27 replies to this topic

[dmathias]

A certain former SM champion/current professional racer was at Mid-Ohio last weekend coaching an SM driver. Nothing wrong/illegal/unethical about that. Capitalism at it's finest.

However, my problem is that I not only need a pro motor (or three), pro shocks, pro dyno-tuning (repeatedly), a pro crew, x 3 (for one each, 1.6, 1.8, and 99+, depending on track), and a F'n rig to haul it all, and it would hurt if I started racing go carts at 5 years old instead of taking up racing in middle age - now I need A PROFESSIONAL DRIVER'S COACH TOO ?!?!?!?

MB is looking smarter all the time for going golfing instead.

Que the guy that says, "Wake up, this has been going on in SM for years!" (three, two, one...)

-Denny

[Tom Hampton]

"Wake up, this has been going on in SM for years!"

Ba-doom-ching.

[Tom Hampton]

Seriously, of all the things I read about performance improvements (pro motor, dyno/dyno/dyno, etc)...the one thing I have truly considered is the coaching. For $500/$1000 how much improvement can I get compared to the same money on the engine...assuming the engine has all the obvious stuff already (intake, exhaust, AFPR, reasonably new head)?

But, I've only got one nearly completed car...you big spender!

[dmathias]

Tom, no big spender here. Driving same home-built 1.6 for 10-years, towed on open trailer - real "Mom and Pop" racing.

In all seriousness, if I had the resources that I see some guys spending on SM, I'd race something else. GTA or AIX comes to mind.

[Steve D]

In all seriousness, if I had the resources that I see some guys spending on SM, I'd race something else. GTA or AIX comes to mind.

Why spend more for inferior competition?

I guess I don't see the harm in hiring a coach. I had Skeen coach me at Charlotte and it was by far the best investment I could have made.

Granted, I probably could have gotten some of those speed gains by trading data with friends (which I also did at Charlotte), but there's no substitute for the undivided attention of an expert!!

A few years back I offered a free enduro seat to Lamb for a season. That was invaluable. Same car, same track, same day. Can't get any better data than that.

[Johnny D]

If this is this guys career I don’t see anything wrong.
People spend money on college and tools all the time.

If he just has more money than brains, well…

J~

[Tom Hampton]

Why spend more for inferior competition?

While in jest, I agree with the point. Its why I chose to target this class. Granted I'm not in the thick of it yet; but, its my flawed rationale for electing to begin burning money. I didn't select it because I thought it was easy, but rather from watching and lurking for a year...it seemed like the best racing...no matter what section of the pack (except DFL, I guess).

And, any money I spend on improving ME...stays with me no matter what other class I might choose to race. the whole idealistic point of this class is driver-vs-driver, not car-vs-car, right?

There is a local group of coaches who "promise" to get you 2 seconds per lap in a one day (one on one) session...of course, they are making some basic assumptions about the typical student. But, it costs just a little more than $1000 to gain two seconds mechanically. So, of all the escalations and rules to legalize rampant cheating, etc...this seems like the purest of the approaches to going faster.

Granted I'm still at the point that I don't even need to trade data with friends. I'm inconsistent enough that just looking at my own data can tell me how to get faster---simply by stringing my own best sections together I can gain that two seconds.

[Johnny D]

There is a local group of coaches who "promise" to get you 2 seconds per lap in a one day (one on one) session...of course, they are making some basic assumptions about the typical student. But, it costs just a little more than $1000 to gain two seconds mechanically. So, of all the escalations and rules to legalize rampant cheating, etc...this seems like the purest of the approaches to going faster.

Granted I'm still at the point that I don't even need to trade data with friends. I'm inconsistent enough that just looking at my own data can tell me how to get faster---simply by stringing my own best sections together I can gain that two seconds.

Have you seen this one.

J~

[Tom Hampton]

Honestly, that's pretty cool. I wonder how much Jackie Stewart is for a day?

[john mueller]

Personally I see nothing wrong with it, hell I even applaud it! If I had more time to actually get out to the track I'd instantly stop developing my car and start working on the lump behind the wheel... There is 4+ seconds sitting in that seat that I want gone but can't get rid of by myself.

[dmathias]

Please note: my post was tongue-in-cheek, although it reflects my perspective. I have a hobbyist point of view where $1,000 is still a large percentage of my budget. Maybe we need a 'Club Spec Miata' class for us poor old f'ers who can't afford the latest and greatest.

[Johnny D]

Please note: my post was tongue-in-cheek, although it reflects my perspective. I have a hobbyist point of view where $1,000 is still a large percentage of my budget. Maybe we need a 'Club Spec Miata' class for us poor old f'ers who can't afford the latest and greatest.

