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Garage Heroes (In Training)

Garage Heroes (In Training)

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

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Mirror Positioning and Our Philosophy

Mirror Positioning

DwD 0309:  Mirror Positioning and Our Philosophy

On this episode of Dominating with Dawson, we go back to a fundamental of driving on track and the street.  Where to position your side mirror and rearview mirrors for optimal vision, information, and safety.  We also go into several mirror options and our preferred placement of our rearview mirror within our race car.  It is a bit unconventional but offers significant benefits to the normal center of the window position.  Towards the and we also go with a drill and practice suitable to the street to improve your driving proficiency if the mirrors aren’t adjusted properly or are “adjusted” on track by another car.  This may sound trivial, but we are quite confident that everyone can learn at least one thing on this episode that will help them on street and on track.

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, that we would appreciate that very much.  Even better, a podcast review, would help us to grow the passion and sport of high performance driving and we would appreciate it.

For instance, leaving an Apple Podcast rating is amazingly easy.  If you go to your podcast library, look under shows.  Then click on this podcast.  Here you can leave a (5?) star rating and enter your review. 

We hope you enjoy this episode!

PS  If you are looking to stream or save your integrated telemetry/racing data with you video, Candelaria Racing Products Sentinel System may be the perfect solution for you.  We are in the midst of installing the system in two of our cars.  If this sounds like something that may help you and your team, please use our discount code “GHIT” for a 10% discount code to all our listeners during the checkout process.

PS2  Please do not forget that if you are looking to add an Apex Pro to your driving telemetry system, do not 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 invaluable to safely increasing your speed on track and/or autocross, etc.  The recently released second generation systems and app increases the capability of the system.

Best regards,

Vicki, Jennifer, Alan, and Bill

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

DwD 0309:  Mirror Positioning and Philosophy

Marlon Sumlin

– Racing for Cancer Research (and Fun)

The Deuce
Team Force
Marlon and Lauri
Marlon

Marlon Sumlin joins us to discuss his racing history and how much fun he has racing and instructing.  He is a perfect example of how much fun it can be to drive a slow car fast as he routinely passes many “better” cars in his Mazda 2 across the country.  Marlon instructs and races in Grid Life’s Sundae Cup and B Spec.  This year he is also competing in the One Lap of America in the same Mazda 2.  Marlon also races to help support and promote FORCE (Facing Hereditary Cancer Empowered).  FORCE is a charity to support cancer research and Marlon has been working with them with his beautiful bride Lauri since she was diagnosed with cancer several years ago.  Marlon has continued and will continue to help promote FORCE to battle against cancer and in her memory.

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, that would be greatly appreciated.  Even better, a podcast review, would help us to grow the passion and sport of high performance driving and we would greatly appreciate it.

For instance, leaving an Apple Podcast rating is very easy.  If you go to your podcast library, look under shows.  Then click on this podcast.  Here you can leave a (5?) star rating and enter your review. 

We hope you enjoy this episode!

PS  If you are looking to stream or save your integrated telemetry/racing data with you video, Candelaria Racing Products Sentinel System may be the perfect solution for you.  We are in the midst of installing the system in two of our cars.  If this sounds like something that may help you and your team, please use our discount code “GHIT” for a 10% discount code to all of our listeners during the checkout process.

PS2  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 for this episode include:

1)  If you need nicknames of some of the NASA Great Lakes, Marlon shares a few and has a ton more.  

2)  Why Marlon loves racing Sundae Cup and B Spec in his Mazda 2.

3)  The differences between racing wheel to wheel and time trial races.

4)  Tips for first time Sundae Cup and attending a Grid Life event.  Highly recommended!

5)  Any Great Lakes Attendees coming to Grid Life’s Lime rock event this August.

6)  What is a Grid Life Festival and another explanation to why they sell out so fast.

7)  How the Sundae Cup class has been started in the upcoming One Lap of America.  We did not get out Fit in time to enter, but we will go as soon as we can get signed in.  We are hoping to do a daily update from this class as the event transpires this spring.

