After 3 long years, a post about my first HPDE experience.
06-14-2012, 09:53 AM
#1
After 3 long years, a post about my first HPDE experience.
It's a long post, so sorry in advance. I'm really just trying to capture the feelings from the weekend.
TL;DR version:
My first track weekend was an amazing time. I learned a lot about not only my car, but myself. It has already become and addiction, and like all awesome drugs, people should at least try it once.
On to the real thing:
I bought my RX-8 a little over 3 years ago because it seemed like the perfect car to daily drive and take to the track for an HPDE weekend. Great chassis, nimble, stiff, balanced, and comfortable. Enough power to get where i want to be, but not too much to make life a little too interesting. Financial setbacks, a busy schedule, and quite a few other things have kept me going until now. A lot has changed and my 8 isn't so much of a daily driver any more, but it's no longer a garage queen.
I'm fortunate to have good friends, that are DE regulars and have a lot of experience, give me quite a bit of good advice before, during, and after the event, above and beyond what I learned in the classroom and from my instructor. It's good to get to your first event with a car that close to stock. Learning the car as it is lets you feel any improvements made by the mods that you do. Of course there are always reliability mods that help no matter what, and having good tires and brakes before you go is a must. I only kinda followed that advice. I went to the track with Tien S-techs, Progress Tech adjustable sway bars, and Evo-R adjustable end links. Not exactly earth shattering, but not exactly stock. Don't do a suspension mod right before you go to the track. Good advice that I didn't follow when I put the sway bars and end links on about a month before going. The Toyo R1R's and Hawk HP+ pads were the right way to go though. Do you need that sticky of a tire and aggressive of a pad? The answer is, "Not really." Do the help? Absolutely. You can go to you first event on stock tires, all seasons or summer only tires. Just make sure you have a lot of tread left. You'll need it. Stock brakes are fine and and aftermarket street pads will work as well. They likely won't last the weekend, or fade on you during your sessions. Just be prepared. I wanted to be the cars limitation, not the other way around, and my tire and brake choice made sure that was the case.
The event I picked was at a semi-local track of no real notoriety, but a great place to learn. Only one, kinda two, turns that had a wall with everywhere else being nothing but lots of grass runoff. It was also hosted by a chapter of the Porsche Club of America (PCA) that is know for well run and catered events. Definitely not the norm. Why did I chose a PCA event? They generally have great pricing, great instructors, and great cars. Most other organizations and clubs can't touch them on price. Putnam Park in Mount Meridian, Indiana was were I was gonna pop my track cherry.
On to the event. I arrived after work on Friday so i could check in and get through tech. Of course the car was fine, but I wasn't. I was nervous, anxious, and overly excited. I'd been waiting way to long for this. After an awesome grill-out dinner and some free beers, the guys and I headed out for a little bit. I knew I should get some rest before my first morning, but I also knew I wasn't going to sleep well anyway, and I didn't. The morning came awful early but I was ready to go. Helmet, tools, fluids, extra clothes, numbers and my inspections sticker already on the car, we headed out. The 40 minute drive to the track was excrutiating. Once there i got all of my stuff out of the car and headed to the driver's meeting. By now my head was about to explode. We had about an hour of class before our first session and a chance to meet our instructors. Here's where the twist that eventually made my weekend amazing happened. The guy I introduced myself to before the meeting shrugged me off and informed me that he was going to switch so that he could instruct his lawyer. I was kinda let down and a little ticked at his attitude. It was the best thing that could have happened because I ended up with an instructor that was high energy, positive, and direct. I perfect match. The classroom session was boring, but informative. Having already read Speed Secrets, i was ahead of the game. Doing ride alongs at other DE's put me ahead of the game as well. I still forced myself to pay attention and soak in everything i could. My biggest fear of the weekend wasn't crashing, it was my head turning to mush and sucking as a driver. There's a lot to take in at your first DE. I have a terrible attention span. This could have been a disaster. Again, my biggest fear of the weekend.
