May 8-9: DE at Watkins Glen
 

For those interested in a reason to get out of work mid-week for an early season DE event, the Hudson Champlain Region is hosting it's "Cups and Saucers" advanced run groups DE event at Watkins Glen:

The Hudson-Champlain Region will be hosting the premier Advanced Drivers Education event, “Cups and Saucers”, at the famous Watkins Glen International, Wednesday and Thursday, May 8 and 9, 2019. This is a fantastic, no-nonsense event for White, Black and Red run group drivers wishing to get maximum track exposure. (White run group drivers must have completed a minimum of 5 track days in the White run group prior to the event.) We are going to limit the number of cars allowed to participate so register early to lock in your spot.
The unique “Cups and Saucers” format was designed to allow drivers to share the track with similar skill levels and equipment. Drivers can expect to get about 3.5 hours of track time each day. This is always an enjoyable event so tell your friends. Please note all Automobile marques are welcome at this event!

This year Simon Kirkby will be joining us for Professional Coaching. Slots are available for purchase through clubregistration for the low price of $275 for a 1 hour session. Slots are selected in the order they are purchased so buy early to ensure you get your desired slot!

The Harbor Hotel is offering a Car Club Rate for rooms during this event, if you are interested, please contact the Harbor Hotel directly and mention WGI car club for a discounted rate.

Early drop-off and registration will be available from 6-8 PM on May 7th and a limited number of garages assignments will be available for rent; however camping will not be available.

We will be using ClubRegistration.net for all event and options registration.

Don’t miss the opportunity to join us at the Glen for this exciting DE, remember that registration will only be open for a limited time. For additional DE details, contact Nick Grizey, Registrar, at registrar@hcp-pca.com.

Me too......

Thanks for supporting the event....tell your friends!

Me too (three)...great event

Fantastic event and group of people

Awesome - Paul will be there too and I'll be bringing both of my cars. We should do dinner.

I'm hoping to be and should be able to decide if I can commit in a couple of weeks. This is a great event.

I'm in

So I finally get to meet the world famous Rick Betterly?
Actually, I think you and I have met a couple times already at WGI and LCMT.....I think.
Gonna be a great couple days at The Glen for sure.

Famous? Nah, just friendly.
I think we did meet, or at least tried.
I'm better at remembering cars!
Gets embarrassing when students come by to say 'hi' and I need to see their car to make the connection!
You should see our little group now - 2 Cup cars, 2 well-prepared Caymans, and a beautifully driven GT3.
See you there!

A group of Canucks from Rennsport will be there! One of the best events of the year. Thanks to HCR for organizing again.

What a great event. Thank you Rick (and Erik) for introducing me to the event a few years ago. Nat and I are really looking forward to it again.

And yes, Dave is in the beautifully driven GT3!

Cheers

Matt

Quite Possibly one of "THE" events of the summer driving season.... lots and lots of track time, ..... great group of people and the drivers are typically courteous and excellent! I'm in- can't wait....

In.

Really glad you are enjoying WGI and especially Cups so much.

BUMP.....Looking to welcome more drivers to this event!

https://clubregistration.net/events/...?event_id=9612

In here as well, can't wait to see everyone... Think I convinced one or two more to come up while we were at NJMP this weekend...

Bump.... still have openings for the event and private 1 hour professional coaching sessions with Simon Kirkby.

http://www.simonkirkby.com/

BUMP.....just a few days away. Still room for more to join the event.

I'll see if I can recruit a few buddies who aren't registered yet.

Hey JF,

I asked a couple of friends and one can't make it but one will be a game time decision. How late can he register if he can indeed make it? He'll be a saucer.

Lemme know.

Thanks,

DG

Good question.....let me check with our registrar on the final, final cut off.....

Thanks for helping to rally a few more participants.

Bruce- Hire Simon

When I drove a car with a roof,...and windshield,....and fenders, this Cups and Saucers event was my favorite PCA DE of the season. It was really well run and a super friendly group. Maybe I can ask my wife if I can take her car which has a windshield and fenders!

Would be great to see you in a real car, Dave!
I can't imagine how that will feel for you, compared to the formula car.

I just love open wheel but I do like driving Irene's Mx-5, even before it was supercharged and got a sequential. I gotta say I feel safe in her car LOL.

Weather looks good for Wednesday. Thursday will be a traction sampling day.

Do it.

Forecast has been changing daily. Im
thinking 2 dry and cool days. Perfect Glen weather. Keeping the faith.

Was thinking about it. Waiting until Tuesday evening to confirm the weather. There are slots open.
Maybe just go up and have fun playing cat and mouse with my buds. My first Glen trip of the season. So psyched.

Anyone know if the garage assignments were done already for this event?

I registered and paid for a garage spot, but haven't received anything about which garage is mine.

Am I missing something on Club Reg or did I not get a certain email?

Thanks,

DG

Edit: Just got the email. Now that's timing.

What a great event! Two days of great driving. A bit cold on Wed morning but otherwise perfect weather. I'll be back next year!

What a great event. Couldn’t agree more. Great people, lots of respect on track, tons of track time, etc.
The format is top notch as well. For those that missed this event, put it in your calendars for next year.
Thanks to the good folks at HCR PCA for putting on such a stellar event.

Just to echo everyone above, what a phenomenal event. Hands down the best PCA run DE I've attended. Can't wait for next year. Thank you for a great event.
Here's my little Boxster running a 2:05 in Cups :)
This was my fastest lap new PB and quicker than the I Class lap record
http://youtu.be/7RMkBZcsQUA
And this is what it looked like when I got my scene file working...
http://youtu.be/eVy9j_2NlHQ

Thanks Frank, dgrobs and Paul for the great feedback about the event!

