Honda Challenge

Mike Kramer Honda Challenge Racing Driver

GHIT 0276: Mike Kramer Honda Challenge Racing Driver

Mike Kramer has been racing in Honda Challenge and is the two time H2 champion with NASA Southeast. In addition, he also races in endurance racing with the 24 Hours of Lemons and Lucky Dog. We have several goals for this episode and one of them is not so subtly aimed at convincing Vicki the our 1993 Honda Civic being a front wheel drive car is not so bad and how much fun we will have in 2022 using it as our primary endurance racing car. Mike is a great example of how to start out and grow into an accomplished racing driver by simply making the choice to jump into the high performance driving pool and see what types interest you. It sounds like we will be at several common racing events in 2022 and we can’t wait to catch up with him again.

If you would like to help grow our sport and this podcast:

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.

We hope you enjoy this episode!

PS Please don’t forget to use our discount code if you are looking to add an Apex Pro. With 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) Despite having won two NASA SE championships, some of the difficulties Mike has encountered at the recent national championship event, including his overcoming some of the bad experiences at Daytona.

2) How to get started in high performance driving and what to expect and how to improve most quickly. We especially break down some of the common misconceptions that may be preventing you from starting.

3) What we have and should do to our 1993 Honda Civic DX race car build this winter. The discussion goes into several options for racing the car in endurance racing, sprint racing, and HPDE events.

4) How to choose a racing series and what to look for in your area.

5) Advantages and Disadvantages of a front wheel drive and a rear wheel drive. Plus a few of the primary differences between the two types of cars.

6) Some of the differences between regional events and national events.

To follow Mike and his racing exploits, please go to:

Instagram: @argylecivic

GHIT 0276: Mike Kramer Honda Challenge Racing Driver

Mike’s Sponsors Include:

Jaime Garcia Races Wheel to Wheel

GHIT 0262: Jaime Garcia from the RaceFF podcast returns to Talk about his 1st wheel-to-wheel race and upcoming Endurance Racing Prep

Jaime Garcia returns to discuss his first Honda Challenge H2 race which was his first ever wheel to wheel race and satisfied his lifelong goal. We also talk through his upcoming preparation for his new 24 Hours of Lemons endurance race. In Jaime’s last episode he was driving back his car after getting the cage installed so we had to see how his event went. Now we need to figure out how to get a photo of his (short) cross country exploits during the event. (Jaimie, please send us a shot or a link to where it is)(Christmas is coming you know, lol).

We also start discussing some of the differences in racing a front wheel drive car vs a rear wheel drive platform. Vicki is still going through some PTSD from her last race at Laguna Seca with Lucky Dog Racing League. We also discuss Jaime’s upcoming preparation project for his endurance race.

If you would like to help grow our sport and this podcast:

You can subscribe to our podcast on the podcast provider of your choice. This includes the Apple podcast app, Google music, Amazon, and YouTube etc. Also, if you could give our podcast a (5-star?) rating, that would be great. Even better is 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, simply under shows. Then click on the podcast you can leave a (5?) star rating and enter your review.

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:

1) Jaime discusses his recent H4 Honda Challenge race, how it went and what he can improve. He also goes into some of the car improvement projects that he has upcoming. the goal is to improve his car’s capability and hopefully improve his competitiveness within class.

2) We discuss potential things we have learned about towing vehicles to the race track and a story of poor dealer service that led to our switching in tow vehicle (and Bill crossing off our local Ford Dealership, even though he is still eyeing a GT 350R longingly)

3) Tips we learned about renting car trailers from U-Haul.

4) We walk through Jaime’s endurance race car plans and provide some tips and things we have learned, most the hard way, lol.

5) Jaime has an experience with the local carp parts store brake pads from his last endurance race. We try to appeal to his budget consciousness to upgrade to our brake pad of choice.

6) Our introduction to the anime show “Initial D”. Time to do some homework.

7) We discuss the aspects of theming, tech inspection, and bribing the judges to help make up for experience and potential black flags.

8) Several tips on racing seat installation and making accommodations for a team of different sizes, heights and lengths.

9) In the past, we have had three drivers have claustrophobic experiences/panic attacks when getting strapped into the car. We discuss several things we have found to help if this happens.

10) Critical spares and parts to bring tot he track with you and how to decide what to bring and what not to bring. We have a bit of a philosophy for each of our cars that dictates what we bring to an event.

11) Bunches of little tips and tricks for detailing the last few percent of your car.

12) We start planning a 2022 meetup and race. Perhaps a honeymoon race?

GHIT 0262: Jaime Garcia Returns – Wheel to Wheel

Jaime Garcia from the Race FF Pod

GHIT 0239: Jaime Garcia from the Race FF Pod

Jaime Garcia started the Race FF Podcast to share with everyone his racing and building progress and to help everyone get started in racing by showing them that it can be done. Since we have essentially the same goals, it was natural to have him on the podcast. As his podcast title indicates, Jaime races a Front engine Front wheel drive in both HPDE, time trials, and wheel to wheel. His current target is competing in Honda Challenge in southern California. Further parallels between the podcasts is that his fiancé has recently begun sharing the car and working towards her racing goals. This episode was recorded live from the road on his recent trip back from having his car caged in Washington.

If you would like to help the podcast,

You can subscribe to our podcast on the podcast provider of your choice. This includes the Apple podcast app, Google music, Amazon, and YouTube etc. Also, if you could give our podcast a (5-star?) rating. 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. There you can leave a (5?) star rating and enter your review.

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 confirm that both podcasts will be racing very similar 1993 Honda Civic’s next year but Bill doesn’t know as much as he should about ours. Glad Jaime was here to help us know our own car, lol.

2) A surprise guest bird flew into his window during the episode, actually our second guest bird. It must be something to do with Honda Challenge racing that we aren’t familiar with. We will need to talk to podcast guest and friend EJ2 Track Rat or more details.

3) Jaime discusses one of the often overlooked benefits of instructing drivers in that it helps the instructor as a driver as well, often in very different ways than when they are driving.

4) Jaime also discusses his transition from HPDE student, to time trial racer and instructor, to wheel to wheel racer into his upcoming Honda Challenge debut.

5) We also discuss several ways to minimize the expenses related in getting started, even if you have no car and almost zero money.

6) Jaime helps Jennifer with potential options for her HPDE and learning to wrench and daily driver car hunting. Any guesses? Who knows, maybe Jennifer will actually listen to this episode. Lol.

GHIT 0239: Jaime Garcia from the Race FF Pod

A Man's gotta eat — **Please feel free to eat up this episode**

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 with Dillon Brennan also known as EJ2 Track Rat. This was 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 cars 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

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. 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