Garage Heroes (In Training)

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

GHIT 0075: Dillon Brennan of EJ2 Track Rat

EJ2 Track Rat x2
Dillon Brennan with his EJ2 Track Rat

On this week’s podcast, we finally “met” with Dillon Brennan also known as EJ2 Track Rat after missing each other multiple times at the last Watkins Glen HPDE event.  While he is an accomplished driver and instructor, he started EJ2 Track Rat to help raise awareness to everyone that they can also get out on track and enjoy our great sport with a low budget.  You can follow him on his Instagram account and his blog, and soon on his YouTube channel.   

Highlights include:

1)  Dillon’s driving history within autocross, HPDE, and wheel to wheel racing (so far)

2)  We interview a parrot for the first time

3)  Honda engine codes and chassis codes aplenty, so if you are playing scrabble or battleship, feel free to try to use these random letters and numbers

4)  How he has found ways to get onto the track and learn with a small budget (one less excuse for everyone).  Things like working events for future credits, SCCA Track Night of America, etc. and the beginning of their “Lobuk” initiative

5)  One way not to get a college test delayed for a track day

6)  What is Honda Challenge series and how much fun can be had in this form of wheel to wheel racing

7)  Bill shows off his Honda engine code prowess, or lack thereof, several times.

8)  We compare notes on potential ways to paint and theme your car’s livery, including a new one to us, Sharpie paint pens

9)  What is EJ2 Track Rat and what they are involved in currently and future goals

EJ2 Track Rat
EJ2 Track Rat in action

10)  The importance of a support group of friends and family towards making this a successful and very achievable activity for nearly everyone

11)  We review all of our favorite tracks and also get a brief walkthrough of Lime Rock from Dillon

12)  Vicki complains about the deer, again.

We end with a plea for help with our Porsche Boxster and its ability to break every slave cylinder we can find.  Any thoughts or options are greatly appreciated. 

If you want to follow along with Dillon and the EJ2 Track Rat’s, you can follow them at: 

EJ2_Track_Rat on Instagram. 

Best regards,

Bill, Vicki, and Alan

Hosts of the Garage Heroes In Training podcast

and team members in the GHiT

Immature Endurance Racing Team

GHIT 0075: Dillon Brennan of EJ2 Track Rat

GHIT 0074: Scott Barton and Sim Racing

Early ideas for the upcoming gift season

Sim Racing Rig
Advanced Sim Racing setup

On this week’s episode we have Scott Barton as our guest.  Scott is a very accomplished racing driver and very knowledgeable in the area of Sim Racing.  We thought we’d learn more about both on this episode, just in time for Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.  Sim racing can be great way to get cheap track time, especially in the off season or during the work week when you aren’t near a track.  As with most aspects of racing, you can go as deep as your interest and bank account will allow.  We hope you enjoy the episode. 

Highlights from this episode include:

1) Scott’s racing history and progression to where he is currently racing mostly in the AER series (American Endurance Racing) where he has recorded a very impressive series of results since originally learning at HPDE’s in 1999 and racing in 2009. 

2)  Scott’s latest goal is try to round out his collection of first overall wins in Lucky Dog and WRL to complete his already stellar collection of 24 Hours of Lemons, Champ Car, and AER wins and have recorded overall wins in every major street tire endurance racing series in the US.

3)  Scott is also a driving coach and is involved with many teams, students, and racing series and organizations.

4)  We then began to cover various software and hardware choices available, make some recommendations (links below) as well as describe some of the many systems and options that are available for a wide range of budgets. 

5)  The three basic systems we reviewed started with a single monitor, a three-monitor system and a VR based system with a good set of steering wheels and pedals.  A sim vibe/butt kicker would be a very nice addition is budget allows.