Finally, i get back to my car and have a quick chat with my instructor before we go over safety and what have you. I tell him I have no real on track driving experience short of a couple of autox's, HPDE ride alongs, and some motocross experience. Basically, I'm a newb, and my goal for the weekend is just to learn. I was completely taken off guard when he praised my RX-8 and told me that i couldn't have brought a better car to learn in. We chatted about my mods and the car, all of the safety, flags, and point-by rules, then headed to the cold pits for staging. On the grid we casually chatted about driving related things before we were sent out. Because i was so rushed to get from class to the grid, I didn't have much time to get nervous. I was suddenly on my my out lap and on track for the first time. My brain went quiet and all I could here was the instructor in my ear through the chatterbox. It was odd. I didn't feel scared, nervous, or lost. I was calm and my mind was a blank slate. I was paying attention. We instantly started following a good line so he could point out where it was while I pointed at all of the corner workers. He yelled with me when we finished the first lap. I was hooked already. We slowly eased into it and picked up speed. Smooth is faster than just fast. We took time to learn the line, where to brake, where gas it, what to do if "X" flag is displayed, and where and how to run off if we had an "Oh ****" moment. I've dove right into things for most of my life, so this was a different experience for me. It was awesome to have someone telling you how to do it and coaching you along. Since there is so much info to take it, it can be tough to get a grasp on everything, and most people struggle their first few sessions, first day, or even first weekend. I felt great and my mind didn't melt. The first session was a lot to take in, but it felt natural and went by too quick. Somewhere along the half way point, I got my first point by and got to pass another car on on the front straight. By now the car was hot and every 3 to 4 shift on the main straight produced a fireball. I was finally doing what I had only dreamed of for 3 years.
My brain didn't melt and I had over an hour until my 2nd session. I chatted with my friends and watched some of the fast groups run. My second session came up quick. Now that I had a handle on the line and everything else, I felt great. We started out at about 80% of where i was at in the first session, we went back over the line, braking and turn-in points and track safety. From there he fed me compliments, corrections, and boosted my confidence. Now we were only pointing by cars that were faster everywhere, not only in the long main straight. I was passing more people by now as well. It was all starting to click. It felt great. I started to realize that I was already faster than a lot of my group. The feeling is unexplainable with a car with 200 more horsepower has to slow down to let you pass on the straight because they're holding you up in the turns. Lunch came all too quick.
After lunch and another classroom session I was feeling awesome. The classroom session went over stuff my instructor and I had already covered. I was advancing faster than most of my class, and it was really starting to click. My instructor felt the same, so we began to push. Instantly we picked up at about 80% of the previous session. I let some of the monster cars by to give us some free space. After letting the GT3, Z06, and two 911 Turbos go through, it was time to push and see what I had in me. I recalled my lap out loud as i did it to see if i remembered where to go and when. That's when things changed. Now I was really starting to move. I started carrying fourth through turn one and downshifting before 2 instead of before 1. Without thinking about it, i was heal toeing my downshift (something i've been able to do on the street for a long time, but never tried at true speed). I also started downshifting to 2nd for 7 (which is sharp right hander and the slowest turn on the track) to get more drive down the following short straight. I'm having a blast. I'm getting faster and more comfortable. I can finally look around and look well ahead of where i'm at. All of a sudden I was on the *** of a C6 Z06. My instructor told me to just drive my line and to keep pushing and he'll have to point me by. He never did because he was so much faster in the straights, but i always caught him and had to slow down through the majority of the course. This is when I got completely hooked. Here I am pushing a 500+ hp car around a race track. The driver got nervous and had a hard time staying on his line, and I was always right there except after the long straight, but i'd catch back up by turn 3. I was having a blast.
The fourth session brought on more improvement. I was getting pointed by, by everyone. I didn't have to point anyone by. Now we were really starting to working on braking and carrying more speed though specific turns. My timed me running 1:38's not too shabby for my first day. I was stoked and completely addicted already. My face hurt from smiling so much. After that I packed up some of my stuff, slid the rest under my buddy's trailer and watch the rest of our group run their last sessions. We headed back to the hotel for some dinner and beer. We went to bed early that night.
Sunday morning came early and we headed back to the track. I felt good and ready to go after getting the car prepped for the day. The driver's meeting got off to a late start, but was short. Our classroom session was the same. In the classroom session the rest of the noobs figured out that I was driving the RX-8 and commented on the flame show that it produced. I might have been slow in the straights, but I was certainly the most entertaining. The first session started off a little slow as i fought off the morning sleepiness, but after a couple of laps i was back on the line and moving. We let the fast straightaway cars past again. It was time to work on turn 1 a bit more, then 5, then 9 and 10. We caught back up to my earlier point by's pretty quickly. By now most of the people in my group were ready to point me by as soon as i turned up in their rear view. The second session was much of the same, but i was seeing the track better. I road along with my instructor just before the session started. Seeing the track in a car that's really pushing it and running the same line that I was learning was absolutely eye opening. More work on getting faster through some of the more mentally challenging turns, more people pointing me by, and less people that I'm pointing by kept my confidence growing and I was getting faster.
