Garage Heroes In Training

Our podcast is trying to encourage people to try high performance driving and racing, so Vicki wanted to start a special series she calls "So You Wanna Racecar". In this episode, we go into the dark recesses of Bill's mind and enter the world of Lists. We have lists for what tools to bring if it is an HPDE or an endurance race, what parts to bring, what to pack for the paddock, etc, etc. All will be available on our website at www.GarageHeroesInTraining.com and we update them at least once a season as we learn. On this episode, we start with a shorter list of things we bring to an HPDE. The list is shorter because the event is much less taxing on the vehicle and our HPDE cars tend to be newer or running better than our race cars (but we are working on that diligently) so they tend to require less work to keep running or to repair. We hope this gives you a good foundation to develop your own set of lists for tools, etc since every car has specific needs and issues, each team will have a different list after time to fit their own needs.

Please let us know if we missed anything that you may want discussed in a future episode of our Racing 101 Series.

The outline for the series is:

Part 1: Building Your First Race Car (and options to not)

Part 2: Safety and Safety Related Equipment Needed

Part 3: Best Entry Points To Start Performance Driving

Part 4: Buying and Selling Cars (With Special Guest Lara Vernon)

Part 5: Going To and From The Event/Track – What To Expect

Part 6: Paddock and Pit – Best Practices

Part 7: Perspective of a New Driver (With Guest Adam Owens)

Part 8: Tools, Spares, Supplies Needed for a Race Weekend

Part 9: Common Issues All Drivers Will/May Experience in When On Track For the First Time

Part 10: Miscellaneous Topics (& Things We Forget to Mention Earlier)

On this episode of Dominating with Dawson we cover what a Point By is, how to use it on a track, and how to respond to one if you are in the car being pointed by. It is a very useful tool on track for controlling passing and controlling traffic on the track. When used well, the event is more enjoyable for all. When used poorly, or not at all, it can often lead to tension and stress by all the drivers affected. We even have our first ever episode of GHIT Jeopardy. Vicki is somewhat less than pleased, but it is rapidly taking over the racing world.

You can subscribe to our podcast on the podcast provider of your choice, including the Apple podcast app, Google music, Amazon, and YouTube etc.

Also, if you could give our podcast a (5-star?) rating or even better, a podcast review, we would greatly appreciate it and it would help us to grow the passion and sport of high performance driving.

For instance, leaving an Apple Podcast rating is very easy. If you go to your podcast library, under shows and click on the podcast you can leave a (5?) star rating and enter your review.

A link to the episode is: https://tinyurl.com/Racing101Part8

We hope you enjoy this episode!

PS Please don't forget that if you are looking to add an Apex Pro to your driving telemetry system, don't forget to use our discount code for all Apex Pro systems you will receive a free Windshield Suction Cup Mount for the system, a savings of $40. Just enter the code "ghitlikesapex!" when you order. We have two systems for our team and Bill is looking to add a third for this season, pending CFO approval from Vicki. They are a great system and truly invaluable in safely increasing your speed on track and/or autocross etc.

Best regards,

Vicki, Jennifer, Alan, and Bill

Hosts of the Garage Heroes In Training Podcast and Garage Heroes In Training racing team drivers

Highlights from this episode include:

1) We go into the recent track visit Jennifer had. Unfortunately, it was not racing related.

2) Vicki starts to discuss our new themes but won't share any details until they are unveiled.

3) Vicki and Alan have been working hard on the El Jeffe race truck for our upcoming race at PittRace and so far, things look like we are on schedule. We still have a bit of mechanical and fabrication to do, as well as a full re-theme. Fingers crossed.

4) Bill goes into the way that we break down tools by the event. We have different tools and part needs depending on what car or cars we are bringing and the type of event.

5) Some valuable advice on how we budget our tools and think about what type we keep in the garage and what we take with us to the track. We are not as random as we appear. lol.

6) The basics are a socket set, a wrench set, and a set of screwdrivers. Things tend to grow quickly from there, but don't forget, you can usually borrow tools if you are new at the track from your new friends that you will meet at the track.

7) One key decision is the ecosystem of your battery powered tools. Try to make sure to try to stay within a single family and minimize the battery cost. So review what tools you think you will need and like and make sure as many as possible of them are available.

8) Vicki also goes into her favorite Little Tykes Chair.

9) Bill also covers the ways that we have found to organize a drawer the best.

Additional Information and Links:

Detailed Car Repair and Maintenance Manuals (usually ~$25-30): www.emanualonline.com

Our podcast is trying to encourage people to try high performance driving and racing, so Vicki wanted to start a special series she calls "So You Wanna Racecar". On this episode, we have Adam Owens on to talk about his first track events he had last summer. Adam has a lot of fresh memories from these events and is a good friend of our team (and potentially future team GHiT member). In talking with Adam, it is even more apparent that the biggest thing stopping anyone from trying to drive at an autocross or a track event is just saying "yes" and doing it.

Please let us know if we missed anything that you may want discussed in a future episode of our Racing 101 Series.

The outline for the series is:

Part 1: Building Your First Race Car (and options to not)

Part 2: Safety and Safety Related Equipment Needed

Part 3: Best Entry Points To Start Performance Driving

Part 4: Buying and Selling Cars (With Special Guest Lara Vernon)

Part 5: Going To and From The Event/Track – What To Expect

Part 6: Paddock and Pit – Best Practices

Part 7: Perspective of a New Driver (With Guest Adam Owens)

Part 8: Tools, Spares, Supplies Needed for a Race Weekend

Part 9: Common Issues All Drivers Will/May Experience in When On Track For the First Time

Part 10: Miscellaneous Topics (& Things We Forget to Mention Earlier)

In this episode, we cover the differences between driving at an HPDE or a track day where you are more or less driving as singular cars on track vs driving on track and racing wheel to wheel vs other drivers and cars. Neither is better or worse, but they are different, and both offer different challenges. Largely the key difference is increasing the number of factors you need to keep track of and this increase proportionately to the number of cars on the track and the length of the track (overall car density). In addition, there are often car specific details and peculiarities that will need to be considered. Ben puts it best don't worry, "if you are on the track, you are already a winner". Start slow with zero pressure, keep to shorter stints until you are comfortable with going longer while maintaining focus. We are looking for any great stories from your first-time racing on track. Please let us know for a great future episode.

You can subscribe to our podcast on the podcast provider of your choice, including the Apple podcast app, Google music, Amazon, and YouTube etc.

Also, if you could give our podcast a (5-star?) rating or even better, a podcast review, we would greatly appreciate it and it would help us to grow the passion and sport of high performance driving.

For instance, leaving an Apple Podcast rating is very easy. If you go to your podcast library, under shows and click on the podcast you can leave a (5?) star rating and enter your review.

A link to the episode is: https://tinyurl.com/Racing101Part7

We hope you enjoy this episode!

