8 Ways to Prevent Insanity in the Offseason

[G.Irish]

I'm trying to flesh out a blog post and thought I'd post here to get some more ideas. I was just thinking about ways to pass the time until March and this is what I came up with:

1. Indoor Karting

G-Force has a $110 all you can kart in a day deal that I think I'll do at least once this winter. Only problem is that I'll probably have to do some neck strength exercises (no jokes) so I can last all day. I was having a lot of trouble in my 3rd stint of karting last time.

2. iRacing, GT5, or Forza

Might buy a steering wheel for Forza, only problem is the force feedback ones are pretty pricey. Might try iRacing at some point too here but I don't have a current copy of Windows at the moment. Of course, I could always fire up F355 Challenge again or hit it up at Dave & Busters.

3. Read some Automotive-related books

Recommended:
-Speed Secrets 3
-Secrets of Solo Racing
-The Art of Racing in the Rain
-Fast Company (motorcycle related)
-Mechanic's Tale
-The Unfair Advantage
-Maximum Boost
-Twist of the Wrist (motorcycle related)
-V-Force (motorcycle related)
-Driven Man: David Richards, Prodrive and the Race to Win
-Honda: An American Success Story (out of print but available on Amazon)

Some I'd like to read this winter:
-books on Colin Chapman, Enzo Ferrari, and/or Bruce McLaren
-MotoGP Technology: 2nd Edition
-The Haydens (have it just haven't read it)
-Ring of Fire

4. Watch some Car/Bike-related movies

I've seen all of the following except for Grand Prix. Fair warning, Le Mans is almost like a silent film so don't watch it if you're sleepy.

-Dust to Glory
-Love the Beast
-Faster
-On Any Sunday
-Le Mans
-Grand Prix
-Fast & Furious (drunken marathon)
-Top Gear (UK) marathon

5. Snowboarding/Skiing

I figure snowsports are a natural fit since they involve speed, taking the correct line, and fine motor control. And if you get hurt you'll have enough time to be healed by March or April.

6. Fix all the crap you broke during the season

If you ended the season with a busted pile, don't begin the new season with a busted pile.

7. Ice Fishing

8. Physical Training

Get yourself in shape so that at track days (especially motorcycle track days) and karting you don't get worn out. Cardiovascular fitness, core strength and overall fitness should be emphasized over simply building muscle mass. Recommended workouts: P90X and Crossfit.

Anyone else have any other suggestions or books/movies/shows to add?

[PDenbigh]

Fix all the crap you broke during the season :-) ?

On books, I've heard "The art of racing in the rain" is good, though not directly intended to make you faster.

On Movies, "love the beast" is a good one about an obsession with cars.

[G.Irish]

Good suggestions, that Art of Racing in the Rain sounds like a good read.

I forgot to add World's Fastest Indian to the movie list. I'd say it's the best theatrical auto/moto movie I've ever watched. It's a based on a true story motorcycle movie starring Anthony Hopkins.

[D_Eclipse9916]

1. Indoor Karting

G-Force has a $110 all you can kart in a day deal that I think I'll do at least once this winter. Only problem is that I'll probably have to do some neck strength exercises (no jokes) so I can last all day. I was having a lot of trouble in my 3rd stint of karting last time.

3. Read some Automotive-related books


5. Snowboarding/Skiing

I figure snowsports are a natural fit since they involve speed, taking the correct line, and fine motor control. And if you get hurt you'll have enough time to be healed by March or April.

6. Fix all the crap you broke during the season

If you ended the season with a busted pile, don't begin the new season with a busted pile.

Karting, let me know if you go, but my season "starts" late january/early February.

Books: I picked up and knocked out "Secrets of Solo Racing" and is a must read for new pople and a good refresher for experienced autocrossers.
I am picking up shortly:
Engineer to Win by Caroll Smith
Drive to Win by Caroll Smith
How to Make Your Car Handle by Fred Puhn.

Skiing? Hell yeah, thats my winter sport. Already gone twice this winter, and only 2 weeks from a week in Canada skiing.

Fix the crap you broke during the off-season? I got a lot of stuff to work on.

[BLINGMW]

Might try iRacing at some point too here but I don't have a current copy of Windows at the moment.

:lol: so many excuses... what kind of cracked ass version of Windows ME are you running? It runs fine in XP btw.

iRacing and fixing broken things is about all i plan to handle

[G.Irish]

Skiing? Hell yeah, thats my winter sport. Already gone twice this winter, and only 2 weeks from a week in Canada skiing.

Where are you heading? I'm going to Whistler in about 3 weeks.

:lol: so many excuses... what kind of cracked ass version of Windows ME are you running? It runs fine in XP btw.

Shit, I don't even have a copy of XP right now, although maybe I have a copy stuck in a box somewhere.

[Evan]

hit the gym.
fitness plays a role in our sport, especially karting . I would say cardio and all over / core training is much more beneficial than just pumping iron. something like crossfit or p90x would be perfect.

read inner speed secrets about 3 dozen times.

read some of the other how to race books that are mostly useless but not entirely.

balance sports
I have found that personal sense of balance feeds into a lot of the unexplained 'natural' abilities of racing.
Skiing, snowboarding, mtn biking, and/or get a bosu trainer / balance board. hell, wii fit is probably better than nothing

[Apoc]

read inner speed secrets about 3 dozen times.

