HPDE at NJMP Lightning with NASA NE

GHIT Podcast 0203: Our Latest HPDE with NASA Northeast in May 2021 at NJMP Lightning

We review our latest high performance driving education (HPDE) event at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) in Millville, New Jersey. We had four drivers at the event from our team. Jennifer, Vicki, and Liam were in the HPDE 2 run group for this weekend. Bill was in the HPDE 3-4 group. We each learned quite a bit a this event and we are all better drivers after these two days on NJMP Lightning.

On this episode’s Dominating with Dawson, Ben goes into the acronym OSB. OSB is sometimes used to describe someone in a learning environment where it stands for “Other Sports Beckon”. We believe that anyone can learn how to drive at a track or an autocross event. While there are differences in everyone at the rate that they learn, or their initial skill/experience level, literally everyone can get to a very proficient level. But they take need to be open to learning and be willing to put in the effort to improve. We then move into how different teaching approaches are better able to match with different student personalities and how the needs of the student may change as their experience and skill level progresses.

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. This 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/NJMPHPDEMay2021

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, we have a 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) Car reviews: Jennifer was in a 2019 ND.2 Mazda Miata with the stock OEM Continental tires and brakes. Liam was in his 2017 Toyota 86 TRD with Hankook RS4 tires and Raybestos ST-43 racing pads. Vicki was in her 1999 NB Miata with a Flyin’ Miata Turbo, Hankook RS4 tires and ST-43 racing pads. Bill was in his 2004 BMW E46 M3 with yellow Pagid brake pads and Michelin Pilot SuperSport 4 tires.

2) Telemetry we used for this event: Apex Pro and Garmin Catalysts.

3) How we owe our friends Jeff and Jim from the Three Pedal Mafia for saving our weekend by letting us use their family’s RV. Let’s just summarize by saying our prep for the vent did not go as planned. Situation normal.

4) Vicki’s prep to her turbo NB Miata did not go as planned before the event and at the event, but we did a few adjustments and all went well. It should be back up and running for our HPDE at Mid Ohio this coming weekend. Pro tip, do not try to adjust your wiring harness while the car is running.

5) Vicki and Jennifer’s thoughts on being in HPDE 2 vs HPDE 1. It was Vicki’s second time in HPDE 2 and Jennifer and Liam’s first time in HPDE 2. We also go into some of the differences in the HPDE’s between this event and some of the other organizations we have attended.

6) Let’s talk about point by’s at every post stint debrief, lol.

7) Vicki’s impressions of driving the E46 M3 on track for the first time.

8) We go over our goals going into the event and how we did during the event and what we learned over this weekend. We also go into some of the challenges we each face as we progress and grow as drivers on the track.

9) Liam pops in for a quick summary towards the end with his thoughts on the weekend. He also had a great time at the event and finally had a chance to be on track with the Garmin Catalyst.

GHIT 0203: HPDE at NJMP Lightning with NASA North East

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!

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

Ross Bentley

Returns to Help Us Celebrate Our 200th Episode

The Speed Secrets Library — **Ross Bentley’s Speed Secrets Library**

GHIT 0200: Ross Bentley Returns to Celebrate Our 200th Episode

Ross Bentley was kind enough to return for a third time that turned out to be his fourth appearance thanks to the mysteries of podcast recording and his recent episode on the One Lap of America event. Jennifer, Ben, and Bill were able to go through a ton of great questions that were sent in by several of our listeners, as well as a few we had hoped to cover with Ross.

As most of you know, Ross has literally written the book, actually a series, on high performance driving and racing and continues to work with drivers and organizations to increase the skills and effectiveness of the HPDE and coaching of drivers across the world. It is always a great idea to refer back to the Speed Secrets book series to improve your driving and find those little secrets that lead to those precious “ah hah” moments on track and lead to personal best times on track. If we are lucky, Ross will come on again to celebrate podcast episode 250. We actually recorded this episode prior to our victory at Pitt Race. Hopefully this episode will help you to win your next race as well. This may be our most helpful episode ever!

On this episode’s Dominating with Dawson,

Ben addresses the use of anticipation and the use of reaction on a track. As you progress, the more that your skills improve and your experience increases, the more anticipation can be used accurately and allows the driver to react to unexpected actions or issues as they arise due to track conditions or vehicle induced occurrences, both with your own vehicle’s performance and potentially another vehicle or driver’s actions.

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/RossBentley200

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

Some of the questions Ross answered on this episode include:

1) Jen asks Ross Bentley about her braking nemesis: Threshold braking: what it is, advantages and disadvantages, when to use it, and what it feels like etc. It’s not all about just braking later despite all the talk in the paddock you may hear.

2) Bill asks what were the biggest changes that he has learned since writing the original “Speed Secrets” book. As expected, Ross has learned a bunch and continues to grow as a driver and a coach.

3) Did you ever wonder what were some of Ross’s favorite drills and exercises at a track day event? After this, you won’t ever be “bored” just lapping around a track one day. Using these drills, you can really look to break through a plateau, even at a track you may have down cold. The first drill Ross discussed is even useful to those top level and world class pro level drivers.

