Garage Heroes (In Training)

Learning as we go. Come along with us and Enjoy the Ride!

Telemetry

Andrews Rains on the 2nd Gen Apex Pro

Andrew Rains

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!

Apex Pro Logo

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

Our First HPDE at Mid Ohio 2021

with NASA Great Lakes of 2021

NASA Great Lakes Mid Ohio 2021

GHIT Podcast #196: Our First HPDE at Mid Ohio 2021 with NASA Great Lakes – Vicki and Bill

Jennifer takes the lead for this episode as we discuss the recent HPDE at Mid Ohio with the NASA Great Lakes group that Bill and Vicki attended as an early Father’s Day gift.  The weekend was a bit chilly and started off with two dry stints Saturday and ended with two very wet stints.  Sunday was the reverse.  We go into the event as a whole and also go into what transpires at Mid O when it gets wet.  Mid Ohio is widely known as one of the lowest traction tracks in the US when it gets wet and it did not disappoint Vicki as her first time driving at Mid Ohio 2021.  If all goes well, Jennifer will be joining Vicki and Bill at Mid Ohio in about a month.

On this episode’s Dominating with Dawson, we

go over passing and start with defining what dive bombing is and then get into a discussion of the preferred passing approaches, especially during HPDE’s and eventually in wheel to wheel racing.  This includes a discussion of the point at which a pass is complete.  We also talk about the approach when trying to pass in a lower horsepower/momentum car.

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/VickiandBillatMidO

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

Vicki just can't stop working on Miatas

Highlights from this episode on Mid Ohio 2021 HPDE event include:

1)  Last minute car changes end in Vicki and Bill sharing the Toyota 86 for this weekend’s event at Mid O.  

2)  This was Vicki’s first time at Mid Ohio and her first time driving the Toyota 86 on track.  Bill prepared her for driving MidO in the rain, but it is really a hard thing to comprehend how different the traction level is from a dry track to the wet track, especially at MidO.  How did Vicki do?  What did she think of the track?  What did she think of MidO when it’s wet?  Where does it rank in her personal track top 5 or 10?

3)  How did Vicki do?  What did she think of the track?  What did she think of MidO when it’s wet?  Where does it rank in her personal top 5 or 10 tracks?  Same for Bill.

4)  Our earlier skid pad events helped when going around Mid Ohio, especially in the rain.

5)  Vicki goes through her first weekend with NASA Great Lakes in HPDE 2.  Bill was in the HPDE 3 run group for this weekend.  There are several differences between the groups and we try to summarize the differences and how HPDE 1 builds into HPDE 2 and then into HPDE 3.

6)  Bill and Vicki try to describe some of the drills that are run at the events.  The drills really are great learning tools and tons of fun.  Some of the drills were changed due to the lower grip of the rain stints.  NASA Great Lakes remains our favorite HPDE group to really learn how to be a better driver and racer, increasing not only your speed but also your safety on track.

7)  The three biggest differences that are key to how NASA Great Lakes HPDE program works so well include the in class sessions, the track drills, and the way that the post stint debriefs are held and used to help the drivers to learn more quickly.

8)  Bill makes several attempts to get Jennifer to go to the next event at Mid Ohio.  While each was weak, they added up to the desired end result, lol.

9)  Vicki is tired from the trip and switches the terms “Spoiler” and “Splitter”.  She really needs to get more sleep before podcasting, lol.  Luckily Bill caught it, but ended up doing it poorly and started the process of ending up sleeping in the tub again.  lol.

10)  We have noticed that the more Vicki learns about working on the cars, the more she worries that something is wrong with the car and comes in to check.  Now we need to work on finding the balance.  Still “In Training”, lol.

11)  Our telemetry for this event consisted on the Apex Pro and the Garmin Catalyst.  Vicki is relaxing in the car and starting to really understand and use the devices to help her.  This was also her first time using the Garmin Catalyst on track.  We are starting to develop a process to use both, both on during and after a stint. Vicki especially likes the Garmin since it doesn’t sound like Bill when she is driving.

12)  A listener requested a discussion of Mid Ohio in the rain.  We tried our best to summarize but it really is something that needs to be experienced.  Bill also goes into how he approaches a wet track and how he approaches exploring the track to look for higher traction areas of the track.

13)  Bill makes another feeble attempt to get Joey to come on the podcast.  Someday he will weaken and say yes.

14)  How does it feel to have a personal best during the weekend?  Great.  Except when it is a 1:50.01.  Luckily Bill had one more stint to go out at the end of Sunday and break that personal best as well.

15)  We go into the customary Good, Bad, and the Ugly, as well as what we learned during the weekend.

