Thanks for the info. on the hotel/camping situation. I have decided to camp.

I am thinking about signing up to drive, but have a few questions. This will be my first Expo. Do the instructors ride with you the entire time? How much track time do you actually get? Are all of the driving courses used, or just the main full track. I have only had my current R about 2 months. Do you recommend me getting more driving time in before I run at the track? I am a little nervous about driving, but do not want to miss out on a great experience.

 

You will have an instructor in the car with you every time you go on the track. You get 4 20-25 minute sessions per day, so you're looking at almost 3 hours worth of time on the track.

You will run the Full Course both days. I've had my R for 11 months, and I haven't been to the track or an auto-x. This is gonna be my first time doing anything. Its a driver education, so you don't need any experience, the event is to teach you and for you to gain experience. As long as your R is in good condition to go to the track, you'll be fine.

 

A.) As a Novice, your instructor will most likely ride with you the entire time- that's not a bad thing.
B.) Expo consists of 8x 20min sessions, 4 per day. This does not include the classroom sessions.
C.) We will be driving the full track at VIR
D.) More drive time is never a bad thing.

*Well put Chris.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by typer_girl &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thanks for the info. on the hotel/camping situation. I have decided to camp.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

I am glad to hear that I would not be the only noob driveR there.

I have never done any kind of racing. My car is stock, with the exception of PIC coilovers. The car should pass inspection. What kind of extra parts, etc. should one bring?

 

Where in VA are you?

 

bring an extra set of front brake pads and brake fluid

 

This will be my first racing experience in my Type-R as well... You won't be alone, there are plenty of n00bs/novices running.

 

You will also need a helmet ( I got bell) and will be required to wear long sleeve shirt while tracking the car.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GO-FIGHT-KILL &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">This will be my first racing experience in my Type-R as well... </TD></TR></TABLE>

It's not a race!
High Performance Drivers Education

 

I know we like to call it racing, but remember, this is a track day, a driver's education day and not racing.

If I am instructing a new driver, trust me, if I am with you, you will not be doing any racing. However, you will be working on things that will make you a better driver and a better driver on the track.

I recommend between now and June, learning how to heal-toe downshift. HOWEVER, if you do not know how to do it well by June, I will 100% instruct you to NOT attempt this at the the expo.

As a new driver expect to eventually be going "fast" but most likely really just learning about how to be smooth, learning the track line, compressing brake zones, etc.

I also recommend, riding with your instructor. When I rode with Bob Endicott in Expo 2, it OPEN my eyes on what an ITR could do I just couldn't believe it. There are going to be some great instructors out there, catch a ride with one of them.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by davidnyc &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">There are going to be some great instructors out there, catch a ride with one of them.</TD></TR></TABLE>

hopefully I'm one of those you speak of

If my passenger seat is empty and I'm heading out, feel free to come up and ask to jump in. Just be ready- I won't wait for slackers who are not ready

 

If you're my instructor Rob, I'll be riding with you as many times as I can.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by davidnyc &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">As a new driver expect to eventually be going "fast" but most likely really just learning about how to be smooth, learning the track line, compressing brake zones, etc.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Exactly! Expo 7 was my first track event ever....in my mostly stock Integra GS. Expo is about meeting great people and learning how to drive in a safe/controlled environment. With just a few hours experience you'll learn a lot and gain a ton of confidence. Becoming "faster" is just an inevitable byproduct. I'll always remember my instructor (Budman) telling me, "You know, you were 10 mph faster through that turn than you were earlier today."

BTW, campin' FTW!!! :grill:

 

I don't have to be your instructor to take you out, anyone can jump in.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Bbasso &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I don't have to be your instructor to take you out, anyone can jump in.</TD></TR></TABLE>

It was more of a, "back off, he's mine" if you happen to be my instructor. I'm trying to learn as much as I can in these two days.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Bbasso &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I don't have to be your instructor to take you out, anyone can jump in.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'd like a ride in joo kaa

And about the heel-toe downshift; I was starting to get pretty decent at it back in 2006. Then I shattered my right ankle in Jan 2007. During the 2007 HPDE season I learned to compensate since I cannot twist my ankle enough for the throttle blip. I still remain in the intermediate, and sometimes advanced group, at all HPDE's; even without the capacity to actually do a "true" heel-toe D/S. Instructors, when they ride along, don't even really notice that I'm kinda cheating .

cliff notes: heel-toe D/S'ing is recommended but definately not manditory.