Have you read Speed Secrets 3? I'm curious about compare/contrast.

[Evan]

read inner speed secrets about 3 dozen times.

Have you read Speed Secrets 3? I'm curious about compare/contrast.

same book
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://speedsecrets.com/PRODUCTS/SpeedSecretsBooks/tabid/99/Default.aspx">http://speedsecrets.com/PRODUCTS/SpeedSecretsBooks/tabid/99/Default.aspx</a><!-- m -->

I read all of them up through 5. 4 and 5 are regurgitations of 1-3 with some extra fluff thrown in.
Didnt read 6 but it looks like more of the same cashing in of a well known series.

[G.Irish]

hit the gym.
fitness plays a role in our sport, especially karting . I would say cardio and all over / core training is much more beneficial than just pumping iron. something like crossfit or p90x would be perfect.

Good call on the fitness. I did more cardio this year than usual and it helped a ton with karting. I didn't get to do any moto track days this year but last season I would definitely get winded if I was really pushing the pace hard. Kinda pumped to see what the difference is next year.

[REED]

Skiing? Hell yeah, thats my winter sport. Already gone twice this winter, and only 2 weeks from a week in Canada skiing.

Where are you heading? I'm going to Whistler in about 3 weeks.

hell yeah, I'm going to whistler the last week of January.....speaking of which, my passport...........fuck

[Apoc]

Have you read Speed Secrets 3? I'm curious about compare/contrast.

same book
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://speedsecrets.com/PRODUCTS/SpeedSecretsBooks/tabid/99/Default.aspx">http://speedsecrets.com/PRODUCTS/SpeedSecretsBooks/tabid/99/Default.aspx</a><!-- m -->

I read all of them up through 5. 4 and 5 are regurgitations of 1-3 with some extra fluff thrown in.
Didnt read 6 but it looks like more of the same cashing in of a well known series.

Well look at that, it is. I've had SS3 in my amazon cart for about 2 years based on RJ's recommendation. I just went back in to looked and it's now listed at Inner Speed Secrets.

Anyone know where to find it on audiobook? :lol:

[G.Irish]

Skiing? Hell yeah, thats my winter sport. Already gone twice this winter, and only 2 weeks from a week in Canada skiing.

Where are you heading? I'm going to Whistler in about 3 weeks.

hell yeah, I'm going to whistler the last week of January.....speaking of which, my passport...........fuck

Not to worry. You can go to the State Dept passport office in DC and get express service on renewing your passport. You pay an extra fee for the speed, depending how fast you need to have it. My girlfriend was actually able to get a passport renewed same day.

[Steve85]

hit the gym.
fitness plays a role in our sport, especially karting . I would say cardio and all over / core training is much more beneficial than just pumping iron. something like crossfit or p90x would be perfect.

Have you done P90x? I'm on week 5 and it's made quite a difference already in strength, balance and flexibility, just overall athleticism is improved. Of course the bar was pretty low to begin with.

[Goodspeed]

7. Ice Fishing

Is there a, ah, northern Virginia Ice Fishing club? Let me know where the good spots are, the Jeep is perfect for such adventures

Oh, and I talked to a local P90X trainer - 6am workouts, ugh...maybe next year. The results speak for themselves though.

[D_Eclipse9916]

hit the gym.
fitness plays a role in our sport, especially karting . I would say cardio and all over / core training is much more beneficial than just pumping iron. something like crossfit or p90x would be perfect.

Have you done P90x? I'm on week 5 and it's made quite a difference already in strength, balance and flexibility, just overall athleticism is improved. Of course the bar was pretty low to begin with.

G, Im going to Mont Tremblant Jan 2nd-6th.

I regularly hit the gym about 2-3 times a week and when its not under 30 degrees I typically do 100-120 miles a week (easy since back and forth from work is 22 miles). I am surely not jacked I think mainly cause of my eating habits, but it keeps my energy level up and my mental stability in check. I agree with Evan that just staying active vastly improves your other capabilities in driving. However, I have just started focusing on "pumping iron" to get just a bit bigger as ive always been a runner/rower so my cardio is there.

Goodspeed, P90x you can do whenever wherever, thats the whole point of them. You just need a few small weights and resistance bands.

[Jaegermeister]

I've been watching the Tekademics Mischief series, Super Speeders, and Gumball 3000 videos. We also have a rFactor at the house with the steering wheel, gear shifter, clutch/brake/gas.

Spring can't come sooner.

[Maengelito]

On books, I've heard "The art of racing in the rain" is good, though not directly intended to make you faster.

Its a very good book, especially if you have a dog. However, its a really quick read so you could probably knock it out in a couple of hours.

On Movies, "love the beast" is a good one about an obsession with cars.

I've heard thats a really good movie but the official movie site sells it in Region 4 format for the Aussies, Amazon is sold out and other places online look kinda shady. If someone has a legitimate copy, where'd you buy it from?

[BLINGMW]

How about: shop for and buy motorcycles and other people's money pits while they have no value?

Also: read Atlas Shrugged, Ron Paul's books, read and watch videos on ae911truth.org, get fired up, buy gold and guns. :dunno:

[Evan]

read and watch videos on ae911truth.org, get fired up, buy gold and guns. :dunno:

dont forget to fashion an alloy RF spectrum shield hat and broadcast over HAM radio.