So I just signed up because Mike and Ross said to go. So I did. BUt as the date comes closer I begin to wonder what it is that I am doing? Am I actually racing people wheel to wheel? Time trials of sorts? Please shed some light on this. I have no idea what to expect.

 

Jon Felton would be the best person to answer this, but here's my shot at it...

You've signed up for High Performance Driver's Education (HPDE). You will learn to DRIVE your car - not just RIDE in it. You will learn how to safely brake, corner, and accelerate in the controlled environment of a private road course, with appropriate safety personnel watching your every move. Prior to each track session, you'll attend a lecture-style classroom that will teach you about the rules of the weekend, rules of the track, and the rules of vehicle dynamics/physics, which no matter how good you think you are, you will not overcome. An experienced road-course driver will sit shotgun and instruct you on how to properly navigate the corners, respectfully pass others (and let others pass you when they are faster drivers), and accelerate and slow your car (in a straight line!) You will learn how to be smooth with your inputs (steering, gas, brake) and how much capability most cars have that you can never safely achieve on the street. Lastly, as long as you keep your ego in check (sometimes hard for all of us to do), you will have the most fun you've ever had with your pants on.
Keep the shiny side up!

 

It is an all night party in the swinging collage city of Danville. You eat great food, get drunk, throw the hotel furnature into the swimming pool, swagger across a 6 lane highway, hang out at the local K-mart, streetrace, flirt with the local women, buy trinkets, and then drive home the next day.

ceas..

 

Flirt with local Junior High School girls, I think you meant to say...

 

NOW THATS A DRIVING SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!

Awsome. Cant wait.

 

ITR track prowess testing.

Will

 

This is absolutely the best paragraph summary of an HPDE that I have *ever* seen. Nice writing, Adam!

On top of that excellent description, I would add that you will be spending a considerable amount of time in your car on the track (something like 3.5 hours over the course of the weekend), so you need to make sure it is up to snuff. It will need to be checked out according to the pre-tech form at this link by any qualified mechanic or shop in your area. This is done so that we (i.e. Speedtrial) are sure that the car will be safe for you and your instructor, and the other drivers/instructors who will be around you on the track.

Obviously fresh oil is a good idea, and good coolant/water won't hurt either. But please pay particular attention to your brakes... you will be hauling down from 100+mph to ~30mph three times a lap for half an hour at a time, which can be quite taxing (particularly on front brakes). Definitely bleed the brakes with the highest-temp fluid you can afford (preferrably something like Ate Super Blue or AP550 or Motul 600 or Ford HD, but even the generic Castrol GT-LMA is better than nothing). Also, it might not be a bad idea to bring some spare front brake pads.

Well, there's certainly a lot more to say about this subject, if you would like to hear it. So if you have any more q's, feel free to email me privately (jon@get-fast.net) or call me (804.938.TIRE cell anytime). Or just post here, where you will no doubt get more great descriptions and explanations like the one Adam posted above.

Hope that helps,

Jon
Speedtrial east coast director

 

you willl learn that 99% of the people in "Kill Stories" have no clue about real driving

 

do I have to get my car teched before I get there? I though they were going to tech at innkeeper friday night? Should I take gas too? I though I heard this somewhere.

 

you will need to "tech" your own car before hand so that you know that there is nothing you will not have to fix anything the night before
we will be teching cars the night before I believe, it is up to Jon though


[Modified by urbanlegend21, 1:16 PM 2/11/2002]

 

daym... there will be a LOAD of Honda-Tech members at SpeedTrial.

Will
-who says that a photo shoot needs to happen Saturday afternoon

 

You will need to have your car pre-teched according to the form at this link. We prefer if a shop or trained mechanic does it, although people with lots of experience can 'self-pre-tech'. You will need to turn this form in at the track. The idea is to make sure everything is up to snuff in advance, so you have time to fix or replace parts if necessary (which sure beats finding out you need a left rear brake line or right front wheelbearing in Danville on the night before an event!)

We will also do an additional tech before you can go on the track. This will start in the hotel parking lot on Friday night, and continue in the tech shed at the track on Saturday and Sunday mornings. (Hint: get it done the night before to avoid long lines and possible delays.) This is to check last minute things like wheelbearings, lugnuts, tire tread, brake pad depth, helmets, proper numbering, etc.

As for gas, there is gas available at the track but it's like $2.00 a gallon, or more. Unless you want to run 110 octane race gas, which is more like $5.00 a gallon. I'd say just show up each day with a full tank of gas and you should be fine.

PS- Will, you're right, there are gonna be a TON of h-t folks at this event! How about touring laps w/photos, then a group photo by http://www.trakcam.com of the cars all parked on the frontstraight during lunch, with all the smiling faces standing next to each one? Somebody wanna help me put that together?

Jon
804.938.TIRE cell anytime

 

i will help.............
how?
send e-mail to all H-T members at the event?

 

B-DIDDY - You will need long sleves and long pants. Bring rain gear (so it won't rain). Bring drinks and snacks. Bring a chair. Bring an open mind. Leave the beer at home. Do NOT bring your ego.

And most important, be sure you have a good time.

Morgan - Many of the people in the Kills *can* in fact drive, and I would be willing to bet some can drive better than you. So please watch who you criticize in a sweeping general statement. Especially since B-DIDDY is a regular Kills guy.


[Modified by r2x, 11:59 AM 2/11/2002]

 

knowing he was a regular I thought the he might get the sarcasm

damn, sh:t is taking way to seriously sometimes

 

82.6% is my vote.

Will
-who has yest to see 60' lights at VIR

 

Morgan - I would submit that a " " might have helped me (since I'm the only one that thought he was serious) see that you were joking.

Will - Not everyone in kills drives only in a straight line and cares only about 60' and 1/4 mile times, but you know that.

 

LOL Dave (B-DIDDY) can't drive, he's a pansy...lol just kidding bro. I felt safe on our IPS expedition, you should do fine.

 

i guess I could be a little clearer
sometimes I forget not everyone has my sense of humor
oh well, sorry

 

Yeah 1/4 mile times aren't even that important in Kills. It's 80% street racing so what's more important are "the look on the guy's face as I pass him and give him the thumbs down" and "his girlfriend flashing her ***** at me as I beat him". Or how about the guy in the 92 Accord Auto who crowed about beating an 89 Olds Cutlass Supreme from a stoplight (driven by a girl who wasn't even racing him)? Kills should be divided into 3 sections - street kills, dragstrip kills, and JG Luder.

 

Back to the subject.
You have signed up for a track "event" in which your ITR will be able to flex it's designed prowess.

A helmet, proper attire, full tank of gas, fresh fluids (brake!), correct tire pressure/tread life, and some aftermarket front brakes pads are about all you need to have the most fun you have ever had in you car with your clothes on.

Will

 

nice answers. Ok so ive got to get my car teched out. I had plans to put in my new motul 600 and do the oil and such. Guess I had better order those pads from MIke so he can bring them. Hmm I guess thats it. Ive got a list going for some other stuff.

 

Oh hey, speaking of that I think I forgot to mention that this is a 'drift event' and we will be dumping 20 gallon cans of Crisco Oil out at every corner exit before every session. But, that's ok, there's not really anything to hit at VIR.

Jon
who is definitely kidding

 

On a serious note about gas, all of the gas stations that are open at the crack of dawn on Saturday morning in Danville are NOT OPEN on Sunday morning. There was not a single open gas station between the Innkeeper and VIR on Sunday Dec 9th that I could see.

 

Good point- fill up Saturday night and you don't have to worry about it