2009 ARCA Race School

[speedracer]

I didn't bring a camera out to take pictures. This is from a simple P&S that I took when there was free time.

I finally had time this year and was in town to help volunteer.

This would be part of group B I think. Group A would be behind me.

For the event I got suckered to get brooms and supplies (spare extinguishers).   I drove the ACR out which would have made it difficult to carry anything (cage'd). Dave's 3rd gen prelude - the cooler "OG" style was lent to me. I met up with Jared to grab the keys. He recalled who I was by calling me your "Phil's kid" - I haven't been called that for some time.

Anyway, I forgot how the older honda's were just a force to be reckon with in comfort and precise handling... Not bad for 29 year design (the prelude that is)

More later...

As a teaser shot - what do you spy here?

GT-R goodness

[speedracer]

The first day of the course is a typical classroom with autoslalom techniques.


Mark, Taras and Andrew came out to apply for their race license.




The LaChance's second generation came out for their try too (sorry forgot your names)


Forgot Jennifer came out as well

[speedracer]

Day 1 is really a course for the car and driver. To learn some of the aspects in the classroom and re apply it. It also allows some of the instructors to see what they are up with.

• packed day with a lot of the information as overload. IMO, it's one of those that you hear and get so much that later on some of the information get's processed later.
  mixed bag of instructors - some with limited experience some with lots
  

Day 2 Track and driving time with Instructor going over fundamentals - mentoring.

• a lot of hands on experience with direct feed back (student to driver ratio usual 1:1 or 2:1)
  instruction based on what you will be going towards (road racing or just weekend warrior)

[warning this just my opinion and it's rather long and prob boring]

Skip to the pictures instead by clicking here

************************************************************************
I don't think one could ever get away from being a student. There's always something to learn and pickup and improve upon. Taking a race school makes it worth while to have someone watch and coach you on the sidelines (ofcourse, it doesn't mean the all comments are worthwhile as you have to decided on what works).

On the weekend I was an Official Instructor which has a positive side and a bad side. The good is that I have experience in other areas and not just circuit racing which would help maybe understand more or give a different approach. On the flip side being an instructor
people look up for answers and I may not have that experience that years and different tracks... The other thing whichm ight be a downside is I guess once you join those ranks other instructors would stray from giving advice to you as well. Ant, mentioned to me later about the BMW instructor school. Which has me pretty interested as it seems it would help me understand more on teaching but also having different experienced instructors for guidance.

Reminiscing when I took the WCMA school I had some disappointment. The course material presented was informative. I had a good time and learned a lot. Weak areas were pointed out to me that I need to work on. Like all things there were a few bad moments and below is what I didn't enjoy and this in no means reflect the school just the attitudes of certain individuals.

It was important to bring the race car out for Day 1. I had a co driver with no experience and the seat time is up most important. It wasn't as informative for me for the "basics" but that doesn't say I didn't pick up something new or re opened my train of thought. I came in as if I was learning everything all over again.

I was disappointed in mainly 2 instructors (and a few that bitched at my co driver for driving a race car out).

• had I known there was so much hate in sitting in a fully prepped race car I would have left the car for Day 1 - it was not worth beating up a race car and those poor R tires
• The whole point in bring the car out was to have experience in the car at a race school -  no issues with the car; it runs, starts, fully functional - so why the hate?
• stupid question like "why did you bring a race car out?"; - I dunno race car + race school... Who would've thunk?

It was not very nice to introduce someone to the sport with complaints about bringing a race car out. Especially, when we spent the time and preparation to put in a seat and harness. I didn't hear these comments as I knew many of the instructors and were allowed to use it as a testing area. Most of the time the instructors would look at me and say "you've done this before haven't you". So it was very casual for me. A few grumpy individuals I did hear complain and said I'm not sitting in with you (which was ok). But, there were these 2 instructors that when we compared notes they really stood up as ass's.

Instructor 1
- locking your arms from steering is just plain stupid. This does not work for tight and very slow turns (less than 90kmh).
* also a little difficult when the steering wheels is a race steering wheel
- approaching a radius circle ideally the closer you are to the inner circle the quicker you will come out. Driving outside results in a higher kmh but it takes that much more time as you have that much more distance to cover. Slow in; quick out.
*note this is a small circle. Had the instructor say I want your approach with the highest speed at neutral throttle then driving is different.
- Ignoring my comments just shows what kind of ego you have. I took each section like a mini drag strip. Tight corners your really looking at mini drag strips. Which also means that the vehicle gets upset as you want those quick transitions.

Had, I known you were a bigger ass to my co driver who was green to the sport I would have talked to the head instructor immediately instead of telling him at the end of Day 2. You really were not nice.

Instructor 2
The quicker line through the rough patches and pot holes that are breaking up is really not a quicker line if there is going to be damages to the car. I was a little more upset at this than having Instructor 1 give confusing statements. There is no reason for me to damage the suspension or flat spot the R tires on the car. It maybe a "race" car but that doesn't mean you purposely damage the car just cause you race it. I made it very clear that I would not drive through the rough patches. Grabbing my wheel also is a big - WTF dude?!?

The ARCA/WCMA school is invaluable. I believe one learns so much more having discussions and being shown the practical applications. These were just 2 bad apples ( lol 4 years ago or 4.5 so it's just something that really stuck to me). So, I always gave the "Students" options to try when I was intructing one one one. Anyway. It's too much banter and not enough racing