4 Screen Sim Racing Rig
Go as far as you wish

6)  More advanced options mentioned include motion/ full motions simulators, spring loaded harnesses,

7)  Computer requirements in general, such as a 4-core processor, i5 or newer, with a video card capable of running a VR headset at 1080p and 90 fps (or better) should be sufficient for your system.

8)  We also cover how to deal with motion sickness in VR if that happens to you in the beginning.

Sim Rig
They can even go to the track with you

9)  Scott was even kind enough to entertain us with our traditional Good, Bad, and the Ugly series.

Also, Scott can assist you with defining your system if needed at his website below. 

Items and Links discussed within this episode include:

Steering wheel and Pedals: 

Logitech G29, G920:  https://www.logitechg.com/en-us/products/driving/driving-force-racing-wheel.html

AccuForce Steering wheels

Fanatec Wheel and Pedals:  https://fanatec.com/us-en  e.g. v3 inverted pedal set, Clubsport base/mount

Heusinkveld:  https://heusinkveld.com/products/sim-rigs/sim-rig-gt/?q=%2Fproducts%2Fsim-rigs%2Fsim-rig-gt%2F&v=7516fd43adaa

VR:

Samsung Odyssey Plus Headset:  https://heusinkveld.com

Oculus Rift:  https://www.oculus.com/rift-s/

Optional Accessories/Upgrades:

Butt Kickers:  https://thebuttkicker.com/

Full Motion simulators – Various sources

RaceDepartment.com  for cars and tracks

Realteus force feel seat pad:  www.Realteus.com

Chassis movers:  various sources

Sim Racing choices: 

iRacing:  https://www.iracing.com/

Assetto Corsa:  https://www.assettocorsa.net/home-ac/

R Factor:  https://store.steampowered.com/app/365960/rFactor_2/

Project Cars:  https://www.projectcarsgame.com/explore/?lang=en-us

Please feel free to contact Scott at:

Website: https://www.facebook.com/ProFormanceCoachingcom

Facebook Group:  Sim Racing Deals at:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/SimRacingDeals/

Thank you again. 

Best regards,

Bill, Vicki, and Alan

Hosts of the Garage Heroes In Training podcast

and team members in the GHiT Immature Endurance Racing Team

GHIT 0074: Scott Barton and Sim Racing

GHIT 0073: RaceCapture and Podium with Brent Picasso

Podium Pit Setup
You want data that you can use?

Brent Picasso has been racing since 2009 and has since created a company that provides the RaceCapture and Podium real time telemetry and data capture/display systems.  We cover the development history and capabilities of the system, as well as his racing history.  With what originally began as a self-tweeting race car, they have been able to develop one of the best and most complete systems we have seen to date.

Podium is capable of being used with virtually all data collecting systems and converts the data into many potential formats to aid in understanding and analyzing.  RaceCapture is a separate  system that comes in three levels suitable for once in a blue moon track day participants to full time professional racing teams.

Podium

His initial racing history began at Thunderhill with what was originally intended to be a Peugeot entry but eventually led to turbo Miata and 1,000 penalty laps and the race to zero laps began.  The initial wheel to wheel racing action set the hook and he hasn’t looked back since.  Since then, in addition to the Peugeot, his conquests included a turbo 3-cylinder Mercur XR4Ti, a Crown Vic, and a second gen V6 MR2. (Bill really wants a piece of that MR2 since he had one in college) 

1)  The development history of both RaceCapture and Podium and how each can be used together or with other data capture systems like AIM, MoTeC etc. 

2)  The use and capabilities of the various systems and how they interact

3)  Data collection capabilities as well as how the data can be followed, used, and displayed, both in real time at the track, remotely, or within the racing car itself.

4)  There are three levels of the RaceCapture system, what they are used for and how they differ

5)  Podium app capabilities, use, and several upcoming features and capabilities

Podium on Cell Phone
Mobile and Remote usage as well

6)  Ability to look at data in real time or as a review, especially with racing coaches and friends.

