11-11-2015, 10:45 AM
I'll post my DE1 experiences.
First, I'd like to sincerely thank Kaan for his offer to co-drive the Integra. Obviously, event would have never happened without his confidence in my ability and definitely the car (rolled 240k on track!?!?!?!). I think that's a serious testament to Honda's reliability.
Scott Blair was my instructor per Kaan's suggestion. He had worked with him earlier on so he was familiar with the car and how it handled. I found the classroom sessions at times to be informational and yet rushed at the same time. I took the initiative to spend an extra couple of minutes after class talking with the instructor (Zach) on various parts of the track and approaches. Probably why I forgot my track pass almost every time walking out.
I found this attitude and atmosphere at the track to be universal. EVERYONE has a secret or a tip to tell and you just have to listen for it. Folks were more than willing to share advice, tools, parts( Jake knows this best), and I really found myself happy to be in such a supportive community. Something I had come to expect from the 4x4 world where a sense of community is also strong.
Saturday morning was wet. Seeing Jake's car coming off the flatbed first thing that morning shook me a little about my time on track. Getting on track fixed that as Scott coached me through our first session together. I felt the student/instructor relationship to be superb the whole weekend. Scott was aggressive in his corrections and yet laughed/smile/congratulated me on my successes. Most of Saturday was spent learning the car,learning the course, and finding the line. I left Saturday with my last session definitely being my fastest and minimal feedback from Scott.
Sunday was different.. My first session was a little rusty as I was attempting to recover from the massive adrenaline ups and downs I had experience the day before. Overall, the brain being a little slow to get up to speed. Session 2/3 were by far my worst sessions. I was spending A LOT of time with Scott building my approach to Turns 4/5 and Turn 10. Many of you know turn 4 can get crazy fast leading into a very slow and tight turn 5. Session 2 I was trying to change my approach by coming out of turn 4 fast and heading towards the inside to quickly brake and turn in to 5. This lead me to locking up the car and as I was coming in super hot. I was able to recover, but my line was suffering the rest of the course including turn 10. This reduction in speed and line was causing me to forfeit my "position" on track.
Session 3 may have been my worst between the two. My high speed lockup last session had reduced my confidence and causing me to be sheepish in my braking and turn-in. Again, working on the strategy earlier I came into turn 5 hot with a bit of trail braking causing me to spin the car into the grass on the inside of 5. Scott and I laughed it off and we spent the rest of the lap discussing what I had done wrong. But again, this messup was causing me to continue to loose braking and speed confidence. This loss was causing me to turn into 10 too early and not keeping up the speed.
After session 3 Scott and I talked. I explained my confidence was low due in part to my turn 4/5 screwups the last 2 sessions. Scott asked if we could take the car out in DE4 with the rest of the instructors. So we did.
JESUS GOD IN HEAVEN the speed we were carrying into turn 4 was just insanity for that poor little car. The Integra took all of it. Scott and I were laughing and giggling the whole time. He showed me it's OK to throw the car around. And by constantly "sawing" the wheel you're always feeling for where your grip is at. Letting the backend swing around really helped you drive the car through the turns.
I took this new found confidence with me into the last session of the day. I drove harder and faster and really let the rear end dance around in the turns. "Sawing" the wheel let me open the wheel sooner and faster which translated into turn in and exit speed with a very stable car. I left that session with minimal feedback from Scott and was able to "hold my position" on the track.
Overall, what a rewarding experience. I think what I enjoyed the most was the real learning aspect and the tangible results when you "do it right" or mess up. You can feel when you hit the turn just right as the car smoothly rockets itself out of turn 9 or 10 (the most noticeable for me).
Given my scorecard from Scott, I think another DE1 would do me right and I'd be ready for 2. I think this is something I would really like to pursue in the future with my own vehicle and will have to revisit when time/money allows.
Overall 10/10 for learning how to go fast with great people.
First, I'd like to sincerely thank Kaan for his offer to co-drive the Integra. Obviously, event would have never happened without his confidence in my ability and definitely the car (rolled 240k on track!?!?!?!). I think that's a serious testament to Honda's reliability.