16)  Vick says that Bill is right.  Time to play the lottery.  We might actually be on our way to the deserted island race track.

GHIT 0196: Our First HPDE at Mid Ohio with NASA Great Lakes

GHIT 0159: Andrew Rains About Racing and the Apex Pro

Apex Pro Logo

Andrew Rains joins us for this episode to talk through his racing history and then we went deeply into the Apex Pro telemetry system.  We have used our two Apex Pro’s many times this season and everyone has liked the simple interface while on track and the data analysis capability off track is simple and fast, yet powerful.  We have only scratched the surface to this point, but we wanted to make sure everyone we know was aware of the Apex Pro system and we all learned a great deal more about the system with Andrew.  After this episode, we can understand why he is a sought after coach at the track.

Andrew Rains
Andrew at the track coaching

Meanwhile, on our Dominating with Dawson segment, we thought it was time to discuss the concept of scrubbing speed, what it means and how to avoid it, as well as how it can be used to assist you on track to lower your lap times.

As always, if you have any questions that you would like us to cover with Ben, please let us know in a (5 star?) podcast review or via email at [email protected] or in a comment on our social media.

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

Information about the Apex Pro can be found at:  https://apextrackcoach.com/

Andrew and the team can be contacted at:  [email protected] or at [email protected]

Also, Andrew is competing well at the recent Grid Life GLTC NOLA event even though his #719 BMW is on treaded tires vs everyone else on racing slicks here: 

Race 3:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7olV427w28

Race 4:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PufQoz_a7hA

Highlights from this episode include:

1)  We learn about Andrew’s extensive racing experience, as well as his current E36 M3 WRL and Grid Life GLTC BMW car, past, present, and future.

2)  Vicki thinks she is on mute.  Then she knows she is on mute.  Then it sinks in.  The life of a mom.  Lol.

3)  Andrew really has a great racing philosophy and a way of thinking about being at the track.

4)  We discuss several potential issues that people cite that prevents them from starting and a variety of ways to overcome them, including contacting Andrew or us at any point.  Every driver we know would love to have more people to share the track with.  It is much more fun for everyone.

5)  The discussion on the Apex Pro at 19:50 with one of Bill’s longest intros ever that Vicki jumped in and made even longer, lol.

6)  Andrew provided a great overview of the Apex Pro device and its operation at 23:20

7)  We begin to explain the detail of the actual operation and interpretation of the lights when on track and how the patented Apex Pro algorithms work in the background.  The best news for most of us is that it works even if you can’t even spell algorithm.

8)  Vicki and Jennifer relate how the Apex Pro has helped them on track at their current level of driving.  Those simple little LED lights can provide so much feedback on track and so quickly, it really is amazing.  Especially when a driver may be early on in their learning and can often be overwhelmed with the number and speed of sensory inputs when driving at speed.

9)  We then go into the setup (that is super easy and quick) and beginning use of the data within the app that is collected automatically.

10)  Andrew even answers some of our “how do we” questions with useful tips and tricks, several that we had thought of to this point.

11)  Questions answered include:  Options for multiple drivers and endurance races, approximately how long will the battery last, how to save battery during the day if not powered within the car, how to add tracks, especially for autocross use, can I use the Apex Pro without a phone, how the auto-start and auto-stop features work and interact with the phone screen being on, what does the apex score mean and how to interpret it, some of the potential values and options to utilize the power of the notes section.

12)  How the Apex Pro light display works, what the light colors mean, and how to interpret the lights and probably most importantly, how you can use them to make driving changes on track during the stint.

13)  Andrew also goes into the other data you can get in your car if your phone is visible.  Then we go into the full data capabilities that are available post session using the Apex Pro app.

14)  Our resident engineer has his usual requests for future features.  He just can’t help it.  Please bear with him, we try, every single day.  But it appears that Bill may finally have had a good question.

15)  Andrew then moved into the beginning level of looking at data, almost a 101 review.  Once you have used the unit, or any telemetry unit that offers data, this discussion would form a very good foundation for looking at your data the first time and how to correlate the data to your track feel/impression.  Intro at ~51:20

16)  Simple 101 process outline:  1)  Think about where you did not feel comfortable or where you think you may have left the most opportunity to improve,  2)  Look at those areas on the track map overview screen,   3)  Speed vs distance plot and check if the top of the speed trace is rounded (coast or slow transition) or is it sharp and you moved from full throttle to brake quickly,  4)  Look at your minimum speed in corners and if a fast corner you would like a u-shape and in slow corners, you would like a V-shape (fast is above ~60 mph or 100 kph)

17)  Options for exporting the data to larger visual areas, like an iPad or a computer as well as additional options, like Track Attack, to compare with other drivers who may use other data collection systems.