PS Please don't forget that if you are looking to add an Apex Pro to your driving telemetry system, don't forget to use our discount code for all Apex Pro systems you will receive a free Windshield Suction Cup Mount for the system, a savings of $40. Just enter the code "ghitlikesapex!" when you order. We have two systems for our team and Bill is looking to add a third for this season, pending CFO approval from Vicki. They are a great system and truly invaluable in safely increasing your speed on track and/or autocross etc.

Best regards,

Vicki, Jennifer, Alan, and Bill

Hosts of the Garage Heroes In Training Podcast and Garage Heroes In Training racing team drivers

Highlights from this episode include:

1) Adam has done 1 day at a racing school, 1 HPDE, and 1 race to this point and is an enthusiastic racing driver in training. For his day job he is the host of the local radio morning show and we have significant audio quality envy of his audio quality. Post Covid, we will be reviewing our techniques with him.

2) Without any prompting, Adam says one of the issues he had in starting was how and where to get started. We are a bit biased, but we know of at least one podcast that is specifically aimed at this.

3) Adam's bucket list goal was to drive a car on the race track. Now he just wants to do it again! And again. And again.

4) We discuss with Adam the impacts of Covid on the past racing seasons and the upcoming 2021 season.

5) How Adam first went on track at NJMP. It was really as simple as a google search.

6) We also go into how Adam and Bill first "met" and how small a world it is in that one of the teams Adam has been on track with our good friends at Safety Third Motorsports.

7) Adam goes into how it felt to be on the track for the first time at an HPDE event and then his first time on track in a wheel to wheel race at a Champ car event. As always, it was a bit different than he expected.

8) Adams pro tip to this point: No Coffee before a stint.

9) We go into the advantages and disadvantages of renting/arrive and driving a car at the track. It's not only a fiscal transaction but also a chief concern is the safety aspects.

Additional Information and Links:

Rental Safety Suits: http://www.racesuitrental.com/

Lucky Dog Seat Rental: https://tinyurl.com/LuckyMatch

24 Hours of Lemons Seat Rental: https://tinyurl.com/LemonsMatch

ChampCar Seat Rentals: https://tinyurl.com/ChampMatch

Our podcast is trying to encourage people to try high performance driving and racing, so Vicki wanted to start a special series she calls "So You Wanna Racecar". For this episode, A lot of our fellow teams recognize that our paddock game is often better than our on track game so we could not escape our Racing 101 series without covering our paddock prep and processes at a race weekend.

Please let us know if we missed anything that you may want discussed in a future episode of our Racing 101 Series.

The outline for the series is:

Part 1: Building Your First Race Car (and options to not)

Part 2: Safety and Safety Related Equipment Needed

Part 3: Best Entry Points To Start Performance Driving

Part 4: Buying and Selling Cars (With Special Guest Lara Vernon)

Part 5: Going To and From The Event/Track – What To Expect

Part 6: Paddock and Pit – Best Practices

Part 7: Perspective of a New Driver (With Guest Adam Owens)

Part 8: Tools, Spares, Supplies Needed for a Race Weekend

Part 9: Common Issues All Drivers Will/May Experience in When On Track For the First Time

Part 10: Miscellaneous Topics (& Things We Forget to Mention Earlier)

In this episode of Dominating with Dawson, we discuss the idea of racing in the rain or on a wet track. We strongly feel that this is a great opportunity to learn since you will have less grip and go at lower speeds. It also reduces the amount of wear to your brake pads and tires. Try to view this as a great thing for everything related to learning except for taking pictures of you driving on the track. The central trick is to mentally approach it from a positive perspective.

You can subscribe to our podcast on the podcast provider of your choice, including the Apple podcast app, Google music, Amazon, and YouTube etc.

Also, if you could give our podcast a (5-star?) rating or even better, a podcast review, we would greatly appreciate it and it would help us to grow the passion and sport of high performance driving.

For instance, leaving an Apple Podcast rating is very easy. If you go to your podcast library, under shows and click on the podcast you can leave a (5?) star rating and enter your review.

A link to the episode is: https://tinyurl.com/Racing101Part4

We hope you enjoy this episode!

PS Please don't forget that if you are looking to add an Apex Pro to your driving telemetry system, don't forget to use our discount code for all Apex Pro systems you will receive a free Windshield Suction Cup Mount for the system, a savings of $40. Just enter the code "ghitlikesapex!" when you order. We have two systems for our team and Bill is looking to add a third for this season, pending CFO approval from Vicki. They are a great system and truly invaluable in safely increasing your speed on track and/or autocross etc.

Best regards,

Vicki, Jennifer, Alan, and Bill

Hosts of the Garage Heroes In Training Podcast and Garage Heroes In Training racing team drivers

Highlights from this episode include:

1) Bill ends up sleeping in the bathtub right from the start

2) We start off with several of the more popular options for where to stay at or near the track, hotels, RV's, rental RVs', local campgrounds, etc. We go over some of our experiences and preferences, as well as several of th factors to think about for each potential option.

3) There are also options for where to set up you paddock area at the track. Many tracks have enclosed garages that are available for rent. Almost all have electrical hookups as well.

4) Paddock organization strategies we have found to work for our team, as well as when we have had shared paddocks with several other teams and friends. As with the pit area and track area, we find it helpful to have a Paddock King/Queen to lead everyone, as well as several other jobs within the team.

5) If you have ever wondered about what supplies you should or could bring, we have what we have found to work best. Your mileage may vary and you can add or remove as fits your team. We tend to have a large number of team members at our races, so we may have a lot of things that your team may not need every time, but we wanted to be inclusive.

6) Vicki and Jennifer sprinkle in several tips and tricks that we have learned, developed, and stolen from other teams and paddocks.

7) Water, drinks, food, plates, cuttletry, masseuses, seating, tents, etc are all discussed. Add in seerla great tips of things to bring with you and things that are easier to pick up at or near the track.

8) Since at most tracks if you are staying on site you are essentially dry camping, there are a ton of tips and tricks that have been used by campers for years.

9) If there was one key word for this it would be to pre-prep whenever possible.

10) Breakfast tips, Lunch tips, and Dinner tips, including crock pots and crock pot liners, as well as snacks and things you can easily grab on the go.

11) We have also found that having a few white boards to be invaluable for communicating within our team. Each one will cover an individual area. The three we use routinely are our on track related schedule (planned and updated), any tools/parts/supplies needed, and Car Issues/Upgrades that need to be addressed at or after the race. The big thing is to communicate as well as you can as a team, under stress, and often scattered across the race track, paddock area, and local towns/parts stores, lol.

12) Totes and kitting your tools, parts, and supplies are critical to being able to quickly perform many of the more common jobs without having to scramble and look for various items and supplies, wasting time. An added step that should not be skipped is labelling the totes and kits with labels from a label maker or on post it that have been taped over to make them waterproof.

