Because it's been a bit slow

Arthur McDonald · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:54 am **Posts:** 2052

Chuck Branscomb wrote:

it's not everyday you have Brian Redman running a driver's meeting and discussing the ins and outs of Road Atlanta.

Speaking of Brian Redman -- when Chip Stabler started vintage racing, he invited me to come along with him to the Brian Redman 500 at Summit Point. This was Chip's first event and he had arranged to rent an eighty horsepower Fiat 850 Spider from Krause & England. Friday morning, Brian Redman held a class for the novice drivers and Chip invited me to look on from the back of the classroom. Given the class make-up, Redman kept the lecture simple. After explaining understeer and oversteer, he proceeded to lay down this pearl of wisdom:

"If you find that your car is understeering, do less of that which causes it to understeer. Conversely, if it is oversteering, do less of that which causes it to oversteer."

I was less than impressed, and sarcastically whispered to the guy standing next to me: "Brilliant!" He smiled and said nothing. After the class, this guy introduced himself (I didn't recognize his name) and we chatted as we walked back to the paddock. Back in the K&E pits, Peter Krause said "I see you met Bill Adam". Still didn't ring a bell. Didn't have wikipedia in 1993, but ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Adam That night at the racers dinner in the big tent in the orchard, the after-dinner speakers were Brian Redman, David Hobbes, and .... Bill Adam. And I didn't feel very brilliant

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Thu May 16, 2013 8:29 am

I attended a classroom session instructed by Peter Krause and he is quite entertaining. He definitely has a 'flair' with his methods.

BTW Art, THSCC _still_ does track events and there are lots of S197s in attendance including mine. You should bring yours out and have some real fun with it.

Arthur McDonald · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:54 am **Posts:** 2052

Vincent Keene wrote:

THSCC _still_ does track events.

we are an Autocross Club Dammit............ :poke:

steve remchak · **Posted:** Thu May 16, 2013 11:05 pm

Arthur McDonald wrote:

Vincent Keene wrote:

THSCC _still_ does track events.

we are an Autocross Club Dammit............ :poke:

Ain't that the truph. :lol:

RickyBeam · **Posted:** Thu May 16, 2013 11:58 pm

Arthur McDonald wrote:

"If you find that your car is understeering, do less of that which causes it to understeer. Conversely, if it is oversteering, do less of that which causes it to oversteer."

I'm gonna be laughing over that for some time.

Zach Hill · **Posted:** Tue May 21, 2013 6:46 pm

Proudest moment of my very first track day: Passing a Ferrari while driving Noah's RX-8 on VIR North Course in the beginning of the Yellow group session, then just before the end of that same session, passing him AGAIN!

Proof: http://goo.gl/Hb2HS

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed May 22, 2013 10:37 am

Zach Hill wrote:

Proudest moment of my very first track day: Passing a Ferrari while driving Noah's RX-8 on VIR North Course in the beginning of the Yellow group session, then just before the end of that same session, passing him AGAIN!

Proof: http://goo.gl/Hb2HS

I've got video somewhere of me riding about 3 laps behind a C5 that wouldn't let me pass back when I was in Green group. Corvette drivers aren't fond of being passed by a Cavalier and it was frustrating to say the least.

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Wed May 22, 2013 2:23 pm

steve remchak wrote:

clinehall wrote:

Much like Mark, I have many best moments at PCA events. Easy to feel superior there. I've lost count of how many 911s (and all variations) that have spun out in front of me because they don't want a Mini to catch them much less pass. Of course my worst moments were at PCA events as well. First, in the last session when they merged a couple of the groups I almost rearended a GT3 when they hit the brakes going up the uphill Esses. Second, when riding with Patrice and going off track left the back on the track then off to the right in the uphill Esses and wondering where the car was we had just passed

Don't forget "Mr Whoa" :lol:

Still one of my favorite track weekends.

I think that was the one where VK talked with my instructor before hand and told him I was good, I wouldn't need much instruction. I promptly went out and REALLY stunk it up for 30 mins in my first session. The guy was dumbfounded. I went out in the second session and was on point. Afterwards he told me he had never seen such a session to session improvement in a student and promptly signed me off.

Then there was Cline telling the Mr. Whoa story...and the shirtless Porsche drivers

steve remchak · **Posted:** Wed May 22, 2013 2:54 pm

One for the ages. :thumbsup:

JamesMilko · **Posted:** Wed May 22, 2013 3:42 pm

Ryan Holton wrote:

steve remchak wrote:

clinehall wrote:

Much like Mark, I have many best moments at PCA events. Easy to feel superior there. I've lost count of how many 911s (and all variations) that have spun out in front of me because they don't want a Mini to catch them much less pass. Of course my worst moments were at PCA events as well. First, in the last session when they merged a couple of the groups I almost rearended a GT3 when they hit the brakes going up the uphill Esses. Second, when riding with Patrice and going off track left the back on the track then off to the right in the uphill Esses and wondering where the car was we had just passed

Don't forget "Mr Whoa" :lol:

Still one of my favorite track weekends.