8)  Why we, and many of our friends at NASA Great Lakes and beyond, will be installing a particular vinyl decal on all our race cars starting this year to support Marlon, Lauri, and FORCE.

9)  Some amazing answers to our fast and furious story time questions.

For more information about FORCE or to make a charitable contribution:  https://www.facingourrisk.org/ 

GHIT 0308:  Marlon Sumlin – Racing for Cancer Research (and Fun)

The Importance of Knowing the Top 10’ish Cars In an Endurance Race

Top 10'ish

DwD 0301:  the Importance of Knowing the Top 10’ish Cars In an Endurance Race

On this issue of Dominating with Dawson, we talk about why it is important to know the top ten or so cars in an endurance race.  There are plenty of reasons to know the top 10’ish cars, especially if you are one of the top ten, but it is also important if you are not.  Also, the strategic implications of being outside the overall top ten, but competing for a class win in a race with multiple classes.  We each have different opinions and strategies and preferences to deal with this aspect of racing.  And we do some serious cat herding during this episode and only wandered a few thousand miles off topic.

If you would be interested in helping grow our sport of high performance driving and our 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 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, look 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.

Best regards,

Vicki, Jennifer, Alan, and Bill

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

DwD 0301:  the Importance of Knowing the Top 10’ish Cars In an Endurance Race

Racing Suits, Shoes, and Gloves with AlpineStars

Alpine Stars

GHiT 0298: Racing Suits, Shoes, and Gloves with AlpineStars

Fabryce Kutyba is with the North American Alpinestars group and was kind enough to join us for a quick discussion on driver protection equipment, including racing suits, racing shoes, and gloves.  We cover several key aspects of each component and the overall system to protect the driver.   For instance, one piece vs two piece drivers suits, grades and certifications, proper care, and approximate replacement/upgrade guidelines.  We also go through a very high level review of the Alpinestars product line offerings.  Hopefully, this is the first part of a many part series. 

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, that would be greatly appreciated.  Even better, a podcast review, would help us to grow the passion and sport of high performance driving and we would greatly appreciate it.

For instance, leaving an Apple Podcast rating is very easy.  If you go to your podcast library, look under shows.  Then click on this podcast.  Here 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 for this episode include:

1)  One piece suits vs two piece racing suits

2)  What the latest certifications for equipment is from the FIA and SFI.

3)  Alpinestars custom drivers suit program. 

4)  What is the proper/optimal use, care and lifespan for replacing a suit while maintaining proper safety performance.

5)  Several types of shoes that are available, as well as Alpinestars pit crew shoes.

6)  Bill recalls one of our teams improper care of his first pair of racing shoes.

7)  Racing gloves construction, including inside vs outside stitching as well as the palm surface texture.

8)  We break a paddock “rule” that Bill was told early in our racing career

9)  Why karting suits and equipment is designed to a different construction and standards

10)  Several methods to assure that the equipment you purchase is not counterfeit and is offering all the expected protection.

To follow Alpinestars or to get more information: 

website:  www.alpinestars.com

Instagram: @alpinestars

or you can email Fabryce directly at:  [email protected]

GHiT 0298: Racing Suits, Shoes, and Gloves with AlpineStars

Track Driving – With Nanny’s?

DwD 0297:  Track Driving – With Nanny’s or Without

On this issue of Dominating with Dawson, we go into another listener submitted question from Ron Mexico related to driving on track with the car’s driver nanny’s on.  First we cover from a high level what a driving nanny is and then we go into our thoughts on driving on track with the nanny’s “assisting” you and when/if there is ever a good time to use the nanny’s.  

So what do you do with the driver assistance aides on track?  Do you leave them on or do you turn them off?  What factors would influence the use of them, like weather and student driving level/experience etc.?

If you would be interested in helping grow our sport of high performance driving and our 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 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.

Best regards,

Vicki, Jennifer, Alan, and Bill

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

DwD 0297:  Track Driving – With Nanny’s or Without

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