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Garage Heroes (In Training)

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Mechanical

Elizabeth Jolly – Racing Driver

  • Elizabeth Jolly Race Control
  • Elizabeth Jolly
  • Elizabeth Jolly  Mechanic

GHIT Podcast Episode #195 with our guest  Elizabeth Jolly

We initially met Elizabeth Jolly at our second ever race at the 2018 24 Hours of Lemons race in Thompson CT.  We then listened to her on the first few Shifting Points podcast.  Then we met her at our recent skid pad and autocross event at Lime Rock Park with the SCDA group.  It was at this point, we realized that these three ladies were all the same person.  We could say we were overwhelmed at our second race; we could also say that we didn’t recognize her since she was in her “Flo” costume, but it was great to meet her in person for the second time.  On this episode, we catch up with Elizabeth on her thoughts about the SCDA event, her new E30 race car and then we talk through how to learn to work on a car from a starting point of near zero skills, experience, and tools.  Both Elizabeth and Vicki have both progressed far in the past few years and maybe someday Bill will as well.  Lol.   

On this episode’s Dominating with Dawson, we

go into Ben’s extensive karting experience and discuss the various types of karts and kart racing available.  Karting can definitely help your driving and racing, most things translate, and it is a great way to practice for relatively low cost.  We do try to go into the parts of karting that translate and what doesn’t translate directly due to the difference in car geometry and suspension.  While Ben is pulled away for his daddy duties, we take a slight detour into cake baking and decorating from our resident cake decorating expert, Miss Jen.  Our first ever partial WOOT DwD episode.  Even Ben came to the table with a Coca Cola cake, recipe tbd, 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/ElizabethJolly

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

  • Elizabeth Jolly Racer
  • Elizabeth Jolly Ready

Highlights from this episode include:

1)  Bill herds/hosts this episode.  Vicki and Jen, as always, are so excited to have a fellow lady racing driver.  

2)  Elizabeth Jolly races autocross and endurance racing and almost all other forms of driving she can try.  She started with a quick purchase of a 944 that then several other soon to be race cars.  Her latest purchase is her new BMW E30 prepped race car.  It even has a bit of history and we are sure Elizabeth will add to it as well.

3)  Elizabeth and Jen commiserate about the wonderful weather at their first Lemons event.  It was a downpour and the humidity hit a point where nearly all glass surfaces fogged making visibility even worse.  We then go into the importance of seating position and the effect it can have on the driver’s ability to see as well.

4)  Bill starts a plan.  Nothing good can come of this.  It’s looking like a girls race weekend is upcoming.  Bill is bringing palm fronds and a butler outfit for the ladies.

5)  The discussion on beginning to learn about working on cars from scratch begins around 28:30 or so.  Some great information that should help others go from garage zero to Garage Hero.  See what we did there, lol.  It was too easy to resist.

6)  To the surprise of no one, Vicki relates the car to her past arts and crafts projects.  The analogy does hold some merit from a material perspective.  Elizabeth has even gone into the area of the electrical system and wiring of her 944’s.

7)  The ladies provide a ton of tips and tricks that they have learned along the way.  Some are very basic, but each one has been found to help us out.

8)  Two words:  parts car.  (Does this mean Bill can buy another car?  Sounds like it to him.)

9)  Jen and Bill are next in line on learning to work on the race cars.  

10)  Vicki almost blows the super secret theme that we were working on and debuted at the Lemons race last weekend at PittRace.  Photos

11)  We then go into the favorite tools and tool highlights that Elizabeth and Vicki have at this point.

