Well...where to begin?

I have a pretty tight schedule, so car prep for VIR was difficult. I got my new wheels mounted to my new tires, but there wasn't time to do an alignment, which my car desperately needs. So I went down to VIR with a car that just kind of handled funny, nothing horrible.

Once I get there, there is some confusion about what group I was in. I was in intermediate, but had been told I was in beginner. I ended up running around trying to figure it out, by which time it was time for my first session. I didn't have an instructor (it was supposed to be Matt - I think he is MaddMatt on HT, but he was already assigned a student in my group), and I didnt have time to change my wheels/tires. So, I had some Italian guy who knew nothing about the uniqueness of the Integra hop in at the last minute, and I had to run on my Dunlop SP5000 all-seasons.

My first session was ok, I learned the track pretty well and didn't do anything stupid. I concentrated on heel/toeing too much, rather than carrying speed through the turns, so I was pretty slow. My problems came when I put on my brand-new set of Falken Azenis/Kosei K-1s, which had never seen ANY mileage. Well, it was probably the sloppiest session I have ever run. I was slightly faster out of the turns on the Falkens, but still stuck to the heel/toe thing way too rigidly, and ended up late-braking into just about every corner. This got me into trouble at Oaktree (put 3 wheels off on lurid oversteer 3 times) and turn 1 was just UGLY. My instructor was getting frustrated, and so was I.

So I decided to hop in the car with Will Harris, who has an R almost identical to mine in terms of mods. Same tires, one power mod, and aftermarket front brakes. After 25 minutes in his car in the instructor session, I went out in my session and tried to copy his line. I was without a doubt anywhere from 5-15mph faster out of every corner, and no one in my group was able to catch me until I decided to get sideways in Oaktree again. Thanks Will.

Then it was time for the ECHC exhibition. All weekend I said to myself, "I have a pretty recognizable car...let's not alienate people by going off during the exhibition." I was doing pretty respectable, passed Drew's GS-R on the pit straight...then I overcooked Roller Coaster and got a little offline in Hogpen. I thought "more gas will fix this" and I pushed to the outside, then my left two wheels went over the gator into the dirt. So with my nose pointed towards the Armco, I did the only thing I could. I lifted, yanked the wheel all the way to the left, and put both feet in. the tail came around and carried me over to the other side of the track with all the runoff space. I went back out and got passed by Jacobs like 4 times

Then I call my parents to see how they are doing, and they say "come home to say goodbye to your grandma, she doesn't have long." So no Sunday at VIR for me. That night, I decided to go see a female friend who happened to live 20 minutes from where I was staying (Shultz's house). So on the way back, I got a 115-dollar speeding ticket for 80 in a 65.

Now the drive back to DC...my alignment problems are now 100 times worse. Instead of the car going straight just as long as I have two hands on the wheel, it wants to pull off to the left no matter what I do. If I was in a 3-lane highway in the right-most lane and let the steering wheel go, I would smash into the barrier head-on. Fudge. So, given that, and the situation with my grandmother, I am pretty sure I won't be at Speedtrial next weekend. When it rains it pours I guess. NTB is next on my list of places to visit.

The best part of the weekend, besides the revelation I had after riding in Will's car, was staying at Shultz's house. He is an awesome dude for letting me crash there, and I just wanted to thank him. He also has the coolest cat alive.

Cliff Notes - I drive like crap until Willard shows me the way, miss the second day and the next event, and have a car with an insatiable death wish. Not to mention my nice black-painted K-1s were flaking even before I put them on the car.

 

Sorry to hear about your Grandmother Ross.
Dont worry about Speedtrial there are plenty more events this year.

Willard Great Instructor Great Guy

 

Another weird thing, I'm not sure if I should take this well or not - my instructor said to me after the second session "Look man, it's obvious that you've won a lot of autocrosses in your day, your car control is awesome...but you have to be smoother, not throw the car around and catch it". I've never run an autocross in my life... Maybe I should take up SCCA rallying instead.

 

LOL Sure, raise the R up 4 or 5 inches, throw some studded tires on it

 

Ditto for me, too, Ross. Sorry to hear the weekend didn't go as you would have liked. Sounds like it just wasn't in the cards this time. Hope you and your family are hanging in there...