13) Tools and parts are a critical aspect that we cover quickly in this episode. We have an entire episode dedicated to this area in an upcoming Racing 101 episode.

14) We are still looking for a good solution for keeping our hands warm while racing in the rain, especially when its cold and rainy.

Additional Information and Links:

Our recommended and prioritized checklists are available on our website at: https://garageheroesintraining.com/racing-checklists/

Several of our favorite recipes can be found on our website: www.GarageHeroesInTraining.com

Homemade Meatballs and sauce (for sandwiches etc):

Chicken Fajita

Steak Fajita

Hawaiian/Kalua Pulled Pork

Pancakes

Smores

Track Map

Tool Lists:

Little Tikes Chairs:

Our podcast is always trying to encourage people to try high performance driving and racing, so Vicki wanted to start a special series she calls "So You Wanna Racecar". On this episode, we go over a list of the most common errors and issues that a first time driver may have on track. We taped the episode in two pieces and the editor (Bill) was not able to hide it well. We apologize. Do not fear or feel bad about any and all of these areas. These are the most commonly seen areas that you will be working to improve on at your events.

Please let us know if we missed anything that you may want discussed in a future episode of our Racing 101 Series.

The outline for the series is:

Part 1: Building Your First Race Car (and options to not)

Part 2: Safety and Safety Related Equipment Needed

Part 3: Best Entry Points To Start Performance Driving

Part 4: Buying and Selling Cars (With Special Guest Lara Vernon)

Part 5: Going To and From The Event/Track – What To Expect

Part 6: Paddock and Pit – Best Practices

Part 7: Perspective of a New Driver (With Guest Adam Owens)

Part 8: Tools, Spares, Supplies Needed for a Race Weekend

Part 9: Common Issues All Drivers Will/May Experience in When On Track For the First Time

Part 10: Miscellaneous Topics (& Things We Forget to Mention Earlier)

On this episode of Dominating with Dawson, we go over one of the most important topics related to racing, your confidence in the car that you are driving. There are a variety of ways to build confidence and as your confidence builds, your comfort will increase, and the focus can be applied to the driving of the car and the driving of your competitors and the race craft of passing and setting up passes of the other cars on track. This includes both car set up as well as familiarity of the car and track.

You can subscribe to our podcast on the podcast provider of your choice, including the Apple podcast app, Google music, Amazon, and YouTube etc.

Also, if you could give our podcast a (5-star?) rating or even better, a podcast review, we would greatly appreciate it and it would help us to grow the passion and sport of high performance driving.

For instance, leaving an Apple Podcast rating is very easy. If you go to your podcast library, under shows and click on the podcast you can leave a (5?) star rating and enter your review.

A link to the episode is: https://tinyurl.com/Racing101Part9

We hope you enjoy this episode!

PS Please don't forget that if you are looking to add an Apex Pro to your driving telemetry system, don't forget to use our discount code for all Apex Pro systems you will receive a free Windshield Suction Cup Mount for the system, a savings of $40. Just enter the code "ghitlikesapex!" when you order. We have two systems for our team and Bill is looking to add a third for this season, pending CFO approval from Vicki. They are a great system and truly invaluable in safely increasing your speed on track and/or autocross etc.

Best regards,

Vicki, Jennifer, Alan, and Bill

Hosts of the Garage Heroes In Training Podcast and Garage Heroes In Training racing team drivers

Highlights from this episode include:

1) Bill still messes up the series name. He is still dreaming about winning a race car for some reason. lol.

2) Awareness: The first area we go over is the awareness of the surroundings. Especially on your first events there is a lot of information coming at you seemingly all at once. It's normal, but as you progress, try to focus on the flags and the other cars and the track (lines and marks etc). It will gradually become natural.

3) Driver: The next area is what the driver is doing, gripping the wheel too tightly, not breathing, focusing on the rear view mirror etc. Try to be on time, ideally a few minutes early and prepare as you would for any physically demanding activity, ideally well rested and ready to perform.

4) Eyes: The eyes are an area of your driving that will require focus the first day, as well as the 10,000th day. It is an area of constant awareness and will be something you will work on your entire driving career. Specifically try to look far into the car's future path and scan the entire area around your car and its path, as well as your fellow drivers.

5) Feet: The inputs into your pedals, especially the brakes are commonly not optimized for track driving with your years of street driving experience and habits. Also, the throttle/gas pedal as well as the clutch are other areas where most will struggle initially.

6) Hands: Mostly in the area of steering your car, but also shifting, positioning of the seat, the way you keep your hands on the wheel while turning.

7) Seat and Seat belts: Key to being able to control your car is your seating position and being secure and stable while driving at speed.

8) Miscellaneous/Other: There are a few other items that did not fit into the above criteria, but are worth mentioning.

9) Again, it is worth mentioning that these errors are nothing to worry about or think poorly of yourself. These are the most common things that we see and they are the normal areas that you will be working on improving at the events.

10) Eyes and errors in what and where you are looking. Typical issues are not looking far enough into the future or on focusing on a single target point. This is especially prevalent for the first time on track. Also focusing on the mirrors more than going forward and taking care of your driving line.

11) Also, especially for your first event, plan on preparing for this like an athletic event so staying adequately rested and controlling the social/party atmosphere are important in performing well and staying sharp.

12) Remember that other cars can be a resource to learn from, but not always a resource that teaches you what to do, many will be teaching you what not to do.

13) We also cover several of the typical areas of braking, both application, timing/sequencing, and release, that are very different from street driving versus track driving and key to progressing.

14) Another aspect of track driving that is significantly different from street driving is the application of the throttle, especially the application rate when driving cars with higher horsepower and torque.

15) We lost our amazing transition to errors using your hands/steering related errors due to technical issues with the recording. We apologize for the loss.

16) Another aspect of driving on track is the position and comfort of the driving position for the driver. This is usually closer to the steering wheel than street driving and there are several tips given to assist in minimizing the effort of driving and maximizing your car control.

17) Vicki learns a new term, the "Money Shift". This is to be avoided at almost any cost.

18) And don't forget the golden rule: "Don't be a jerk" at the event or you will be "that guy" and nobody ever wants to be that guy (or girl)

Our podcast is trying to encourage people to try high performance driving and racing, so Vicki wanted to start a special series she calls "So You Wanna Racecar". On this episode, we go over a typical track visit from arriving at the gate to departing at the conclusion of the event. It's like you get to experience everything about racing on a track without the thrill of driving, and without the post-race hangover from your adrenaline crash. The goal of this episode is to help you to be prepared for what usually happens when you visit a track for the first time and hopefully reduce some of the anxiety of going into the "unknown".

Please let us know if we missed anything that you may want discussed in a future episode of our Racing 101 Series.

