Don visualizes Brad secretly gutting Sonya’s car while she’s eating that great home cooked food…he comes into the house with dirt on his hands and grease on his face…hey dad…what are you doing…nothing honey…still hungry…look…more great home cooked food…keep eating honey…I’m just messing around in the garage…

Sonya gives you her car to make into a cheap track car, and you “loan” her the Z06 in the meantime! That’s a win-win situation…uhh…sort of.

Wow! Thanks for all the pointers and I understand the addiction point. Tires are about as expensive as crack and don’t last much longer. I’ve already destroyed my street tires and I have less than 10000 miles on the car. I do get the twinge to get into an inexpensive track car, but haven’t scratched that itch yet. Also thinking about another set of rims and some Hoosiers.

By the way, you have got to have big huevos to ride along with student drivers!

Z ya!

Brad

I knew we’d draw you out once we started the track talk. With a car like that Z06 I’m sure you jump at every opportunity to talk cars. Those things are just amazing…best dollar for dollar sports/exotic car on the road! The M3 is pretty sweet, but it lacks in the power department…that’s why I learned to drive at the limit…now I just late brake everyone and pass them in the corners instead of the straights. Be careful with the track driving, it has been likened to a crack pipe addiction, once you take a hit, you can’t get enough. I used to have a dedicated track driven car, fully gutted and caged Mustang with race tires, brakes, suspension, and harnesses that needed to be towed to the race track…so be very careful…it can get out of hand quickly.

Arean’t those Miatas a pain in the you-know-what?! It’s all about momentum in those cars. I typically ride along with people in M3’s, vettes, Mustangs, etc…all the high horsepower rear wheel drive cars. Here’s a few tips to get faster the next time out:

Keep your eyes up, look through the corners, not at the road in front of the car. Look where you want to go, not where you are.

When you want to brake, wait two more seconds, and then brake, think threshold braking, using as little ground as possible to do the most braking possible…it’s all about efficiency.

Pretend there is an egg between your right foot and the gas pedal, it will help you with smoother transitions when applying the throttle. We often forget that, and mash the throttle, and it upsets the car more than necessary.

When you get in trouble and need a straight-a-way, open the wheel up and make one, there is no harm in not going through the corner the way you’re supposed to, but there is harm in going off track because you didn’t make a straight when you needed it.

Do your first couple laps on track in the same gear (probably third or fourth), it takes away the need to shift so you can focus on being smooth. Once you feel comfortable, start shifting again, it’s amazing what you’ll learn. Remember, smooth is fast! Also, the slower you are in the drivers seat, means the faster you are on track, sounds weird, but it’s very true.

Oh man, this post is like a book, with way more than you were looking for I’m sure. See what happens once I get started.

I promise I’ll restrain myself from here on out on the car topic.

Have fun at the track next time you go. Keep the shiny side up!

Don

Come on down!!!

Brad (Sonya’s old man)

Ok, I’m going to start to restrain myself with the car stuff…I’m like a freight train once I get started with it. I blame it on the part motor oil I have for DNA.

Don- that is so cool!!!! I have thought of taking a driving class. You can take one in ABQ with Miatas for like 300 bucks and you learn how to handle them. I have never had a need b/c well, you know what car I drive. He doesn’t race in formal races, but he goes to the track and races against his own times – like drag strip (quarter mile) and then the actual track. M3!!! LUCKY!