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Garage Heroes (In Training)

Garage Heroes (In Training)

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GHITlikesApex

Team Kelly Racing:

Tiffany Kelly and Justin Kelly

GHIT 0213: Tiffany Kelly and Justin Kelly from Team Kelly Racing – Part 1 of our 4 part Grid Life/GLTC Series

Tiffany Kelly and Justin Kelly are both top drivers in the GLTC series and have competed as Team Kelly Racing.  In addition, they have a racing school to teach other drivers and also race shifter karts to further hone their skills.  During this episode, we go over their racing history, including what is GLTC for our listeners who may not be familiar.  The Kelly’s also have a fantastic YouTube channel where they go over many aspects of their racing lives and help show you how they do what they do.  They were even nice enough to stay on and go through our Fast and Furious Storytime questions.  We wish them both good luck in this weekend’s GLTC race at Pikes Peak.  

We have been following the Grid Life series, especially their GLTC series for the last few years and since our schedules don’t align this year, we thought we would interview several of the drivers, teams, and hosts for the next few episodes.

Team Kelly Racing on Grid

In this issue of Dominating with Dawson,

we start with what may be Bill’s dumbest intro ever and then work our way onto the topic of how to exploit chaos on the track to help you improve on the performance of the car and team.  Ben even has a bunch of examples of what he is referring to and how he routinely uses these areas to gain an advantage or pass a few of his fellow competitors.

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/TeamKellyRacingOnGHIT 

We hope you enjoy this episode!

Best regards,

PS  Please don’t forget that if you are looking to add an Apex Pro to your driving telemetry system, don’t forget to use our discount code for all Apex Pro systems you will receive a free Windshield Suction Cup Mount for the system, a savings of $40.  Just enter the code “ghitlikesapex!” when you order.  They are a great system and truly invaluable in safely increasing your speed on track and/or autocross etc.  The recently released second generation systems and app increases the capability of the system greatly.

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 and why did they each choose the cars they are racing.

2)  The reasons behind them not doing a K-swap but doing a J-swap to both their cars last winter.

3)  How they both seem to be at an entirely different level with their knowledge of engine/mechanical part swaps and assembly options.

4)  We all try to talk Vicki off the ledge and finally cut the hood of her Miata to add vents to let out some of the heat.

5)  What is it like racing with your significant other, advantages and disadvantages, along with a few tips that they have learned along the way.

6)  Some of the hurdles that come with starting to get fast when racing on a track, how did to deal with them and gain the confidence to push through that limit.

7)  The story of paddock famous Uni the Unicorn.

To keep up with Team Kelly Racing please

Subscribe to their YouTube channel at:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXf_WtojaK6gYmZGb1EXETw 

Or follow them on Instagram at:  https://www.instagram.com/tiffanykellyracing/ 

Also, Tiffany will be appearing on the Discovery Channel on their new show The Getaway Driver

GHIT 0213: Tiffany Kelly and Justin Kelly from Team Kelly Racing

Team Kelly Racing

HPDE at Mid Ohio – Lap 2 for 2021

  • ?Mid Ohio Track

GHIT 0205: Our HPDE at Mid Ohio – Lap 2 for 2021 – With NASA Great Lakes

We went back to Mid Ohio for a second lap in 2021 with Vicki, Jennifer, and Bill attending the May NASA Great Lakes event.  It started out as a wet track and at Mid Ohio and that is always especially entertaining.  We raced a turbo 1999 Mazda Miata (NB), a 2019 Mazda Miata, and a 2004 BMW M3 (E46) all were on street tires and racing brake pads and fluid.  We go over the event where Vicki and Jen were in the HPDE 2 run group and Bill was in the HPDE 3 group.  It all started out innocently enough. Then the weather went from warm and sunny to ridiculously cold and wet for Saturday and gradually warm and sunny on Sunday.  The event was fantastic as always and the goals going in were designed for success.  How did we do?  We shall discover together within this episode.  Special thanks to all the NASA Great Lakes team and the staff at Mid Ohio for a great weekend.

In this episode of Dominating with Dawson, we go over a variety of methods that can be used to improve your preparation for a “new to you” track and help you learn the track ahead of time and maximize your driving comfort on your first laps. 

Any Guesses?

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/2021MidOhioLap2

We hope you enjoy this episode!

PS  Please don’t forget that if you are looking to add an Apex Pro to your driving telemetry system, don’t forget to use our discount code for all Apex Pro systems. You will receive a free Windshield Suction Cup Mount for the system, a savings of $40.  Just enter the code “ghitlikesapex!” when you order.  They are a great system and truly invaluable in safely increasing your speed on track and/or autocross etc.  The recently released second generation systems and app increases the capability of the system greatly.

Best regards,

Vicki, Jennifer, Alan, and Bill

Hosts of the Garage Heroes In Training Podcast and Garage Heroes In Training racing team drivers

Highlights from this episode include:

  • Vicki at Mid Ohio
  • Jennifer at Mid Ohio

1)  We go into the details of the HPDE group 2 and compare it to the HPDE 1 and HPDE 3 groups.  We also try to summarize the various drills that we did during the weekend.

2)  Jennifer (and Vicki) have a difficult time prepping for a new track and since this was Jennifer’s first time at Mid Ohio, we worked our way through it, but we need to work on a better plan.  Bill has ideas.  Stay tuned.

3)  Vicki tries to break a very bad habit that is really holding her back.  She has a difficult time staying at full throttle until the brake zone, especially in high speed areas.  There are some aspects of racing that require a great deal of commitment and even a bit of courage to work through.  Her resolve to break through did lead to a quality 720 at the end of the big straight leading into China Beach.

4)  How did Bill earn a steak dinner that somehow turned into Crack Barrel Meat Loaf.

GHIT 0205: Our HPDE at Mid Ohio – Lap 2 for 2021 – With NASA Great Lakes

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

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!

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

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.

Threshold Braking

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.

Evil 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

  • E46 BMW
  • PittRace

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!

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 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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