[Pseudo Nim]

Originally Posted by kenneth

Lol! You do sound as if you were bored out of your skull, ha ha! 3 hours over 2 days instead of over 1 day.....

Let's just say........ there was a LOT of idle time, and that's kind of understating it.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by Pseudo Nim

Aside from the ridiculous abundance of rare blue Golf Rs, it was OK. But ... just ok. We got about 3 hours of track time in the 2 days - except because I haven't tracked with BMWQC in a while, I had to have an instructor for day 1, whose session was right before mine and he always did the full time and then measured tire temperatures. Very nice guy, so no hate, but that was easily 5+ mins lost per 30 min session. The sessions were also very randomly spread out - almost 2 hours between sessions. Overall, when gas to go home is considered (I returned home on day 1 and came back in the morning), or when hotel costs are considered, value-wise, Viper is significantly better - especially if you go out with lower groups to double your track time. I like BMWQC, but I think I feel I've graduated from them, despite there being some really awesome instructors there.

P.S. I also almost ran out of gas on the last session (had 4L again so the car started choking). lol.

I agree, we did not have huge track time at this event.

It was unusual to have racers with BMWCQ. Usually we run four 25-30 minute sessions each day. The racers took away some of our track time, but I do believe the registration fees were a bit lower for this event though...

It was great to see you guys at the track

[kenneth]

Originally Posted by Pseudo Nim

Let's just say........ there was a LOT of idle time, and that's kind of understating it.

How did your mods perform?

[Nikos335i]

Had a decent two days. Even though I had some extra mods my times were not that much better. I'm glad I went with my instructor for my first run on the 2nd day as she pointed two problem areas.

Voila! Back in the 1:58's on the last session of the day. Got close to the 1:57 time!!!

[kenneth]

Originally Posted by Nikos335i

Had a decent two days. Even though I had some extra mods my times were not that much better. I'm glad I went with my instructor for my first run on the 2nd day as she pointed two problem areas.

Voila! Back in the 1:58's on the last session of the day. Got close to the 1:57 time!!!

that is awesome! what were u doing that were problematic?

[Nikos335i]

Btw glad to see Jerry back on the track since he seems to miss many event with all of his little mishaps!!!

Antony has found a new liking to tracking again!

Nice to see Glen, had been a while.

Our new giant also passed by (evochuck), George is no longer the big guy on campus anymore.

I used to feel pretty tall at 6'2"!!!

[Nikos335i]

Originally Posted by kenneth

that is awesome! what were u doing that were problematic?

Too much braking in between 10 and 11. Also my line after the front straight wasn't the best towards the uphill section. Corrected both those things.

My second session today went a little slower concentrated on the lines. And last one decided to give it a go and paid off.

Looking forward to next month at Watkins Glen.

[kenneth]

Originally Posted by Nikos335i

Too much braking in between 10 and 11. Also my line after the front straight wasn't the best towards the uphill section. Corrected both those things.

My second session today went a little slower concentrated on the lines. And last one decided to give it a go and paid off.

Looking forward to next month at Watkins Glen.

I am familiar with too much braking at 10. I should be carrying 10-20 kms more there, if not more....

[Pseudo Nim]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

I agree, we did not have huge track time at this event.

It was unusual to have racers with BMWCQ. Usually we run four 25-30 minute sessions each day. The racers took away some of our track time, but I do believe the registration fees were a bit lower for this event though...

It was great to see you guys at the track

I just realised I didn't get a chance to meet you, doh!!!!!!!!! Wanted to go for a ride with you, could have learned a lot. Oh well. Next time

Originally Posted by kenneth

How did your mods perform?

Pretty well! But times didn't improve at all, I think, or anyway, I have to review the video, because stupid Harry's LapTimer crashed every time after 10am, so I only had one session logged today, and the times were significantly worse than with Viper because of all the traffic. So my new brake pads did nothing to improve my time, and the coilovers did nothing, too. In the afternoon, though, I had maybe one or two clear laps with no traffic, so I hope my GoPro's battery survived the heat and filmed something...... my data logging this event was absolutely abysmal.

[Pseudo Nim]

Originally Posted by kenneth

I am familiar with too much braking at 10. I should be carrying 10-20 kms more there, if not more....

