Brake lines flushed, and Motul fluid filled and bled, today. Last step is to toss the track pads on, and Im good to go!

I just realized, I think you're thinking of the wrong track - I'll be down in Danville, VA right north of North Carolina lol. Were you thinking Summit?

In other news, rooms reserved at a military rate :tup:

http://images54.fotki.com/v563/photo...MG_0583-vi.jpg
http://images52.fotki.com/v638/photo...MG_0584-vi.jpg
http://images54.fotki.com/v556/photo...MG_0585-vi.jpg
http://images54.fotki.com/v563/photo...MG_0588-vi.jpg

First day, done :)

Oy, so Ive been far too busy cleaning up the mess I made to post up. Long story short, ended up kissing a wall on my last day. The quick answer is, it seems I got a terrible (according to what Ive told more experienced drivers) instructor, and I probably pushed myself a bit too hard.

So, an expensive lesson, but a lesson none the less. In the end, I had an AMAZING time, and I cant wait to get back out again next year! It was an absolute blast, and I encourage anyone who's interested in hitting the track to do it! However, take a few tips from another first timer: no matter what, try to only be concerned with your own comfort level, and dont even let yourself get into a mode where you want to feel competitive! I know as the day was progressing, I was definitely feeling the need to want to always do better, and sometimes I'd interpret passing other cars as better.

Anyway, without further adieu, here's the carnage. Its already in the shop and will be done by the end of next week, although I wont get it back until I come home from my trip to Buffalo in early December.

http://images54.fotki.com/v556/photo...8_25_36-vi.jpg



Trail braked into the corner too well - something you should never do without much more experience with not only trail braking, but the dynamics of the car when you enter a spin at speeds like that.

Wow, sorry to see this happen, but you have learned and will be more educated next time.

Yeah, it looks a lot worse than it is. It was mostly cosmetic, and the car was very much drive-able. Although, word to the wise: protect those headlights, they are $1000 apiece :)

I did learn a lot, thats for sure.

Here's some more eye candy. I won a free GoPro in-car camera. It flew off in the accident, so TrackDaze is mailing it back to me (it was perfectly intact, thankfully). I did download some good footage of my instructor driving my car however :)
I forgot to add a bit more fuel, so I had the fuel cut issue when he was out. Never had it myself, though. Oops.



http://images53.fotki.com/v426/photo...MG_0597-vi.jpg
http://images54.fotki.com/v556/photo...MG_0598-vi.jpg
http://images52.fotki.com/v734/photo...MG_0599-vi.jpg

GRM's cover car a couple months ago:
http://images54.fotki.com/v563/photo...MG_0600-vi.jpg
http://images115.fotki.com/v667/phot...MG_0601-vi.jpg

New carnage videos. Got my GoPro back from the ground :)

[YOUTUBEHQ]IrA2_ivOtWM[/YOUTUBEHQ]

And most of my last session, including the crash.

[YOUTUBEHQ]pIbILaB-qlM[/YOUTUBEHQ]

Ouch. Do you think you got the ol' red-eye after getting the point by? Seemed like you attacked that corner much harder than on previous laps.

Definitely.

My adrenaline was flowing pretty hard the last lap or so, because some moron sent out a Jetta Cup Car driver in training, with the novice group. I didnt even know he was there until I looked in my rear view and saw the upper half of his headlamps (he was that close to my ***). I guess they'd already yelled at him 2 other times to stop riding the newbies and he was ignoring it.

Anyway, I know he'd passed me and whatnot already and I SHOULDNT have even been in that mindset, but you are right, I did hit that corner significantly harder and at a more aggressive angle than any of my other times.

Newbie mistakes.

I happy that you haven't let the accident dampen your spirit, and that you're coming back for more next year.

I'm still putting my track plan together for next year, so not sure how many I will be able to hit but on the short list is:
Watkins Glen (NY)
NHIS (NH)
NJMP (NJ)
Monticello (NY)
Summit Point (WV)
Mosport (Canada)
Calaboogie (Canada)

I agree! Glad you are going back and still had a great time!

Next time you start getting loose like that just give it up, one foot on the clutch and one on the brake. It is not a race so don't try to save it. Trying to save it looks like it was why you went into the wall.

I hope you kicked your instructor in the ****.

Ugg, I feel like a douche because I gave him a decent rating on my instructor survey - I'd never HAD an instructor (this was my first time, ever), so I didnt know what a "bad" one was.

Well, the long and short was, he never talked to me much at all DURING the driving except an occasional after-the-fact comment ("hit that a little hot", "took that corner a little late"). Furthermore, sometimes he didnt give me ANY input at all unless I mentioned it. 2nd day, I started to not say anything when I'd notice I'd make a mistake, and he wouldnt say anything. If I said I did something wrong, he'd confirm it and say something like, "as long as you noticed it".

So after mentioning this to many other more experienced drivers, they were quick to give a "wtf" response, and say that what I NEEDED was the guy overloading my brain with "accelerate/brake now"'s and every other imaginable thing.

The guy was REALLY nice, and he sure could drive the **** out of my car when I let him take it out (he was older btw...70's I'd say at best), but...I guess he just wasn't that great of an instructor :(. Wish I'd have realized this earlier on.

I see some on the forum going to track events. What is the risk of damage from hitting another car or is it fairly safe to try track driving?

I think it would be fun but not sure what the risks are. Not that there aren't any just driving down the road. I could see once the adrenaline gets going and some inexperienced guys going fast on a track that there might be some issue.

How dose it work and what are the risks to the vehicle?