After lunch i had one more session to go. Time to make it count and hope that everything would come together. It did. We spent part of the session working on individual sessions and it felt great. By now i could really feel the car. I could feel when it was right, and feel when it was wrong. I was getting way more good feeling than bad feeling. We started working on taking corners off-line just to get some more experience. I was running about 1:31/1:32 at this point according to my friends. Seven seconds a lap is a huge improvement in a days time and over only a couple sessions. My last four laps or so were my best. I finally linked all of the individual corner work into successful, smooth laps. It felt amazing and was a great way to finish the weekend. I wish i had times for those last couple. I do know that i was carrying speeds through nine and ten that the more advanced groups carry. There is nothing better than feeling like you've learned something and you've improved. Ok, faster cars pointing you by because you're a faster driver is a way better feeling. Who am I kidding?
Going into the weekend I knew I'd like it and become addicted. I never thought it would be this bad. My whole concept of what i want to do to the car and with the car has changed. I've spent every free moment thinking about this experience and when I'll get to do it again. As I left the track for the weekend, I thought about my experience for quite a bit. It was eye opening, and really changed me. My instructor was absolutely amazing and was the key to my success. I'm sure i would done well and had a great time with any other instructor there, but I likely wouldn't have progress as much or had such and amazing time. At a PCA event, all of the instructors are good. I was fortunate to get a great one. All of these thoughts were short lived though. I soon started to think about one thing for the rest of the trip. Where I could have been faster.
Let the addiction begin. I think everyone that enjoys spirited drives should try out the track at least once. Just be warned, it will quickly become all that you think about.
TL;DR version:
My first track weekend was an amazing time. I learned a lot about not only my car, but myself. It has already become and addiction, and like all awesome drugs, people should at least try it once.
On to the real thing:
I bought my RX-8 a little over 3 years ago because it seemed like the perfect car to daily drive and take to the track for an HPDE weekend. Great chassis, nimble, stiff, balanced, and comfortable. Enough power to get where i want to be, but not too much to make life a little too interesting. Financial setbacks, a busy schedule, and quite a few other things have kept me going until now. A lot has changed and my 8 isn't so much of a daily driver any more, but it's no longer a garage queen.
I'm fortunate to have good friends, that are DE regulars and have a lot of experience, give me quite a bit of good advice before, during, and after the event, above and beyond what I learned in the classroom and from my instructor. It's good to get to your first event with a car that close to stock. Learning the car as it is lets you feel any improvements made by the mods that you do. Of course there are always reliability mods that help no matter what, and having good tires and brakes before you go is a must. I only kinda followed that advice. I went to the track with Tien S-techs, Progress Tech adjustable sway bars, and Evo-R adjustable end links. Not exactly earth shattering, but not exactly stock. Don't do a suspension mod right before you go to the track. Good advice that I didn't follow when I put the sway bars and end links on about a month before going. The Toyo R1R's and Hawk HP+ pads were the right way to go though. Do you need that sticky of a tire and aggressive of a pad? The answer is, "Not really." Do the help? Absolutely. You can go to you first event on stock tires, all seasons or summer only tires. Just make sure you have a lot of tread left. You'll need it. Stock brakes are fine and and aftermarket street pads will work as well. They likely won't last the weekend, or fade on you during your sessions. Just be prepared. I wanted to be the cars limitation, not the other way around, and my tire and brake choice made sure that was the case.
The event I picked was at a semi-local track of no real notoriety, but a great place to learn. Only one, kinda two, turns that had a wall with everywhere else being nothing but lots of grass runoff. It was also hosted by a chapter of the Porsche Club of America (PCA) that is know for well run and catered events. Definitely not the norm. Why did I chose a PCA event? They generally have great pricing, great instructors, and great cars. Most other organizations and clubs can't touch them on price. Putnam Park in Mount Meridian, Indiana was were I was gonna pop my track cherry.
On to the event. I arrived after work on Friday so i could check in and get through tech. Of course the car was fine, but I wasn't. I was nervous, anxious, and overly excited. I'd been waiting way to long for this. After an awesome grill-out dinner and some free beers, the guys and I headed out for a little bit. I knew I should get some rest before my first morning, but I also knew I wasn't going to sleep well anyway, and I didn't. The morning came awful early but I was ready to go. Helmet, tools, fluids, extra clothes, numbers and my inspections sticker already on the car, we headed out. The 40 minute drive to the track was excrutiating. Once there i got all of my stuff out of the car and headed to the driver's meeting. By now my head was about to explode. We had about an hour of class before our first session and a chance to meet our instructors. Here's where the twist that eventually made my weekend amazing happened. The guy I introduced myself to before the meeting shrugged me off and informed me that he was going to switch so that he could instruct his lawyer. I was kinda let down and a little ticked at his attitude. It was the best thing that could have happened because I ended up with an instructor that was high energy, positive, and direct. I perfect match. The classroom session was boring, but informative. Having already read Speed Secrets, i was ahead of the game. Doing ride alongs at other DE's put me ahead of the game as well. I still forced myself to pay attention and soak in everything i could. My biggest fear of the weekend wasn't crashing, it was my head turning to mush and sucking as a driver. There's a lot to take in at your first DE. I have a terrible attention span. This could have been a disaster. Again, my biggest fear of the weekend.
