My hands were so sweaty from the grip and it was 40 degrees outside. I can't imagine how it will be in the summer.
My HPDE Weekends
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First and only time I’ve been to a track was during the adrenaline academy. I had a serious death grip
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I see you enjoyed your first day! Keep it up it gets better the more you do.
See you soon.
See you soon.
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Ahh, the death grip.
That is something I did too in the beginning especially on the highway as the speeds were increasing beyond 120 mph.
By the time I got to track time, I no longer wanted to tear my steering wheel off hahah.
Taken last weekend by a photographer at the Goodyear track in Luxembourg.
Relaxed hands and WOT
.
The 2 way Clubsport looks nice under load.
![350807]()
That is something I did too in the beginning especially on the highway as the speeds were increasing beyond 120 mph.
By the time I got to track time, I no longer wanted to tear my steering wheel off hahah.
Taken last weekend by a photographer at the Goodyear track in Luxembourg.
Relaxed hands and WOT
.The 2 way Clubsport looks nice under load.
Renamed the thread to keep all my logs in one place.
This weekend was at NJMP Lightning. Weather overall was excellent. Saturday was sunny and in the 60s. Sunday's forecast was for a washout but it rained briefly in the morning and didn't see a drop after that. Temps on Sunday were mid 60s. Saturday's tire pressure started at 45psi and moved up to 60psi as the day went on. I didn't check Sunday.
I registered for HPDE 1. My instructor has an STI so he knew a lot about the AWD format. We got 5 sessions in on Saturday and 4 on Sunday (I bagged the 5th to get home before the rain).
Video from the last session on Saturday:
On Sunday my instructor started talking to me about HPDE 2. At first I was reluctant, but there were some really slow moving cars in HPDE 1 and I was getting frustrated. I agreed to move to HPDE 2 if he stayed with me in the car, which he did for a session. For the fourth, and what would be my final, session, he wanted me to go alone.
Video from my solo session in HPDE 2:
I ran the above session in Track mode (all others were in Sport). I felt much more responsiveness from the car without the nannies. I had an absolute blast moving up to 2 with no bottlenecks. Granted, my form degraded because I was just mashing the gas trying to not hold up traffic. But it was amazing nonetheless.
The suggestion I got to move my hands down to below the thumb bolsters was huge. I had no death grip, no hand sweat, and I felt more in control. And I think I figured out the GoPro exposure with the tip about the locked exposure setting.
Small, incremental progress! I got signed off to move to HPDE 2 when I come back to Lightning. My registration at Thunderbolt I'll leave at 1 since I haven't been there before. When I head back to Summit Point in a few weeks I hope they will let me move to 2.
This weekend was at NJMP Lightning. Weather overall was excellent. Saturday was sunny and in the 60s. Sunday's forecast was for a washout but it rained briefly in the morning and didn't see a drop after that. Temps on Sunday were mid 60s. Saturday's tire pressure started at 45psi and moved up to 60psi as the day went on. I didn't check Sunday.
I registered for HPDE 1. My instructor has an STI so he knew a lot about the AWD format. We got 5 sessions in on Saturday and 4 on Sunday (I bagged the 5th to get home before the rain).
Video from the last session on Saturday:
On Sunday my instructor started talking to me about HPDE 2. At first I was reluctant, but there were some really slow moving cars in HPDE 1 and I was getting frustrated. I agreed to move to HPDE 2 if he stayed with me in the car, which he did for a session. For the fourth, and what would be my final, session, he wanted me to go alone.
Video from my solo session in HPDE 2:
I ran the above session in Track mode (all others were in Sport). I felt much more responsiveness from the car without the nannies. I had an absolute blast moving up to 2 with no bottlenecks. Granted, my form degraded because I was just mashing the gas trying to not hold up traffic. But it was amazing nonetheless.
The suggestion I got to move my hands down to below the thumb bolsters was huge. I had no death grip, no hand sweat, and I felt more in control. And I think I figured out the GoPro exposure with the tip about the locked exposure setting.
Small, incremental progress! I got signed off to move to HPDE 2 when I come back to Lightning. My registration at Thunderbolt I'll leave at 1 since I haven't been there before. When I head back to Summit Point in a few weeks I hope they will let me move to 2.
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Excellent, glad you had fun. Welcome to the track club!
Back at Summit Point this past weekend. Started with HPDE 2 and an instructor Saturday and Sunday morning. Drove solo in the afternoons.
