Footage from Watkins Glen September 25-26th GVC Chapter

[dude8383]

Hey all,

So I attended my third HPDE event at Watkins Glen with a couple of friends over the weekend. What a friggin blast!!! Watkins Glen is an amazing track, it felt faster than the Monticello and NJMP Lighting Circuit.

I destroyed my front pads the first day, luckily Greg (rpob5t) was there to save the day. He a set of BP-20 pads because he has Massive's 280x22 kit as well! My instructor Jeff was a life saver as well because I ran out of brake fluid and he gave me his bottle of ATE Super Blue.

The second day I destroyed the second set of pads too and my master cylinder threw in the towel as well :(

Jeff was confident enough in my abilities based on everything that I had learned on Saturday and Sunday (up until my master cylinder failed) that he offered a chance to drive his Spec E30. This wasn't something that I could turn down because...Jeff is the man and I wanted to know what a race car felt like around Watkins. R-compounds are f'in amazing...coming out of the "S's" I was already getting into 5th gear around 120mph...10mph faster than my car!

Anyway, I had a fantastic experience and I'm hoping to wrap up the season with one more HPDE @ Pocono Raceway.

Here's the video's I've put together thus far:

[kishg]

watkins rocked! it was fun riding with you and watching you go faster :)

[ZM Blue Devil]

awesome, I want to go!!!

[dude8383]

watkins rocked! it was fun riding with you and watching you go faster :)

Hell yes man! I should also mention that you definitely helped me out with a few lines while we were out there!

Note to all, the "guest instructor" is Kish :D

Thanks man!!

[BenM]

Nice job dude! Watkins Glen looks like a blast, I need to get out there one of these days...

If its not filled yet you should try to come up to LRP in October with CVC Chapter... http://www.motorsportreg.com/index.c...DED6EC358BB327

[dude8383]

Nice job dude! Watkins Glen looks like a blast, I need to get out there one of these days...

If its not filled yet you should try to come up to LRP in October with CVC Chapter... http://www.motorsportreg.com/index.c...DED6EC358BB327

Thanks man :) It's a decent drive up there!

Man, I'm going to be broke before I know it! I'm trying to get the car ready for Pocono Oct 9th and 10th. I really enjoyed the 2 day event because you can apply everything that you've learned from the first day and ironing everything out on the second day.

The video with passing exercise is a good example...we did another on the second day and it was friggin amazing. The driver that I was paired with was comfortable on the track and so was I...we were able to give each super late point by's and still respecting each others space.

I fucking love it haha.

[BenM]

Thanks man :) It's a decent drive up there!

Man, I'm going to be broke before I know it! I'm trying to get the car ready for Pocono Oct 9th and 10th. I really enjoyed the 2 day event because you can apply everything that you've learned from the first day and ironing everything out on the second day.

The video with passing exercise is a good example...we did another on the second day and it was friggin amazing. The driver that I was paired with was comfortable on the track and so was I...we were able to give each super late point by's and still respecting each others space.

I fucking love it haha.

LOL, I hear that. I've got a 2 day event at VIR this weekend myself and I'm looking forward to it for those reasons (apply stuff from the first day to the second day). Thought LRP might not be a bad drive for you. I considered that Pocono event as well, but got plans for Colombus day weekend.

Guess you are hooked then!

[dude8383]

LOL, I hear that. I've got a 2 day event at VIR this weekend myself and I'm looking forward to it for those reasons (apply stuff from the first day to the second day). Thought LRP might not be a bad drive for you. I considered that Pocono event as well, but got plans for Colombus day weekend.

Guess you are hooked then!

LRP isn't that bad...bout 2.5hrs. If I head up to my dad's (White Plains) it would be a shorter trip. We'll see what my money situation is like after I get rotors, pads and a master cylinder!

Btw, how can I tell if a master cylinder is in good working order? I have a used 540i/735i (?) master that I bought used a while ago but haven't confirmed if its functional...

[gverelli]

Very fun! What run group were you in?

And, where did you mount the camera?

[dude8383]

Very fun! What run group were you in?

And, where did you mount the camera?

I was running with group c/d, I wanted to run with the novice group because I wanted more time with an instructor. By the end of the weekend, Jeff was ready to sign me off and bump me up to group B!

I've got a "cruisecam mount" - mounts on the headrest :)

http://www.filmtools.com/cruisecam.html

Camera is a GoPro HeroHD.

[Massive Lee]

BTW Dude8383. When you fit stickier track pads at the front, don't forget to do the same at the rear as you will overload the front. ;-)

BTW Your instructor talks too much and shouldn't use his hands. You are watching the track, way ahead damn it... ;-)

[gverelli]

Thanks, that camera mount is great I may have to invest in that next spring :)

Good work getting signed off! I have an event this Saturday I can't wait

[dude8383]

watkins rocked! it was fun riding with you and watching you go faster :)

Kish, watching the footage again, its hilarious and awesome that you're shifting with your left hand through the corners. Out of the bus stop I can see you're shifting into 4th! That corner should be taken in 4th for sure because I'm redlining by the time I shoot out. It's cool to see that you're still driving from the passengers side haha!

BTW Dude8383. When you fit stickier track pads at the front, don't forget to do the same at the rear as you will overload the front. ;-)

BTW Your instructor talks too much and shouldn't use his hands. You are watching the track, way ahead damn it... ;-)

Lee, I actually have HT-10's in the back right now that still have PLENTY of pad left. I might get another set of those as well for JUST IN CASE.

Rotors, pads and brake fluid seem to be the BIGGEST expense on the track! Well...tires too :)

The instructors hands didn't bother me at all to be honest, most times it helped me make a quick adjustment or look further through the corner.

Thanks, that camera mount is great I may have to invest in that next spring :)

Good work getting signed off! I have an event this Saturday I can't wait

Yeh man, I was going to build my own and then figured fuck it...it'll cost me the same at the end anyway.

I'm uploading a video right now with a slightly different camera mount but I wasn't pushing the car as hard...this on Sunday when my master cylinder just wasn't having it.

The cam was mounted on the roof and I'm probably going to mix it up more frequently next time because its a great location.

[gverelli]

Your aloud to mount cameras on the exterior?

I remember the last event I went to, it was only aloud inside the car bolted down AND with a strap (incase the bolts failed), and was not permitted in the C class either..

[MrSlacker]

Dude, you have NO idea how jealous I am of you. I am going to do a track event as soon as my car is able to go fast without falling apart!