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2011 WDCR Spring Double Comp School - Day 1
Posted by
davecarama
,
03-21-2011
·
1,455 views
So I took my double comp school this weekend, Thurs-Sun 3/17-3/20. Here's my story. 
FYI. If anyone wants to know how to crew, John Hall is the best. I never had to wonder what was done on my car. Whenever I was back from class, John gave me the rundown. "Tires are good, fuel is good, brakes are good now let's get you in the car." then he walked up to pit and chatted with me to keep me calm. Every time (I was a bit of a worry wart). A good crew will make it so you don't even think about the car. You know it is prepared when you walk up to it. Anything that happens on track is all driver, because the car is perfect. A good crew would have it no other way.
What you will not understand until you are there, and what other people who you wrangle to help might not understand, is that you truly need a good crew for a school. You won't have time to wipe the windshield or check tire pressures or torque lug bolts. You are on track, running to class, sitting in class, or running to your car the entire weekend. A school is not a sprint weekend, it is a marathon, especially a double. In the evenings you will be tired, sore, and mentally exhausted. Staying up to drink beers or walk around the paddock all night is not an option, you will be ready for bed by 9 and wake up for school again by 7 (if you stay at the track, earlier if you have a drive).
King Rat Motorsports, specifically Alex and Kim Ratcliffe and Donnie from Brimtek were also essential. They brought food and water each day and kept a calmness around the paddock space that made things happen so smoothly.
I could not have made it through day 1 without these guys.
So, now that the campfire songs are over... On to the school.
While I was prepping my car before the school, Donnie, a mechanic that helps out the rats told me "this is a gentleman's club (not boobies, pasties, and dollar bills, think more the leather chair, books, and pipes kind). If you know how to be a gentleman, you will be fine." He basically said that these guys are looking to see if you can play fair in their sandbox.
In my terms, it is a fraternity, and this is you pledging to join. That helped with my mentality going out on track. These guys are not racing per say, but playing with their cars together on a track for fun and competition. The rules of the road are be safe and don't wrinkle someones, or your own race car. When you get off, smile a lot, talk story with your new buddies, and most of all have fun. This helped a whole lot!
My background is that I have been driving on tracks since '99. I think I gave been instructing since '01. I did time trials in the 2010 season, so I was even familiar with open passing. So let's face it I already knew, how to play, I just needed to show everyone and prove it.
Day 1 - Crew: John Hall
Instructor: Ken Anderson (SSM Driver)
Tires: sticker Hoosiers
I was not too comfortable getting on a track with Porsche GT3, vettes, GT-Pintos All capable of doing sub 1:20 lap times... I not only wanted to learn how to be passed, but how to pass also! I felt that the SM/SSM group would be a better place for me to learn how to stay alive. I also felt that I could learn how to pass, be passed, and practice avoiding collision. But something about being on track with 33 other Miatas, all newbies... that frightened me to death. So I chose to drive with the big bore in hopes that I would pass and still have an unwrinkled car once I was done (more on that group later).
The first classroom session made me feel more at ease. Honestly, the school was feeling a lot like an HPDE for me at that point. Alright, an HPDE on steroids, but still.
When I went out on track the first time, I was expecting to be TROUNCED on. There were 17 cars in my group, 2-3 ITA cars maybe 4 GTP cars, and a few of the ridiculous others, like Porsche GT3, Z06 Vette, S2000 ITE car, etc... I staged behind a few cars and we went out. The track was immediately green and these guys were moving at a warm-up pace. The crowd behind me was not too close, they too were moving at a warm-up pace. By the first turn, I was getting bored, by the 5th turn I was getting frustrated, by turn 9 I was fed up and passed 2 cars at once (Porsche GT3 and Nissan 300ZX)... and I was off!
That session was more like a "brush the cobwebs out of my head" session. And it was FUN. When I got off track I knew right away that I chose the right class to drive with. As the day went on, I only felt better and better.
Before my school, many of my friends told, no warned me about the classroom sessions, where the instructors make you stand up and point out everything you did wrong. Once in a blue moon pointing out your strengths and giving out an occasional at'a'boy. I was wary about that, and tried my best... or at least had every intention to behave myself when I went out there. But something came over me when I got in the car. I felt like young Ricky Bobby and just wanted to go fast! So starting out each driving session I wanted to hit perfect lap after lap after lap, but found myself hooking up with another car (usually the #03 ITA white CRX) and playing for a good 15-20 minutes straight.
We would get off track and get into the classroom. I am thinking, boy, that pass I made on the outside of 5, passing the CRX who was picked by the Pinto... I am going to hear it from that... or when I passed in 6 and had to apex with my left tires because my right tires were 100% off the track, just to avoid collission... but instead, I was given an at'a'boy and called out for good. At the end of the session, Dave from OG said "if you aren't watching the #3 CRX and #63 Miata, you should. They are Racing, and it was fun to watch. Well done!". I'll tell you what, I like getting at'a'boys!
We did get a few finger points that day, I remember one specific one "03, and 63. You probably don't want to go side by side in the chute in first lap of the session"... OK, that one still felt good...
