Garage Heroes In Training

Brad Brownell is an automotive journalist and is also well known for his involvement with starting Radwood and their newest car festival that is for electrified cars entitled Autopia 2099. His passion for cars and the people who love them is evident throughout the episode, especially by the excitement he displays when talking about the cars that have come to events in the past and will hopefully come to festivals in the future.

Threshold braking is often the braking method of choice on track, with there are many areas of a track that this may not be the best braking method to employ. On this episode's Dominating with Dawson, we try to go into examples where threshold braking is best used and several areas where there may be better options.

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) While talking about Autopia 2099, Brad confuses Roy Rogers with Buck Rogers. (See it's not just us, lol.) It's probably a result of talking with Jay Lamm too much about EV's, lol.

2) Brad is a car guy through and through who metaphorically devoured any car magazine he could when studying abroad in Spain.

3) We think Brad has taken care of all of his spare time, yet he is looking for more things to do.

4) Brad finally brings a Bill & Ted reference to the podcast. Long overdue.

5) Brad goes into a full description of a Radwood event and the new Autopia 2099 festivals.

6) We go over some of the highlight cars that come to mind and then ask the question everyone is wondering. What is the white whale for Radwood that hasn't come to the event yet?

7) We tried to get the Radwood schedule for 2021. Brad put up a good fight, but he wisely avoided getting too specific with the uncertain nature of the upcoming season.

8) The trials of starting a virtual Radwood event. It went well at first, but lost momentum after cars and coffees resumed.

9) Rad For Sale is a great resource that is coming soon where you can find and purchase various cars from the Radwood area of the 80's and 90's cars.

10) Fake cocaine stories? Yep, they are in here. It was the 80's after all.

11) Radwood is threatening to export to several areas around the world. We lobbied for many of our listeners favorites. There are signs of life. We even offered a sponsor to Brad to help with the costs.

12) Potential partnering and sponsorship opportunities were suggested, and some may even come to fruition. Pit Viper sunglasses was suggested more than once by our listeners.

13) Bill misheard that Brad's family had driven 300,000 miles on a lease. Luckily, that was not the case.

14) Brad has some of the most entertaining car history stories we have ever heard.

15) Jennifer's method of learning how to drive a manual transmission may have been exceeded by our guest. It wasn't on track, but it may be the winner.

16) We may have the most surprising answer for the car decade driven for the rest of your life ever. Hint, it's not within the Radwood era. Brad even avoided the Radwood era for his top 5, almost.

17) If in Scotland, you may find Brad on his dream drive. We are still looking for the exact road, but we will let you know when we find it.

The fundamental basis for our podcast has always been to help drivers at all levels improve and while we still have a fun on every episode, we are always trying to improve and help others improve. One of the best received additions to our podcast has been the Dominating with Dawson topics that Ben Dawson was kind enough to help us with. Here is the first annual episode that compiles all of the segments for this year.

If you could let us know what your favorite topic was, we would love to know. Also, if you have a topic for us to discuss, please let us know and we will make sure it comes out as soon as possible.

On this episode DwD covers:

1) Hand positioning

2) Rotation

3) Understeer

4) Oversteer

5) Penalty Box Discussion

6) Red Flags

7) Seating position and mirrors

8) Downshifting at the track along with Goals for an HPDE

We finally broke Aaron down and he agreed to come onto the podcast with the rest of the Saabs of Anarchy team that we race with in many of our endurance races. They started racing in Lemons many years ago and each have had several Saabs for street use and for some reason they all thought it would be a good vehicle to endurance race. Stephen and Ryan recently started a podcast called The Autoholic Podcast. They are a great group of guys who enjoy racing and seeing what they can make a Saab survive (an impressive 8,000 racing miles and still counting). They also theme pretty hard. The team consists of the brothers Aaron and Stephen Diamond, Josh Tamarkin, Ryan Abranovic, and Don "The Saab Wizard" Rowe.

The podcast and blog can be found at: https://www.the-autoholic.com/

On this episode of Dominating with Dawson, we discuss the concept of leaving escape routes which is useful on the track and possibly even more so on public roads.

We hope you enjoy this episode!

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 cover how the team originated and how they came to race Saabs and continue to add to the race car fleet, all still Saabs.

2) In this episode, you also get a peak behind the counter on how we "make the sausage" when Vicki reads a note on the Google Doc as a question to our guests. Yes, it is official, we are still in training, lol.

3) How the team developed the "Saabs of Anarchy" moniker (without ever watching the show) and how their themes have continued to develop over the intervening years.

4) Vicki exercises her inner bulldozer, again.

5) Some great stories from their teams first race and several other notable races, including a recent true 24-hour race in Houston with Travis Pastrana in the field.

6) A 1993 car is referred to as a vintage car. We are officially old. Lol.

7) Prepare to be besieged by the various Saab models through the years. Your Google Fu may need to be put to the test in this episode if you aren't already indoctrinated into the Saab family of vehicles.

8) We can't help but pick on The Autoholic podcast for not being on iTunes Podcast network, but it is now so you can subscribe at almost everywhere podcasts are available.

