A Series of Unexpected Events - NASA HPDE @Autobahn 4-21/22-12

[B][SIZE="3"]Video here:[/SIZE][/B] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imcEMTbAqQI&list=UU1Ym-QzJM8N1lmMV0_bS6UQ&index=1&feature=plcp"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imcEMTbAqQI&list=UU1Ym-QzJM8N1lmMV0_bS6UQ&index=1&feature=plcp[/url]


[B][SIZE="3"]and:[/SIZE][/B] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TK7C8Yr3v-o&feature=bf_next&list=UU1Ym-QzJM8N1lmMV0_bS6UQ"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TK7C8Yr3v-o&feature=bf_next&list=UU1Ym-QzJM8N1lmMV0_bS6UQ[/url]




Apologies for getting this out so late. This thing called college got in the way.


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I had the privilege of attending NASA's HPDE at Autobahn's south track.


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I started my morning waking up at 7:30 after turning off my alarm clock set for 5:00. To my dismay, my sister had already made off with the '07 328xi I meant to take. However, there was a car in the garage I could take instead; my dad's '05 Mercedes C240. Seeing as though this was all I had, I figured its rear-wheel-drive and lack of run-flats may prove even better on the track than the Bimmer. When life gives you lemons, go to the track.


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On my way there, I was skeptical of the C240's capabilities. I arrived at about 8:30 and walked gingerly into my already-in-progress class. There, I was introduced to our classroom instructor, Aaron. He asked what I was driving and if I'd been to Autobahn before. I said a "Mercedes-Benz C240," feeling as though I came off as pretentious afterward. Soon after, he called the HPDE 2 group, and we were released early. 


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For the first session, I got a feel for the track with the train of cars that toured around the corners. I suppose this is where first-timers can get acquainted with the track layout. 
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For the second, I was over-steering through nearly every corner. I was frustrated and thought I should have woke up earlier so I could have brought the BMW, what with its "superior" handling, or so I thought. Like always, I blamed my lack of smoothness on my all-season, 500 tread wear tires. And for good reason. 


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Before the third session, a fellow HPDE driver named Matt Turner (he was the one in a white Evo X) let me use his air compressor and gauge. He recommended I add two pounds of pressure and this made nothing short of a world of difference. My turn-in was sharper and my car's ability to hug the road at speed was unbelievable to my powerslide-filled slip-'n-slide run before. I took corners that I could only dream of taking before. I was impressed with my [dad's] OEM pads that held up for this session when I was doing everything in my power to brake as late as possible and trailbrake so I could gain on drivers ahead. I passed more people in this run than I ever have at a track day before, which boosted my confidence.
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The fourth session proved to be my smoothest yet. And this was the last thing I was expecting on my roughly 30-minute trip to the track. Although I experienced some brake fade thanks to my late-braking, I was increasing my speed through the corners.


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By day's end, I chatted with "Zee" (?) or as he's known here, bimmerforums, Kyle Burkhardt or cosM3os, Jeff (owner of a white S50 E30) or jeffmn8, Zack (owner of a silver E36 M3, and a really, really good driver who moved up to HPDE 3 actually), former instructor of mine, Calvin Brandt or 99MPower, Luke Perkowski or LukeP, and three nice guys who were in my run group (although they were in HPDE 1 and I was in HPDE 2), Iurii Logvyn (driving a black Hyundai Genesis), Neil Bartkowiak (behind the wheel of an oragne Dodge SRT4) and last but not least, Matt Turner (who drove his white Evo X). 


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NASA had an amazing vibe. No one was afraid to talk or was particularly snobbish about their cars. 


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To make this weekend even more unexpected, for the past couple of nights, I had been under the weather. While trying to sleep with a horrible case of insomnia, I would inadvertently wake up surrounded by gallons of sweat. This happened on both Saturday morning and to a far worse extent on Sunday. I went to bed Saturday night with a temperature of 103 and woke up the next morning shivering out of my mind. My mom refused to let me go when she saw me in this state, so I continued to sleep. I then woke up at 10, had a brief breakfast, and was feeling better (or so I told my mom so I could go for the remainder of the HPDE). My temperature was then 97. I contacted Kathi Jorgensen and she said a refund could not be arranged. I then called my mom and told her that a refund is impossible and that if I don't go, "it's $200 down the drain." She was still reluctant to go, but said if I have to, I can.


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I left my house at 1pm and arrived with only two sessions remaining. I figured I had the upper hand on the other drivers thanks to my additional sleep and that I'd be fresh for the third and fourth runs.


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My first run, yet the third run of the day begins with two laps under a yellow flag, and we are not to pass, brake or exceed 40-60. This helped me with my approach for turn 1, where I always turned in too soon, I should have been patient and wait to turn in, so that way, turn 2 and going to turn 3 would be smoother. After this, I found I hit all the apexes a lot more effortlessly and emerged from those corners with a lot more speed.