The outline for the series is:

Part 1: Building Your First Race Car (and options to not)

Part 2: Safety and Safety Related Equipment Needed

Part 3: Best Entry Points To Start Performance Driving

Part 4: Buying and Selling Cars (With Special Guest Lara Vernon)

Part 5: Going To and From The Event/Track – What To Expect

Part 6: Paddock and Pit – Best Practices

Part 7: Perspective of a New Driver (With Guest Adam Owens)

Part 8: Tools, Spares, Supplies Needed for a Race Weekend

Part 9: Common Issues All Drivers Will/May Experience in When On Track For the First Time

Part 10: Miscellaneous Topics (& Things We Forget to Mention Earlier)

On this episode of Dominating with Dawson, we go into the seeming obsession in the paddock with late braking for turns. If it is your first time on track, please don't try to push your brake points to the very last minute. Leave some room and focus more on your corner apex and exit. It is much faster and much safer, especially early on in your career of driving a track.

You can subscribe to our podcast on the podcast provider of your choice, including the Apple podcast app, Google music, Amazon, and YouTube etc.

Also, if you could give our podcast a (5-star?) rating or even better, a podcast review, we would greatly appreciate it and it would help us to grow the passion and sport of high performance driving.

For instance, leaving an Apple Podcast rating is very easy. If you go to your podcast library, under shows and click on the podcast you can leave a (5?) star rating and enter your review.

A link to the episode is: https://tinyurl.com/Racing101Part5

We hope you enjoy this episode!

PS Please don't forget that if you are looking to add an Apex Pro to your driving telemetry system, don't forget to use our discount code for all Apex Pro systems you will receive a free Windshield Suction Cup Mount for the system, a savings of $40. Just enter the code "ghitlikesapex!" when you order. We have two systems for our team and Bill is looking to add a third for this season, pending CFO approval from Vicki. They are a great system and truly invaluable in safely increasing your speed on track and/or autocross etc.

Best regards,

Vicki, Jennifer, Alan, and Bill

Hosts of the Garage Heroes In Training Podcast and Garage Heroes In Training racing team drivers

Highlights from this episode include:

1) Our goal is to reduce some of the flood of information that occurs when you first go to the track for your first event.

2) Bill provides a tip to answering the dreaded question of "Do I look fat in this dress" and also goes into potentially what may be the worst response to the question.

3) Our team is founded on checklists and we provide several examples of what we use on our website at: www.GarageHeroesInTraining.com. Hot tip though, having a checklist that you don't bring with you or use won't help you at all.

4) One of the tried and true sayings from our Lemons races "Numbers are hard". Here are several tips that try to make them a bit easier.

5) Tips on garage and paddock layouts at the track.

6) We try to walk you through the point where you arrive at the track and all the way through the event. Many tracks and series have slightly different details and procedures, but we try to give an overview of many of the most common procedures.

7) We go through the tech inspection process of both the driver's safety equipment and the car's mechanical and safety tech inspection.

8) Tracks also will have varying ways that they hold their practice schedule and we try to give a couple of examples that are most common. It is important to make sure you know what the schedule is and make sure you can get the value for the expense. If it does work for you, especially if you are a new driver or new to the track, we recommend signing up and getting some laps on the track, often with only a few other cars on the track.

9) If you aren't familiar with them, track walks are a great way to learn the track, especially if you can tag along with a group who is familiar with the track. If you see us taking a track walk, please feel free to join us.

10) Our endurance races usually start Saturday morning until Saturday evening, pause, and then resume Sunday morning and finish Sunday evening. As such, Saturday mornings and Sunday mornings are very similar. Also, Friday evening and Saturday evening are usually similar, but often if things are going well, Saturday has a lot more social "opportunities" (read as parties) in the paddock.

11) Organizing the paddock and pilot area are key to getting the car prepped quickly and efficiently. Tips abound.

12) Most races end Sunday evening and the track closes in a few hours after that, so there are a few tips on prepping the paddock and pit area for departure to make this possible.

13) Try to get everything done as early as possible since there are often unforeseen issues and problems that arise unexpectedly. We give a few hypothetical examples we have "heard" about.

14) How did Bill get the nickname "toddler"

15) Some factors that may need to be considered when thinking about and setting up your driver line up, especially for the first stint.

16) There are also a few of the racing etiquette details sprinkled throughout the episode.

17) Bill gets several homework assignments for providing some lists on our website. It may take a bit, but they are coming and will be updated shortly. >

After a very long delay in editing, here is the episode we recorded several weeks ago (pre-Christmas) as a farewell wish to Jandy before he went on a long-term deployment. We did not expect to take as long editing, but we easily had triple the number of guests we have ever had and that made things a bit complicated. This is a fun episode with a good bit of Storytime from past racing events. Good luck to Jim on your deployment. We hope to see you back soon. And thank you so much for your service!

In this episode of Dominating with Dawson, we give and introduction to the basic braking techniques and when you should use them on a track. The typical braking technique that you use nearly every time on a public road is never the proper technique when you are driving on a track and concerned about your lap time. But here we describe the main types of braking that you will work to use on track as your experience grows. We even go into a few techniques that you may not want to use initially, but we think you should be aware of, even on day 1. The main technique that you will want to use at first is threshold braking. Then there will also be a few turns where you only want to brush brake or even just lift off the gas pedal or throttle. In addition, we introduce the concept of trail braking. We do not recommend working on trail braking on day one for most drivers, but at the same time, we also don't feel it is beneficial to be closed minded on only braking in a straight line. Especially if you have a more well developed braking proactive where you apply trail braking naturally. The key aspects to remember is to apply pressure quickly but not just stomp on the pedal to avoid upsetting the car or locking up the tires. Just as important is the concept of gradually releasing the brake pedal to help keep the car stable throughout the turn. Stomping on or popping off the brake pedal, as well as any of the pedals, is to be avoided.

As always, if you have any questions that you would like us to cover with Ben, please let us know in a (5 star?) podcast review or via email at [email protected] or in a comment on our social media.

You can subscribe to our podcast on the podcast provider of your choice, including the Apple podcast app, Google music, Amazon, and YouTube etc.

Also, if you could give our podcast a (5-star?) rating or even better, a podcast review, we would greatly appreciate it and it would help us to grow the passion and sport of high performance driving. For instance, leaving an Apple Podcast rating is very easy. If you go to your podcast library, under shows and click on the podcast you can leave a (5?) star rating and enter your review.

A link to the episode is: https://tinyurl.com/FarewellToJandy

We hope you enjoy this episode!

PS Please don't forget that if you are looking to add an Apex Pro to your driving telemetry system, don't forget to use our discount code for all Apex Pro systems you will receive a free Windshield Suction Cup Mount for the system, a savings of $40. Just enter the code "ghitlikesapex!" when you order. We have two systems for our team and Bill is looking to add a third for this season, pending CFO approval from Vicki. They are a great system and truly invaluable in safely increasing your speed on track and/or autocross etc.