I still haven't figured out where the ideal braking zone is for me. I carry far, far more speed on the approach than on the 335 (the 335 would max out at around 185, but on the R I've done 210'ish), but on the other hand, I've also found that if I have time to look at the speedo, I'm doing something wrong. So I guess I should trust my GPS/OBD data from Harry's LapTimer........ OH WAIT IT DIDN'T WORK $%&^$%rtgdfsd

[kenneth]

Originally Posted by Pseudo Nim

I just realised I didn't get a chance to meet you, doh!!!!!!!!! Wanted to go for a ride with you, could have learned a lot. Oh well. Next time



Pretty well! But times didn't improve at all, I think, or anyway, I have to review the video, because stupid Harry's LapTimer crashed every time after 10am, so I only had one session logged today, and the times were significantly worse than with Viper because of all the traffic. So my new brake pads did nothing to improve my time, and the coilovers did nothing, too. In the afternoon, though, I had maybe one or two clear laps with no traffic, so I hope my GoPro's battery survived the heat and filmed something...... my data logging this event was absolutely abysmal.

I can see how this wasn't ideal for you, yikes...

Originally Posted by Pseudo Nim

I still haven't figured out where the ideal braking zone is for me. I carry far, far more speed on the approach than on the 335 (the 335 would max out at around 185, but on the R I've done 210'ish), but on the other hand, I've also found that if I have time to look at the speedo, I'm doing something wrong. So I guess I should trust my GPS/OBD data from Harry's LapTimer........ OH WAIT IT DIDN'T WORK $%&^$%rtgdfsd

Top speed doesn't say all, as you reach it only for a brief instant! Corner entry/exit speed at 10 will dictate the time it takes to get to 12. Combined, I feel the latter has more bearing than top speed reached before 10.

I sometimes get up to 220 before 10 (surprising ya?), but I am not fast to 12, because I give up too much braking at 10. Unconsciously perhaps because of lots of rolling at 10

[Evochuck]

Originally Posted by Nikos335i

Btw glad to see Jerry back on the track since he seems to miss many event with all of his little mishaps!!!

Antony has found a new liking to tracking again!

Nice to see Glen, had been a while.

Our new giant also passed by (evochuck), George is no longer the big guy on campus anymore.

I used to feel pretty tall at 6'2"!!!

I was great meeting you guys, looking forward to the next coffee and cars!

Hopefully its in Mirabel

[Tonybest]

Originally Posted by Pseudo Nim

Aside from the ridiculous abundance of rare blue Golf Rs, it was OK. But ... just ok. We got about 3 hours of track time in the 2 days - except because I haven't tracked with BMWQC in a while, I had to have an instructor for day 1, whose session was right before mine and he always did the full time and then measured tire temperatures. Very nice guy, so no hate, but that was easily 5+ mins lost per 30 min session. The sessions were also very randomly spread out - almost 2 hours between sessions. Overall, when gas to go home is considered (I returned home on day 1 and came back in the morning), or when hotel costs are considered, value-wise, Viper is significantly better - especially if you go out with lower groups to double your track time. I like BMWQC, but I think I feel I've graduated from them, despite there being some really awesome instructors there.

P.S. I also almost ran out of gas on the last session (had 4L again so the car started choking). lol.

No reason at all for an instructor to cut your track time. You should have mentionned it to him. He would/should have finished his sessions 5 mins earlier.

[Tonybest]

Originally Posted by kenneth

Lol! You do sound as if you were bored out of your skull, ha ha! 3 hours over 2 days instead of over 1 day.....

You should know the difference in the type of the event. A lapping event and a HPDE event are 2 different things. You sign up for what you want.

to practice your technique (or repeat bad technique) or to learn.

[Pseudo Nim]

Originally Posted by Tonybest

You should know the difference in the type of the event. A lapping event and a HPDE event are 2 different things. You sign up for what you want.

to practice your technique (or repeat bad technique) or to learn.

This is not necessarily true. Once the instructor signs you off at an HPDE (or if you come signed off), then it's in no way different from a lapping event where you simply ask someone to ride with you if you want, and otherwise ride alone.

[Tonybest]

Originally Posted by Pseudo Nim

This is not necessarily true. Once the instructor signs you off at an HPDE (or if you come signed off), then it's in no way different from a lapping event where you simply ask someone to ride with you if you want, and otherwise ride alone.