Day 2 coming shortly...
Track photos of the school can be found HERE
FYI. If anyone wants to know how to crew, John Hall is the best. I never had to wonder what was done on my car. Whenever I was back from class, John gave me the rundown. "Tires are good, fuel is good, brakes are good now let's get you in the car." then he walked up to pit and chatted with me to keep me calm. Every time (I was a bit of a worry wart). A good crew will make it so you don't even think about the car. You know it is prepared when you walk up to it. Anything that happens on track is all driver, because the car is perfect. A good crew would have it no other way.
What you will not understand until you are there, and what other people who you wrangle to help might not understand, is that you truly need a good crew for a school. You won't have time to wipe the windshield or check tire pressures or torque lug bolts. You are on track, running to class, sitting in class, or running to your car the entire weekend. A school is not a sprint weekend, it is a marathon, especially a double. In the evenings you will be tired, sore, and mentally exhausted. Staying up to drink beers or walk around the paddock all night is not an option, you will be ready for bed by 9 and wake up for school again by 7 (if you stay at the track, earlier if you have a drive).
King Rat Motorsports, specifically Alex and Kim Ratcliffe and Donnie from Brimtek were also essential. They brought food and water each day and kept a calmness around the paddock space that made things happen so smoothly.
I could not have made it through day 1 without these guys.
So, now that the campfire songs are over... On to the school.
While I was prepping my car before the school, Donnie, a mechanic that helps out the rats told me "this is a gentleman's club (not boobies, pasties, and dollar bills, think more the leather chair, books, and pipes kind). If you know how to be a gentleman, you will be fine." He basically said that these guys are looking to see if you can play fair in their sandbox.
In my terms, it is a fraternity, and this is you pledging to join. That helped with my mentality going out on track. These guys are not racing per say, but playing with their cars together on a track for fun and competition. The rules of the road are be safe and don't wrinkle someones, or your own race car. When you get off, smile a lot, talk story with your new buddies, and most of all have fun. This helped a whole lot!
My background is that I have been driving on tracks since '99. I think I gave been instructing since '01. I did time trials in the 2010 season, so I was even familiar with open passing. So let's face it I already knew, how to play, I just needed to show everyone and prove it.
Day 1 - Crew: John Hall
Instructor: Ken Anderson (SSM Driver)
Tires: sticker Hoosiers
I was not too comfortable getting on a track with Porsche GT3, vettes, GT-Pintos All capable of doing sub 1:20 lap times... I not only wanted to learn how to be passed, but how to pass also! I felt that the SM/SSM group would be a better place for me to learn how to stay alive. I also felt that I could learn how to pass, be passed, and practice avoiding collision. But something about being on track with 33 other Miatas, all newbies... that frightened me to death. So I chose to drive with the big bore in hopes that I would pass and still have an unwrinkled car once I was done (more on that group later).
The first classroom session made me feel more at ease. Honestly, the school was feeling a lot like an HPDE for me at that point. Alright, an HPDE on steroids, but still.
When I went out on track the first time, I was expecting to be TROUNCED on. There were 17 cars in my group, 2-3 ITA cars maybe 4 GTP cars, and a few of the ridiculous others, like Porsche GT3, Z06 Vette, S2000 ITE car, etc... I staged behind a few cars and we went out. The track was immediately green and these guys were moving at a warm-up pace. The crowd behind me was not too close, they too were moving at a warm-up pace. By the first turn, I was getting bored, by the 5th turn I was getting frustrated, by turn 9 I was fed up and passed 2 cars at once (Porsche GT3 and Nissan 300ZX)... and I was off!
That session was more like a "brush the cobwebs out of my head" session. And it was FUN. When I got off track I knew right away that I chose the right class to drive with. As the day went on, I only felt better and better.
Before my school, many of my friends told, no warned me about the classroom sessions, where the instructors make you stand up and point out everything you did wrong. Once in a blue moon pointing out your strengths and giving out an occasional at'a'boy. I was wary about that, and tried my best... or at least had every intention to behave myself when I went out there. But something came over me when I got in the car. I felt like young Ricky Bobby and just wanted to go fast! So starting out each driving session I wanted to hit perfect lap after lap after lap, but found myself hooking up with another car (usually the #03 ITA white CRX) and playing for a good 15-20 minutes straight.
We would get off track and get into the classroom. I am thinking, boy, that pass I made on the outside of 5, passing the CRX who was picked by the Pinto... I am going to hear it from that... or when I passed in 6 and had to apex with my left tires because my right tires were 100% off the track, just to avoid collission... but instead, I was given an at'a'boy and called out for good. At the end of the session, Dave from OG said "if you aren't watching the #3 CRX and #63 Miata, you should. They are Racing, and it was fun to watch. Well done!". I'll tell you what, I like getting at'a'boys!
We did get a few finger points that day, I remember one specific one "03, and 63. You probably don't want to go side by side in the chute in first lap of the session"... OK, that one still felt good...
Day 2 coming shortly...
Track photos of the school can be found HERE
Rich