Modified by white rocket at 9:03 AM 4/18/2008

 

Haha, I meant 'track experience', not 'racing experience'.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Doespike &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Exactly! Expo 7 was my first track event ever....in my mostly stock Integra GS. Expo is about meeting great people and learning how to drive in a safe/controlled environment. With just a few hours experience you'll learn a lot and gain a ton of confidence. Becoming "faster" is just an inevitable byproduct. I'll always remember my instructor (Budman) telling me, "You know, you were 10 mph faster through that turn than you were earlier today."

BTW, campin' FTW!!! :grill: </TD></TR></TABLE>
Well said, are you bringing more greasy roadkill deer sausage?
I was too hungover/under to partake last year.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Bbasso &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

hopefully I'm one of those you speak of

If my passenger seat is empty and I'm heading out, feel free to come up and ask to jump in. Just be ready- I won't wait for slackers who are not ready </TD></TR></TABLE>
I thought you were one of those slackers who are not ready.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by white rocket &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">


cliff notes: heel-toe D/S'ing is recommended but definately not manditory.

Modified by white rocket at 9:03 AM 4/18/2008</TD></TR></TABLE>

I bet the instructors were comfortable with you because you were probably smooth and predictable even though you didn't rev match (heel toe).

True, that heel-toe D/S'ing is not mandatory, just that when I was instructing at We-Todd @ CMP in 2005, my student (who was a good driver, but made mistakes like we all do/did), would unsettle the car so much at corner entry OR have the clutch pushed in on corner entry that my advice was to slow down earlier, get into the gear you need to on the straight and then take the turn. I think there was just too much going on that is was sensory overload.

If he was very comfortable with heal-toe, then the only thing he would have to worry about is the line and driving faster and not actual driving technique.

Anyway, I am excited to be back at VIR...it has been a few years and I have a passenger seat in my car. I will NOT be as fast as some of the seasoned racers out there, but still can show a student the line.

See you guys in June.

Sidebar......
See, this is why I LOVE AUTOCROSS for beginning drivers. You learn about techniques in autocross, what to do in certain situations (under/oversteer), etc.... so when you finally get on the track, you are just learning the track and how to drive faster and not the basics. It is so scary being in a car with someone who is trying to learn the basics (how to hold the steering wheel, how to shift, how to get out of an under/oversteer situation,etc.) at speed.

Sorry for babbling on.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by davidnyc &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">There are going to be some great instructors out there, catch a ride with one of them.</TD></TR></TABLE>

LOL! That reminds me of the ride-along you gave me at CMP, you could say I had the same experience because riding with you in your car was like a different world compared to my n00b pace at CMP!

I know I my driving made you nervous at first but with your guidance, I can honestly say that I dramatically improved by the end of the event! Listen to this man, he knows his stuffs.

DavidNYC = Extra c00lz instructor!

In anycase, my point to the OP, don't worry about being a track n00b. Instructors will definately give you good advice and help you improve regardless of how little track experience you have.

 

I think I remember that we went out in the rain... if I remember correctly you shocked me at how good you are in the rain. If not, my memory is bad. But, what I do remember was that both of my students (obviously including you) at CMP were GREAT drivers.

I am glad I helped you out at CMP. Instructing is fun and a little nerve racking at the same time.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by davidnyc &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Sidebar......
See, this is why I LOVE AUTOCROSS for beginning drivers. You learn about techniques in autocross, what to do in certain situations (under/oversteer), etc.... so when you finally get on the track, you are just learning the track and how to drive faster and not the basics. It is so scary being in a car with someone who is trying to learn the basics (how to hold the steering wheel, how to shift, how to get out of an under/oversteer situation,etc.) at speed.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Autocross is a great segway into HPDE events.

 

disclaimer: just my 2 cents.

I have never autocrossed, but I have 3 HPDEs under my belt. I still consider myself a noob out there. I understand most concepts but applying them is another story sometimes. And I dont even bother trying to heel/toe, not even on the street. I get my shifts done when possible BEFORE turn in as to not upset the balance of the car while turning, and be able to accelerate out of the turns.

As a noob, some of the ONLY things you should really be worried about out there is the driving line your instructor wants you to take (not necessarily the racing line of the track), braking points, where the flag stations are, where traffic is behind you, and where to let people pass so you can progress at your own pace. Dont let people behind you intimidate you. Its not a race, and you can simply let them pass, get some open road, and carry on. As you get more comfortable you will suddenly find yourself pushing it a little more, maybe starting to pass others, and even starting to "wag" the tail a little bit.

as mentioned before, it might be a little sensory overload your first time out. thats why its important to relax, breathe, be alert and LISTEN to your instructor. if you like DRIVING, you will have the time of your life out there.