The fundamental basis for our podcast has always been to help drivers at all levels improve and while we still have a fun on every episode, we are always trying to improve and help others improve. One of the best received additions to our podcast has been the Dominating with Dawson topics that Ben Dawson was kind enough to help us with. Here is the first annual episode that compiles all of the segments for this year.

If you could let us know what your favorite topic was, we would love to know. Also, if you have a topic for us to discuss, please let us know and we will make sure it comes out as soon as possible.

On this episode DwD covers:

1) Racing in the Rain

2) Racing line etc.

3) Using video and YouTube for prep and Driving

4) Dive Bomb

5) Driving a new to you car

6) Fast turns vs slow turns

7) Flags

Loni Unser is our guest racing driver for this episode. She is a fourth generation racing driver and has quickly worked her way up through several racing series in all types of cars and racing. She has recently announced that she will be driving the Swamp Dragon Hot Sauce car in the MX5 Cup. She graciously accepted our invitation to the podcast and is easily one of the nicest and friendliest guests we have ever had. We hope everyone will be following her career and we hope to see her at a track in the future (most likely as she is passing us, lol)

On this week's Dominating with Dawson, we begin to cover one of the key aspects of a driver's personality and tendency by looking at helping two types of drivers progress. If you look at drivers as a spectrum, each will fall somewhere between a driver who tends to push a car hard and perhaps even overdrive a car naturally vs a driver who tends to approach the limit more slowly and gradually. Every driver is different, but each of us will likely share aspects of each type, but it is always useful to look at the way the driver's personality can impact their driving and optimal learning approach.

You can follow Loni as Loni Unser on all the various social medias.

We hope you enjoy this episode!

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 over many of the positives and potential negatives of being an Unser at a racetrack. We really want to go to the family go cart race for the holidays.

2) Some great stories and perspectives on how racing has grown and evolved since her family started racing, things like the addition and improvement safety systems and fire suits etc.

3) Jen brings up her crash at Charlotte as a preemptive strike before Bill broke out the video. Maybe her new nickname will be Quickdraw.

4) It turns out that Loni is also an instructor at B.R.A.K.E.S. We have been with our son and it has helped him and thousands of other new drivers to learn so much more than most driving classes. We hope will have someone from the B.R.A.K.E.S. program on soon.

5) Loni raced with WRL last year and will be driving the Swamp Dragon Hot Sauce ND Miata in the MX5 Cup next week. Loni's approach to learning is very impressive. She is trying to learn as much as she can, in as many areas as she can, to help her become a better, faster, and well-rounded driver that can assist in any way needed to help the team perform.

6) Loni's perspective on racing and her philosophy shows that she has chosen the correct path and is headed for a great career.

7) The benefits and the accompanying pressures of being an Unser at the race track, as well as how her family is coping with their daughter racing.

8) We also cover how Loni's background with downhill skiing and racing compliments her approach to track driving. There is a great deal of similarities that may not be apparent initially.

9) Loni also goes into how it was balancing her college studies with her racing schedule. We think she may still be catching up on her sleep.

10) We bet that you cannot guess what Loni's tap root car is. Garage Heroes In Training decals will be sent to anyone who guesses it before listening. Two free decals if you actually listen.

11) We think we may have a business idea to help fund Loni's racing teams.

12) One of Loni's favorite racing drivers is Katherine Legge. We are hoping to have her on the podcast at some point. We apologize ahead of time to Miss Legge, lol.

13) We show a bit of why we edit. Still in training.

14) Another vote for us going to VIR. It must happen this year.

The fundamental basis for our podcast has always been to help drivers at all levels improve and while we still have a fun on every episode, we are always trying to improve and help others improve. One of the best received additions to our podcast has been the Dominating with Dawson topics that Ben Dawson was kind enough to help us with. Here is the first annual episode that compiles all of the segments for this year.

If you could let us know what your favorite topic was, we would love to know. Also, if you have a topic for us to discuss, please let us know and we will make sure it comes out as soon as possible.

On Part 3, we go over:

1) What is an Arrive and Drive and how do they work

2) First time driving on track tips, including the don't's

3) What is an Apex and why are there so many talked about for each turn

4) A fun discussion about what is meant by "Two Feet In"

5) Buying a car for racing or HPDE

6) First time driving at a New Track and how to approach it

We hope you enjoy this bonus episode!

Best regards,

Vicki, Jennifer, Alan, and Bill

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

Ian Korf was our guest for this podcast. Ian is an amateur racer and driving instructor when at the track, as well as the author of the book "You Suck At Racing" that is aimed at helping newer drivers progress, as well as his similarly titled blog. Ian and Ben have raced together for several years on the west coast and obviously have had more than a few stories to share. In spite of Ian have a well thought out and logical approach, he still enjoys racing as much as anyone we have met.

Since Ben was on, we took this opportunity to have a live Dominating with Dawson with Ian as a special guest. For this Dominating with Dawson segment, we went into

You can find Ian's book at:

https://www.amazon.com/You-Suck-Racing-course-novice/dp/153318562X/

We hope you enjoy this episode!

