New Guy Questions

[Norm Peterson]

Originally Posted by Shooter_X

That sounds like a good place to start then. I'm very grateful for yhe guidance and input guys.

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What Pete said. GoPro-based timing to the nearest whole second is plenty good enough for a "get out there and drive as hard as you're comfortable doing" kind of day. And that's plenty in the beginning.

NJMP (Millville NJ, maybe about 2 hours from Baltimore) has two courses, and in addition to what 3rd party organizers such as NASA and HOD put on, the track also sets up their own days. Last couple of years they have tried to made events happen even in the winter months - last year they had days in November and December that I know of for certain, and the year before that there was one in November.


Norm

[Shooter_X]

Originally Posted by BMR Sales

For the OP, the reason HPDE's are not timed is Insurance. They are insured as Driver Education events, which implies that it is not racing.

There are a number of ways to time yourself - probably the best way for future reference is to get a GoPro. That way you will have Video that will be time stamped.

I ran a gopro this last time. The track had a timer set up which was pretty awesome. I've always done fun roads growing up and in college. At almost 30, a track is far more appealing than on road....though tail of the dragon is still one of my favorite roads.

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[Shooter_X]

Originally Posted by Norm Peterson

What Pete said. GoPro-based timing to the nearest whole second is plenty good enough for a "get out there and drive as hard as you're comfortable doing" kind of day. And that's plenty in the beginning.

NJMP (Millville NJ, maybe about 2 hours from Baltimore) has two courses, and in addition to what 3rd party organizers such as NASA and HOD put on, the track also sets up their own days. Last couple of years they have tried to made events happen even in the winter months - last year they had days in November and December that I know of for certain, and the year before that there was one in November.


Norm

Norm I will check that out too. I've been told to come up that way for rifle matches, maybe I can check out the track during one trip up.

I feel like I have a solid foundation in driving fundamentals, so some of the programs that offer a required basic driver training/ classroom time is really unappealing. Taking laps with an instructor however I'm very open to.

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[Norm Peterson]

NJMP's own track days do offer an instructed hot lap group (what you're looking at). I think as long as you can point to having some verifiable experience you should be able to run there. Sometimes the instructed hot laps sessions have had a couple of less experienced or slower solo drivers mixed in (the faster/more experienced drivers getting pushed up to run in the advanced/instructor sessions). Probably depends on turnout. Both courses are quite friendly in terms of runoff room.


Norm

[Shooter_X]

Originally Posted by Norm Peterson

NJMP's own track days do offer an instructed hot lap group (what you're looking at). I think as long as you can point to having some verifiable experience you should be able to run there. Sometimes the instructed hot laps sessions have had a couple of less experienced or slower solo drivers mixed in (the faster/more experienced drivers getting pushed up to run in the advanced/instructor sessions). Probably depends on turnout. Both courses are quite friendly in terms of runoff room.


Norm

Awesome. That sounds more like what I am looking for. Thanks again for the information, time to start digging a little more.

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[BMR Sales]

Originally Posted by Shooter_X

Norm I will check that out too. I've been told to come up that way for rifle matches, maybe I can check out the track during one trip up.

I feel like I have a solid foundation in driving fundamentals, so some of the programs that offer a required basic driver training/ classroom time is really unappealing. Taking laps with an instructor however I'm very open to.

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Don't discount the Classroom sessions! If you keep an Open Mind, you can learn a lot. I've been an Instructor for almost as many years as you are old and I do a lot of the Classroom time. Almost everytime I get finished with the Class, I get applause or people thanking me or coming up and asking more questions. If you don't get anything out of the Classroom session, you may have a Brain-Dead Instructor. I am passionate about Racing & Track time, so I think that comes through.

I know someone that caught the Track bug about 6 months ago. Since he is an A-Type personality, he thinks he knows it all and doesn't think he needs any Instruction. So he found a Track Day outfit that doesn't require Instructors and did some Track Days. Then when he went to a "Real" HPDE, he told them he had xx Amount of Track Days to avoid an Instructor. I've seen his Videos and he is all over the Track and Sooner than later this will bite him in the ass.

I've been Racing a long time and I don't know it all, so I still take instructions.

[Shooter_X]

Originally Posted by BMR Sales

Don't discount the Classroom sessions! If you keep an Open Mind, you can learn a lot. I've been an Instructor for almost as many years as you are old and I do a lot of the Classroom time. Almost everytime I get finished with the Class, I get applause or people thanking me or coming up and asking more questions. If you don't get anything out of the Classroom session, you may have a Brain-Dead Instructor. I am passionate about Racing & Track time, so I think that comes through.

I know someone that caught the Track bug about 6 months ago. Since he is an A-Type personality, he thinks he knows it all and doesn't think he needs any Instruction. So he found a Track Day outfit that doesn't require Instructors and did some Track Days. Then when he went to a "Real" HPDE, he told them he had xx Amount of Track Days to avoid an Instructor. I've seen his Videos and he is all over the Track and Sooner than later this will bite him in the ass.

I've been Racing a long time and I don't know it all, so I still take instructions.

Maybe I came across wrong. I certainly don't want to convey that I remotely think I know it all. Through my civilian and military careers I've had a large number of classroom and hands on instruction opportunities. I did the same with advanced rider courses for when I was on 2 wheels.

Where I've found the most success learning for my brain is hands on - replay - recap -correct. I am very open to a classroom where it's engaged and I can take something away, however, all too often - on multiple topics- I don't leave any better than I started.

With competitive marksmanship it was a similar story. Mentoring through an experience and correcting through after action was much more effective than the times I sat through seminars and classes. Especially with the mental process management and thinking effectively through stress and external stimulation.


Long story short - not discounting the value of classes- I'm open to them especially at a location where I'm unfamiliar, my frustration is that I move and learn at a pace a little faster than my peers, based of past experience. Please don't mistake that statement for arrogance, I just process information a little differently I suppose.

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[BMR Sales]

No you didn't come across wrong and I know that a lot of people are more hands on - that is how I am when working on cars, if I see it once, I've got a pretty good handle on it.

When I was racing Saturday, an experienced Racer wrecked in front of me - he should have known better. Sometimes it's the little things that save your A$$!

https://youtu.be/0nkGJ109oxw

[Shooter_X]

Originally Posted by BMR Sales

No you didn't come across wrong and I know that a lot of people are more hands on - that is how I am when working on cars, if I see it once, I've got a pretty good handle on it.

When I was racing Saturday, an experienced Racer wrecked in front of me - he should have known better. Sometimes it's the little things that save your A$$!

https://youtu.be/0nkGJ109oxw

Ouch. That didn't look fun at all.

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[winterboy8]

Originally Posted by BMR Sales

If you get to the point where you think you might want to Race, but don't want to chance bending up your Camaro, consider ChumpCar. They race at almost every track in the country (ViR in December) and you can rent rides. I ran last weekend at Sebring (2nd year in a row) and had a Blast!

That looks freakin' fun as hell. That would be cool to do, sucks I just missed it. Maybe next year.

[JusticePete]

[wakespeak]

You can sign up directly with Texas World Speedway (for a few more months until it closes). The have their own performance driving school. TheDriversEdge is the group I run with often and have events at all of the tracks in Texas (Houston/Dallas MSR, COTA, TWS). The beginner green groups are just as much fun as the more advanced groups.