Any advice for a DE first timer?
09-18-2002, 12:30 AM
#31
Drifting
Since there is a pretty comprehensive list I will limit my advice to 2 points.
1. A elaboration on one of John D's pointers -getting a ride with your instructor. This was and still is one of the most helpful things for me. Try to get several rides throughout the weekend if you can and from a couple differnt instructor if at all possible - be polite in asking and they are usually more than happy. Half of the first ride is devoted to you repeating to yourself "HOLY S**TBALLS I CAN'T BEIEVE HOW FAST WE ARE GOING TAKING THE TURNS". After you get over the initial shock, things still happen pretty fast and its tough to really analyze what the instructor is doing - other than they are going really fast through the turns and braking really late - and hard - compared to yourself. The main thing that I was able to pick up was how much speed I was leaving on the table on a couple of turns (Turn #1 at Mid-Ohio was the big one for me). I found that it took several weekends of rides before things really "slowed down" so that you could analyze details of what your instructor is doing and how it compares to what you are doing.
2. Pick out ladmarks rather than relying on cones for turn ins, apexes (apexi?), etc. Its tough not to connect the cones when you are starting out, and then have a tough time on Sunday when they take the cones away. Pavement patches, trees - anything that is a permanent reference will help you out. Ask your instructor what he/she uses.
Have fun <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />
1. A elaboration on one of John D's pointers -getting a ride with your instructor. This was and still is one of the most helpful things for me. Try to get several rides throughout the weekend if you can and from a couple differnt instructor if at all possible - be polite in asking and they are usually more than happy. Half of the first ride is devoted to you repeating to yourself "HOLY S**TBALLS I CAN'T BEIEVE HOW FAST WE ARE GOING TAKING THE TURNS". After you get over the initial shock, things still happen pretty fast and its tough to really analyze what the instructor is doing - other than they are going really fast through the turns and braking really late - and hard - compared to yourself. The main thing that I was able to pick up was how much speed I was leaving on the table on a couple of turns (Turn #1 at Mid-Ohio was the big one for me). I found that it took several weekends of rides before things really "slowed down" so that you could analyze details of what your instructor is doing and how it compares to what you are doing.
2. Pick out ladmarks rather than relying on cones for turn ins, apexes (apexi?), etc. Its tough not to connect the cones when you are starting out, and then have a tough time on Sunday when they take the cones away. Pavement patches, trees - anything that is a permanent reference will help you out. Ask your instructor what he/she uses.
Have fun <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />
09-18-2002, 12:41 AM
#32
Three Wheelin'
Iceman...
Send your film off to <a href="http://www.snapfish.com/" target="_blank">Snapfish.com</a>
$2.99 for prints AND online digital images. Can't beat that with a stick!
Unfortunately my buddy and I didn't register for the BeaveRun DE, I'm just too poor and he still hasn't registered his car yet, no time to make it solid enough for track use. I did just head out there this past Sunday for the NHSCC autox. Rained immediately following the first heat, which I spent working, of course. So I didn't get a dry run in all day, a few were so wet it was hard to even get enough traction to have fun.
I'm heading down to RIR, Virginia for the MTV Neon challenge casting call thing. I'm not expecting much out of it, its really just an excuse to go visit my older sis in Baltimore and pick up a set of 225 R15 Hoosiers in great shape for $100.
To you other guys... I posted this public cause I think you all might want to check out snapfish, and to update you about my automotive exploits of late. Why is it when I go to an autox in the Pittsburgh area, there are less than 2 or 3 other 944s there? I mean it seems a few of you guys from my area, do you all just do track days or something? It'd be nice to have a little 944 competition sometimes. I mean, I get sick of spanking all the vettes, miatas, S2ks, and hondas.
Send your film off to <a href="http://www.snapfish.com/" target="_blank">Snapfish.com</a>
$2.99 for prints AND online digital images. Can't beat that with a stick!
Unfortunately my buddy and I didn't register for the BeaveRun DE, I'm just too poor and he still hasn't registered his car yet, no time to make it solid enough for track use. I did just head out there this past Sunday for the NHSCC autox. Rained immediately following the first heat, which I spent working, of course. So I didn't get a dry run in all day, a few were so wet it was hard to even get enough traction to have fun.