I think that was the one where VK talked with my instructor before hand and told him I was good, I wouldn't need much instruction. I promptly went out and REALLY stunk it up for 30 mins in my first session. The guy was dumbfounded. I went out in the second session and was on point. Afterwards he told me he had never seen such a session to session improvement in a student and promptly signed me off.

Then there was Cline telling the Mr. Whoa story...and the shirtless Porsche drivers

I've done this as well, it almost always involves not eating enough breakfast.

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Wed May 22, 2013 4:13 pm

Vincent Keene wrote:

Zach Hill wrote:

Proudest moment of my very first track day: Passing a Ferrari while driving Noah's RX-8 on VIR North Course in the beginning of the Yellow group session, then just before the end of that same session, passing him AGAIN!

Proof: http://goo.gl/Hb2HS

I've got video somewhere of me riding about 3 laps behind a C5 that wouldn't let me pass back when I was in Green group. Corvette drivers aren't fond of being passed by a Cavalier and it was frustrating to say the least.

I have only been to one track event and I had a similar experience. I was in the 98' Civic and either I would catch someone, but they wouldn't point me by (a Boxster that I followed a bit comes to mind) or, they would point me by but I didn't have the power to pass and they wouldn't lift. My instructor (who drove a very fast modified Corvette) would say "Pass him!" and I would say "My foot is on the floor!" I think he even looked at my foot to make sure once. 106 raging HP!

Richard

Kevin Allen · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2003 6:42 pm **Posts:** 3479

My last HPDE at VIR in my STi, a Corvette-driving instructor told me he felt like he was in a blender (and acted it out in the passenger seat as he was saying it - and he was morbidly obese, so I was literally afraid he was going to break the seat), then later told me something like it wasn't a matter of whether or not I was going to crash, but how big the crash was going to be. Thanks for the encouragement, jerk. :roll:

After doing one tarmac rally (no, I didn't crash, and I didn't lose), I have zero desire to do another track event. Yay, stage rally!!! :thumbsup:

steve remchak · **Posted:** Wed May 22, 2013 7:56 pm

Kevin Allen wrote:

My last HPDE at VIR in my STi, a Corvette-driving instructor told me he felt like he was in a blender (and acted it out in the passenger seat as he was saying it - and he was really fat), then later told me something like it wasn't a matter of whether or not I was going to crash, but how big the crash was going to be. Thanks, asshole. :roll:

After doing one tarmac rally (no, I didn't crash, and I didn't lose), I have zero desire to do another track event. Yay, stage rally!!! :thumbsup:

I feel your pain Kevin. One of my first few instructors started my day with an inspection of my E36 only to tell me that he wasn't sure it was safe enough for him to ride in. My professionally prepared E36 now mind you. Fortunately the individual that built and installed my 4-point bar was pitted across the lane.

And then this same instructor offered to take me for a ride only to find out my 5'9" ass wouldn't fit under his bar. Demoralized from the very start of the day I did not turn very consistant laps at RRR and actually put four off in the carousel.

After about four or five events, including my now famous "oh shit" moment with BMWCCA; I signed up for a Chin event at VIR as provisional solo and flunked. Similar to Ryan's experience, only it took me about 3 sessions to get my shit together. Graham helped by telling me the truth of the matter, "you know the track, just drive it".

Some of us don't do well with instruction or maybe it is that some of us get instructors that don't do well with every student. I felt beat down after my first few events. My first two instructors were awesome my next three or so sucked. I finally adopted the Tom Cruise attitude ............ Sometimes you just gotta say, "What the fuck.

However Kevin, crashing is a real possibility for all of us .........

Andrew Jonell · **Joined:** Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:43 pm **Posts:** 1350

What's your now famous BMWCCA story? Sounds good.

Stephen Westerfield · **Posted:** Thu May 23, 2013 2:25 pm

Kevin Allen wrote:

After doing one tarmac rally (no, I didn't crash, and I didn't lose), I have zero desire to do another track event. Yay, stage rally!!! :thumbsup:

I'm glad you found your calling, but comparing a stage rally to a HPDE is a bit ridiculous.

Rather than trying to appreciate that our instructors show up to our events willing to get in the car with complete strangers (sometimes) and put their safety in the hands of their student, you call him a fat asshole. How predictably classy of you.

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