Finally, i get back to my car and have a quick chat with my instructor before we go over safety and what have you. I tell him I have no real on track driving experience short of a couple of autox's, HPDE ride alongs, and some motocross experience. Basically, I'm a newb, and my goal for the weekend is just to learn. I was completely taken off guard when he praised my RX-8 and told me that i couldn't have brought a better car to learn in. We chatted about my mods and the car, all of the safety, flags, and point-by rules, then headed to the cold pits for staging. On the grid we casually chatted about driving related things before we were sent out. Because i was so rushed to get from class to the grid, I didn't have much time to get nervous. I was suddenly on my my out lap and on track for the first time. My brain went quiet and all I could here was the instructor in my ear through the chatterbox. It was odd. I didn't feel scared, nervous, or lost. I was calm and my mind was a blank slate. I was paying attention. We instantly started following a good line so he could point out where it was while I pointed at all of the corner workers. He yelled with me when we finished the first lap. I was hooked already. We slowly eased into it and picked up speed. Smooth is faster than just fast. We took time to learn the line, where to brake, where gas it, what to do if "X" flag is displayed, and where and how to run off if we had an "Oh ****" moment. I've dove right into things for most of my life, so this was a different experience for me. It was awesome to have someone telling you how to do it and coaching you along. Since there is so much info to take it, it can be tough to get a grasp on everything, and most people struggle their first few sessions, first day, or even first weekend. I felt great and my mind didn't melt. The first session was a lot to take in, but it felt natural and went by too quick. Somewhere along the half way point, I got my first point by and got to pass another car on on the front straight. By now the car was hot and every 3 to 4 shift on the main straight produced a fireball. I was finally doing what I had only dreamed of for 3 years.
My brain didn't melt and I had over an hour until my 2nd session. I chatted with my friends and watched some of the fast groups run. My second session came up quick. Now that I had a handle on the line and everything else, I felt great. We started out at about 80% of where i was at in the first session, we went back over the line, braking and turn-in points and track safety. From there he fed me compliments, corrections, and boosted my confidence. Now we were only pointing by cars that were faster everywhere, not only in the long main straight. I was passing more people by now as well. It was all starting to click. It felt great. I started to realize that I was already faster than a lot of my group. The feeling is unexplainable with a car with 200 more horsepower has to slow down to let you pass on the straight because they're holding you up in the turns. Lunch came all too quick.
After lunch and another classroom session I was feeling awesome. The classroom session went over stuff my instructor and I had already covered. I was advancing faster than most of my class, and it was really starting to click. My instructor felt the same, so we began to push. Instantly we picked up at about 80% of the previous session. I let some of the monster cars by to give us some free space. After letting the GT3, Z06, and two 911 Turbos go through, it was time to push and see what I had in me. I recalled my lap out loud as i did it to see if i remembered where to go and when. That's when things changed. Now I was really starting to move. I started carrying fourth through turn one and downshifting before 2 instead of before 1. Without thinking about it, i was heal toeing my downshift (something i've been able to do on the street for a long time, but never tried at true speed). I also started downshifting to 2nd for 7 (which is sharp right hander and the slowest turn on the track) to get more drive down the following short straight. I'm having a blast. I'm getting faster and more comfortable. I can finally look around and look well ahead of where i'm at. All of a sudden I was on the *** of a C6 Z06. My instructor told me to just drive my line and to keep pushing and he'll have to point me by. He never did because he was so much faster in the straights, but i always caught him and had to slow down through the majority of the course. This is when I got completely hooked. Here I am pushing a 500+ hp car around a race track. The driver got nervous and had a hard time staying on his line, and I was always right there except after the long straight, but i'd catch back up by turn 3. I was having a blast.