I'm definitely getting faster. While I don't have data from Track Addict last time I was there, rough timing the Youtube videos my fastest lap was somewhere around 1:32. Fastest lap this weekend was 1:26.184. Hitting 100+ mph in all parts of the track where I should and wasn't before.
As a driver on a track built car with brand new A052s and Hawk DTC-60 track pads, I wonder how much of it is the car being amazing versus me getting better as a driver. I can tell you with confidence I am sloppy more often than not going through turns 6-9. I tinkered with holding the right side longer in 6 before opening up into 7, longer lifts on throttle in 7 and 8, and lifting throttle versus "tap and turn" going into 9.
Fastest lap of the 3 sessions I timed (I didn't time with the instructor in the car - I also don't look at the app while driving, it's in the cup holder so as not to distract):
![351577]()
Obligatory Youtube videos from the session:
I'm definitely getting faster. While I don't have data from Track Addict last time I was there, rough timing the Youtube videos my fastest lap was somewhere around 1:32. Fastest lap this weekend was 1:26.184. Hitting 100+ mph in all parts of the track where I should and wasn't before.
As a driver on a track built car with brand new A052s and Hawk DTC-60 track pads, I wonder how much of it is the car being amazing versus me getting better as a driver. I can tell you with confidence I am sloppy more often than not going through turns 6-9. I tinkered with holding the right side longer in 6 before opening up into 7, longer lifts on throttle in 7 and 8, and lifting throttle versus "tap and turn" going into 9.
Fastest lap of the 3 sessions I timed (I didn't time with the instructor in the car - I also don't look at the app while driving, it's in the cup holder so as not to distract):
Obligatory Youtube videos from the session:
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This was an average lap from Friday at NJMP on Lightning.
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It was not a good day in general. Weather was cold and windy. There were multiple accidents including 2 Corvettes, 1 Porsche, 1 S2000. All severely damaged and had to be towed off the track. 1 blown motor causing an oil spill cleanup, and 1 blown transmission causing another cleanup. We had over 2 hours of delays and they combined classes to get all the events completed. I didn't stay for the last session along with a lot of others. People were not being careful.
You would think this would be better because this was a Time Trials points event. I was first in class but 14th overall so an average day and I got home safely with no damage!
You would think this would be better because this was a Time Trials points event. I was first in class but 14th overall so an average day and I got home safely with no damage!
By my crude Youtube video timing, I was somewhere between 1:20-1:21 on Lightning at the end of the weekend.
Another weekend at NJMP Lightning in the books. Wasn't super hot, dodged most of the rain, and the group was good with the point bys.
Shaved about 1.5 seconds off my prior crudely timed best of about 1:21.
Also, the Garmin Catalyst is amazing.
Shaved about 1.5 seconds off my prior crudely timed best of about 1:21.
Also, the Garmin Catalyst is amazing.
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I just signed up for nasa based on your feedback in this thread.
I hope to do as many events as possible next year so hopefully we cross paths at some point!
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Which event(s) did you sign up for?
I have to say NASA has been great each and every time. I fully support their efforts. Plus they do open wheel racing which is amazing to watch.
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I signed up for a membership* sorry I wasn’t clear lol
I am going to try to make the first event that is posted for next year. I like the fact that they include instructors in HPDE. That’s what I feel I need more than anything. I’m also considering one of those 3-5 day schools.
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I am going to try to make the first event that is posted for next year. I like the fact that they include instructors in HPDE. That’s what I feel I need more than anything. I’m also considering one of those 3-5 day schools.
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The Skip Barber Racing School is insanely expensive. I haven't been so I can't say if it's worth the investment, but I'd argue it can't hurt to run HPDE1 a few times and learn what you can do well before shelling out thousands of dollars for that. I'd consider the school when you think you've progressed as far as you can without professional instruction.
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That’s a fair point and great advice
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For the amount of seat time you get, HPDE events are a bargain. Cost me around $550 entry fees for a 2 day event but you get 7 to 8 twenty minute sessions at high speed per day.
Compare that to drag racing where you'll pay $35 to $50 entry fee and get maybe 5 to 7 runs at 12 to 13 SECONDS (for a RS) each in a typical day.
Compare that to drag racing where you'll pay $35 to $50 entry fee and get maybe 5 to 7 runs at 12 to 13 SECONDS (for a RS) each in a typical day.
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