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Just finished my first DE, I attended the Zone 1 @ Watkins Glen.
First the Thank you:
Zone 1 PCA did a great job, 200+ cars in multiple groups.
It was Safe, Organized, Educational and a Great Time !!
WGI, this world class facility did not disappoint.
The grounds, restaurant, garage, everything was keep up to exemplary level.
My Instructor
This person had decades of experience in driver instruction and it showed.
If this level of instructor ability is the standard in which I or anyone should expect at their first DE, wow, about sums it up!
From the beginning, our conversations, in which he asked "What do I want to come away with after Sunday", and really listening to each other was a great start.
He started with explaining seat position, feet position on the pedals, correct arm length to steering wheel and hand placement.
He drove my car first, at a very moderate pace explaining to line of track and where my vision should be as we go around the course. The next lap, was at a brisk pace, not fast, explaining to me what I was feeling in my butt, as the suspension began to load while progressing through the turns
. POINT HERE, I owned the car for two years, I have felt this, but did not know what it really was!!
Now, we pull in the pits and switch, I should mention here, he did go over track edicate, I get in and off we go.
The GREEN GROUP, (novice) had four runs on Saturday and three on Sunday.
First two on Saturday, dry track, second two raining. Sunday, first two wet track and last dry track.
I had a little bit of timidness to participate in the rain, my instructor left it up to me and said if I feel uncomfortable, we will just come in.
By the end of the first day, my driving ability improved to the point of engaging with the turns smoother in the rain than when first starting on dry track.
Now, I do have to say, I did not notice myself improving that much, but with the CALM verbal coaching via head sets I was receiving was sinking in, but didn't know it, if that makes any sense???
Sunday morning another discussion before any track time going over the previous day, what things I needed to improve on, one was smoother down shifts while braking and entering corners, trying to make them feel seamless.
Also a little bit harder braking before hitting the corner, then maintaining level load on suspension through very moderate acceleration before the apex, then bringing the car to hard acceleration at the apex, something I did not think was possible, but YUP, it is.
SUMMARY
I have read numerous posts about DE events.
I feel bad for the folks who were not able to have an experience like mine.
From here, I am not sure what to expect, if I were to do another DE.
It was first time going to an ice cream shop and getting a banana split, should I expect that every time??
__________________ -Peter Krause www.peterkrause.net www.gofasternow.com
"Combining the Art and Science of Driving Fast!"
Specializing in Professional, Private Driver Performance Evaluation and Optimization
Consultation Available Remotely and at VIRginia International Raceway
Say good-bye to your significant other and kids if you have any and welcome down the path.
Glad you had a good instructor. Most instructors instruct because they are passionate about it and want to pass it along and give back. Accordingly, you rarely get a "bad" instructor.
Remember to resist the urge to progress quickly up the run group ladder so that you can drive solo. This is the cheapest instruction you are going to get so hold onto it as long as you can.
Say good-bye to your significant other and kids if you have any and welcome down the path.
Glad you had a good instructor. Most instructors instruct because they are passionate about it and want to pass it along and give back. Accordingly, you rarely get a "bad" instructor.
Remember to resist the urge to progress quickly up the run group ladder so that you can drive solo. This is the cheapest instruction you are going to get so hold onto it as long as you can.
Congratulations on your first DE event. Very, very happy that it was as enjoyable, fun, safe and comfortable as it should be. Sounds like you had a great instructor. And yes - there are a lot of very good instructors who have spent years giving back what others have given to them. It also sounds like you were as good a student as you your instructor could have hoped for. This is supposed to be fun for everyone after all.
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Have a great time in the coming years. Enjoy your car. Enjoy the track. Learn more about yourself. Enjoy this new world. It sounds like you are thoughtfully well placed on a good, fun path.
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Enjoy it.. Thats the only reason to do this.
I'm glad you had a great time. We had a really great group of instructors, students, and solo drivers. Now you have the hook in, I'm sure we'll hear much more about you heading out to the track.
I had noticed your car because the roll bar was painted to match the body color. It's really sharp!
This is my first post here. I'm a regular on Planet-9 but it seems nobody there went to this event.
This was my second-ever DE and first at Watkins Glen and it was amazing!!!
Chris De Graffenried was my instructor and I was completely happy to have him with me. I tried to absorb as much info as I could from him and it seems to have worked. By the end, I was finally able to shift to 5th before the bus stop.
A big thank-you goes out to everyone involved in setting up this event. I really had the time of my life!
Happy to hear that you had a great time for the 1st time.
Yesterday was my 1st instructor day with my collegue driving my race boxster.
He had 2 previous DE in him so i didnt start from the beginning.
I had so much fun teaching him and see the experience gained over the end of the day and today.
I also jumped in every group session to check other drivers. They were all glad someone was in the car with them. I pointed some problems and ajustments were made accordingly.
05-23-2016, 02:24 PM
Review of my first ever DE