Please help the HCP Region keep this event alive by bringing more driving friends to this event next year.

Good to meet you in person dgrobs.

Backatcha.

Will do some more recruiting for next season's event.

I was surprised that this DE was not more crowded considering the amazing format and the amount of track time for the price. Could have easily paid double to one of the for-profit track clubs for the same amount of time behind the wheel.

Super event. Thanks for hosting and thanks for the wonderful hospitality shown to this Cups and Saucers newcomer.

Next year for sure...

I am super impressed! Awesome job.

Fabulous event. Great group of drivers and cars.

Paul, that is one impressive lap! Congrats!

Huge thanks to the organizers for this event. It's an event with a long and rich history. Let's keep it. going!

I didn't know that was you. We ran together. Yellow Cayman S with Black and Red striping. #694.You were very fast. I would have said hello. Next time.....

Yes Paul, quite the lap for sure.

There were more than a few folks I never met before who came over to me and asked if I was Dgrobs. How'd they know?..

Bruce, great to see you, sorry dinner didn't work out! Thank you Thundermoose, Thanks Beantown KMan!! The nice thing is my single fast lap from last year which I couldn't really identify how I did it are now my consistent laps and my ideal rolling lap and theoretical best laps according to data show there is still room for improvement.

Fantastic work, Paul! Congrats.

Thank you Peter!!! Make your fast lap your consistent laps THEN push for a new fast lap to make consistent :)
Thank you again!

I know I am no where near Pauls level of driving. Probably never will be, but one can dream, yes?
I hung out Weds afternoon for 20 minutes on the grandstands by the Esses and I was flat out amazed how smooth and fast and precise the Grey Goose was running up those Esses. Matter of fact, most of those faster Cup cars were quite impressive on the track, but I was only watching Paul. I was impressed. I went over afterwards and told him how much fun I had watching him drive, and how much I hoped to get to that level someday. We both agreed that we started this track addiction too late in life, but damn was he smooth and fast.
By Weds afternoon I was running 2:12’s consistently. Thats a personal best for me. It was only
a couple years ago that I was running 2:20’s. 2:12’s are really good for me and the lap times were very consistent lap to lap, so I know I am improving, but damn would I love to drive like Paul was driving that day. Was like poetry in motion.
Sorry I missed some of you other RL folks that were there. If I’d only known I would have introduced myself to all of you. Coulda had a few beers when the track went cold. Next time. I did finally have a nice face to face with Rick Betterly in the paddock. Great finally being able to chat in real life. Nice meeting you.
Again, for those here that didn’t attend, you really
missed one of the great DE’s of the season. So glad I finally went and it will be an annual stop on my never ending track tour each season. So much track time. It’s not often I get to empty a full tank of fuel in 1 session.
HCR, you guys rock. Thanks again for a real
good time. Already looking forward to next years Cups and Saucers.

dgrobs, told you before, will tell you again. You CAN go as FAR as you want. You're accumulating time at a great rate, just need to reduce focus on lap times (too big a measure), increase focus on the best execution of fundamental skills, making each decision and execution in the car the best it can be, add some urgency (no slack time) and it'll come...

Paul has hit the nail on the head. Make the consistency SO good that ALL the laps are good, and the best ones even incrementally better. Each time, and if not each time, over time...

Few folks are as dedicated to the craft, invest in themselves, their cars, the resources they use to measure and quantify their improvement (human and machine) as Frank and Paul are, but they're seeing the results!

I've seen a lot of folks discount themselves due to how late they started, perceived lesser aptitude compared to more experienced friends/pros, any number of reasons. But with work, proper practice and highly targeted goals for EACH on track session possible in an environment like this one, and they can surprise themselves with how good they can become!

It's SO much fun when that happens...

Dgrobs, you truly humble me, thank you. My own perception of my driving skills is far from yours!! I see and feel every single mistake out there and use it as fuel to improve.

ProCoach, thank you, again truly humbled....

Bruce, my first time at the Glen I ran 23's, next time was 15's, then I stopped investing in the car in terms of parts and did two things. 1 you are already doing and that is accrue seat time in close succession. IMHO, the driver who has 300 hours with 10 hours a year over 30 years has far less feel than the driver who does 100 hours over 3 years but that is just me... 2. Get a coach! Working with top caliber coaches is impossible to replicate. The amount of information I have absorbed is mind blowing and I would have never understood the fundamentals prior to advancing if it wasn't for that coaching.

Then hang out with people like Frank and ProCoach at dinner!!! In all seriousness, the amount you learn at the track by just listening is mind blowing.

Finally execute. Execute on one thing at a time until the muscle memory makes it second nature and move on. The key to all of those laps at the Glen was not trying... In all seriousness, being able to relax in the car vs forcing it was a 2 second a difference lap... You are already ahead of where I was at your point!

Thank you again, really appreciate all the comments and feedback immensely.

Speaking words of wisdom, Let it Be.....

Always a great event; I've been going for years and it never disappoints.
Excellent leadership group; always friendly and accommodating.

Bruce, it was great to meet you too.
See you at Tremblant!

Bruce, I was going to introduce myself but the line of people waiting to meet RL's newest celebrity was so long I figured I could wait until one of the 49 other track events you're going to attend this year. ;) Honestly, I figured there was still plenty of time left at the event to socialize. But lunch came and went and so did most of the drivers. I was on track until the bitter end. There were only 5 or 6 cars out there for the last hour. It was pretty sweet.

Paul's and Peter's words of advice are spot on. You are on the right path. Stick with it and you will surely reap the rewards.

I think I should start charging a cover just to meet me..LOL!!

It really is amazing to be around so many like minded people in one place. So cool...