Guests & Interviews

GHIT’s Race at NJMP 2021

GHIT 0207: Our race at NJMP – June 2021 Our 24 Hours of Lemons Race at NJMP Thunderbolt for 2021

We are all suffering from a serious sleep deprived, post-race weekend hangover, and we are all calling in from across the US with varying internet speed and connections. It starts with the somewhat normal Race Bar takeover and then we go into the NJMP 2021 race. For this event, our drivers consisted of Vicki, Alan, and Jennifer and our two adopted teammates Aaron Diamond from the Saabs of Anarchy racing team and Elazar Mann from Race Bar. It was a great weekend with many, many highs, and a few notable lows. It was almost back to normal, well as normal as a Lemons race can be, and it was great to see everyone again.

In this issue of Dominating with Dawson,

we start off with our latest GHIT swag t-shirt that we made for the Dominating with Dawson and how we surprised Ben with it a few weeks back. We then try to get back into our topic for this episode where we go into several things that you can practice on the public roads and during your normal driving that will improve your track driving or refine skills that you may want to start to employ on the track. It is a great time to practice driving with left foot braking, heel-toe downshifting, as well as other less obvious areas of high performance driving. Luckily for Bill, Vicki missed his joke, so he did not have to sleep in the tub after this episode, leaving a bit more room for Bill, lol.

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.

A link to the episode is: https://tinyurl.com/LemonsNJMP2021

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) The Trophy truck/El Jeffe/Bad Hombre/Loki truck made its way to the track a bit late, but the theming of the truck and our drivers was a big hit in the paddock and with several of the young fans at the track.

2) The race weekend started off with some small issues with the El Jeffe that we worked through the entire weekend. Then we had a few other issues as the weekend progressed. In other words, a normal endurance racing weekend.

3) Aaron does his best robot impressions, but the connection improves after a few minutes.

4) We had an issue with the engine losing power and having difficulty starting. Unfortunately, we were not able to diagnose and fix the issue at the track, but let us know if you have any suggestions.

5) Our two guest drivers describe the glory involved with driving the El Jeffe Trophy truck. Since Aaron usually races a front wheel drive (Saab) and Elazar is usually in a mid engine car (Toyota MR-2), the truck is a bit different. It is not what anyone expects. We think Aaron and Elazar are both hooked.

6) In addition to our power/electrical issue, we also had a continuing issue with our new exhaust design. We fixed it Lemons style to keep racing and then we made a plan to fix it permanently, of course this was after sending Jennifer out for her stint.

7) Bill makes a terrible American Pie joke. He says he was really tired.

8) Aaron has raced in Lemons for almost 5+ years and had only two black flags in the entire endurance racing career. However, in true GHiT fashion, he managed to get two more in a single stint on Saturday. As Mars Blackman said, “Its got to be the shoes.”

9) Elazar describes how he dealt with a total brake failure going into the high speed turn 1, truly an example of dealing with a brake issue in one of the best ways possible. To add a bit to the weekend, Elazar was again subjected to a loss of the mounting bolt on the upper front control arm on the passenger side.

10) Alan goes for donuts, well just one donut, on our door. He may also have to adjust the HANS device or seek another design.

11) So in the end, we missed the checkered flag on Saturday by about twenty minutes and we missed it by again by about the same amount. Cue the sad trombone.

We had a great time, we learned some more, and we were able to spend some time with our old friends, our new friends and our soon to be friends.

A special shout out to our sister Jennifer who came to her first ever Lemons race and saw how much fun this can be. We hope you come back again soon.

GHIT 0207: Our race at NJMP – June 2021

Budget Endurance Racing in Australia

GHIT 0206: Budget Endurance Racing in Australia with Paul Calder, David Nelson, and Ben McGuire of Motor Events Racing

Budget endurance auto racing is a worldwide passion and Motor Events Racing is leading the way across Australia and looking to grow the sport and share high performance driving with everyone interested or soon to be interested. The group sponsors two different series for those with different driving skill levels, budgets, and interests. For those not familiar with the details of the tracks available in Australia, we go into the different venues, types of racing, and future plans to open up endurance racing to everyone. We also go into the potential of a worldwide budget championship which sounds like a tremendous idea to us. Perhaps we can start with a home and home series once travel restrictions and budget allows.

In this episode of Dominating with Dawson, Ben and the gang go into the details of trail braking, what it is and how you would physically sequence your inputs to capitalize on the benefits of this braking technique. We also get into when you would use this technique and why.

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.