SSM?
J~

[Tom Hampton]

I think we found Denny's new title: "poor ol' F'er" .

I've been told that every 100 lbs costs about 1 second per lap at an average track. I'd be two seconds faster if I could just drive by remote control!

[Johnny D]

I think we found Denny's new title: "poor ol' F'er" .

I've been told that every 100 lbs costs about 1 second per lap at an average track. I'd be two seconds faster if I could just drive by remote control!

If your car comes in at weight, the point is moot.

If your way over and can't drop anymore weight out of the car you should of got a 1.8. (IMO)
But I've seen large (tall or wide) driver do get lap times in a 1.6.

Come down to the nut behind the wheel, and a pro built motor never hurts
J~

[Tom Hampton]

If your car comes in at weight, the point is moot.

If your way over and can't drop anymore weight out of the car you should of got a 1.8. (IMO)
But I've seen large (tall or wide) driver do get lap times in a 1.6.

Come down to the nut behind the wheel.
J~

Yeah, I know. Also "tongue-in-cheek". But, I'm not really 200 lbs, I'm 190 with gear. Working on getting that under about 165 (with gear). I've always been a skinny F!#$, until this recent bloating.

Car needs about 20 lbs of ballast right now, plus I still have about 20 lbs in the car that I haven't removed yet.

[Johnny D]

Yeah, I know. Also "tongue-in-cheek". But, I'm not really 200 lbs, I'm 190 with gear. Working on getting that under about 165 (with gear). I've always been a skinny F!#$, until this recent bloating.

Car needs about 20 lbs of ballast right now, plus I still have about 20 lbs in the car that I haven't removed yet.

Got this, it's in Houston.
http://mazdaracers.c...tem&item_id=509
J~

[Qik Nip]

There is a local group of coaches who "promise" to get you 2 seconds per lap in a one day (one on one) session...of course, they are making some basic assumptions about the typical student.

Tom:
If they can get me two seconds in one weekend of coaching at Mid Ohio, my checkbook is ready and waiting! Seriously, while that much gain would be reasonable to anticipate for a mid to a back of the pack driver, my guess is that an effective coach could cut a 1:44-1:45 lap driver (again Mid Ohio) by a half a second max. That would be huge since that much time probably covers the first ten starters. Assuming a racer running there in the mid 1:44's is already driving car prepped to the 95th percentile, that is still a lot less money than it would take to gain the same amount of time with mechanical prep.

What I'd bet the coach could really do for a front runner would be to eliminate the .5 or so seconds of variation in lap times versus actually making him that half second faster. In my case that added consistency would be big.

After watching the afforementioned student's performance last weekend, it's got me thinking...
Rick

[Tom Hampton]

Got this, it's in Houston.
http://mazdaracers.c...tem&item_id=509
J~

Yup, mine is Aluminum already....came with the car. Verified with trusty magnet like device. :-)

Tom:
If they can get me two seconds in one weekend of coaching at Mid Ohio, my checkbook is ready and waiting! Seriously, while that much gain would be reasonable to anticipate for a mid to a back of the pack driver, my guess is that an effective coach could cut a 1:44-1:45 lap driver (again Mid Ohio) by a half a second max. That would be huge since that much time probably covers the first ten starters. Assuming a racer running there in the mid 144's is already driving car prepped to the 95th percentile, that is still a lot less money than it would take to gain the same amount of time with mechanical prep.

What I'd bet the coach could really do for a front runner would be to eliminate the .5 or so "scatter" in lap times versus actually making him that half second faster. In my case that added consistency would be big.

After watching the afforementioned student's performance last weekend, it's got me thinking...
Rick

Rick, yeah...that's why I made the proviso regarding "assumptions of the typical student". I am THAT student, however.

[dstevens]

Yup, mine is Aluminum already....came with the car. Verified with trusty magnet like device. :-)



Rick, yeah...that's why I made the proviso regarding "assumptions of the typical student". I am THAT student, however.

At this point a good coach should be able to help you knock a couple secs off your times. When I first started racing it was the best investment I made. That and trackside support are good investments.

[Ken Wilkinson]

Please note: my post was tongue-in-cheek, although it reflects my perspective. I have a hobbyist point of view where $1,000 is still a large percentage of my budget. Maybe we need a 'Club Spec Miata' class for us poor old f'ers who can't afford the latest and greatest.

If you add weight, say 220#'s and up, to the financial and age specs, then sign me up!