Scott Blair was my instructor per Kaan's suggestion. He had worked with him earlier on so he was familiar with the car and how it handled. I found the classroom sessions at times to be informational and yet rushed at the same time. I took the initiative to spend an extra couple of minutes after class talking with the instructor (Zach) on various parts of the track and approaches. Probably why I forgot my track pass almost every time walking out.
I found this attitude and atmosphere at the track to be universal. EVERYONE has a secret or a tip to tell and you just have to listen for it. Folks were more than willing to share advice, tools, parts( Jake knows this best), and I really found myself happy to be in such a supportive community. Something I had come to expect from the 4x4 world where a sense of community is also strong.
Saturday morning was wet. Seeing Jake's car coming off the flatbed first thing that morning shook me a little about my time on track. Getting on track fixed that as Scott coached me through our first session together. I felt the student/instructor relationship to be superb the whole weekend. Scott was aggressive in his corrections and yet laughed/smile/congratulated me on my successes. Most of Saturday was spent learning the car,learning the course, and finding the line. I left Saturday with my last session definitely being my fastest and minimal feedback from Scott.
Sunday was different.. My first session was a little rusty as I was attempting to recover from the massive adrenaline ups and downs I had experience the day before. Overall, the brain being a little slow to get up to speed. Session 2/3 were by far my worst sessions. I was spending A LOT of time with Scott building my approach to Turns 4/5 and Turn 10. Many of you know turn 4 can get crazy fast leading into a very slow and tight turn 5. Session 2 I was trying to change my approach by coming out of turn 4 fast and heading towards the inside to quickly brake and turn in to 5. This lead me to locking up the car and as I was coming in super hot. I was able to recover, but my line was suffering the rest of the course including turn 10. This reduction in speed and line was causing me to forfeit my "position" on track.
Session 3 may have been my worst between the two. My high speed lockup last session had reduced my confidence and causing me to be sheepish in my braking and turn-in. Again, working on the strategy earlier I came into turn 5 hot with a bit of trail braking causing me to spin the car into the grass on the inside of 5. Scott and I laughed it off and we spent the rest of the lap discussing what I had done wrong. But again, this messup was causing me to continue to loose braking and speed confidence. This loss was causing me to turn into 10 too early and not keeping up the speed.
After session 3 Scott and I talked. I explained my confidence was low due in part to my turn 4/5 screwups the last 2 sessions. Scott asked if we could take the car out in DE4 with the rest of the instructors. So we did.
JESUS GOD IN HEAVEN the speed we were carrying into turn 4 was just insanity for that poor little car. The Integra took all of it. Scott and I were laughing and giggling the whole time. He showed me it's OK to throw the car around. And by constantly "sawing" the wheel you're always feeling for where your grip is at. Letting the backend swing around really helped you drive the car through the turns.
I took this new found confidence with me into the last session of the day. I drove harder and faster and really let the rear end dance around in the turns. "Sawing" the wheel let me open the wheel sooner and faster which translated into turn in and exit speed with a very stable car. I left that session with minimal feedback from Scott and was able to "hold my position" on the track.
Overall, what a rewarding experience. I think what I enjoyed the most was the real learning aspect and the tangible results when you "do it right" or mess up. You can feel when you hit the turn just right as the car smoothly rockets itself out of turn 9 or 10 (the most noticeable for me).
Given my scorecard from Scott, I think another DE1 would do me right and I'd be ready for 2. I think this is something I would really like to pursue in the future with my own vehicle and will have to revisit when time/money allows.
Overall 10/10 for learning how to go fast with great people.
Current
2006 4Runner V8 Limited|| Currently no BRAPS
Past
2007 DRZ400S || 2007 SV650 || 1998 Yamaha RT180 || 1998 XJ Sport || 2002 Subaru WRX Wagon || 1998 XJ Classic || 2002 VW Passat Wagon || 1992 F150 Custom
2006 4Runner V8 Limited|| Currently no BRAPS
Past
2007 DRZ400S || 2007 SV650 || 1998 Yamaha RT180 || 1998 XJ Sport || 2002 Subaru WRX Wagon || 1998 XJ Classic || 2002 VW Passat Wagon || 1992 F150 Custom