types interest you. It sounds like we will be at several common racing events in 2022 and we can’t wait to catch up with him again.

If you would like to help grow our sport and this 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!

PS Please don’t forget to use our discount code if you are looking to add an Apex Pro. With 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) Despite having won two NASA SE championships, some of the difficulties Mike has encountered at the recent national championship event, including his overcoming some of the bad experiences at Daytona.

2) How to get started in high performance driving and what to expect and how to improve most quickly. We especially break down some of the common misconceptions that may be preventing you from starting.

3) What we have and should do to our 1993 Honda Civic DX race car build this winter. The discussion goes into several options for racing the car in endurance racing, sprint racing, and HPDE events.

4) How to choose a racing series and what to look for in your area.

5) Advantages and Disadvantages of a front wheel drive and a rear wheel drive. Plus a few of the primary differences between the two types of cars.

6) Some of the differences between regional events and national events.

To follow Mike and his racing exploits, please go to:

Instagram: @argylecivic

GHIT 0276: Mike Kramer Honda Challenge Racing Driver

Mike’s Sponsors Include:

Starting a New Endurance Racing Team

with Tim Bagnall

GHIT 0272: Tim Bagnall – Starting a New Endurance Racing Team

Tim Bagnall recently contacted us looking for any help in starting a new racing team. We thought this could be a great episode and an informal 11th episode in our how to get started series that we had earlier this year (2021). Tim did most of the heavy lifting and asked us a ton of great questions and we answered as best we can at this point in our racing career. We hope this episode can answer some of your questions if you are starting out and may help you with a second opinion if you are already racing. It appears that we have come first circle since we were an early guest asking many of the same types of questions on the Everyone Racers podcast.

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 and look 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

Bill Updated his ridiculous series of checklists at the following links:

Tools for a Race weekend or and HPDE
Paddock/Camp
Car Checklist (Generic)

Excel file

Checklists for Racing

GHIT 0272: Tim Bagnall – Starting a New Endurance Racing Team

Jaime Garcia’s Sonoma Endurance Race Review

GHIT 0270: Jaime Garcia from the Race FF Podcast Reviews their Sonoma Endurance Race

Jaime Garcia from the Race FF podcast returns to review his recent endurance race at Sonoma with the 24 Hours of Lemons. His team prepped their Toyota Corolla for the race for the last several weeks and had a great time at the event. They had a series of good and bad events during the race but ended up bringing home some well earned hardware. Was it a perfect race? Of course not. We aren’t even sure that is possible, but each race you learn a bit more and how to solve a few more problems. The Sonoma race was no exception. Please download and learn what Jaime’s team battled through and learned. They were a great group and really exemplified the true spirit of an endurance racing team. We hope to see them on the track at an upcoming event.

If you would like to help grow our sport and this 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

Highlights from this Sonoma Endurance Review episode include:

1) How did the prep go for Jaime’s team

2) Jaime learns the joy of actually having to travel to a race track as opposed to his normal local tracks.

3) How did check in, tech inspection, and BS inspection go

4) Why you should listen to the announcements and attend the rookie and drivers meetings.

5) How Saturday go and what did the team have to do after their first racing day.

6) Overall thoughts on the Sonoma track

7) What their team learned and what they are looking to improve.

8) Our traditional Good, Bad, and the Ugly

To follow Jaime and his team, please go to:

Instagram: @raceffpod

His podcast is: Race FF Pod

The teams Vlog is on Kelvin’s YouTube channel at:

https://www.youtube.com/user/driftmonsterr

GHIT 0270: Jaime Garcia from the Race FF Podcast Reviews their Sonoma Endurance Race

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