7)  These systems appear to lower the barrier to look at and use any data you are collecting currently or in the future

8)  Driver data comparison techniques and use

9)  Some of the key improvements of this environment is the lower barrier to using and understanding and improving as a result of the data

10)  The interface is also able to be used as a real time, in car dashboard and/or dashboard replacement

11)  It is also able to be used not only in the car, but also in the garage/paddock at the track, and even remotely, all in real time on a wide variety of hardware including computers, laptops, iPads, phones, etc.

12)  What is predictive lap time, how it is calculated and potentially used on the track

13)  How the system works with driver changes etc., so common in endurance racing

14)  Pit use vs in car use vs post-race review usage and options

15)  Options and thoughts for use with multiple cars/multi car teams

16)  We try to overview the installation process and requirements, as well as how they vary depending on the car being used, its OBD2 capabilities etc.

17)  Options and thoughts regarding additional sensor use for things like brake pad temperature or tire temperatures

18)  What is Canbus and how it can be used with the system to increase the capabilities and data that can be collected and monitored in real time, like differential temperature etc.

19)  Shift X3 capabilities and usage to form alarms and warning systems for the driver of potential car issues such as engine rpm shift lights, oil and water pressure and temperatures etc. 

20)  Advanced customization options are also available for those interested through Lua programming capabilities built into the system

21)  Options and use within dedicated race cars, as well as occasional track/daily driver cars

22)  In car dashboard replacement options with using the system

23)  We are very excited with several of the upcoming additions to the systems and steps to continuously improve the ease (of use and data “digestion”) and capabilities of the systems and how they integrate with each other and external data sources like video etc., as well as several advanced pit-to-car communication capabilities

All of this can be used for track days, HPDE events, and racing events at all types of venues and tracks, including impromptu tracks and non-traditional racing areas common with Autocross events etc. 

We are placing our order for several of these systems next week and will likely have our review in an upcoming episode(s) as we progress. 

Best regards,

Bill, Vicki, and Alan

Hosts of the Garage Heroes In Training podcast

and team members in the GHiT

Immature Endurance Racing Team

Several links mentioned within the podcast:

Autosports Lab/RaceCapture:  https://www.autosportlabs.com/

Podium App:  https://podium.live/software

Aim Sportline:  https://www.aim-sportline.com/index.htm

MoTeC:  https://www.motec.com.au/products-currentrange/product-directory/

GHIT 0073: RaceCapture and Podium with Brent Picasso

GHIT 0072: Race Bar Invasion – Part Deux

Race Bar Car-Toon

This week’s guests are once again from Race Bar, repeat offender, James Webb/The Jandy Man is now joined by Patrick McHugh/Richard Freelane, and Ben Dawson/Awesome Dawson, formerly of Winsome Racing and Race Bar pseudonym apparently still under construction, lol.  You can blame us for trying to wrangle another episode from the Race Bar team.  Instead of a visual guide of VIR, today we get a tour of a boat and the harbor by Richard Freelane. 

We did manage to get a bit more of their team history and race car history and a few hints of things to come.  If you have or know of any crab related lemons vehicles interested in helping this crazy team, they are looking for you.  The stories varied in area, as we have come to expect from Race Bar, but they are always entertaining.

We even managed to have some actual race related information that could allow you to improve.  We knew it was in there, we just had to keep digging to find it.  Lol. 

 1)  We talk through an introduction to Race Capture and a bit about Mega Squirt, what it is useful for and how to use it, especially important when you have a racing team with varied skill and experience levels.  We also look at the importance of lap times with respect to endurance racing and endurance racing teams.

2)  Special contacts to look for at VIR and Road Atlanta when your car needs a little extra TLC or repair, especially if you are looking for BMW or Miata parts.

3)  HPDE and how to get better at racing, both faster and more consistent.

4)  Somehow we had a quick review of both teams’ cars and their history. 

5)  Brief tire and brake pad selection discussions for endurance racing.