Signing off isn't obligatory. You can ask the instructor not to sign you off, or at least to be with you during the whole event. If you are looking to be signed off as quickly as possible to lap by yourself, then a HPDE event isn't for you.

If you are looking to be lapping without instruction, why would you pay for the HPDE event?

Anyways, with the number of events I have been to, HPDE events have far less accidents than lapping events (ie viperclub, PhoenixCMR).

[Pseudo Nim]

Originally Posted by Tonybest

Signing off isn't obligatory. You can ask the instructor not to sign you off, or at least to be with you during the whole event. If you are looking to be signed off as quickly as possible to lap by yourself, then a HPDE event isn't for you.

If you are looking to be lapping without instruction, why would you pay for the HPDE event?

Anyways, with the number of events I have been to, HPDE events have far less accidents than lapping events (ie viperclub, PhoenixCMR).

Because I always HOPE for an instructor that I can learn from, but I always wind up with people who tell me more or less what I already know. It's a tricky proposition, but I think I only had one instructor that I really appreciated so far - and by luck, I had him twice - but other than that, I keep getting really nice guys and gals, but I get very few real pointers from them, and I am not enough of a dick to walk up to Percy and ask him to assign me another instructor, so I just get the sign off and move on with life.

Quite agree on the accidents, though.

[Tonybest]

Originally Posted by Pseudo Nim

Because I always HOPE for an instructor that I can learn from, but I always wind up with people who tell me more or less what I already know. It's a tricky proposition, but I think I only had one instructor that I really appreciated so far - and by luck, I had him twice - but other than that, I keep getting really nice guys and gals, but I get very few real pointers from them, and I am not enough of a dick to walk up to Percy and ask him to assign me another instructor, so I just get the sign off and move on with life.

Quite agree on the accidents, though.

I get it... So I hope you fill out those Instructor evaluation forms.

[Pseudo Nim]

Originally Posted by Tonybest

I get it... So I hope you fill out those Instructor evaluation forms.

Still... I don't mean to be mean. They do this for free (well, for the cost of the track day), and some of them come from FAR, so the last thing I'd want to do is be unappreciative in any way. I dunno. It's a very fine line as far as I'm concerned. I'll write something, though.

[jgalaxy]

Originally Posted by Pseudo Nim

Still... I don't mean to be mean. They do this for free (well, for the cost of the track day), and some of them come from FAR, so the last thing I'd want to do is be unappreciative in any way. I dunno. It's a very fine line as far as I'm concerned. I'll write something, though.

Behind the scenes BMW Club wants you to be as critical (constructively) as you can be. It will help BMW Club cultivate the new/next generation of instructors and retool the existing ones.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by Pseudo Nim

Still... I don't mean to be mean. They do this for free (well, for the cost of the track day), and some of them come from FAR, so the last thing I'd want to do is be unappreciative in any way. I dunno. It's a very fine line as far as I'm concerned. I'll write something, though.

Originally Posted by jgalaxy

Behind the scenes BMW Club wants you to be as critical (constructively) as you can be. It will help BMW Club cultivate the new/next generation of instructors and retool the existing ones.

Agreed.

We now have a new training program for new instructors. It has only started about 3 years ago. Before, as long as you were decent at driving and reasonably quick you could become an instructor. With the new program, candidates need to go through a 1 to 2 year training plan that focuses much more on teaching skills and communication. You also need to be good at feeling the car from the passenger seat and figure out what is not right. Attitude is also very important. Not everyone passes. It is not because you are a good driver that you can be a good teacher or coach. I feel the later promoted instructors are much better prepared.

So yes, your feedback is important so we can progressively weed out the less competent instructors and improve the overall quality of our HPDEs

[kenneth]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

Agreed.

We now have a new training program for new instructors. It has only started about 3 years ago. Before, as long as you were decent at driving and reasonably quick you could become an instructor. With the new program, candidates need to go through a 1 to 2 year training plan that focuses much more on teaching skills and communication. You also need to be good at feeling the car from the passenger seat and figure out what is not right. Attitude is also very important. Not everyone passes. It is not because you are a good driver that you can be a good teacher or coach. I feel the later promoted instructors are much better prepared.

So yes, your feedback is important so we can progressively weed out the less competent instructors and improve the overall quality of our HPDEs

Yes, definitely harder to become an instructor! I know 2 of them who are in the training program currently and they confirm it is quite difficult....