Best regards,

Vicki, Jennifer, Alan, and Bill

Hosts of the Garage Heroes In Training Podcast and Garage Heroes In Training racing team drivers

Highlights from this episode include:

1) It took almost 15 minutes just to herd the cats, so we put that as a "bonus" after the credits rolled

2) Guest roll: Jeff Caplan/Ron Mexico, Ann Moran/Giggles, Ruth Bates/Master Bates, Patrick Mchugh/Richard "Dick" Freelane, two secret commando guests who will go by Pat and Chris, Matty/Opah, Taylor Purcell/The Droner Boner, Estaban/El Banos, Lara Vernon, and our guest of honor Jim Andy Jandy Webb.

3) Story time upon story time ensues. Most are examples of what not to do, so we aren't sure this episode will make you faster but it should make you laugh a few times.

We are getting back to our podcast roots and wanted to start a special series Vicki calls "So You Wanna Racecar" that Bill can't seem to say correctly. This is part 4 of the series (of ~10). On this episode, we try to summarize the process involved with finding and buying a "new to you" car, or for those with a problem (Like Bill) how to best prepare to sell your car. Lara Vernon is on as our guest for a second time and is involved with buying and selling cars in her real life where she owns a boutique exotic car dealership called "Rare Exotic Vehicles" in Asheville NC that deals with very cool vintage cars and hot rods from the 1930's on. The discussion deals with all types of cars, from a daily driver to a race car to a future race car to a parts car for the race car. Lara's advice will save you time and money and get you further towards your goal. You may even find that flipping cars or parting out cars can help support your racing. This is one of the rare cases where the magician gives away a few of the secrets.

Please let us know if we missed anything that you may want discussed in a future episode of our Racing 101 Series.

The outline for the series is:

Part 1: Building Your First Racecar (and options to not)

Part 2: Safety and Safety Related Equipment Needed

Part 3: Best Entry Points To Start Performance Driving

Part 4: Buying and Selling Cars (With Special Guest Lara Vernon)

Part 5: Going To and From The Event/Track – What To Expect

Part 6: Paddock and Pit – Best Practices

Part 7: Perspective of a New Driver (With Guest Adam Owens)

Part 8: Tools, Spares, Supplies Needed for a Race Weekend

Part 9: Common Issues All Drivers Will/May Experience in When On Track For the First Time

Part 10: Miscellaneous Topics (& Things We Forget to Mention Earlier)

On this episode of Dominating with Dawson we go into how high performance driving education (HPDE) helps everyone on public roads, whether you have driven for decades or even if you are a new or soon to be new driver. It helps in all areas including the use of controls within the car as well as increasing the ability for the driver to anticipate and read the road and other drivers. We know of nothing that can be more effective in improving your driving as well as reducing the likelihood of an incident on public roads and everyday driving situations. Our three hosts all agree but each has a different number one improvement area that they feel has been improved through our driving education events and driving on track. We then wander into the relative safety of being on a track vs off track/on public roads. For those keeping score at home, the track is way safer than driving on public streets, even if you don't count the safety equipment improvements involved with a prepared race car.

You can subscribe to our podcast on the podcast provider of your choice, including the Apple podcast app, Google music, Amazon, and YouTube etc.

Also, if you could give our podcast a (5-star?) rating or even better, a podcast review, we would greatly appreciate it and it would help us to grow the passion and sport of high performance driving.

For instance, leaving an Apple Podcast rating is very easy. If you go to your podcast library, under shows and click on the podcast you can leave a (5?) star rating and enter your review.

A link to the episode is: https://tinyurl.com/Racing101Part-2

We hope you enjoy this episode!

PS Please don't forget that if you are looking to add an Apex Pro to your driving telemetry system, don't forget to use our discount code for all Apex Pro systems you will receive a free Windshield Suction Cup Mount for the system, a savings of $40. Just enter the code "ghitlikesapex!" when you order. We have two systems for our team and Bill is looking to add a third for this season, pending CFO approval from Vicki. They are a great system and truly invaluable in safely increasing your speed on track and/or autocross etc.

Best regards,

Vicki, Jennifer, Alan, and Bill

Hosts of the Garage Heroes In Training Podcast and Garage Heroes In Training racing team drivers

Highlights from this episode include:

1) We start off with a review of Lara's recent win with her team on the 24 Hours of Daytona on iRacing where she will be getting her iRolex.

2) Critical aspects of the car searching process, what to avoid, what to look for, and how to look for things that will indicate a well taken care of car.

3) How the discussion of the car can lead to even better deals, both on the phone and eventually in person when possible.

4) Several of her favorite sites to look for cars online. Bill shares the Auto Tempest addiction and has a large set of open searches that he is always looking at, much to the irritation of Vicki.

5) Two words to try to avoid in most cases are accident and rust without a lot of further detail and investigation, rust being at the top of the list.

6) Lara also goes into the current market pricing and demand that she is seeing and how things are changing, even during our current COVID situation. It seems to be a seller's market currently.

7) We also cover the transaction from the perspective of the seller. Yes Bill, you can sell cars as well. Try it. You might make Vicki happier.

8) Tips on how to inspect a car, what to look for, and where to get background on the particular model. Body, engine, fluids (level and color/smell), paint, with plenty of tips and tricks. Note to self: Do not let Lara near our race cars, they may not inspect well, lol.

9) Somehow, we ended up talking about our award winning race at the 24 Hours of Lemons race in Thompson Connecticut during our second ever race. Granted it was the "I Got Screwed Award", but hey, it is an award, lol.

10) We also go into a bit about her iRacing results and what is involved in some of her endurance races. Now if we could just get Jen and Vicki to not get motion sickness.

PS If you are preparing to sell a car, another former podcast guest, Jim Tramontano from "No Money Motorsports", has a great article on things to do or avoid when listing your car to maximize your selling price and minimize the time on the market. https://tinyurl.com/SellingRaceCars

(Jim, you are way overdue for another episode)

Lara's Contact information is:

Her business is are: www.RareExoticVehicles.com

@Lara.is.racing on Instagram

We are getting back to our podcast roots and wanted to start a special series Vicki calls "So You Wanna Racecar" that Bill can't seem to say correctly. This is part 4 of the series (of ~10). On this episode, we try to summarize the process involved with finding and buying a "new to you" car, or for those with a problem (Like Bill) how to best prepare to sell your car. Lara is on as our guest for a second time and is involved with buying and selling cars in her real life where she owns a boutique exotic car dealership called "Rare Exotic Vehicles" in Asheville NC that deals with very cool vintage cars and hot rods from the 1930's on. The discussion deals with all types of cars, from a daily driver to a race car to a future race car to a parts car for the race car. Lara's advice will save you time and money and get you further towards your goal. You may even find that flipping cars or parting out cars can help support your racing. This is one of the rare cases where the magician gives away a few of the secrets.