I'm heading down to RIR, Virginia for the MTV Neon challenge casting call thing. I'm not expecting much out of it, its really just an excuse to go visit my older sis in Baltimore and pick up a set of 225 R15 Hoosiers in great shape for $100.
To you other guys... I posted this public cause I think you all might want to check out snapfish, and to update you about my automotive exploits of late. Why is it when I go to an autox in the Pittsburgh area, there are less than 2 or 3 other 944s there? I mean it seems a few of you guys from my area, do you all just do track days or something? It'd be nice to have a little 944 competition sometimes. I mean, I get sick of spanking all the vettes, miatas, S2ks, and hondas.
09-18-2002, 04:07 AM
#33
Race Director
[quote]Originally posted by Skip Wolfe:
<strong>1. A elaboration on one of John D's pointers -getting a ride with your instructor. This was and still is one of the most helpful things for me. Try to get several rides throughout the weekend if you can and from a couple differnt instructor if at all possible - be polite in asking and they are usually more than happy.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Amen!
First a serious note.... It's been 13 years since I've last driven a RWD car in anger and I assure you that after a systems check to make sure everything is functioning properly and nothing will fall off the car, I will seek out an instructor to drive me around in my own car for a while so I can get a good idea what I should be doing before I go for it.
And on a funny note.... At my last SCCA school, my instructor (they don't ride with you at SCCA school) was pretty easy going and after lunch, when instructors were taking students out for laps in their road cars, my instructor offered to take us around or let us work on our cars if we wished. We all elected to tweak our cars some. As I was walking back to the garage, I saw my buddy doing what needed to be done and actually said "hey, I'm here to learn....." So I found my instructor and he, another instructor, and I jumped into his F250 King Cab Diesel duallie for some laps. With a little nudge from the other instructor, we were soon powersliding all around Texas World Speedway's 1.8 mile course. What a hoot. In an F250!!! Not something you get to do everyday! <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" /> And to think I might have missed out!!! <img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" />
<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />
You're paying for the instruction. Take all you can get.
<strong>1. A elaboration on one of John D's pointers -getting a ride with your instructor. This was and still is one of the most helpful things for me. Try to get several rides throughout the weekend if you can and from a couple differnt instructor if at all possible - be polite in asking and they are usually more than happy.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Amen!
First a serious note.... It's been 13 years since I've last driven a RWD car in anger and I assure you that after a systems check to make sure everything is functioning properly and nothing will fall off the car, I will seek out an instructor to drive me around in my own car for a while so I can get a good idea what I should be doing before I go for it.
And on a funny note.... At my last SCCA school, my instructor (they don't ride with you at SCCA school) was pretty easy going and after lunch, when instructors were taking students out for laps in their road cars, my instructor offered to take us around or let us work on our cars if we wished. We all elected to tweak our cars some. As I was walking back to the garage, I saw my buddy doing what needed to be done and actually said "hey, I'm here to learn....." So I found my instructor and he, another instructor, and I jumped into his F250 King Cab Diesel duallie for some laps. With a little nudge from the other instructor, we were soon powersliding all around Texas World Speedway's 1.8 mile course. What a hoot. In an F250!!! Not something you get to do everyday! <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" /> And to think I might have missed out!!! <img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" />
<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />
You're paying for the instruction. Take all you can get.
09-18-2002, 11:39 AM
#34
Race Director
[quote]Originally posted by PSUice944:
<strong>[snip]
I'll be there with Weltmesier Sways, refinished wheels with some Yoko 032s! Kinda stoked...
[snip]</strong><hr></blockquote>
PSUice944 Were you able to get the right parts for the front bars?????
Alot has been said so there is not much more to say other than a couple things
My first time doing a DE and all the track events since I have thought to myself 3 things when on the grid
1) Be Safe - There is no point being here or doing anything that is not safe. If I am not safe then I can't do anything else. (Leave ego outside the track)
2) Have fun - No matter what happens out there this all for fun. Don't go faster than is fun for you. If you get in with slower cars that won't let you by go down pit lane to space between you and them. This all about fun and NOT racing
3) Get faster - Thrid and only third is the desire to get faster and smoother. Once you have done the first 2 you can finally look to the third.
