Lone Star PCA at TWS Sept 12-13
09-08-2009, 06:28 PM
#76
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Location: Oegstgeest, the Netherlands
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Speaking of cash for clunkers, I've finally bit the bullet and put the C4 up on autotrader. Proceeds to go towards seats, harness/bar, hans, etc; the rest will go into a tire addiction fund. Already getting voicemails on it, but part of me doesn't want to return them. 
2002 C4 Cab for Sale
Looks sort of like this (trying to keep up with who ever just passed me)
2002 C4 Cab for Sale
Looks sort of like this (trying to keep up with who ever just passed me)
;-)
Joost
09-08-2009, 07:04 PM
#77
Drifting
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Location: Dallas/FortWorth Texas
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The problem with this is that no one ever wants to give up the Toyos, Hoosiers, etc and go slower in any given session because they don't want to get passed. We start relying on those R comps to keep up with the Jones in our imaginary DE competition! I've actually got an old cheapo set of street tires for my miata that I keep saying I'm going to put on for a track day and just go slower and slide it around a bit for car control practice.
BTW, I'll add another to your list: Practice left foot braking (if you aren't already using it).
BTW, I'll add another to your list: Practice left foot braking (if you aren't already using it).
09-08-2009, 07:18 PM
#78
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Yes, Joost, I'll be quicker this time. I had barely 50 miles of seat time in the car last time, and was cooking the Pilot Sport 2's by the 3rd lap of each session. I was easily staying ahead of you and others on the straight, but was letting anyone who was close go by since the the outcome at the next turn was inevitable.
09-08-2009, 08:18 PM
#79
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I seem to remember saying the same thing: They give you a hard time for not giving passing signals and then they give you a hard time FOR giving passing signals. Nah, it just seems that way.
09-08-2009, 11:02 PM
#80
The Penguin King
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- Turn off all driver aids
- Use street tires
- Downshift to no lower than 3rd gear
- Drive a racing line instead of the optimum line.
- Simulate a unexpected issue with the car (e.g. imagine that your clutch pedal just broke off (so remove it)... can you still drive smoothly with only half of the pedal surface area?
- Imagine that you're in a P1 car at an ALMS event
- Become an instructor, and teach us bastards how to use our mirrors.
Drive the completely "wrong" line. -- Going CW take T3, & T4 on the inside line and pretend there is a car right next to you. CCW try taking T7 the same way.
09-08-2009, 11:42 PM
#81
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OK, I take it back. Great point by! Nice form too!
09-08-2009, 11:47 PM
#82
The Penguin King
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I meant take T7 CCW pretending there is a car next to you. Come in on the extreme right hand side of the track, and hold that line all the way through it. It's much slower, but it's fun way to challenge yourself. Plus it freaks everyone else out when you do it. They'll be thinking "WFT IS HE DOING". Of course most people following me are thinking that anyway.
09-09-2009, 12:02 AM
#83
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I meant take T7 CCW pretending there is a car next to you. Come in on the extreme right hand side of the track, and hold that line all the way through it. It's much slower, but it's fun way to challenge yourself. Plus it freaks everyone else out when you do it. They'll be thinking "WFT IS HE DOING". Of course most people following me are thinking that anyway.
You know, there are doctors that can help you with that invisible-car-next-to-you paranoia thing
09-09-2009, 06:25 PM
#85
Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackRain View Post
Won't be there due to business trip. See you guys in October :-(
Hope to see you on October then Steve..
JP
I'll be there in Oct hopefully with new ride.
Where's the weatherman for this weekend?
Originally Posted by BlackRain View Post
Won't be there due to business trip. See you guys in October :-(
Hope to see you on October then Steve..
JP
I'll be there in Oct hopefully with new ride.
Where's the weatherman for this weekend?
09-09-2009, 11:27 PM
#86
The Penguin King
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09-10-2009, 01:37 PM
#87
I'm in.
However, I start to worry about the increasing number of participants. We are now over 30 cars in white run group, and 65 in red! It's good to have a lot of instructors, but when the track gets too crowded, a lot of the red group drivers go out in white in stead. Also, the driving skills in white run group varies too much, and the slower ones are more busy looking ahead than looking in their rear view mirrors. As much as I appreciate the LSR PCA DE events, I wish we could have something more challenging, without going all the way to club racing. Mike, you have been a DE mentor for a long time, and I see that you are on the ITS program for this DE. Is there a way we could gather enough elite drivers and rent a track for a day or two? With 20-30 drivers this would be affordable, and a lot of fun. What do you guys think?
