BIR Presentation - LOL/SCCA Membership Meeting

[Cobra_Kai]

I guess I have always learned on my own and I think the HPDE would be a bit odd for me having someone telling me how to drive.

It's actually quite the opposite. One of the greatest things about this sport is ride alongs - you can learn soooo much from just being a passenger in a HPDE4 car/session, or just with a great driver. You would never believe you could drive a car like that. Not to mention the constant feedback you get from an instructor sitting next to you while you are driving. It speeds up the learning curve so much it is incredible - and get different people too - try and get a new instructor at every track event so you can see how others drive and teach. I've been to 4 tracks and had 5 different instructors and went on as many ride alongs, and the stuff you can learn during those sessions is invaluable. Have I convinced you yet? It really is a great time!

[OrangeCrush 86]

I would love to ride with someone else as a passenger. I think that would be alot better for me because I like to learn by watching. I'm definitely going to give it a try next summer with a friend of mine who would also be new.

[Cobra_Kai]

Cool - you will definitely learn a lot at each event you attend. We need all the MN drivers we can get to show up at these track events. Especially places like BIR,MAM,BHF so we can show NASA that WE can fill those tracks and it's not a waste of time and money for everyone else. I think we should have a pretty good group by next summer.

[PHRANQUY]

I would love to ride with someone else as a passenger. I think that would be alot better for me because I like to learn by watching. I'm definitely going to give it a try next summer with a friend of mine who would also be new.

On a similar note, I actually learned a LOT during the few Auto-x sessions I've attended by having an instructer with me. I actually picked up 7 seconds between 3 runs just by listening to their advice and remember when they were saying "Brake, gas, turn" etc etc...

[Cobra_Kai]

On a similar note, I actually learned a LOT during the few Auto-x sessions I've attended by having an instructer with me. I actually picked up 7 seconds between 3 runs just by listening to their advice and remember when they were saying "Brake, gas, turn" etc etc...

I guess that's true too, but Auto-X and open-track are so much different. The best advice I ever got from Auto-Xing was to look ahead - the course is so tight and short you are always making some kind of adjustment while driving. And it's definitely not uncommon to make up 10 seconds between your first run and your last one. The best thing about Auto-X is the Test-n-Tune days - go to those if you go to anything. I once got 28 runs in 5 hours and learned a lot about car control that day - I had 3 different instructors, and I rode in 5 different cars - repetition is a good thing.

[PHRANQUY]

True, but in a PDE where you have an instructor, they can help point out where you should be braking, how hard, etc etc, just like in Auto-x. Different type of event, same concept.

[Steve]

I would just like to add a comment. (Creeps on egg shells) A really good driver does not necessarily make the best realtime driving coach.

There are some people that you just have to ride with to understand what you are supposed to be doing. There are also people that can sit in the passenger seat and give you commands through a headset.

I have had both types. One driver rode with me and said," You just need to ride with me to understand". He was absolutely correct. I learned more in riding with him than I ever could have by being coached. There are other types that really are good at coaching in realtime.

My point is....Both experiences are important, missing on either aspect is cheating yourself. Besides, who doesn't want to ride in an AI car or want an AI driver(s) in their car with them? I was SO lucky last year. I had Brian Groth as an instructor (midwest AI champ), Chris Griswold (midwest AIX champ) and Eric Meyer (midwest Spec miata champ) also Ted Schwartz (fantastic mustang instructor and AI racer). I love Nasa for that fact!

[ScotWithOne_t]

My point is....Both experiences are important, missing on either aspect is cheating yourself. Besides, who doesn't want to ride in an AI car or want an AI driver(s) in their car with them? I was SO lucky last year. I had Brian Groth as an instructor (midwest AI champ), Chris Griswold (midwest AIX champ) and Eric Meyer (midwest Spec miata champ) also Ted Schwartz (fantastic mustang instructor and AI racer). I love Nasa for that fact!

You're lucky... of the three instructors I had last year, one of them was an old guy that told me I should be doing 140 before the end of the straight at MAM, one of them told me my driving style would KILL me, and the other got sick and I had to drop him off in the hot pit after 1 lap...twice.

[bad-speller]

I would just like to add a comment. (Creeps on egg shells) A really good driver does not necessarily make the best realtime driving coach.

There are some people that you just have to ride with to understand what you are supposed to be doing. There are also people that can sit in the passenger seat and give you commands through a headset.

I have had both types. One driver rode with me and said," You just need to ride with me to understand". He was absolutely correct. I learned more in riding with him than I ever could have by being coached. There are other types that really are good at coaching in realtime.

My point is....Both experiences are important, missing on either aspect is cheating yourself. Besides, who doesn't want to ride in an AI car or want an AI driver(s) in their car with them? I was SO lucky last year. I had Brian Groth as an instructor (midwest AI champ), Chris Griswold (midwest AIX champ) and Eric Meyer (midwest Spec miata champ) also Ted Schwartz (fantastic mustang instructor and AI racer). I love Nasa for that fact!

Steve summed it up very very well. I couldn't agree more.

Brian

[bad-speller]

and the other got sick and I had to drop him off in the hot pit after 1 lap...twice.

He probly got sea sick from the rocking motion of your marshmellow suspension. lmao

[HAULNSS]

one of them told me my driving style would KILL me, and the other got sick and I had to drop him off in the hot pit after 1 lap...twice.

Impressive!

I haven't had anyone say that to me, or get sick. Congrats! Maybe it is because we are too busy laughing or hanging on in my car?




Randy

[RayK]

A good instructor coaching is a great deal. NASA was great with supplying instructors for me. I wouldn't have made the progress I did without the coaching.

[OrangeCrush 86]

You're lucky... of the three instructors I had last year, one of them was an old guy that told me I should be doing 140 before the end of the straight at MAM, one of them told me my driving style would KILL me, and the other got sick and I had to drop him off in the hot pit after 1 lap...twice.

Me riding with a experienced driver sounds great.... but what Scot is talking about when it comes to instructors is what bothers me lol.

[bad-speller]

Me riding with a experienced driver sounds great.... but what Scot is talking about when it comes to instructors is what bothers me lol.

If you have an instructor that you don't click with, there is nothing wrong with requesting different instructor. Do not suffer thru a weekend with a bad instructor.

Brian