Three Pedal Mafia

Dave Carpenter from the Three Pedal Mafia

GHIT 0349: Dave Carpenter from the Three Pedal Mafia’s Cheaties Car

At long last, we have secured Dave Carpenter for the podcast. Dave drives in the orange Cheaties themed Cressida with the Three Pedal Mafia team. In addition, Bill drove in the Cressida at the last race in NJMP where it finished 6th overall in spite of Bill driving. With so much to talk about, we tried to limit it to the Lemons race at NJMP’s Thunderbolt track, all about the Cressida, and how Dave manages the team and maintains a pretty strict budget and still routinely finishes in the top ten overall despite being out paced by a large fraction of the field. Hopefully, we will have Dave on again to talk more about his racing past and iRacing. PS Vicki is in full post race hangover/zombie mode for this episode.

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.

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 amid 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 during the checkout process at https://candelaria-racing.com/

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, a savings of $40. Just enter the code “ghitlikesapex!” when you order from https://apextrackcoach.com/

Best regards,

Vicki, Jennifer, Ben, Jeremy, 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) Why Bill is scared of Aaron and what it was like to drive with a black flag “bonus” “print” on the windshield of the Cheaties car during most of his stint.

2) How Vicki came to get her “secret” black flag early Saturday and the impact to performance and handling that a 40-pound cookie on the roof of an EG Honda Civic

3) Several variables that need to taken into account when looking at potential upgrades to a car and the unintended implications to other aspects of the car in endurance racing.

4) A quick summary of some of the other cars/carnage in the Three Pedal Mafia fleet at NJMP 2022.

5) How 3PM was able to finish their collection of all 24 Hours of Lemons awards at NJMP this year and secure the missing “Halloween Meet Gasoline” award to complete the trophy case. In addition, they we somehow able to manage a “Blazing Saddles” related theme and not be arrested, lol.

6) Various ways that Dave has been able to successfully race while maintaining a budget and having a car that performs well and reliably.

7) How to prioritize performance changes for endurance racing.

GHIT 0349: Dave Carpenter from the Three Pedal Mafia’s Cheaties Car

Thank You Three Pedal Mafia

GHIT 0285: Thank You Three Pedal Mafia

We have four members of the Three Pedal Mafia come up to help Vicki and Bill work on the two Honda project cars for this winter. We had originally planned a full cage party work weekend but had postponed it until February or until the COVID spike recedes. What we were able to accomplish with their skills in such a short time was amazing. They came, they saw, and they fixed. Some day we hope to be able to perform at that level and repay them in some way.

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 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 are:

1) Details of the work plan for the invasion by the Three Pedal Mafia visit this past weekend including a surprise visit by Jim.

2) Shut up we are having fun, lol.

3) Driving skill review and training was an unexpected addition to the agenda for Miss Vicki.

4) It was so very cold (for Pennsylvania) that we had to create a micro climate heating area for Miss Chrissy’s feet.

5) Why we had to replace the exhaust on the 1993 Honda Civic since we will be endurance racing the car this season. Mental led the festivities on the exhaust project while we set up several of the other projects.

6) Bill’s planning failure. And yes, this bothers him greatly.

7) How the work went on the Honda Civic radiator and oil cooler installation and required fabrication.

8) While Vicki and I were distracted, the Three Pedal Mafia assaulted the rusting carcass of the Honda Fit that we are looking to race in Grid Life’s Sundae Cup at Lime Rock this year. The Fit has yet to fully grow into the warm spot in Vicki’s heart.

9) We try to describe the depth of the love that Mental has for rust, but may not have fully achieved a full description.

10) As always, Vicki loves to provide wonderful food and drinks as a thank you. We “bribe” everyone who comes over and this weekends was no exception. Bill added in some of the new thermal barrier coating for increasing the heat control of header and exhaust wraps. The coating also creates a protective layer to protect the system from abrasion and water/chemical attack.

11) Bill’s engine disassembly is nearly complete for a replacement engine after being guided by Chris, Our Mr. Honda. Now if anyone knows of any good machine shops in north east Pennsylvania, please let us know. Either by Instagram or via our email at [email protected].