Please let us know if we missed anything that you may want discussed in a future episode of our Racing 101 Series.

The outline for the series is:

Part 1: Building Your First Racecar (and options to not)

Part 2: Safety and Safety Related Equipment Needed

Part 3: Best Entry Points To Start Performance Driving

Part 4: Buying and Selling Cars (With Special Guest Lara Vernon)

Part 5: Going To and From The Event/Track – What To Expect

Part 6: Paddock and Pit – Best Practices

Part 7: Perspective of a New Driver (With Guest Adam Owens)

Part 8: Tools, Spares, Supplies Needed for a Race Weekend

Part 9: Common Issues All Drivers Will/May Experience in When On Track For the First Time

Part 10: Miscellaneous Topics (& Things We Forget to Mention Earlier)

On this episode of Dominating with Dawson we go into how high performance driving education (HPDE) helps everyone on public roads, whether you have driven for decades or even if you are a new or soon to be new driver. It helps in all areas including the use of controls within the car as well as increasing the ability for the driver to anticipate and read the road and other drivers. We know of nothing that can be more effective in improving your driving as well as reducing the likelihood of an incident on public roads and everyday driving situations. Our three hosts all agree but each has a different number one improvement area that they feel has been improved through our driving education events and driving on track. We then wander into the relative safety of being on a track vs off track/on public roads. For those keeping score at home, the track is way safer than driving on public streets, even if you don't count the safety equipment improvements involved with a prepared race car.

You can subscribe to our podcast on the podcast provider of your choice, including the Apple podcast app, Google music, Amazon, and YouTube etc.

Also, if you could give our podcast a (5-star?) rating or even better, a podcast review, we would greatly appreciate it and it would help us to grow the passion and sport of high performance driving.

For instance, leaving an Apple Podcast rating is very easy. If you go to your podcast library, under shows and click on the podcast you can leave a (5?) star rating and enter your review.

A link to the episode is: https://tinyurl.com/Racing101Part4

We hope you enjoy this episode!

PS Please don't forget that if you are looking to add an Apex Pro to your driving telemetry system, don't forget to use our discount code for all Apex Pro systems you will receive a free Windshield Suction Cup Mount for the system, a savings of $40. Just enter the code "ghitlikesapex!" when you order. We have two systems for our team and Bill is looking to add a third for this season, pending CFO approval from Vicki. They are a great system and truly invaluable in safely increasing your speed on track and/or autocross etc.

Best regards,

Vicki, Jennifer, Alan, and Bill

Hosts of the Garage Heroes In Training Podcast and Garage Heroes In Training racing team drivers

Highlights from this episode include:

1) We start off with a review of Lara's recent win with her team on the 24 Hours of Daytona on iRacing where she will be getting her iRolex.

2) Critical aspects of the car searching process, what to avoid, what to look for, and how to look for things that will indicate a well taken care of car.

3) How the discussion of the car can lead to even better deals, both on the phone and eventually in person when possible.

4) Several of her favorite sites to look for cars online. Bill shares the Auto Tempest addiction and has a large set of open searches that he is always looking at, much to the irritation of Vicki.

5) Two words to try to avoid in most cases are accident and rust without a lot of further detail and investigation, rust being at the top of the list.

6) Lara also goes into the current market pricing and demand that she is seeing and how things are changing, even during our current COVID situation. It seems to be a seller's market currently.

7) We also cover the transaction from the perspective of the seller. Yes Bill, you can sell cars as well. Try it. You might make Vicki happier.

8) Tips on how to inspect a car, what to look for, and where to get background on the particular model. Body, engine, fluids (level and color/smell), paint, with plenty of tips and tricks. Note to self: Do not let Lara near our race cars, they may not inspect well, lol.

9) Somehow, we ended up talking about our award winning race at the 24 Hours of Lemons race in Thompson Connecticut during our second ever race. Granted it was the "I Got Screwed Award", but hey, it is an award, lol.

10) We also go into a bit about her iRacing results and what is involved in some of her endurance races. Now if we could just get Jen and Vicki to not get motion sickness.

PS If you are preparing to sell a car, another former podcast guest, Jim Tramontano from "No Money Motorsports", has a great article on things to do or avoid when listing your car to maximize your selling price and minimize the time on the market. https://tinyurl.com/SellingRaceCars

(Jim, you are way overdue for another episode)

Lara's Contact information is:

Her business is are: www.RareExoticVehicles.com

@Lara.is.racing on Instagram

We are continuing our bonus series on Racing 101 – So You Wanna Racecar with GHIT podcast #182: Racing 101 Part 3 – The Best Entry Points to Start High Performance Driving or Racing

We are getting back to our podcast roots and wanted to start a special series Vicki calls "So You Wanna Racecar" that Bill can't seem to say correctly. This is part 3 of the series (of ~10). On this episode, we try to summarize the easiest ways that we know of to start performance driving and racing your car. We selected these options by their ease of entry, ability to enter with little to no driving experience, and their safety. Cost and complexity of entry was also added as a secondary criterion that we discuss throughout that episode. The best advice we can give is to just pick one that sounds good for you and start.

Please let us know if we missed anything that you may want discussed in a future episode of our Racing 101 Series.

The outline for the series is:

Part 1: Building Your First Racecar (and options to not)

Part 2: Safety and Safety Related Equipment Needed

Part 3: Best Entry Points To Start Performance Driving

Part 4: Buying and Selling Cars (With Special Guest Lara Vernon)

Part 5: Going To and From The Event/Track – What To Expect

Part 6: Paddock and Pit – Best Practices

Part 7: Perspective of a New Driver (With Guest Adam Owens)

Part 8: Tools, Spares, Supplies Needed for a Race Weekend

Part 9: Common Issues All Drivers Will/May Experience in When On Track For the First Time

Part 10: Miscellaneous Topics (& Things We Forget to Mention Earlier)

Our next episode of Dominating with Dawson covers the issue some drivers will have that is referred to as the "red mist". This is something to be aware of and avoid at all costs. It does not improve your performance but often increased the risk associated with driving on the track. Sometimes just knowing it exists is the key to avoiding it or dealing with it if you experience it. The red mist is almost like having a temporary lobotomy while on track. Obviously not the best condition to be driving at any point, but especially on track. We even try to offer a few ideas on how to be cognizant of yourself to hopefully prevent the red mist issue. Please let us know if you know of any other methods that work, we would love to learn and to share them with everyone.

Also, as a bonus since we missed one last episode, we have a double shot of Dominating with Dawson. On the second segment, we go into things that you can do and should do on that straightaways as you progress. While not only illustrative of how many things there are to do on the straightaway, but we also hope we show that there is a near limitless number of things that need to be reviewed on the track and while on a straight you usually have a bit more time and can collect yourself and collect some information that is vital to keeping your car in order and improve your racing. As a new or first time racer, you will likely be overwhelmed, but as you progress, you will have more and more time to do some of the things we discuss here. With proactive, the racetrack will seem to slow down in your mind even though your lap times will likely be significantly faster than your first time on track, even in the same car. Racing on a track is surprisingly active even when it appears you aren't really doing anything, like driving straight.