Just a quick story on my insturctor experience. One of my last times out to the track. I had the weird experience of Instructing for my father. Weird since it was not that long ago that HE taught ME how to drive (12 years). Anyway he was in his 951 and I assumed he would be fine. He had been on the track many times before so I figured it would be an "easy" session. Well I found his line all wrong. Braking way to late and too hard. It caused him to work very hard and still have slow inconsistant lap times. After much heated discussion I took him out in his car. (My 944 only had 1 seat) This was good since I could prove to him what his car could do and how it should feel in the corners. After a couple laps we switched and finally understood the instructions I was telling him. He finally started to drive much better. Smoother and easier. He was really happy with how little effort it really took. Instead of fighing the car he was working with it. Up shot of the whole thing that was that since Mama was getting lap times for him she noted that he had drop from 1:20 laps to 1:15 laps running consistant between 1:15.00 -1:16.00 laps for 20 minutes. He did this with much less effort than before. He was estatic and I was really happy that I could me a difference. It still puts a smile on my face today.
Point is listen to your instructors, ride with the if possible and If you really learn something let them know. It will make their day.
<strong>[snip]
I'll be there with Weltmesier Sways, refinished wheels with some Yoko 032s! Kinda stoked...
[snip]</strong><hr></blockquote>
PSUice944 Were you able to get the right parts for the front bars?????
Alot has been said so there is not much more to say other than a couple things
My first time doing a DE and all the track events since I have thought to myself 3 things when on the grid
1) Be Safe - There is no point being here or doing anything that is not safe. If I am not safe then I can't do anything else. (Leave ego outside the track)
2) Have fun - No matter what happens out there this all for fun. Don't go faster than is fun for you. If you get in with slower cars that won't let you by go down pit lane to space between you and them. This all about fun and NOT racing
3) Get faster - Thrid and only third is the desire to get faster and smoother. Once you have done the first 2 you can finally look to the third.
Just a quick story on my insturctor experience. One of my last times out to the track. I had the weird experience of Instructing for my father. Weird since it was not that long ago that HE taught ME how to drive (12 years). Anyway he was in his 951 and I assumed he would be fine. He had been on the track many times before so I figured it would be an "easy" session. Well I found his line all wrong. Braking way to late and too hard. It caused him to work very hard and still have slow inconsistant lap times. After much heated discussion I took him out in his car. (My 944 only had 1 seat) This was good since I could prove to him what his car could do and how it should feel in the corners. After a couple laps we switched and finally understood the instructions I was telling him. He finally started to drive much better. Smoother and easier. He was really happy with how little effort it really took. Instead of fighing the car he was working with it. Up shot of the whole thing that was that since Mama was getting lap times for him she noted that he had drop from 1:20 laps to 1:15 laps running consistant between 1:15.00 -1:16.00 laps for 20 minutes. He did this with much less effort than before. He was estatic and I was really happy that I could me a difference. It still puts a smile on my face today.
Point is listen to your instructors, ride with the if possible and If you really learn something let them know. It will make their day.
09-18-2002, 12:24 PM
#35
Race Director
Dave,
One more thing: Don't rush to get to staging! Many a car has gone out there without a oil cap on, wheels not torqued properly, DRIVER not prepared to go out.
Take your time when going out there: run through your checklist (oil ok? Tires ok? Bathroom stop? Driver ok?..etc) and then take your time to get out there. Relax, and have fun. Besides, if you grid at the end, you can have some fun picking off the slower moving vehicles! (j/k)
Anxiously waiting for you to post your experience here....
-Z.
One more thing: Don't rush to get to staging! Many a car has gone out there without a oil cap on, wheels not torqued properly, DRIVER not prepared to go out.
Take your time when going out there: run through your checklist (oil ok? Tires ok? Bathroom stop? Driver ok?..etc) and then take your time to get out there. Relax, and have fun. Besides, if you grid at the end, you can have some fun picking off the slower moving vehicles! (j/k)
Anxiously waiting for you to post your experience here....
-Z.
09-18-2002, 06:36 PM
#36
Regarding stading, get to know how you fit in the group. If you're a little slower, line up towards the end of the line and you can get some laps in without worrying too much about who's behind you. If you really are one of the faster ones than it makes sense to try and be towards the front.
