Lesson Finally Learned At Track
This past weekend I attended a two day event. That makes 15 track days and I learned a huge lesson at a relatively low dollar cost [ "relatively" being the operative word]. I write this post for newcomers to the sport and those in their first few years of HPDE driving [like me].
Here is the lesson: There is never a reason to let an instructor drive your nsx to demonstrate his or the cars' ability, with the exception of the first two laps of the very first session.
I've allowed an instructor to drive my car twice [during a session], once 2 years ago and again on Sunday. On both occasions, my car was damaged. In the scheme of things, the damage wasn't that bad but I believe the lesson is invaluable.
This instructor even offered to pay - but, for now, I am going to walk away because the real lesson will be cemented in place by eating it [ plus, his idea of a repair is: chewing gum, fiberglass, bondo and a can of Krylon].
This is not to bash my instructor or instructors in any way. This weekend I may have learned more about driving than at any other event. He was militaristic, he beat me to a pulp to break all the bad habits I showed up with. I am positive his training will save the car or even my life someday. In example, for the third session of day one, I mounted my iPhone with Harry's Lap timer. The minute he saw it he said "...take it down, do you want to learn how to drive, or make videos?..." I understood [after five seconds of biting my tongue], that this was a boot camp.
On both occasions, when I let the instructor drive, after they asked [which is now the "tell"], they went on track like it was their car, right into the fray, passing anyone and everyone. I did not learn a thing about driving during this ride along because I was too distracted.
So what happened this time? On about the fourth lap of catching spins and doing a little drifting we saw a debris flag waving at the end of the straight and it was too late - the cone had come a few feet off the apex and we nailed it. I believe he would not have hit the cone if he knew the car. I would not have hit the cone. No one can drive an NSX near limit in four laps.
The last time it happened was too long ago to bother with and is no more instructive.
In closing, I received phenomenal instruction and I am grateful for all of my instructors.
Lesson: There is never a reason to let an instructor [ you don't know well] drive your NSX.
WTB: Passenger side skirt, preferably Silverstone Metallic, for a 2002 [or maybe I'll fix mine].
This past weekend I attended a two day event. That makes 15 track days and I learned a huge lesson at a relatively low dollar cost [ "relatively" being the operative word]. I write this post for newcomers to the sport and those in their first few years of HPDE driving [like me].
Here is the lesson: There is never a reason to let an instructor drive your nsx to demonstrate his or the cars' ability, with the exception of the first two laps of the very first session.
I've allowed an instructor to drive my car twice [during a session], once 2 years ago and again on Sunday. On both occasions, my car was damaged. In the scheme of things, the damage wasn't that bad but I believe the lesson is invaluable.
This instructor even offered to pay - but, for now, I am going to walk away because the real lesson will be cemented in place by eating it [ plus, his idea of a repair is: chewing gum, fiberglass, bondo and a can of Krylon].
This is not to bash my instructor or instructors in any way. This weekend I may have learned more about driving than at any other event. He was militaristic, he beat me to a pulp to break all the bad habits I showed up with. I am positive his training will save the car or even my life someday. In example, for the third session of day one, I mounted my iPhone with Harry's Lap timer. The minute he saw it he said "...take it down, do you want to learn how to drive, or make videos?..." I understood [after five seconds of biting my tongue], that this was a boot camp.
On both occasions, when I let the instructor drive, after they asked [which is now the "tell"], they went on track like it was their car, right into the fray, passing anyone and everyone. I did not learn a thing about driving during this ride along because I was too distracted.
So what happened this time? On about the fourth lap of catching spins and doing a little drifting we saw a debris flag waving at the end of the straight and it was too late - the cone had come a few feet off the apex and we nailed it. I believe he would not have hit the cone if he knew the car. I would not have hit the cone. No one can drive an NSX near limit in four laps.
The last time it happened was too long ago to bother with and is no more instructive.
In closing, I received phenomenal instruction and I am grateful for all of my instructors.
Lesson: There is never a reason to let an instructor [ you don't know well] drive your NSX.
WTB: Passenger side skirt, preferably Silverstone Metallic, for a 2002 [or maybe I'll fix mine].
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