You can subscribe to our podcast on the podcast provider of your choice, including the Apple podcast app, Google music, Amazon, and YouTube etc.

Also, if you could give our podcast a (5-star?) rating or even better, a podcast review, we would greatly appreciate it and it would help us to grow the passion and sport of high performance driving.

For instance, leaving an Apple Podcast rating is very easy. If you go to your podcast library, under shows and click on the podcast you can leave a (5?) star rating and enter your review.

A link to the episode is: https://tinyurl.com/Racing101Part-2

We hope you enjoy this episode!

PS Please don't forget that if you are looking to add an Apex Pro to your driving telemetry system, don't forget to use our discount code for all Apex Pro systems you will receive a free Windshield Suction Cup Mount for the system, a savings of $40. Just enter the code "ghitlikesapex!" when you order. We have two systems for our team and Bill is looking to add a third for this season, pending CFO approval from Vicki. They are a great system and truly invaluable in safely increasing your speed on track and/or autocross etc.

Best regards,

Vicki, Jennifer, Alan, and Bill

Hosts of the Garage Heroes In Training Podcast and Garage Heroes In Training racing team drivers

Highlights from this episode include:

1) Attending an amateur race, particularly if it's one you may eb interested in trying is a great way to "audit" the process and see what you may need to do and prepare for. Talking to others in attendance is a great way to learn and make your first racing friends. Cost estimate : Free to $10-30 or so

2) Autocross is often jokingly referred to as the gateway drug for performance riving. It is quick, relatively cheap, easily prepared for, and not too much preparation or safety requirements to start in most cars (Helmet, good working condition car, and good to go, in many cases there can be rental helmets on site). Cost estimate : $20-100 or so for entry

3) SCCA's Track Night in America is a weeknight track event at a local track where you are welcome to go race your car on the track and see how it goes. There can be some instruction there and all drivers and street cars are readily accepted. A relatively cheap way to try your hand at a local track. Cost estimate : $100 or so to enter

4) HPDE's and Track Days are closely related and on a spectrum of the amount of instruction being offered. It can be a single day event or the entire weekend. HPDE's offer a higher fraction of your day with an instructor and may involve classroom sessions and potentially on track drills which are usually a ton of fun. Track days often have instructors available to set up or just ask to drive with you but are usually a bit less formal and structured. There is a wide range of events that go from one end to the other and finding the one that fits your personality and interests is as easy as signing up and trying one out, or all of them, lol. Requirements are usually a helmet and a safely running car. Again, rental helmets can usually be reserved ahead of time for the event. Cost estimate : $200-500 or so per day to enter

5) Rally events are not usually speed based events but are a great way of getting into the driving culture. There are several types, and each has a varying set up and goal structure. The cost can be quite low, and they are often used as a charity fundraiser or to support local community interests and needs. Cost estimate : $50-500+ or so to enter

6) There are several types of racing that are set for you to enter a race as your first step, things like Lucky Dog, the 24 Hours of Lemons and ChampCar are geared to accept and help first time racers. We did this. It may be a better plan to attend and HPDE event before trying this, but it is a very viable path if you wish to try your hand at racing as a first step. We did discuss several other types of racing, but they are not typically open to a first time driver and are more of a goal to work towards. Identifying a potential series of interest is a good way to focus on the car or cars that you look to get for racing. Cost estimate : varies pretty widely but $100 or so up to ~$750 or more per day (for the team) to enter plus significant car and safety equipment expenses etc. More advanced races can be significantly higher cost to enter and prepare for. There are rental options for an entire car or just for a "seat" to share the race with others.

7) Also, don't ignore (go) karting. It can be indoor or outdoor and electric or gas powered karts. It is a great way to whet your appetite without having a car or even if you aren't old enough to drive a car on the street. A lot of the skills and approach crosses over to whatever type of racing you may wish to try.

When Brian was on with us last year, we started talking about identifying sponsors, working with potential sponsors, and how to get and treat sponsors to assist with the expenses related to racing. Since then, Brian has given several talks on this topic, as well as appearances on several podcasts. As always, our goal was to provide a complete summary of the area of sponsorship and allow you to be able to identify potential sponsors and find a way to help their business and your racing. If you use the strategies Brian covers and understand that it is not all about you, your speed, and your race wins, you should be able to start or grow your current driver/team/car sponsorship program. So technically, our podcast is not only free to you but may actually make or save you some money.

There is no Dominating with Dawson on this episode, but we will double up next Monday.

You can subscribe to our podcast on the podcast provider of your choice, including the Apple podcast app, Google music, Amazon, and YouTube etc.

Also, if you could give our podcast a (5-star?) rating or even better, a podcast review, we would greatly appreciate it and it would help us to grow the passion and sport of high performance driving.

For instance, leaving an Apple Podcast rating is very easy. If you go to your podcast library, under shows and click on the podcast you can leave a (5?) star rating and enter your review.

We hope you enjoy this episode!

PS Please don't forget that if you are looking to add an Apex Pro to your driving telemetry system, don't forget to use our discount code for all Apex Pro systems you will receive a free Windshield Suction Cup Mount for the system, a savings of $40. Just enter the code "ghitlikesapex!" when you order. We have two systems for our team and Bill is looking to add a third for this season, pending CFO approval from Vicki. They are a great system and truly invaluable in safely increasing your speed on track and/or autocross etc.

Best regards,

Vicki, Jennifer, Alan, and Bill

Hosts of the Garage Heroes In Training Podcast and Garage Heroes In Training racing team drivers

Highlights from this episode include:

1) Bill establishes his wish list for a dream sponsor and Brian quickly dashes it against the rocks and we move to the reality of the current sponsorship and business climate.

2) Brian defines exactly what should be considered to be sponsorship and provides several examples of how these relationships start and develop.

3) Sponsorships are sometimes monetary but can also be discounted goods or services.

4) When approaching a sponsor, the key is to try to determine what the sponsor is looking for and how you can help them grow their business. Try to look at it from their perspective before thinking of what you can give or what you want from them.

5) Advertising and media exposure should not be the focus of your pitch.

6) What are the three components that make the strongest proposal to a potential sponsor.

7) What is a potential sponsorship program, how to prepare one, and how to increase your likelihood of success. We also go into the importance of having an internal champion is getting the traction needed to start the relationship even before you have a sponsorship program.

8) We even go into an area that is often overlooked by our racing friends: what does the business want in return from the sponsorship.

9) We even go through a scenario using an example business and product with an amateur endurance racing team as a worked example. Just for instance. Hey, it's our podcast, lol.

10) Tips and guidance on how to approach your first sponsor that you probably already know within your personal social network.