6)  A comparison of the progress that can be made at HPDE’s and iRacing. 

and finally, Bill picks Ben’s brain a bit about becoming a driving instructor in the future.

GHIT 0072: Race Bar Invasion – Part Deux

GHIT 0071: Special Guest Driver and Judge Craig Ledbetter

Judge Craiggers
Preparing for a very good race weekend

We talk with Craig Ledbetter aka Craiggers, one of our favorite judges and team member of the Terminally Confused racing team from the 24 Hours of Lemons team.  Initially we review our future race at CMP and some of the recent debacle we had with relocating our El Jeffe/Bad Hombre race truck from a few episodes back.  Bill also makes a subtle plea to be a judge at some point. 

Craiggers has been a car guy for many, many years and has been racing for almost a decade.  We try to summarize many things from his vast history and things he has learned to do well, and things he has learned not to do.  His first car, at his first race, failed tech, so his history has started similarly to most others we know.  Unfortunately, his first race did not end with a checkered flag due to a lug nut tightening issue and a lack of repair talent and experience at that point. 

Craiggers and Curt are also well known in the southeast for their green egg derived barbecue parties in the lemons paddock.  Its not quite America’s Butt but it is reportedly awesome and a do not miss item.  We end up bribing them to bring up the green eggs to the NJMP race in 2020 by offering them seats in the soon to be completed Capri.  No pressure Alan.  Ok, a lot of pressure, since its up to you to feed the entire lemons paddock. 

We eventually went into how our team is doing and what we could do better along with how his team has progressed and learned over the years.  This ended up taking a lot of the episode and ends up with tons of good information.  This also forms the basis of the winter training program we are working on, as we speak.  Alan reviews his legendary pro move to load a trailer.  Luckily, Vicki won’t listen to the podcast.  Lol.

A lot of these stories came from the recent race at NHMS where we just raced and Craig was one of the judges.

Craig gets into his deliciously/devilishly bad plan for his RX-8.  Its not quite as bad as Alan mis-heard, but it is still a bit of engineering required.  It will likely come out better than Craig’s repair of the Fury at an earlier race.  (Details within)

We ended up developing a training matrix for our team, largely as a result of this episode.  Please let us know if you are interested.  We like to share what we learn.  Some of it may even be useful. 

Key points of interest we covered were:

1)  How to successfully compete in lemons, beyond self-selection

2)  Is speed creep in Lemons factual or perception, or merely a result of the overall increase in performance of relatively newer cars

3)  ECU Tuning and modification strategy

4)  We develop a new strategy of making our cars last longer (If we don’t drive them, …)

5)  Alan and Craiggers discuss wheel bearing condition and potential management strategies, which led into the discussion of Alan and his CSI investigation/discussion with Judge Craiggers.  Strap in, this one is a doozy, and Alan

Alan’s Interrogation with Judge Craiggers

6)  (Im)proper use of 1970’s LTD’s as cornering aides

7)  Managing room and knowing which cars (and drivers) to manage in heavily crowded tracks

8)  Bill has bad Road Atlanta flashbacks from last year

9)  Many Judge stories from Judge Craiggers

Judge Craiggers and Bill at Pitt Race

10)  NJMP planning and potential bribing opportunities if we had 3 racing cars ready

11)  Craiggers takes a very solid run at the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

12)  Bill’s mom’s actual podcast listening is brought into question

13)  Is it possible to make a Lemons legal rocket powered car?  Why yes, yes it is. 

14)  How to properly use 1960’s brakes in a racing condition and at least one method for how to determine if a car is race ready

15)  Potential ways to entertain Lemons judges at a race

Where else are you going to hear about a jet powered golf cart?  Now, that’s real racing!

Craig is nearly useless for theming, but a bunch of fun, as always. 

We hope you enjoy the episode as much as we have. 

GHIT 0071: Special Guest Driver and Judge Craig Ledbetter