hinchcliffe

From: Smith, Eiron
Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2006 9:06 AM
To: Smith, Eiron
Subject: NEWLY RELEASED DVD UNVEILS THE SECRETS OF THE GLEN


NEWLY RELEASED DVD UNVEILS THE SECRETS OF THE GLEN


COPIES NOW AVAILABLE AT "THE SHOP"


Watkins Glen, NY (April 11, 2006) - Watkins Glen International and Kollins
Communications announced the release of Speed Secrets at "The GlenR" the
official instructional DVD narrated by automotive journalist and longtime
veteran of racing at Watkins Glen International, Brock Yates.


Discover the secrets of driving Watkins Glen International's world famous
road course as Brock Yates instructs you turn by turn. Perfect your line as
you turn through the 90, tear up the Esses and navigate the Boot. A team of
experienced drivers and instructors has put their collective knowledge
together to make this DVD a tool you will use time and time again.


"We wanted to create an instructional video that would actually be a
standard of reference for driving The Glen whether you're a novice car club
driver or a NASCAR driver," said Dick Martin, producer of the DVD. "The
aerial shots give a perspective that really helps understand this
challenging track, especially when coordinated with the in-car and wheel cam
shots."


Speed Secrets at "The GlenR" is the product of over a year's work and is
packed with information. Novice, intermediate or advanced drivers will use
this interactive DVD to hone their skills, learn the history of Watkins Glen
and get a feel for what it is like to drive the famous race course.


"The enthusiastic response to this project has been exciting," says Kim
Hurley, Retail Manager for Watkins Glen International. "Drivers, students
and fans are making Speed Secrets at "The GlenR" a permanent part of their
racing libraries. Kollins Communications has made this the 'Must Have' tool
for anyone who loves to race at Watkins Glen International!"


Check out a sample of the action at www.TheGlen.com and get your copy
of Speed Secrets at "The GlenR" today! For $34.95 you too can learn what
NASCAR NEXTEL Cup stars like Tony Stewart, or 2005 Watkins Glen Indy Grand
Prix champ Scott Dixon know regarding the twists and turns of this storied
road course. Stop in to The Shop at 2 North Franklin Street in downtown
Watkins Glen or call 866-461-RACE and use option 5 or visit www.theglen.com.


The Shop is the location for Official Watkins Glen InternationalR
merchandise, Race Tickets and now Speed Secrets at "The GlenR". The Shop -
2 North Franklin Street, Watkins Glen, NY 14891. 607-535-2338. Watkins Glen
International is considered The Soul of American Road Racing.


-30-


Media Contact: Eiron Smith at 607-535-2486 ext. 354 or via e-mail at
esm...@theglen.com

Phokaioglaukos

I'm all in favor of educational videos, having watched Larry Herman's lap of WGI about 25 times, but I won't be ordering this one until some of the instructors here weigh in on its quality.

Two items in the trailer concerned me. First, they mispelled "demystifying" as "demistifying." I don't like mist on the track either, but this video is not going to help with mist. Second, in turn 2 the trailer suggests apexing a car width from the track edge. That is not what my instructors have taught me, and it sure doesn't look like what Larry is doing in his video.

hinchcliffe

Funny thing is in the trailer it looks like the car late apexes it just before headed up hill, which is how I do it.

SDSmith

I was there the days they filmed it driving my Spec Miata. I might have to buy just to see if I'm in any shots......

Professor Helmüt Tester

There are several places at the Glen where 'blowing the apex' is important to maintaining momentum and shortening the trip around the corner. HPDE teaches "apex at the edge of the pavement", and that's fine for HPDE. In Racer-land, it ain't that simple.

If you are not having a problem making the 'left' as you cross the tunnel, then dragging the car to the apex in T2 is a waste of time and speed. There are three forces working there...can you name them ?

In pretty much everything in the fleet, I'm flat all the way from the exit of T1 to the Bus Stop, and have grabbed 4th gear just before the crossover gate between T1 & T2. Diving for the apex in T2 will cost you significant speed up the hill and onto the back straight. Add it up and it's several car lengths by the time you get to the Bus Stop. How brave you are all depends on how 'marble-y' the outside of T2 is...

If I'm right on somebody's *** in T1, I love watching them dive for the apex in T2, cuz I know I'll beat them to the Bus Stop.

Phokaioglaukos

This is helpful. Where are the other places to miss the apex, out of curiousity? I say curiousity because I have much learning to go before I am flat out from T1 to the bus stop. Once I can consistently drive the line using all of the track at that speed I'll consider advnaced and racer's lines....

Larry Herman

Thanks for the plug Chris. I watch the trailer a couple of times and I am not certain why Yates advocates that line. He says "depending on your car, and it's speed, you can be almost a full car width away from the curbing". Maybe he is specifically referring to a lower hp car like the BMW in the illustration. Maybe he feels like it scrubs off speed going all the way into the turn. In any event, he does not explain why, and the "do as I say because I'm the expert" approach has never really worked for me. If you cannot tell me exactly why, then your information is of lesser value.

I know that I need every inch of road inside to keep my car from climbing over the road crown on the way up to turn 3. If you crest that crown (towards the left) too early, you are in for a wall banging experience, especially in a car as fast as a GT3.

I would love to see more though, especially how he takes the bus stop and turn 6. That would really show me the value of his video.

renvagn

I just ordered it. if I pick up 1-2 pointers it will be worth it. I also watched larry's sessions about 20 times for my first trip to the track. It helped a great deal and made the drive in the wet that much quicker. Day two was really wet and with the help of Dwyane Ball I learned to drive off line. I am banking after watching the snipit, they are going to disect the heck out of the track from the amature to pro drivers perspective line. I will be watching larry's sessions and the tape for May. Hopefully it will be dry.

Phokaioglaukos

My pleasure, Larry. I know your time at the Glen (2:08) in your car and the last time I was there you were good enough to ride with me in my similar car, so for me that's the gold standard of instruction. I'm eager to hear what others think of this DVD. In fact, I'd gladly spring for a copy if we could get a couple of the instructors in the area to all watch it and comment. A plan begins to form....

Larry Herman

If you beer them, they will come!

And what the knowledgable "Perfessor" said about not losing speed in T2 is another way of looking at it. I was approaching it from staying flatout in a high HP car. I guess that I will have to re-educate myself now that I am back to only 300 hp.

ngoldrich

I ordered it as well - hopefully it will be beneficial...

Norm

ZBlue996Kam

Larry:

Are you sure you have 300 hp in your RSA? If it has 300hp, would it still be in C?

Kam

Larry Herman

I don't know, Kam. 280, 290, 300...who knows? All I can say for sure is that it will be about as good as it gets for a stock blueprinted 964 3.6, and it will not be anything like my old GT3.

Phokaioglaukos

Looking to put this together for the RTR area next month. I'll order a copy of the DVD tomorrow.

Bill935K3

Looks to me that the line is right but the discription could be better. IE

It is a throw away corner,
Turn in very late and hit apex very late and then hold the car on right edge until turn in point for 3