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) Vicki and Ian may have already met online gaming. Still TBD.

2) How his interest in driving started and how his blog progressed from examining racetrack incidents and eventually transitioned and led to the book. It was that lure of the $500 race car.

3) Ian went into his low-cost racing Yaris and how he has managed to find a way to actually make racing relatively inexpensive. Does anyone have or know of a lower cost option? We would love to know.

4) Plywood splitters? Absolutely. This is almost low budget racing OEM equipment.

5) Ian may have accomplished two things that we have been searching far. His Yaris may be the car that races everywhere and more surprisingly, he may have more spreadsheets about racing than Bill. Still TBD at this point, lol.

6) We then discuss how to get people started in driving, both those that have interest and those who don't. The track is so much more fun and a way safer way to enjoy your car.

7) The difference in helping novice drivers grow within our sport and how it is different, sometimes vastly different for intermediate drivers.

8) Apparently Ian has zero black flags in his entire career. I am 100% sure that none of us can say the same.

9) Ian also goes into several ways to gain skills while off track, at least in meat space. How virtual racing can assist in your driving.

10) Breaking news related to an update of the book and potential expansion to intermediate drivers, including data.

11) Why poker is a game of imperfect information and how racing is a game of imperfect amount of practice.

12) Ian has a series of drills and we weren't smart enough to ask what they area. We will have to get together again. One we did get was to drive the track without using the brakes at all. Zero braking. Hopefully, we can get a section on the next book.

13) Bill sucks up to Ian and asks to help with the book.

The fundamental basis for our podcast has always been to help drivers at all levels improve and while we still have a fun on every episode, we are always trying to improve and help others improve. One of the best received additions to our podcast has been the Dominating with Dawson topics that Ben Dawson was kind enough to help us with. Here is the first annual episode that compiles all of the segments for this year.

If you could let us know what your favorite topic was, we would love to know. Also, if you have a topic for us to discuss, please let us know and we will make sure it comes out as soon as possible.

On this episode DwD covers:

1) Car Control and more on rotation

2) Coasting (at the end of straights)

3) Crabbing or cheating a turn

4) Accidents and Mistakes - What to do and what not to do

5) Alignment General Discussion and tire temperature and pressure

6) Apex discussion - part 2

We have had a few guests requested and here is one of them, Johan Samanta is a driver that started endurance racing over a decade ago. In his real life, he is a Neurologist and at the track, he may need one, lol. Johan travels across US to races from his home in Phoenix. We last raced with him at the Lucky Dog race Charlotte Roval August 2020 and a great time was had by all. Johan also shared many of the things he has learned in his racing career and we discuss many of the reasons to race beyond "winning". You can save a ton of money by learning from others. In addition, we have a special F&F Storytime question guest for this episode: The GD Yo Man!

On our Dominating with Dawson, we go into dealing with the marbles around the track (as well as what the marbles are). We also provide a tremendous method to learn or teach where the flag stations are at a new to you track. Special thanks to Robin Burnett for showing us how.

We hope you enjoy this episode!

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) How does a Neurologist end up needing one, oops, we mean how did Johan get started in racing and a lot of his racing history to this point and how he has changed his racing over the years.

2) We go over Johan's first ever race with Lucky Dog at the Charlotte Roval where we were literally sharing the garage with their team, and tools, and parts, and shave ice, and…. Cathy and the Lucky Dog team get two more thumbs up!

3) Bill simply cannot rests making a Ricky Bobby quote. Honestly, we are surprised it took this long.

4) The places to save money, as well as the places not to, like safety equipment. We also provide several cautionary tales regarding poor or counterfeit safety equipment.

5) Johan also goes into several other "bad" ideas that are so bad that they are good ideas for a Lemons race. Some of them are things like eastern European racing cars, adding turbos, and several others. How hard could it be? Actually, these will likely make endurance racing even a bit harder.

6) Pit strategy, tips, best practices, and goals and other "free" ways to save time on the track.

7) We then go into a prioritization of ways to improve your driver and, if you must, your car.

8) This is the episode if you ever wanted to learn how to endurance race a Super Beetle. Boy, that search string is not going to increase our Google search results for this episode, lol.

9) Our second guest comes in at around 59 minutes. Vicki and Jen were less than prepared for THE GD Yo Man!!!!! That is Mr. Yo Man to you. After this, you will know the Yo Man much better, probably better than you ever wanted. Lol.

10) I think Jennifer is still broken from this interview.

The fundamental basis for our podcast has always been to help drivers at all levels improve and while we still have a fun on every episode, we are always trying to improve and help others improve. One of the best received additions to our podcast has been the Dominating with Dawson topics that Ben Dawson was kind enough to help us with. Here is the first annual episode that compiles all of the segments for this year.

If you could let us know what your favorite topic was, we would love to know. Also, if you have a topic for us to discuss, please let us know and we will make sure it comes out as soon as possible.

On this episode DwD covers:

1) Autocross and Sprint racing vs endurance racing

2) Trail braking

3) Heel toe downshifting

4) Driving like .... (Senna etc)

5) Apexes and points of rotation/car angles