12) Vicki had a bit of a heel toe down shifting discussion with Chris and Chrissy. This should help her with her down shifting, especially at the end of the long straights. Hopefully, she will get to drive and ride with an instructor this season, hopefully with Chris. She also has some practice that she can start with ahead of that while driving on the street.

13) Obviously much more to follow in coming weeks. We need a few parts, some tools, and some machining assistance, but we will keep you posted as we learn.

GHIT 0285: Thank You Three Pedal Mafia

GHIT 0107: Phil Wurz from BimmerWorld discusses cars, driving, racing, and how to best use your BMW

Phil Ready To Go Racing

Phil Wurz, fellow racing driver and the short straw drawing team member at Bimmerworld was kind enough to join us for a discussion on his racing history and add to our Usual Suspects discussion related to racing BMW, especially E36’s and E46’s, including a good amount about Spec E46. Phil has been with Bimmerworld since 2007 and conducted this interview from in front of his E30 race car, one of the best backgrounds we have had during our podcast. Bimmerworld supplies a very wide variety of parts and also prepares cars for racing in two national GT4 series. During this episode we learn a bit about Phil and his driving history as well as his thoughts on racing BMW’s across may types of racing and what can be done to improve performance, handling, and reliability.

To follow along with Phil and the team at BimmerWorld, please like their Facebook page or email them from the website where everyone’s company email is available.

On Dominating with Dawson, Ben discusses all of the wide variety of types of racing apexes, and how best to think about approaching a turn and what considerations can affect the desired approach for each turn.

We hope you enjoy the episode!

Best regards,

Bill, Vicki, Jennifer, and Alan

Hosts of the Garage Heroes In Training podcast

and team members in the GHiT

Immature Endurance Racing Team

**Winning team at the VIR 24 Hour Race with Champ Car**

Highlights from the episode include:

1) His philosophy on replacing and upgrading as you grow and learn with your car

2) Vicki shockingly brings up the E36 rear wheel bearing removal and then won’t let anyone ask any questions for a bit. Well, really, much more than a bit.

3) Alan “compliments” Bill on his skills with using the press on the rear bearing and finally admits his running away from the operation once the slide hammer came into the picture.

4) Bill impersonates the sound of the control arm breaking in the press.

5) Alan calls Bill an Axle, by mistake/mispronunciation.

6) Alan admits to adding a bit more wear and tear, since he is the mechanic.

7) Alan gets very excited over Phil’s tow vehicle and that leads into the area of an upcoming flat nose school bus “ramp truck”, potentially with a rear airbag suspension.

8) Our first podcast that is interrupted with the sounds of freedom. Mental likely scheduled it to mess with us.

9) We then walk through where the current sweet spot is for BMW’s in terms of value, performance, and parts availability. We even compare the E36 vs the E46 which seem to be swarming the endurance racing fields. Yes, we are guilty.

10) Stunningly, and fir the first time, Alan hears that it’s not necessary to drive at 10 tenths all the time. We shall see if it helps.

11) Vicki learns what a money shift is without costing us an engine. And Alan breaks out the FNG acronym in honor of the Three Pedal Mafia trip to Laguna Seca.

12) A good review of the growing Spec E46 series and other uses for these cars, as well as some of the advantages of spec classes, especially for people relatively new to racing and setting up of a race car.

13) Vicki requests a spare Spec E46 car for the team. Bill is currently searching on Autotempest.

14) Bill was bored and added some new questions to the Fast and The Furious questions

15) We are still looking for a good LSD solution for our M240i and Bill Begs for a spare E36 rear control arm, for a friend of course.

16) In the after credits B roll, Phil mentions a tool to remove the rear wheel bearing from an E36. Where was that when we needed it. Well, actually, we still need it. And Bill begs for some spare E36 rear control arms. For a friend.

We hope to see Phil at the Charlotte Roval with Lucky Dog on the weekend of August 14-16.