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

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) We go into the way the series are categorized, what the HP to Weight ratio and budget restrictions are for the various levels.

2) How the series raises serious money for cancer research, especially for rare types of cancer. One recent contribution was over $10,000.

3) If you are looking to travel to a race in Australia, we go into the various tracks and events, including the can’t miss events and venues. Bill is already planning.

4) Motor Events Racing runs a wide variety of event types, durations, and performance levels that should satisfy just about every aspiring racer.

5) How the team has learned from other races and race organizations and how they have modified the events to exceed the participating team’s expectations.

6) How the series is dealing with overly aggressive drivers and speed creep within the series.

7) Bill couldn’t resist going into some of the favorite penalties that they have employed at races. Some great ideas for future judging opportunities.

8) We start laying the groundwork for the international exchange series and potential global budget endurance racing series.

For more info on the series and the events: motorevents.com.au or on Facebook at the Motor Events Racing pages.

GHIT 0206: Budget Endurance Racing in Australia with Paul Calder, David Nelson, and Ben McGuire of Motor Events Racing

Peter Hopelain and the Thunderhill 25

GHIT 0204: Peter Hopelain from the Technik Podcast about Racing and the 25 Hours of Thunderhill

Our second ever non-PG podcast, but it was so worth it.

Peter Hopelain joins us to discuss Bill’s bucket list goal of racing in the Thunderhill 25 endurance race. Peter has raced in the Thunderhill 25 nearly every year and recently won his team’s class. We had a great discussion of the background of the race and how to prepare and compete. Peter was also kind enough to stay on with us to discuss racing in general, his non-profit racing team, as well as some of his goals going forward. We are so appreciative of Peter taking his time out from his incredibly busy schedule and giving us so much of his time. He even put up with some of our Fast and Furious Storytime Questions. We would love to have him on again and cannot wait to go into more details of his driving history and exploits.

In this episode of Dominating with Dawson,

Vicki eventually asks Ben a question (after perhaps the longest intro of all time, lol) and we start to cover some of the adjustments that are available to your car. Each of these can help to dial in a car’s handling on track. We cover some of the basic changes and the effect that they will have on the way the car feels and handles. If you ever had a car that you wanted to adjust but were unsure how, this episode may be very helpful to you. Adjustment areas we reviewed included: Sway bar/anti roll bars, tire pressures, wheel alignment, etc. This is the likely the first of a many part series.

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.

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

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 to 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

GHIT 0204: Peter Hopelain from the Technik Podcast about Racing and the 25 Hours of Thunderhill

Andrews Rains on the 2nd Gen Apex Pro

GHIT 0202: Andrews Rains Returns to Discuss the Second Generation of Apex Pro

Andrew Rains returned to discuss the new second generation Apex Pro and the new release of the App. This episode was recorded a few weeks ago, but we go into the latest changes to the Apex Pro hardware and the Apex Pro software/app and some of Andrew’s recent racing with Grid Life in the GLTC series at National Corvette Museum Motorsports track (NCM) a very challenging track with lots of turns and a wide variety of turns and use it as a basis for showing some of the information that can be gained from using the data and comparing it to another driver.

On this episode’s Dominating with Dawson, Ben, Vicki, and Bill go into the factors of VIR that make it the legendary track that it is and why Ben always refers to it as a benchmark for so many different types of turns. If you haven’t already noticed, it is Ben’s favorite, lol. We probably have started to plan another race weekend to our season. Anyone coming with us or have a suggested upcoming event/weekend?

The Pocono video we discussed is at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1RohRau9Hg at around 2.5 minutes in and no, this is not a normal occurrence.

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.

A link to the episode is: https://tinyurl.com/ApexProGen2

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. 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.

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) How the data from the Apex Pro showed Andrew what he was doing well and where he had opportunities to improve at NCM. Andrew also diagnosed how he could have changed his approach to the weekend and potentially improved his overall performance at a new and very complex/technical track like NCM.

2) We then move into the subject of the new Apex Pro hardware and Apex Pro app that was released recently. Luckily our discount code (above) works on this new generation hardware.

3) The app has also been improved to help new users acclimate to the app and especially related to the Crew View aspect of the app that lets you view the live data being shared by any friend or teammate at the track or even if you are away from the track.

4) We provide a review of how we use the Apex Pro on and at the track and how you can use it to improve during each stint and between sessions.

5) How everyone can use the system and due to its simplicity, even those of us who aren’t big data people can get a lot out of the Apex Pro, as well as the updated app.

6) There is even an upgrade program if you have first generation units and would like the new second generation unit.

