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Garage Heroes (In Training)

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GHITlikesApex

Ross Bentley’s 2021 One Lap of America

One Lap Of America Course

On our latest GHIT podcast, episode #198: Ross Bentley talks about the recent One Lap of America Event

Ross Bentley returns to the podcast to review the 2021 One Lap of America event that finished last week.  This was Ross’s first One Lap and he seemed to have a blast.  I think the hook has been set and Ross’s inherent competitiveness will likely lead to him trying to win it in the future.  We go into the event as a whole, its history, how the 2021 event went, and  every detail we could think of to scout for Bill’s eventual entry in a coming year.  It sounded like a great time and should probably be on almost every high performance driver’s bucket list.  Now which car should we enter, hmmmm.

The Competitors and Friends
The Competitors and Friends

On this episode’s Dominating with Dawson,

Ben clarifies what people mean when they say the term “pedal fest”.  Bill first heard this related to drag racing.  Vicki had heard it but not a clue as to what it meant.  We also go into what the goal should be on track, the usual causes of the “fest” and ways to think about re-applying the throttle to minimize the issue.  Ben also demonstrates the sound that your car may have if this happens to you, 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/RossBentleysOneLap

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 One Lap of America covered in this episode include:

Team Car
Ross’s Team Chariot

1)  We start with a display of a bit of podcast time travel involving Ross’s appearances on our podcast.

2)  Ross summarizes how the original “Cannonball Run” event transformed into the current
One Lap of America” event and how it is structured.

3)  The event consisted of a scheduled ~20 events at various tack facilities across the country that change from year to year.  This year the total travel distance was almost 4,000 miles in the week, not counting any of driving within the events.

4)  Tracks consisted of:  Tire Racks’ Skid Pad, Grissom AFB for an autocross, Memphis International Raceway, Eagles Canyon, NOLA, Atlanta Motorsport Park, the Lanier Oval, Summit Point, and Gingerman.

5)  What to pack, what to bring, how to prep, car and tire selection, etc.  Yep, it’s in there.

6)  Great stories abound about the cars, the drivers, the track events, the transits, and even some good hearted sponsor induced bounties for the event.

Dinner Table
The Dinner Table

7)  We hope to have a few other teams on the podcast as well to discuss the event in coming episodes.

GHIT 0198: Ross Bentley on his recent One Lap of America Event

The Nittany Lemons

Formula SAE Team and Endurance Racing Team

  • Lemons Paddock
  • Lemons Car
  • Tire Choices
  • Endurance Racers
The Penn State Formula SAE team comes to Lemons

GHIT 0197: The Nittany Lemons Formula SAE Team

We met the Nittany Lemons at our recent 24 Hours of Lemons race at PittRace.  Their team includes Eric Junker, who gets blamed for any electronics and powertrain issues, Jared Sable, who is the past SAE team captain and responsible for the team overall, and Becca Baker who takes care of the driver controls, brakes and safety systems, and car ergonomics.  They were a great group and seemed to have a great time and fully embrace the Lemons racing paddock.  Even with all their SAE team background, they learned a ton at the race.

On this episode of Dominating with Dawson,

we talk about Tire Talk.  What does it mean when your tires start making noise on the track and how to use this new information source to improve your track driving.

  • Formula SAE Car
  • Formula SAE
Their Formula SAE race 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/NittanyLemons

We hope you enjoy this episode!

ghitlikesapex!

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

  • Becca
    Becca Examining the Ergonomics
  • Its not always serious in Formula SAE
    Its not always serious in Formula SAE

GHIT 0197: The Nittany Lemons Formula SAE Team

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

PittRace 2021 Post Race Review

GHiT Team Wins

GHIT 0194: Our Post Race Review

This is our PittRace 2021 Post Race hangover Episode Notes.  We will replace later with a normal review when coherent, likely later this week.  

In this episode, we go over how our first race weekend went for 2021.  We had a great time racing and meeting all our friends.  

Oh yeah, we WON our first race ever in the S10 El Jeffe Trophy Truck in Class C!!!!

Class C - WINNERS

Further proof that anyone really can do this.  Why not start today?  We’d love to see you on track with us.

GHIT 0194: PittRace 2021 Post Race Review

The Semi Sentient Centenarians

Racing Team

  • 911 fake bimmer
  • In the paddock
  • Winners
  • Engine Woes

GHIT Podcast Episode #193 with our guests The Semi Sentient Centenarians Racing Team

The Semi Sentient Centenarians are a relatively new endurance racing team that are in the midst of an engine swap for their 1996 front wheel drive Buick Century A-body.  Their team started much like every other team, including ours, and in their case they can blame Matthew, lol.  They are a great bunch of guys learning as they go and trying to come up with the magical plan to dominate the C division of an upcoming race.  They are another example of a group of people who were interested in racing but never thought it was possible or knew how to get started so they just jumped in and tried it and the hook was set.  While we discussed their planned engine swap, we also had the opportunity to check back in the next week to see how the plan went.  This is one team we can’t wait to check back in with at the end of a full race season.  So we didn’t wait and added an update on the engine swap progress and project prognosis.

On this episode’s Dominating with Dawson, we

go into the topic of what is a money shift and then once we define what a money shift is, we then go into several different types of shifting and shifting issues that you may encounter with a manual transmission.  If you aren’t driving a manual transmission, at least the segment should be entertaining.

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/SemiSentCent

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 learn how their team started, developed, and became the team and drivers that they are today.  One thing that they did well was to talk to other Lemons and experienced endurance racing teams to accelerate their teams learning.

2)  The team’s racing philosophy is very simple:  Podium/Top 3.  So far, so good in the one race to date.  Lol.

3)  The stories of what they did and what they learned at their first race is tremendous.  It sounds like they truly jumped in the deep end of the pool with their first race being a ture 24 hour race at CMP.  It sounds like some of the Racing 101 series would have helped them.  It looks like we were only one year too late.  However, they did win the IOE at their first race so who are we to say anything?

4)  We walk through the logic of their upcoming engine swap and whether this is a good plan.  It sounded great, and then the turbo plan kicked in.  Luckily they have a full five weeks to get this done before their race at Sebring.  How hard could it be?

5)  Bill even resorted to math, but the +40 HP plan seems to be set in stone.

6)  We then check back in after the weekend to get an update on the progress and the prognosis.

GHIT 0193:  The Semi Sentient Centenarians Racing Team

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