GHIT 0107: Phil Wurz from Bimmerworld discusses cars, driving, racing, and how to best use your BMW

GHIT 0099: Chrissy Mittura, Racing Driver and Host of the Everyone Racers podcast

Chrissy Mittura Up Close — **Chrissy Mittura is our guest this week**

Chrissy Mittura Winning — **Chrissy Mittura is our guest this week**

For our 99^th Episode, Chrissy Mittura from the Three Pedal Mafia and the co-host of the Everyone Racers podcast was our guest for this week.Â Chrissy was one of the key influences that helped us to start our team, so we thank her all the time and blame her some of the time, lol.Â Chrissy is not only and excellent driver that we are passed by routinely but has also helped our team immeasurably not only at the track but preparing for the track and our various HPDE events.Â With Chrissy finally being able to come on our podcast, we now have a complete set (four of a kind?) of the Everyone Racers podcast hosts.Â Now we have to work our way through the remaining Three Pedal Mafia team.Â You, our listeners, have been warned, lol.Â Chris may even learn something during this episode.

**Please Listen to the Everyone Racers Podcast**

On this weekâs Dominating with Dawson segment we go over racing a ânew to youâ car, what to look for, what to look out for, and how to begin to get comfortable safely to reduce your lap times.

Highlights from this episode include:

* Chrissy is in a new position with being able to talk and not being interrupted
* Kateâs recent dream about Chrissy
* Vicki reviews a video of her driving at her first ever race at NJMP
* Alan claims the title of âCone Clearerâ while driving the El Jeffe race truck, unfortunately, not a joke
* Vicki gets all philosophical with Chrissy over here approach to racing in Lemons and racing in general
* A full review of the Trucklet
* We are the second to break some new car news and pick at the gaping wound of the Citroen paperwork one last time
* We come up with a potential solution to the current podcast curse in the Lucky Dog racing series and racing on a Sunday (3 strikes and counting)
* Kate is looking for Chris to help with getting Alan towards any form of clean
* Kate picks Chrissyâs brain for her upcoming season (we hope) where Kate is taking over as Crew Chief at our races
* The Grill Guys of 3PM get a shout out
* Great tips on pit stop coordination and paddock optimization
* A discussion on passing in high traffic Lemons fields and potential sad face aspects of racing
* Many tips and tricks from Chrissyâs many years of racing in Lemons
* Potential herding strategies and a reluctant admission of the impossibility of herding shiny squirrels and the upcoming potential sainthood for Kate
* Pitt Race HPDE with NASA Great Lakes gets a full endorsement from Chrissy, as well as Bill
* Chrissy calls her shot for our upcoming Thompson race in August
* CMP vs Lemans, two things you never thought would be in the same sentence
* What itâs like to race with and learn from your significant other, we may or may not have asked for ourselves, but it is sure to help you as well
* What to do when the cars are running well and there is down time available.Â We almost never have that as an issue.
* We discuss the merits of singing while driving with a new demo tape
* Alan breaks news about our upcoming Pitt Race event during our Good, Bad and the Ugly.Â Everyone takes it well, well sort of.Â Kate takes a very, very glass half full reaction.Â
* Alan:Â Domination?Â Chrissy:Â Have you seen me?Â Best retort ever
* The Save The Tatas team and car gets several shout outs during the episode

We hope you enjoyed the episode as much as we did.Â

Best regards,

Bill, Vicki, Jennifer, and Alan

Hosts of the Garage Heroes In Training podcast
and team members in the GHiT Immature Endurance Racing Team

GHIT 0099: Chrissy Mittura, Racing Driver and Host of the Everyone Racers podcast

Chrissy Mittura and Chris Abbott — **Chrissy and Chris, Special Car, Special Day**

GHIT 0069: NHMS Race Weekend Review

NHMS Flag — NHMS 2019 – 24 Hours of Lemons race

Our podcast this week focuses on our race weekend at NHMS with the 24 Hours of Lemons teams. We had a bit of a struggle getting ready, but the cars eventually cooperated and raced well, at least for a bit. In the end, we had a great time and caught up with a lot of friends and made several new ones this weekend.+

Team at Tech — We confused Guitar Heroes with Garage Heroes, oops.

Mia as Death Doctor — We confused Guitar Heroes with Garage Heroes, oops.

On this episode, Alan, Jennifer, Kate, Vicki and Bill are still recuperating from the race weekend hangover, but did manage to discuss:

Vicki learns the alphabet, finally.
Pre-race prep and race car struggles.