NEEDED Links:

Andrew’s Video on the 5 minute data review.

Mid Ohio Track Walk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYsm3R-CzYs

GHIT 0202: Andrews Rains Returns to Discuss the Second Generation of Apex Pro

For even more from Andrew, here is his earlier appearance. GHIT 0159: Andrew Rains

Shawn Sampson of Sampson Racing Communications

GHIT Podcast #0201: Everything you ever wanted to know about racing radios from Sampson Racing Communications

Shawn Sampson of Sampson Racing Communications essentially started the use of in-car radio system use for amateur racing about 30 years ago. Since then, he has been working with all types of racing and racing organizations including NASCAR, NASA, and SCCA, as well as the US Coast Guard. During the episode, we go into the different types of radios, their use and capabilities, as well as various installation tips of what to do, and in our case a several things we should not have done. Our team has historically had a difficult time communicating within a race, but after this episode, we know what to do and how to test our systems so that at our next race we will have crystal clear two way communication across the entire track area. And some great news is that you may not need to buy anything else for your system. It could be a simple matter of improving your installation and eliminating several ways that commonly impact many/most radio installations. Now if we could only get a mute button for Alan, lol.

On this episode’s Dominating with Dawson, Ben, Vicki, and Bill go into the typical ways that you will get off and on a track for the first time to help minimize any stress related to starting out at your first track day or HPDE. Each track may have individual idiosyncrasies that vary, but the fundamentals are usually very similar. We also go into tips on hand signals and procedures that everyone has messed up early on in their high performance driving career at a track. This includes getting onto the grid and track, getting off the track, and within the paddock area. It is very easy to make simple errors and hopefully this will minimize yours and help you feel more comfortable coming out onto the track. Communication is the key, both before and especially during a track session. You cannot overdo your communication to your fellow drivers.

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.

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

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. 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.

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) Do you have any questions related to your car radio? How the use of radios originally started with amateur racing and some of the advantages of having radios beyond improving your race performance.

2) Is your radio system doing everything you would like? Is your radio system crystal clear across the track?

3) If not, this could be the podcast to solve all your issues.

4) Do you want a Digital or an Analog system? Covered.

5) What about a 5-Watt vs a 25-Watt system? Does it matter? Is the price difference worth it/worth anything?

6) What about mounting issues? How to make it a clean installation of both the radio and the antenna?

7) Does the roof material/mounting surface impact performance? How can this impact your antenna selection and the mounting method for best signal?

8) What are the +/- 5 things that are impacting your current system?

9) Can the antenna that came with your radio be better than the roof mounted antenna? If so, why and what can you do to fix that and improve your system overall?

10) How your antenna cable can turn into an inductive coil and strangle almost all the potential signal and range.

11) Also, the importance of the helmet microphone type and placement. Also, your push to talk button is a common issue.

12) How to adequately test your system BEFORE you get to the track and have no time, tools, or parts available.

13) Picture of our radio gun case and Shawn’s multiple charging systems and soft packing solutions (crew wall bag)

14) IMSA vs NASCAR: What is the difference and what are the pluses and minuses of each.

15) Shawn helps solve our team internal squabbles on where to position our push to talk button.

16) UHF vs VHF systems. It matters, especially if not at an enclosed circle or oval type track etc.

17) What is the latest and best solution for in-car communication between the seats for an instructor at an HPDE? Is anything good? Chris Egan, please take note. Lol.

18) How does the location of your pit crew at the track impact the signal, especially within a metal garage, near a fence, etc.

19) Installation tips and tricks for putting the radios, microphones, and earpieces into the helmet.

20) How to keep the helmet installation from stressing during driver changes and especially during endurance racing.

21) Speakers or earbuds?

22) 5-Watt systems vs 20- or 25-watt systems? Is bigger better?

23) Do you need an FCC license for amateur endurance racing?

24) Bluetooth vs a wired system? Is it worth the price distance? What is the range? How is Bluetooth usually used in racing?

25) Can I tie in the radio system into my cell phone? Should I?

26) What can Sampson Racing Communications assist you and your team with?

27) What are the differences between the different antennas available?

28) And probably most important, on what and where should you spend your money to maximize your communication performance and minimize your expenditure?

29) Can I tie in my in-car communication into my in-car video system? What do I use?

30) What should you know about the Thunderhill 25 race?

Shawn Sampson on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/ShawnsPersoanal

Sampson Racing Communications on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/SRCsYoutube

GHIT Podcast #0201: Shawn Sampson from Sampson Racing Communications

« Previous Page