GHIT 0195:  Elizabeth Jolly

Racing 101 Part 8: Tools for a Track Day

GHIT 0188: Racing 101 Part 8: Tools for a Track Day – AKA Fools With Tools

Our podcast is trying to encourage people to try high performance driving and racing, so Vicki wanted to start a special series she calls “So You Wanna Racecar”.  In this episode, we go into the dark recesses of Bill’s mind and enter the world of Lists.  We have lists for what tools to bring if it is an HPDE or an endurance race, what parts to bring, what to pack for the paddock, etc, etc.  All will be available on our website at www.GarageHeroesInTraining.com and we update them at least once a season as we learn.  On this episode, we start with a shorter list of things we bring to an HPDE.  The list is shorter because the event is much less taxing on the vehicle and our HPDE cars tend to be newer or running better than our race cars (but we are working on that diligently) so they tend to require less work to keep running or to repair.  We hope this gives you a good foundation to develop your own set of lists for tools, etc since every car has specific needs and issues, each team will have a different list after time to fit their own needs.  

Please let us know if we missed anything that you may want discussed in a future episode of our Racing 101 Series. 

The outline for the series is:

Part 1:  Building Your First Race Car (and options to not)

Part 2:  Safety and Safety Related Equipment Needed

Part 3:  Best Entry Points To Start Performance Driving

Part 4:  Buying and Selling Cars (With Special Guest Lara Vernon)

Part 5:  Going To and From The Event/Track – What To Expect

Part 6:  Paddock and Pit – Best Practices

Part 7:  Perspective of a New Driver (With Guest Adam Owens)

Part 8:  Tools, Spares, Supplies Needed for a Race Weekend

Part 9:  Common Issues All Drivers Will/May Experience in When On Track For the First Time

Part 10:  Miscellaneous Topics (& Things We Forget to Mention Earlier)

On this episode of Dominating with Dawson we cover what a Point By is, how to use it on a track, and how to respond to one if you are in the car being pointed by.  It is a very useful tool on track for controlling passing and controlling traffic on the track.  When used well, the event is more enjoyable for all.  When used poorly, or not at all, it can often lead to tension and stress by all the drivers affected.  We even have our first ever episode of GHIT Jeopardy.  Vicki is somewhat less than pleased, but it is rapidly taking over the racing world.

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/Racing101Part8

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) We go into the recent track visit Jennifer had.  Unfortunately, it was not racing related.

2)  Vicki starts to discuss our new themes but won’t share any details until they are unveiled.

3)  Vicki and Alan have been working hard on the El Jeffe race truck for our upcoming race at PittRace and so far, things look like we are on schedule.  We still have a bit of mechanical and fabrication to do, as well as a full re-theme.  Fingers crossed.

4)  Bill goes into the way that we break down tools by the event.  We have different tools and part needs depending on what car or cars we are bringing and the type of event.    

5)  Some valuable advice on how we budget our tools and think about what type we keep in the garage and what we take with us to the track.  We are not as random as we appear.  lol.

6)  The basics are a socket set, a wrench set, and a set of screwdrivers.  Things tend to grow quickly from there, but don’t forget, you can usually borrow tools if you are new at the track from your new friends that you will meet at the track.

7)  One key decision is the ecosystem of your battery powered tools.  Try to make sure to try to stay within a single family and minimize the battery cost.  So review what tools you think you will need and like and make sure as many as possible of them are available.

8)  Vicki also goes into her favorite Little Tykes Chair.

9)  Bill also covers the ways that we have found to organize a drawer the best.

Additional Information and Links:

Detailed Car Repair and Maintenance Manuals (usually ~$25-30):  www.emanualonline.com 

HPDE/Track Day Tools

Allen Keys – Metric
Allen Keys – SAE
Allen Keys – Torx
Bailing wire
Batteries
Bits – Nut Drivers
Bits – Screwdriver & extensions
Brake pad press
Breaker bar
Chargers
Dead blow
Electrical supplies fuses etc.
Fasteners
Hammer – Dead Blow
Hammer – Standard/Ball Peen
Magnetic trays
Masking tape
Painters tape
Socket – 1/2 ratchet adapter 
Socket – 46 mm
Socket – Impact – for lug nut
Socket – Impact set
Socket – Set – Metric
Socket – Set – SAE
Socket – Wobbler set
Tape Measure 
Torque wrench 
Wrenches – Metric
Wrenches – SAE
Zip ties

Race Weekend Tools

Standard Tools:

Adapter – 1/2” to 3/8” 
Adapter – 3/8” to 1/2” 
Adjustable wrench
Adjustable wrench – Pipe
Bit driver – ratcheting 
Breaker bar –  1/2” 
Center Punch
Chisel
Clamp – C 
Cordless drill
Cordless Sawzall
Cutters – diagonal wire cutters
Extension – 1/4”  
Extension – 3/8” long 
Extension – 3/8” medium 
Extension – 3/8” short 
Extension cord – 4 plug
Files – set
Flashlight – Mag-light
Grinder, Cordless is possible
Grinder, Wheel – Cutting
Grinder, Wheel – Grinding
Hammer –  mini sledge
Hammer – ball-peen 
Hammer – big ball-peen 
Hammer – Cross ball-peen 
Hammer – dead-blow 
Hammer – regular 
Hammer – Rubber
Hammer – Sledge
Hammer – slide (set) 
Hammer – small 
Hex bits
Hex keys – metric
Hex keys – standard
Hex to 1/4” adapter
Hose pliers
Impact – 1/2” Driver
Impact – 1/2” Set – Metric
Impact – 1/2” Set – SAE
Impact – 3/8” Driver
Impact – 3/8” Set
Impact swivel –   1/4” 12 mm
Impact swivel –  1/4” 8 mm
Impact swivel –  3/8” 12 mm
Impact swivel –  3/8” 14 mm
Impact swivel –  3/8” 14 mm deep
Impact swivel –  3/8” 17 mm
Impact swivel –  3/8” 17 mm deep
Impact swivel –  3/8” 19 mm
Impact swivel – 1/4” 
Impact swivel – 1/4” 10 mm 
Level – 6″
Level 18″
Lug Wrench
Magnet – extending
Mirror – to see around corners/tight places
Nuts and bolts – assortments
Pick – 90 degree
Pick – bent
Pick – hook
Pick – straight 
Pliers
Pliers –  long angled needle-nose
Pliers –  long straight needle-nose 
Pliers –  needle-nose
Pliers – cobra-grip
Pliers – snap-ring 
Pry Bars
Punches – set
Ratchet –  1/2” 
Ratchet – 1/4″ 
Ratchet – 3/8” 
Razor blades – box
Razor knife
Screw extractors
Screwdriver – big flathead 
Screwdriver-  big Philips 
Screwdriver – flathead 
Screwdriver – Philips
Screwdriver – pocket
Screwdriver – stubby flathead 
Screwdriver – stubby Philips 
Socket – 13/16” spark plug 
Socket – 21 mm (lugnut size)
Socket-  3/8” deep 
Socket – 3/8” standard 
Socket – 5/8” spark plug 
Socket- 3/8” metric 
Socket set – 1/4″ 
Wrench -Torque (cheap ok)
Wrenches – metric
Wrenches – standard 