11) Getting, maintaining, and growing a sponsorship relationship is a significant investment of time and effort by your team or at least one team member and can really be a near full time job.

12) Brian also goes into several examples of sponsorship deals that he has witnessed during his professional life.

13) How to present you and your team to the sponsor and what you should do before even sending them any information.

14) As many would have guessed, Bill tries to get Brian's help with his dream Slurpee sponsorship. And then we walkthrough a potential path to Vicki's dream sponsor of Flyin' Miata for her baby. The thought behind these would be to show a worked example and what factors and approaches that may be helpful with trying to prepare for and start the conversation.

15) How and where to start your first steps towards working with a sponsor.

16) UPOD – Under Promise and Over Deliver. Words to live by in racing and in the real world. (Meat Space). Its right up there with "If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing"

17) Brian was also kind enough to offer several additional potential models that can be pursued instead of, or in addition to, seeking sponsorship.

18) Vicki goes off program and starts talking racing EV's in endurance racing from out of nowhere. It is kind of like the line from the Talking Heads "Well, How Did I Get Here"

This is part 3 of the series (of ~10) we go over several of the easiest and most popular paths to get your start performance driving and/or racing journey. This should be considered a starting point to work from and not an exhaustive, detailed list as there are many other potential paths and organizations available across the globe. We have already talked through several of these areas in prior episodes and will continue to cover each of these areas in future episodes. As always, each if us if forever "In Training" no matter what our current level of performance.

The outline for the series is:

Part 1: Building Your First Racecar (and options to not)

Part 2: Safety and Safety Related Equipment Needed

Part 3: Best Entry Points To Start Performance Driving

Part 4: Buying and Selling Cars (With Special Guest Lara Vernon)

Part 5: Expectations between Going To and From The Event/Track

Part 6: Paddock and Pit – Best Practices

Part 7: Perspective of a New Driver (With Guest Adam Owens)

Part 8: Tools, Spares, Supplies Needed for a Race Weekend

Part 9: Common Issues All Drivers Will/May Experience in When On Track For the First Time

Part 10: Miscellaneous Topics (& Things We Forget to Mention Earlier)

Continuing with our racing 101 Series within our Dominating with Dawson segment, we go over a condition that is to be avoided. It is commonly referred to as the "red mist" when racing or driving. This is somewhat like road rage and not only negatively impacts your performance but also increases the risk of damage to you, your car, and your fellow drivers on the track. Being cognizant of the red mist is often the biggest step to avoiding it by early recognition before becoming fully "mystified"

You can subscribe to our podcast on the podcast provider of your choice, including the Apple podcast app, Google music, Amazon, and YouTube etc.

Also, if you could give our podcast a (5-star?) rating or even better, a podcast review, we would greatly appreciate it and it would help us to grow the passion and sport of performance driving.

For instance, leaving an Apple Podcast rating is very easy. If you go to your podcast library, under shows and click on the podcast you can leave a (5?) star rating and enter your review.

We hope you enjoy this episode!

PS Please don't forget that if you are looking to add an Apex Pro to your driving telemetry system, don't forget to use our discount code for all Apex Pro systems you will receive a free Windshield Suction Cup Mount for the system, a savings of $40. Just enter the code "ghitlikesapex!" when you order. We have two systems for our team and Bill is looking to add a third for this season, pending CFO approval from Vicki. They are a great system and truly invaluable in safely increasing your speed on track and/or autocross etc.

Best regards,

Vicki, Jennifer, Alan, and Bill

Hosts of the Garage Heroes In Training Podcast and Garage Heroes In Training racing team drivers

Highlights from this episode include:

1) After some initial recording issues, …….

2) Attending an amateur driving event is a great way to start learning a bit and feeling comfortable with going to a track or racing event etc.

3) We often joke about autocross being the "gateway drug" for performance driving and racing. It is easy, requires very little equipment and preparation for your car, and is one of the most inexpensive ways to start performance driving. Budget requirements are usually well under $100 or so for the day.

4) If autocross isn't appealing to you because you always had the dream or desire to drive on a track, then perhaps SCCA's Track Night In America is the best choice for you. You take your daily driver or your fun road car to a local track during the week and race it at the local track. This costs a bit more but is still usually less than $200 for the evening.

5) If you are looking for a bit more hands on coaching and structure, we always recommend attending an HPDE event. These can be at a track or even focused on autocross, depending on the event organizer and location. It is usually a blend of in class instruction and track time, often approximately 50/50 split, but the class time is very helpful and valuable. Budget around $500 or so for a two-day event. If you are looking of an HPDE targeting autocross, we enjoy going to the EVO School that costs about ½ as much for each day.

6) If you want a bit more track time and a bit less instruction, there are several track days at local tracks with a bit less structure and instruction, but usually a bit more time on track. We would recommend starting with an HPDE event, especially as a first time.

7) Road Rally events aren't really racing but a great way to get started and meeting your newest bunch of friends to be. Rally events are not a speed event but can be timed or can be based on finding checkpoints or completing challenges. These can be a single day or multiple days; costs vary greatly from $40 to much more and are often used as a charity fundraising activity or to help the local community in some way. These are usually on public roads and are often relaxed. Not every rally is like the Burt Reynolds movie Cannonball Run, lol.

8) We started by entering a race as our first event. It is a potential path. We would recommend at least one HPDE, but several series cater to first time race drivers and are set up to help you achieve this goal. The cost of entry can be low for an autocross event or over $1,500 for an endurance event to enter. There is also a higher level of car preparation and safety equipment involved. The shortest races would be an autocross where the races are usually under 1 minute each. Then there are sprint races where the race can be for a single stint searching for your one best lap (usually called Time Attack) or for some short wheel to wheel races the race can be 20-40 minutes or so. Endurance races usually start at 4 hours and can be single 24+ hour events or multiple days of multi hour races. Costs can vary from a less than $100 for an autocross race to over $1,000 and up for endurance races. Budgets can also grow dramatically depending on the event and the cars being used.

9) An alternative to racing your own prepped car in a race is to either rent a car or a seat in a car to try your hand at racing. The costs again can vary depending on the car and the race, but with this option, you do not have to purchase and prepare the car. This reduces the start up costs and effort required to get out on the track and that is the most importance thing to getting started. You will still need a helmet and the required safety equipment, but he car and associated supplies, tools, etc. are usually covered. Pricing can vary dramatically from a few hundred dollars minimum to several tens of thousands of dollars for high level events in semi-pro and professional events. NOT recommended for your first time, lol

10) At many events you will need to either bring a racing helmet or rent one on site. Always make sure to contact the organizer for their specific requirements and if there are rentals available ahead of time.

11) We did neglect to mention going on track with an "experience" type of event where you can drive on a real track in some very fancy car or race cars. These are usually lead follow and you get to go up to the speed that you are comfortable with a pacing guide ahead of you.