The fourth session brought on more improvement. I was getting pointed by, by everyone. I didn't have to point anyone by. Now we were really starting to working on braking and carrying more speed though specific turns. My timed me running 1:38's not too shabby for my first day. I was stoked and completely addicted already. My face hurt from smiling so much. After that I packed up some of my stuff, slid the rest under my buddy's trailer and watch the rest of our group run their last sessions. We headed back to the hotel for some dinner and beer. We went to bed early that night.
Sunday morning came early and we headed back to the track. I felt good and ready to go after getting the car prepped for the day. The driver's meeting got off to a late start, but was short. Our classroom session was the same. In the classroom session the rest of the noobs figured out that I was driving the RX-8 and commented on the flame show that it produced. I might have been slow in the straights, but I was certainly the most entertaining. The first session started off a little slow as i fought off the morning sleepiness, but after a couple of laps i was back on the line and moving. We let the fast straightaway cars past again. It was time to work on turn 1 a bit more, then 5, then 9 and 10. We caught back up to my earlier point by's pretty quickly. By now most of the people in my group were ready to point me by as soon as i turned up in their rear view. The second session was much of the same, but i was seeing the track better. I road along with my instructor just before the session started. Seeing the track in a car that's really pushing it and running the same line that I was learning was absolutely eye opening. More work on getting faster through some of the more mentally challenging turns, more people pointing me by, and less people that I'm pointing by kept my confidence growing and I was getting faster.
After lunch i had one more session to go. Time to make it count and hope that everything would come together. It did. We spent part of the session working on individual sessions and it felt great. By now i could really feel the car. I could feel when it was right, and feel when it was wrong. I was getting way more good feeling than bad feeling. We started working on taking corners off-line just to get some more experience. I was running about 1:31/1:32 at this point according to my friends. Seven seconds a lap is a huge improvement in a days time and over only a couple sessions. My last four laps or so were my best. I finally linked all of the individual corner work into successful, smooth laps. It felt amazing and was a great way to finish the weekend. I wish i had times for those last couple. I do know that i was carrying speeds through nine and ten that the more advanced groups carry. There is nothing better than feeling like you've learned something and you've improved. Ok, faster cars pointing you by because you're a faster driver is a way better feeling. Who am I kidding?
Going into the weekend I knew I'd like it and become addicted. I never thought it would be this bad. My whole concept of what i want to do to the car and with the car has changed. I've spent every free moment thinking about this experience and when I'll get to do it again. As I left the track for the weekend, I thought about my experience for quite a bit. It was eye opening, and really changed me. My instructor was absolutely amazing and was the key to my success. I'm sure i would done well and had a great time with any other instructor there, but I likely wouldn't have progress as much or had such and amazing time. At a PCA event, all of the instructors are good. I was fortunate to get a great one. All of these thoughts were short lived though. I soon started to think about one thing for the rest of the trip. Where I could have been faster.
Let the addiction begin. I think everyone that enjoys spirited drives should try out the track at least once. Just be warned, it will quickly become all that you think about.
06-14-2012, 09:56 AM
#2
Pics from the weekend. The white GT3 and the black 993 with black wheels are my buddies. All pics are thanks to my buddy Craig who picked up my camera and got some good shots for me.
http://min.us/mblZhFigpV/15
Stuck behind two turbo cabs and a z06
and of course there were flames.
http://min.us/mblZhFigpV/15
Stuck behind two turbo cabs and a z06
and of course there were flames.
06-22-2012, 07:08 AM
#7
Absolute riot and I'm completely addicted. Hoping I can get out to another event this year.
I feel you, you couldn't have pimp slapped the smile off of my face all weekend long.
I put a tl;dr version at the top with you and Jbunchonumbers in mind.
medium front, soft rear.
I put a tl;dr version at the top with you and Jbunchonumbers in mind. medium front, soft rear.
06-23-2012, 05:41 AM
#8
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"The feeling is unexplainable with a car with 200 more horsepower has to slow down to let you pass on the straight because they're holding you up in the turns." 
It's so great to see people having fun with this. Enjoy the experience! The track family is amazing and you will enjoy the journey. If I can help in any way, don't hesitate to ask. Welcome to the adddiction!
PS: Try a NASA event at MidOhio. There's one next weekend, and one a month later. Putnam is a great first time track, and has some challenges. MidOhio will wake up your mind.
It's so great to see people having fun with this. Enjoy the experience! The track family is amazing and you will enjoy the journey. If I can help in any way, don't hesitate to ask. Welcome to the adddiction!
PS: Try a NASA event at MidOhio. There's one next weekend, and one a month later. Putnam is a great first time track, and has some challenges. MidOhio will wake up your mind.
Last edited by docgatorx8er; 06-23-2012 at 07:59 AM.
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