Other tools and supplies we bring

Cordless battery – Charged
Connectors –  blue female blade 
Connectors –  blue male blade
Connectors – blue crimp 
Dexron – case (If automatic) 
Gear oil
Oil – Case Shell Rotella T6
O-ring kit
Sheetmetal screws – self tapping
Spare BMW Front hubs etc.
Spare Brake pads
Spare parts
Trailer – Battery
Trailer – Hitch Tool Box
Air chuck
Aluminum – Angle – 8 feet
Brake cleaner – cans
Brake wrenches
Compressor
Cordless batteries
Cordless battery – Charged
Cordless battery charger
Cordless drill
Cordless Sawzall
Cotter pin kit
Dolly/Seat/Chair
Dremel 
Dremel – bit set
Drill bits – set
Drum – waste oil 
Earplugs – bag 
Emory cloth
Engine Lift
Exhaust tape
Gas Tube lids
Gasket scraper
Generator
Glue – Rubber/Vinyl Adhesive
Glue – Super/Crazy
Glue – Super/Crazy Gel
GoPro’s
Grinder, Wheel – Cutting
Grinder, Wheel – Grinding
Hacksaw
Hacksaw – mini
Hacksaw blades – spare – Box of ~10
Halogen overhead light
Harmonic balancer puller set
Heater
Hemostat
Hose pliers
JB Weld
JB Weld – Kwik Weld
Jump box
Jumper cables
Knee Pads
Knee pads
Lock for Trailer/Truck
Loctite – both kinds – 2 each
Lugnuts – Spare
Magnet – extending
Mirror – to see around corners/tight places
Paint – Touch-up 
Pencil
Plumber’s pipe dope (for sealing fuel fittings)
Puckey – Gray tubes
Pyrometer
Rags – box
Rain X – Yellow and Black
Rechargeable spotlight
Rechargeable spotlight charger
Rubber Gloves
Sandpaper -variety pack
Seat Cushions for Race Seat
Stapler
Starter Fluid/Carb Cleaner
Straps – Ratchet
Straps – Ratchet – Heavy
Straps – Ratchet – Heavy for Axles
Tape – Duct – non-silver 
Tape – Loctite Go2 tape
Tape – Racing/Racer
Tape Measure
Taps and Threaders
Teflon sealant
Teflon tape
Torch – butane 
Torch – butane tanks
Track map
Trailer – Hitch Tool Box
Trailer – Test Battery
Vicki’s favorite tool box
Welders – TIG and MIG, MIG more likely, not likely needed at track
White board – Paddock responsibilities
White Board Markers
Windex
Wire strippers/crimpers

GHIT 0188: Racing 101 Part 8: Tools for a Track Day

GHIT 0177: Racing 101 – Building Your Race First Car

Racing 101

We are getting back to our podcast roots and wanted to start a special series Vicki calls “So You Wanna Racecar” that Bill can’t seem to say correctly.  This is part 1 of the series (of ~10) where we go over where we started and how things went at our first events.  We then move on tohow to go about building your first race car.  In case it isn’t clear, Vicki strongly feels its better to purchase a car that already races in the series you wish to enter.  So, if you need to build your first race car or only if you need to make sure your race car is ready for your first race, this episode goes into the various steps and areas that should be your primary concerns.  As with most areas, especially safety related, if you aren’t already familiar with the specific area, please seek help from us or someone with experience, or the racing series technical representatives.  This should be considered a starting point to work from and not an exhaustive, detailed plan.  We have already talked through many of these areas in prior episodes and will continue to cover each of these areas in future episodes.  Always In Training.

The outline for the series is:

Part 1:  Building Your First Racecar (and options to not)

Part 2:  Safety and Safety Related Equipment Needed

Part 3:  Best Entry Points To Start Performance Driving

Part 4:  Buying and Selling Cars (With Special Guest Lara Vernon)

Part 5:  Expectations between Going To and From The Event/Track 

Part 6:  Paddock and Pit – Best Practices

Part 7:  Perspective of a New Driver (With Guest Adam Owens)

Part 8:  Tools, Spares, Supplies Needed for a Race Weekend

Part 9:  Common Issues All Drivers Will/May Experience in When On Track For the First Time

Part 10:  Miscellaneous Topics (& Things We Forget to Mention Earlier)

Continuing with our racing 101 Series within our Dominating with Dawson segment, we go into many of the ways to enjoy racing at the track.  Especially when you are just getting started, racing is not only about winning the race, but there are also hundreds of “wins” each time we are at the track, many of which occur when you are not even driving on the track.  Just going and trying is a victory.  Winning isn’t everything and it definitely is far from the only thing.

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.  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)  We start off with a quick summary of our first racing events.

2)  The car preparation required varies widely, depending on what you are trying to do. 

3)  At first, we cover what is required for an HPDE event or an autocross event.  There you need very little besides a helmet, but we do cover a few potential upgrades like brake fluid and better brake pads.

4)  We then go into the preparation needed if you want to go on track with a particular target series or type of racing.  The first step is deciding (or guessing) where you want to learn, race, and compete.  Then you need to look at the rules for that series.  Everything is there, but it is at varying levels of difficulty in reading and understanding the rules and their implications.