Casey

 

Ross-

I am sorry to hear about your grandmother. I hope that you made it home in time and that you got some extra mintues with her. Know that my thoughts are with you at all times.

As far as your instructor experience. I am upset to hear that you had problems with your assigments. Please email Brian Shugg (svt_coupe@yahoo.com) and tell him what went on.

That goes for anyone else. If you hae comments on your instructors, please email either Brian or me - both good and bad. We need to know so that this does not happen in the future.

We had several new to NASA instructors, and although their backgrounds were impeccable, were not completely immersed in the NASA ways. And obviously that made a difference to you all. That is a situation that we can help to correct in the future with your input.

So please, we understand that in order to change we need your input. Let us know.

Elyse
NASA-VA Registrar

 

It was nice to meet you on Saturday, Ross - sorry to hear about your grandmother

Will took me out on Sunday in an instructor session - what a ride!!

 

Ross - Sorry to hear about your problems with the Instructor. The Italian guy was Ugo. You guys must have had a huge misunderstanding or something. Ugo was probably one of the best drivers at VIR this past weekend. Hope everything starts looking better....

 

Ugo was your instructor...cool guy but FULL of CRAP...I love him to death. He calls me up all the time to tell me I am SLOW as S*^$T.....just beacause he can. Don't let him bother you. He is Italian and full of passion. Listen to him and you will be fast. Also he is learning about front drive just as you....he started driving spec Neon this year. Before that he was in his M3. When you see him again tell him the Ferrari driving Nissan mechanic will kick his A$$ if he dosen't straighten up

sorry about your grans...I know how you feel

Ciao'

Steve

 

I just re-read my post and it sounded like I was being overcritical of my instructor. He was a fine instructor, and we got along great. If I was driving an M3 or a Porsche or something, I would have gotten more out of it. I kept asking him if he wanted to drive my R, so he could understand it a little better and help me with gear selection. He declined. I am sure if he had driven it, I would have gotten a lot out of it, much the same as I benefited from riding with Will. So, my instructor did NOT contribute to my crappy weekend. He was a good guy, with a ton of experience.

 

I think you will find many instructors who would turn down driving your car. Not because they don't think it'd be fun, but becuase they don't want the liability. I know as an instructor, I'd NEVER drive a student's car. I don't want that risk.

r2x ~ who when she instructed a 3rd gen RX7 would have loved a drive, but would never have taken the student's car.

 

When Instructors would drive my car, I learned the most, even if they did only drive it at 7/10ths max...

 

Ross, I feel your pain! I got a call telling me my uncle in CT just passed away when I was there this weekend. My parents and grandfather from FL drove up there and are still there.

Victor Perri II

 

yeah man I got your IM. that **** sucks ***...going there and seeing her was much harder than I expected.

 

Seems I have stepped on some toes ( as usual my sense of humor doesn't come through well when read, and not heard )..so I apologize!

I was simply trying to make Ross feel better with that story about Ugo. I was joking about the whole A$$ kicking story. Ugo and I are constantly bantering with each other over whatever we can. Anyone who knows him knows he is a great guy and a great driver. Ugo is one of my best friends and the BEST instructor I have ever had. I did not intend to undermine his authority to instruct. I simply wanted to help Ross get to know Ugo and understand that he is a great guy and if you listen to him you will be a better driver. I suppose in the future I need to keep my comments to myself.

Again I am sorry if anyone got the idea I was trying to belittle Ugo's authority or ability. His friendship with me is far more important than any message board.

Best Regards,

Steven Jones

 

Hey Jones don't worry, I didn't think you were talking Ugo down in any way. I just thought that I had come across as being too critical of him, and I wanted to correct myself. I saw the humor in your story.

I told him to be an aggressive instructor, so it was ok if he yelled. Anytime I got off-line, he would yell "You're all over de ******* track!" and when I needed to brake, he yelled "BRAKE!" I dont know how his vocal cords survived.

 

What did you learn when you let Tony drive it at the Jefferson last year???

Grumpy

 

That tony is not an instructor, and my car has a different line then RWD cars

 

I learned to get the _ _ _ _ out of the way, he was all over the place!

Bryan

 

Quote

I learned to get the _ _ _ _ out of the way, he was all over the place!

Put the motor in the back of that prelude and I'll kill all of you!!!!!!