We broke the first rule of racing and brought an non-prepped car to the track
El Jeffe/The Bad Hombre/The Trophy Truck/Race Truck was finished literally hours before the race.
The E36 BMW struggle did not complete until midday Friday afternoon when our great friend Bruce figured out a simple electrical issue that we could not find on our own
We had to pick up a windshield, which was in Canada
Bill learns to not joke with the border police
Normal race induced issues led to a lot of on track repairs and replacement for the race truck, especially related to our steering, power steering, and steering rack.
SpiderStang was almost brought into race trim since we had all hands on deck and needed two cars
We rolled the dice and brought the E36 to the track and hoped we could fix it with the aide of our friends in the paddock area
Friday testing went well with El Jeffe and we were able to get almost all of our new to NHMS drivers
Jennifer clears all prior NHMS demons from last year
Kate enjoys her first time on this track and then promptly has internet issues in mid story
Jennifer is very excited and saw many benefits of the Watkins Glen HPDE we sent to two weeks ago.
We may finally have solved our braking issue with the El Jeffe race truck
Bill creates a new word for the dictionary
Bruce saved our team having to get another engine and perform and engine swap by solving our issue and getting the engine in the E36 to fire.
Bill confirms that by fire, they meant to get it running and not that it had caught on fire.
Special thanks to the Thunder for Days team in their Folgers E36 BMW for all their assistance as well. Apparently, they travel with an entire parts store worth of spare parts to each race. Thankfully. And Wisely. We owe you all.

Team Folgers — Thunder for Days saved us

Our one time only Guitar Heroes In Training Theme for this race
Vicki confuses AC/DC and Kiss somehow
Mia tormented Craiggers as the Plague Doctor all weekend
Several other teams were theming hard this weekend including appearances by the Three Pedal Mafia’s Ambiguously Gay Duo themed new Pontiac Solstice and the entire gang that represented Baby Shark.

New Driver — Baby Shark team and new driver

3PM is not Ambiguous — 3PM is not so ambiguous

Solstice NHMS 2019 — Their new Solstice race car

Jennifer’s costume was very helpful in getting our cars to have no penalty laps
Harley Quinn and the harlequin GTI were also a big hit, ad it was quite fast on the track.
We had a run on power steering pumps for the race truck this weekend, using three total, and we also lost the steering rack/box
We then run through the race for the race truck and then for the E36 race car
NHMS this year was the most aggressive race we have been in and there were many incidents, especially Saturday
We also had a Guest driver this weekend, Jeff Wright, who we met at our Lucky Dog race in Portland this summer. We hope he had a great time.

Jeff at Tech — Jeff rocking out awaiting tech inspection

Our wheel spacers led to tire tracking issues in the El Jeffe race truck
We eventually (think) we lost the steering rack and had some steering difficulty that eventually led to the race truck parking for the last half of Sunday
Jennifer gets here first black flag in the race truck
Bill ran first in the E36 on Saturday and raced with several of our friends on the track for long periods of time
We peaked at 5th place overall, our highest position ever.Â Now we need to figure out how to stay there for the whole weekend.Â

Proof we can drive — Proof that we can drive a bit (5th overall)

We learn that there are two different style safety harnesses/safety belts
Saturday night dinner and post-race festivities
Vicki finally meets her girl crush, Amanda Tully, in full costume, in the Three Pedal Mafia’s hot tub, built for 4, but somehow managed to squeeze in 9 that evening. Hopefully, we will have her on as a future guest.
The festivities went long into the night.

Alan eventually gets into a on race CSI investigation that gets edited out a bit.
Vicki proves that numbers are hard
We end up talking all over each other during the review of Alanâs Sunday stint
The Egan’s new car modifications led to a lot of fun but also a lot more gas usage
We ended our day in the BMW E36 when we lost either a wheel bearing and/or a hub
Team improvements for next year were abundant
Radios for each team member if possible
Earlier starting prep on race day morning with more people
Training matrix will be developed and monitor our progress towards overall team knowledge and skill improvement for next year and the future
New Pit Crew Chief election for 2010 season is very likely
Spares parts for the BMW for next season
On site car alignment verification capability within our team
We begin planning our off season and our 2020 season, including re-theming several cars for the 2020

NHMS 2019 is Over — NHMS 2019 and our racing season is over

Thank you to all our friends, we can’t wait to see you again next season!

GHIT 0069: NHMS Race Weekend Review