5)  One additional factor that you should take into consideration when looking to buy or build or fix your first car is making sure it is fairly easy to get parts, support, and work on.  Ideally you should choose to use an already proven type of car that is widely used and raced, ideally with a low cost of consumable items, i.e., brake pads, rotors, tires etc.

6)  The first step would be having patience and waiting for the right car to start with.  The less issues to start with, the easier this whole process will be to complete.  Once you have the car selected and in your work area, you should likely look to clean the car up (inside, out, underneath, and within the engine bay) and during this time, perform a thorough inspection and generate a list of to do items that you will find.

7)  If it a dedicated race car, you will likely be taking the entire interior out of the car so that you can install your roll bar and/or full cage.  In general, you will remove anything heavy, anything flammable, and anything not required to race the car.  We prefer to leave the defroster for the windshield.  It’s up to you but be careful of the electrical systems and the ground connections.  If you damage any one of these, they can be very difficult to trouble shoot.  Also, in some series, you will need to remove the lock from the steering wheel.

8)  The next area to address is installing a roll bar or a full roll cage.  A roll bar is a project that you may want to try even if you are new to racing.  However, a full roll cage is likely one of the most difficult projects required in racing.  It is not a great beginner project and we would recommend working with an experienced cage builder or racing team in your area.  This is not an area where you should risk a mistake.  Besides the skills required, the design of a cage is not a trivial endeavor, both for safety reasons and fitting within the rules of the series.

9)  Vicki is very subtle in her preference towards buying your first race car and learning from there.  This is by far the easiest method to get started and reduces the hurdles/excuses to not getting started TODAY.

10)  Once the cage or roll bar is installed, you will want to paint the cleaned interior of the car and the bars for two reasons.  The first is to protect the bare metal.  The second is it is easier to keep clean and inspect the interior for part, tools, debris, before going out on track.  The key to a good project is prepping and protecting surfaces that you don’t want painted like glass, electronics, wiring, etc.

11)  This is an opportune time to review the rules again to make sure you are planning to conform to the series.  It is much easier now, than redoing or undoing.  It is also often way cheaper.  We also provided several tips for generating a to do list and ways that we have found to work for our team that can have as many as 20 or more people working on the cars at a time.

12)  At this point, it is a great time to reset your car and do a full inspection including changing/replacing all fluids and wear items like brake pads and rotors, and any rubber bits within the suspension etc.  (Essentially try to look at and at least inspect anything on the car that goes round and round or up and down)  In many cases, you will not know the history and current status of the car and this is a great time to make it yours and bring everything up to date and current.  To the surprise of absolutely no one, Bill has a long list, and it is available on our website.

13) Vicki mentions No Money Motorsports blog where he tries to show how to save a bit of money and still enjoy your racing hobby. 

14)  Next is safety.  Don’t ever try to skimp on this area and make doubly sure to meet any and all safety standards.  You can replace your car but your drivers, not so much.

15)  It is at this point that you should even consider working on the process of making your car pretty and things involved with the livery of your race car.  There are a few different ways to add numbers and a multitude of ways to change design/color.

16)  Bill misspeaks HVLP as High Volume, Low Pressure as high velocity.  Sometimes the brain doesn’t engage fully with the mouth.

GHIT 0177: Racing 101 – Building Your Race First Car

2021 Goals and Our 2020 Goal Review

2021 Goals and 2020 Goal review

As the year wraps up, we review how our 2020 racing season went and what goals we would like to do and accomplish in 2021.  Obviously, the year did not go as we had hoped or planned with the COVID pandemic impacting normal life routine. But we did make some significant growth and made the best out of a horrible situation.  Goal making is one thing that is very easy to do, but also very easy to skip. However, we have found it to be very beneficial to our growth as racers as well as is our personal and professional lives.  

On our Dominating with Dawson segment, we go over what it means to be driving at the limit, what is the limit, and how to get closer and closer to the limit safely and effectively. 

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 start of looking at what our goals were for 2020 and how we did

2)  The next segment covers what we want to accomplish going into 2021. (including items that we would like to improve about our driving and our team.)

3)  We then begin to look at things that went well this year and things we could have done better.