See ya'll on Saturday!
However, I start to worry about the increasing number of participants. We are now over 30 cars in white run group, and 65 in red! It's good to have a lot of instructors, but when the track gets too crowded, a lot of the red group drivers go out in white in stead. Also, the driving skills in white run group varies too much, and the slower ones are more busy looking ahead than looking in their rear view mirrors. As much as I appreciate the LSR PCA DE events, I wish we could have something more challenging, without going all the way to club racing. Mike, you have been a DE mentor for a long time, and I see that you are on the ITS program for this DE. Is there a way we could gather enough elite drivers and rent a track for a day or two? With 20-30 drivers this would be affordable, and a lot of fun. What do you guys think?
See ya'll on Saturday!
1. Most instructors have a green student. The red run group is (usually) going out on track when green comes in, which means that you will miss part of your session at the minimum, more if you are talking to your green student after the session, which we usually are.
2. The first red session is first thing in the morning, when lots of instructors are still getting their cars ready, in a meeting, eating breakfast, sleeping in, whatever. The third red session is right after lunch. The last session is the last session of the day, when most people are getting tired, especially if you have two students. The run groups (and the entire event) are really structured for the _students_, not the instructors. (as it should be!)
3. Because an instructor is on track so much during the day with students, you have to fit your track time in where you can, and often that means running in another run group such as White. Yes, being able to run in other groups is one of the "privileges" of being an instructor, but it's really so that we can get a little bit of driving in our own car.
As for the different skill levels in White, the "slower ones looking ahead and not in their mirrors"... I completely disagree. I run in White quite a bit (because of #1-3 above), and I rarely notice an issue. Most of the White drivers, and I know the vast majority of them personally, are extremely courteous and ready with the point-by. (I know that I have to be ready with the point-by myself, even in White--there are some fast drivers/cars out there!)
If you really are not feeling challenged by doing DEs, then maybe it's time to step up to racing. Personally, I'm always learning how to drive better, and there's always something to work on to become a faster and smoother driver. Maybe you should get in the right seat of an instructor's car (especially one of the faster instructors), or even have an instructor drive your car for a few laps. That always opened my eyes (and still does) to how much potential there is left in my car...
--michael
09-10-2009, 02:44 PM
#88
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The red run group frequently has the _least_ number of cars on the track, for a number of reasons:
1. Most instructors have a green student. The red run group is (usually) going out on track when green comes in, which means that you will miss part of your session at the minimum, more if you are talking to your green student after the session, which we usually are.
2. The first red session is first thing in the morning, when lots of instructors are still getting their cars ready, in a meeting, eating breakfast, sleeping in, whatever. The third red session is right after lunch. The last session is the last session of the day, when most people are getting tired, especially if you have two students. The run groups (and the entire event) are really structured for the _students_, not the instructors. (as it should be!)
3. Because an instructor is on track so much during the day with students, you have to fit your track time in where you can, and often that means running in another run group such as White. Yes, being able to run in other groups is one of the "privileges" of being an instructor, but it's really so that we can get a little bit of driving in our own car.
As for the different skill levels in White, the "slower ones looking ahead and not in their mirrors"... I completely disagree. I run in White quite a bit (because of #1-3 above), and I rarely notice an issue. Most of the White drivers, and I know the vast majority of them personally, are extremely courteous and ready with the point-by. (I know that I have to be ready with the point-by myself, even in White--there are some fast drivers/cars out there!)
If you really are not feeling challenged by doing DEs, then maybe it's time to step up to racing. Personally, I'm always learning how to drive better, and there's always something to work on to become a faster and smoother driver. Maybe you should get in the right seat of an instructor's car (especially one of the faster instructors), or even have an instructor drive your car for a few laps. That always opened my eyes (and still does) to how much potential there is left in my car...
--michael
1. Most instructors have a green student. The red run group is (usually) going out on track when green comes in, which means that you will miss part of your session at the minimum, more if you are talking to your green student after the session, which we usually are.
2. The first red session is first thing in the morning, when lots of instructors are still getting their cars ready, in a meeting, eating breakfast, sleeping in, whatever. The third red session is right after lunch. The last session is the last session of the day, when most people are getting tired, especially if you have two students. The run groups (and the entire event) are really structured for the _students_, not the instructors. (as it should be!)