18)  Bill resumes his friction circle soap box discussion.  Andrew graciously tolerates it.  Is there any foundation to Bill’s theory?  Still tbd.

19)  We even had a chance to go into the Apex Pro Crew View feature and how it can be used.  Bill is getting more and more excited.  And then we started to discuss the ability to add in OBDII data.

20)  Options for integrating into other data systems and video options including Race Render. ~1:13:45

21)  Our team has been working on a comprehensive survey of all the data systems, but we have only completed the systems we have personally tested to this point.  If interested in the results or helping us try some of the missing systems, please let us know.

22)  How best to analyze multiple drivers and/or multiple laps within the Apex Pro system as well as external software systems.

23)  We end our discussion of Apex Pro discussion is at ~1:29 and begin our F&F Storytime questions

GHIT 0159: Andrew Rains About Racing and the Apex Pro

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 0140: Autobahn Country Club HPDE With NASA Great Lakes

Autobahn Country Club

We cover Bill’s first HPDE 3 with NASA Great Lakes at the Autobahn Country Club South Course layout that is near Chicago.  It was our teams first HPDE 3 and it was fantastic.  NASA Great Lakes really shines with their HPDE curriculum.  In addition, we had the opportunity to try the teams new Garmin Catalyst on track for the first time and we were very impressed.  Several notable driving improvements were during the event and perhaps even a few Ahh Hah Moments.  In addition, we discuss the “perfect” race car in the Dominating with Dawson segment for this episode.

We hope you enjoy this episode half as much as Bill enjoyed the NASA Great Lakes event!

Special thanks again to the entire Great Lakes team for funning another top notch event, as always.

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)  A short track review of the South track at Autobahn.  In addition, it was our first time on track with electronic flags.

2)  We compare the relative costs of a track day weekend vs a divorce etc.

3)  Differences between NASA Great Lakes HPDE 1, 2, and 3.

4)  We cover some of the tremendous drills that start of most of the track sessions.  They are very valuable to improve your driving skills and racing experience in a controlled and safe manner.

5)  How NASA GL has altered the different HPDE levels and improved as they learn to account for COVID induced changes and still improve the quality of the instruction for each of their students in a very quick reaction, demonstrating their ability to respond nimbly to their students feedback.

6)  Garmin Catalyst first impressions and review after using it to review our track driving for the first time this weekend.  The in-car coaching was a very good addition to the weekend while we were in the car without an instructor.  We hope to have a full episode with a guest in the next few weeks.  We posted a few videos on our YouTube channel that has some of the Garmin instructions included if you are curious. 

7)  Bill is a big fan of the opportunities options that prioritize areas for potential improvement/low hanging fruit along with the potential quantified time improvement potential.

8)  Jen asks the question Bill never wants to discuss with Vicki in earshot:  How much is it?  Vicki, close he webpage, just close the page.

9)  Just remember, these are only $500 cars………

10)  Why does Bill always confuse Buddy Rich and Buddy Guy.  No idea, but the model/example still applies. 

11)  Mork from Ork shows up for a small guest slot, some of you will see it.

12)  Bad news on two of our GoPro’s.  They may not be useful for our in-car video due to the dynamic range of brightness or contrast from within the car vs the outside. 

13)  The anniversary that never seems to end. 

14)  A very good discussion of focus and being fresh on track, as well as a probably wise decision to use good discretion and skip the last session at the end of Saturday.

15)  Bill’s prep for a new track is getting better and almost where we would like it to be.  The process we use during an HPDE is really getting dialed in and allowing us to get the most out of each stint and maximize the benefit for each HPDE we attend.

16)  We cover some of the most significant improvements and a few Ahh Hah’s from the event.

17)  The goal of HPDE 3 to push beyond your comfort level and look for more speed was very good and appropriate after the training received in HPDE 1 and 2 with NASA GL.

18)  The go kart track looked amazing, although we did not have a chance to try.

19)  Bill makes a play at adding another HPDE/track day for NJMP.  Schedule tbd.  Details to follow.  He would really love to get Jennifer and Vicki out once more with the Catalyst.  It should help them both greatly.  Some planning details still to be resolved. 

20)  What is left to get Brad safely out the door and what is left to start the process of GHIT Colorado.  Look for us to come out to High Plains raceway and other tracks in the area as soon as Brad is set up and ready for us.  Also one last chance for Bill to pick on Brad for signing up for several HPDE’s and not

GHIT 0140: Autobahn Country Club HPDE With NASA Great Lakes