4)  It probably wouldn’t be a podcast without our doing a Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, so we did.

5)  The final step was we tried to grade our year and then determine a few things that would define a successful year for ourselves and the team.

6)  We did forget to go into The Mirror that we added to aid us in getting in better shape for racing, so we added it as a bonus section after the credits.

GHIT 0158: Our 2020 Year in Review and Our 2021 Goals

Out 2020 Goals episode can be found here.

GHIT 0157: John and Dean from Safety Third Motorsports Discuss Race Car Preparation

John Lavin and Dean Hesser join us to discuss improvements to our car preparation processes.  This includes before leaving for the racetrack, as well as at the racetrack and after the race.  We learned a ton of things that we should have been doing but weren’t simply because we didn’t know or hadn’t thought of it yet.  We hope that this episode will save you at least one headache at the track or eliminate one breakdown or even better prevent an issue on track that causes damage to you or your car.  We don’t have a lot of can’t miss episodes, but this is one of them for sure.

In addition, Dominating with Dawson we discuss some of the goal options for endurance racing.  It is not simply a situation where you are either first or last, but really it is a race where you and your team are trying to work together and perform at the highest level internally and the final position is a relative measure of the team’s performance versus the current bar that weekend.  While winning overall, or even your class, is a great accomplishment, it is not the only measurement available each weekend, especially early in your racing career.

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)  Bill makes up a new word, “ThankYouNess”, well you know what we mean.

2)  How Dean has “capitalized” on being target fixated during a race.  Your results may vary.

3)  Then we go into a “Weekend At Bernie’s” worthy moment.  For those under 40, it’s a movie.

4)  A brief summary of why many of the Safety Third Motorsports team members have ended up using BMW’s as their weapon of choice on track.

5)  Bill cannot help but to make fun of the test drive at John’s shop where the GHIT M3 HPDE hit a deer.  Sometimes you can’t make this stuff up.

6)  A discussion of their team’s racing plans for 2021 and how both teams generally decide where to race.

7)  How their team has progressed and grown over the years.  It appears that our team is actually following their progression, both in how our team is organized and how our drivers are individually progressing.  Perhaps there is hope for us.  Who knew?  Lol.

8)  How Dean and Jen both ended up learning and growing as racing drivers as a result of their track incidents.

9)  What is prepping a car?  What is involved?  What do you do before the race, during/at the race, and after the race to prepare and preserve your car and make sure that it has a higher likelihood of performing well.

10)  Basic assumption:  Assume everything is broken after a race and then verify before you take it to your next event.

11)  Develop a wear rate of consumables and moving parts and then develop a preventative maintenance plan to replace before they fail at the track.

12)  Overview:  Repair things as they break or replace them ahead of time at a certain interval.  Determine your team’s philosophy and plan appropriately. 

13)  A standard rule of thumb is to use a margin for wear, it can range from 75% to 80% to 90% of the experienced failure rate before replacing a still good part.  This does not address issues due to abuse or an accident etc.  As an example, if your front wheel bearing fails after 100 hours or racing, you may want to replace them all before they break at 75 or 80 or 90 hours.  The balance of costs and/or effort vs your acceptable safety/failure factor is a personal/team decision.

14)  Several available options range from paint marking nuts and bolts to adding safety wires.

15)  What should you do when at the track and prepping for the race in the morning.

16)  What to do the night after are race while racing the next day.

17)  What to do post-race weekend while packing up to leave the track.

18)  Why checklists are so very important and how your team will need to develop it from your own experiences and particular car.

19)  It was good to hear that we aren’t the only team to have had radio communication issues at the track.  They have come to the same solution as we have.  Painfully.

20)  The key is really to minimize the number and potential for errors.

21)  We finish up this segment with the post-race recovery process for your race car.  Don’t just put it away to wait for the next track event.

22)  We wrap up with a post episode discussion of the skid pad and the value that it has had to our driving, as well as Dean’s.

GHIT 0157: John and Dean from Safety Third Motorsports Discuss Race Car Preparation

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