3. Because an instructor is on track so much during the day with students, you have to fit your track time in where you can, and often that means running in another run group such as White. Yes, being able to run in other groups is one of the "privileges" of being an instructor, but it's really so that we can get a little bit of driving in our own car.
As for the different skill levels in White, the "slower ones looking ahead and not in their mirrors"... I completely disagree. I run in White quite a bit (because of #1-3 above), and I rarely notice an issue. Most of the White drivers, and I know the vast majority of them personally, are extremely courteous and ready with the point-by. (I know that I have to be ready with the point-by myself, even in White--there are some fast drivers/cars out there!)
If you really are not feeling challenged by doing DEs, then maybe it's time to step up to racing. Personally, I'm always learning how to drive better, and there's always something to work on to become a faster and smoother driver. Maybe you should get in the right seat of an instructor's car (especially one of the faster instructors), or even have an instructor drive your car for a few laps. That always opened my eyes (and still does) to how much potential there is left in my car...
--michael
Great post!
I'm always amazed at the energy our instructors have to cater to the needs of their students and still manage to prep their own cars and get their own seat time in. We're lucky to have such a great group of LSR instructors; as far as I'm concerned, you guys can run in any run group you like!
09-10-2009, 02:52 PM
#89
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09-10-2009, 03:41 PM
#90
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Thread Starter
The red run group frequently has the _least_ number of cars on the track, for a number of reasons:
1. Most instructors have a green student. The red run group is (usually) going out on track when green comes in, which means that you will miss part of your session at the minimum, more if you are talking to your green student after the session, which we usually are.
2. The first red session is first thing in the morning, when lots of instructors are still getting their cars ready, in a meeting, eating breakfast, sleeping in, whatever. The third red session is right after lunch. The last session is the last session of the day, when most people are getting tired, especially if you have two students. The run groups (and the entire event) are really structured for the _students_, not the instructors. (as it should be!)
3. Because an instructor is on track so much during the day with students, you have to fit your track time in where you can, and often that means running in another run group such as White. Yes, being able to run in other groups is one of the "privileges" of being an instructor, but it's really so that we can get a little bit of driving in our own car.
As for the different skill levels in White, the "slower ones looking ahead and not in their mirrors"... I completely disagree. I run in White quite a bit (because of #1-3 above), and I rarely notice an issue. Most of the White drivers, and I know the vast majority of them personally, are extremely courteous and ready with the point-by. (I know that I have to be ready with the point-by myself, even in White--there are some fast drivers/cars out there!)
If you really are not feeling challenged by doing DEs, then maybe it's time to step up to racing. Personally, I'm always learning how to drive better, and there's always something to work on to become a faster and smoother driver. Maybe you should get in the right seat of an instructor's car (especially one of the faster instructors), or even have an instructor drive your car for a few laps. That always opened my eyes (and still does) to how much potential there is left in my car...
--michael
1. Most instructors have a green student. The red run group is (usually) going out on track when green comes in, which means that you will miss part of your session at the minimum, more if you are talking to your green student after the session, which we usually are.
2. The first red session is first thing in the morning, when lots of instructors are still getting their cars ready, in a meeting, eating breakfast, sleeping in, whatever. The third red session is right after lunch. The last session is the last session of the day, when most people are getting tired, especially if you have two students. The run groups (and the entire event) are really structured for the _students_, not the instructors. (as it should be!)
3. Because an instructor is on track so much during the day with students, you have to fit your track time in where you can, and often that means running in another run group such as White. Yes, being able to run in other groups is one of the "privileges" of being an instructor, but it's really so that we can get a little bit of driving in our own car.
As for the different skill levels in White, the "slower ones looking ahead and not in their mirrors"... I completely disagree. I run in White quite a bit (because of #1-3 above), and I rarely notice an issue. Most of the White drivers, and I know the vast majority of them personally, are extremely courteous and ready with the point-by. (I know that I have to be ready with the point-by myself, even in White--there are some fast drivers/cars out there!)
If you really are not feeling challenged by doing DEs, then maybe it's time to step up to racing. Personally, I'm always learning how to drive better, and there's always something to work on to become a faster and smoother driver. Maybe you should get in the right seat of an instructor's car (especially one of the faster instructors), or even have an instructor drive your car for a few laps. That always opened my eyes (and still does) to how much potential there is left in my car...
--michael
Russell, that looks niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice!
Professional Racing and Driving Coach