4) Tips for what to prioritize and to include on your track maps/track notes to improve your driving at a particular track. Bill has a weird way of taking notes as part of his preparation for going to a track, but he is always looking to improve them whole at the event. This habit has really been proven to improve both his driving at a single track and his driving overall. As a bonus, we also discuss when and how to include data and/or video into the track map.

5) We look at ways that we use or could use to work towards improving and how we continue to try to improve each time we get to the track, off track, and hopefully each driving stint. Each driver has a particular level of performance that is their individual “10” they are working towards, but we also try to look at ways to create an even higher level and make their personal “10” level even higher. Because, these go to 11! Or at least they should.

6) What are some of the ways to improve your sensing of the available inputs during driving, especially a drivers sense of speed and the other sensory inputs that are often overlooked while driving and may be holding you back from a higher level of performance on track.

7) Alternatives to telemetry to get feedback while on track. Several are available in any car that you may be driving.

8) If you ever wondered about the differences between driving an Indy car and a well sorted GT car, Ross discussed this with us and recalled his calloused elbows, lol.

9) The potential impact of karting on your track driving, how it helps as well as how it differs from driving a car. The advantages and experience that can be gained greatly outweigh any deleterious habits but these are worth noting.

10) How to transition to left foot braking and incorporate it into your track driving. As well as if it is necessary or required.

11) How to break through a plateau. If you’ve ever been stuck and can’t seem to improve, Ross goes through a few of the potential alternatives to breaking through this seemingly unbreakable limit that can be so frustrating.

12) Ross has some great ideas for every tack around the world. He also goes into one of the best ideas for Formula 1 that we have ever heard. Hopefully, the world will listen to Ross’s wisdom.

13) Jennifer goes into the areas of vision and mental imagery to assist with driving in a high performance environment. Some of this we have not ever heard until this episode. Cutting edge research is what you get from the Garage Heroes In Training podcast, lol.

14) If you have ever had to deal with an ill handling car, what can you do without having to come into the pit or make an adjustment to the car.

15) When racing at an endurance race, how to communicate the behavior of the car and what to adjust to hopefully improve the car. We also go into how to learn what the changes will do to your car. Bill has a copy of Ross’s free ebook on the subject, but has not read it yet. You could get one here: https://speedsecrets.com/tune-car-handling/ for free (for a limited time)

16) How to best prepare for your time with a coach. You want to work with a coach right? This way you can maximize the value for the time that you have.

17) The Ross Bentley even begins to coach Jennifer during the episode. This may be a basis for our upcoming episode #250.

18) How to review your own driving video. Yep,that’s here too.

GHIT 0200: Ross Bentley Returns to Celebrate Our 200th Episode

Eric Kaul and Fred Fox

from the Whiskey Tango Fox Kaul Racing Team

GHIT podcast episode #199 has guests Eric Kaul and Fred Fox from the Whiskey Tango Fox Kaul Racing Team

We had been planning to have Eric Kaul on the podcast for several months but couldn’t wait any more after he went to his first wheel to wheel event a few weeks ago at PittRace. We first heard of Eric as a result of his two Facebook groups related to high performance driving and high performance driving fitness. He was joined on this episode by his teammate Fred. They are forming a new racing team to help satisfy their recently acquired wheel to wheel racing itch.

On this episode’s Dominating with Dawson,

Ben gets subjected to the term “Lift Off Oversteer”. Ben has not experienced it to this point, as far as he can tell. We end up discussing what it might be and how it is a result of weight transfer. We also go into how weight transfer can be used to help and to hurt you on a track. Regardless of whether this is a Bigfoot sighting or a real phenomenon, we take a bit of time to discuss the topic and its potential effects.

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/WhiskeyTangoFoxKaul

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 on Eric Kaul and Fred Fox’s team include:

1) Eric manages the High Performance Driving and Racing Enthusiasts and The HPDRE Fit Facebook group to help grow our sport. Fred is also a driving instructor for several groups, as well as a lead driving instructor for Extreme Experience. Their team is in the midst of creating a SpecE46 BMW racing car.

2) At Eric’s first event he was fully sucked in immediately and wanted to drive a second stint as soon as he got out of the car for a driver change. The hook is very set. His long term goal is to drive the Rolex 24 in the next 10 years.

3) Eric and Fred go into how they have each helped grow the sport and assist drivers at all levels improve at the events they attend. We also go into some of the more common areas that people have trouble with at their first few events driving on track.

4) Fred goes into what Extreme Experience is, what the events focus on, and most importantly, why M3ntal, lol. We also cover the various types of learning venues, including high performance driving schools, driving events, driving education, and experience type events. The great thing is that the variability allows each driver to find the exact balance to fit their driving desires and goals.

5) What are the pluses and minuses of helping/instructing a driver from the “right seat” as well as a few track stories. Including what is a “tank slapper” and how to deal with it when/if it occurs.

6) Eric goes into the concept of smooth driving and how it can help being fast. We may need to have a segment with Eric and Ben in the future. I know I’d bring popcorn. lol.

7) How part of improving your driving often involves a bit of being uncomfortable.

8) Eric also goes into the creation and goals of the High Performance Driving and Racing Enthusiasts group and the HPDRE Fit group.

GHIT 0199: Eric Kaul and Fred Fox from the Whiskey Tango Fox Kaul Racing Team

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