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The next run was the cherry on top. It was an absolute joy. And thanks to this being only my second run of the day, and everyone else's fourth, my [OEM, no less!] brakes were in better shape than most others. This helped with my late-braking/trail-braking maneuvers. I was so much smoother than any run before, and I totally fell into the groove. 


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Thanks to NASA and everyone there for making my time so enjoyable! I wanted to go to Autobahn for the Windy City BMWCCA school, but money and college are holding me back. Thankfully, I only have until May 11 to wait before I can hit the track again!


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[I]I'd like to think of myself as a competent photographer who's limited by his measly iPhone camera. I could have easily brought my "real" camera, but laziness with a dose of forgetfulness got in the way.[/I]


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[I]These two Porsches look like absolute sex.[/I][/CENTER]










See you all next time!

SCCA Northwest Indiana Region Autocross

Today I had the opportunity to go to Gary, Indiana for the first Indiana Northwest Region SCCA autocross of the year at Majestic Star Casino. There, I met a whole host of colorful personalities who were fully willing to tell me stories of past autocross events as well as the ins-and-outs of camber and tread wears. 

The first session was spent on the sidelines, replacing hit cones to their original positions. I worked on turn three, where there was a “Chicago box,” or a big braking zone that requires a sharp left-handed turn. By watching first, I was able to identify other drivers’ weak points and areas on the course where I should pay attention. 

Then I finally took to the course. It was over with before I could realize what I had just done. All the while I went in and out of the slaloms, I heard the voice of my instructor that guided me during me a BMWCCA autocross school a year ago. It was eerie, but my skills came back through remembering that early experience. 

In successive rounds, I steadily showed improvement on my lap times. No thanks to my challenging class placement, however, I did not receive as much of a handicap as I thought I deserved. I was placed in A Street-Prepared, a class that allows for suspension upgrades, tire replacements including brake modifications. I was told that given my car had no mods whatsoever, surely, I deserved to be in D-Stock. But no, the rulebook clearly spelled out that all 2006-2010 BMW 325i/xi and 328i/xi models fell under A Street-Prepared despite being fully stock. I got a sense the SCCA has a slight aversion toward BMWs. What could justify such unfair judgement? A desire to keep the “rich” people out of SCCA events? Whatever the case, I found this ruling absurd. As a result I was put at a tremendous competitive disadvantage. Unlike my fellow novice competitors, I would not receive as generous a multiplier as they would, which explains my somewhat disappointing finish. 

Although this was my first autocross, I was expecting to excel beyond anyone’s imagination. And I did, but not the way I was expecting. I drove my four-wheel-drive Bimmer on the ragged edge and explored its large repertoire of capabilities. I pulled four-wheel powerslides almost every time I drove through the carousel that made the course loop back around. I was doing this intentionally so I could maximize the car’s grip threshold. But clearly not even this wasn’t sufficient. 

I didn’t realize I could check up on my lap times right after I made my run until my third-last run or so. By then, I had achieved an astonishing 50.7 seconds, for which I received a thumbs up from a timer. I began to improve only from there. My next run was a 49.1, then a slightly disappointing 49.8. I told myself “to gun for it” on my final run. I had to strike as perfect a balance as I could between outright power and precise control of my vehicle. 

For my last lap of the course I achieved my fastest time, 48.1 seconds. To contrast this, the overall event winner completed the course within 35 seconds or so. Yet where he had sticky race tires, I had nitrogen-filled, all-season run-flats. Shoot me. Considering this alone, I’d say I did remarkably well. And I was complimented by the event organizers who said things along the lines of, “Hey, you did pretty well out there,” or “This isn’t your first time is it?” Being told that you even roughly know what you’re doing is the most flattering praise a driver can receive. Hearing those said were among the most gratifying moments of the day. 

In the end, I felt cheated due to my A Street-Prepared classification. I didn’t receive the multiplier I felt I deserved because I lacked any mods whatsoever, and yet I was unfairly placed in a challenging class. Regardless of these setbacks, I placed fifth out of eight, earning me a tiny orange, foam cone as a trophy. It was only the novice class that the fifth-place finisher and up would receive a trophy. I felt the cone was somewhat of a pity trophy, but I’ll take this lesson forward: don’t expect to do well in any competitive car event with all-season tires! Also, the SCCA’s car classifications are a little wonky to say the least. I was in a class with an 1993 RX-7 with coilovers, upgraded brakes and tires. How this was fair, I know not! 

Facebook Fights: Get over It!

As of this writing, the third in a recent string of fights via Facebook have taken place on my wall or others.

They typically go as follows, I post a slightly too cheeky comment on someone's status or write on someone's wall in a way that irritates them. The joke in my opinion is never by any means harsh or cruel. On the contrary, it is often lighthearted and sarcastic.

Said person then procedes to "retaliate." I use this word deliberately because he or she gets all up in arms. There is virtually nothing to stop this stack of bricks from falling. Once I commence the proverbial "rage mode" in said person, there is no turning back. No matter how many "sorry" responses I issue, how many times I retaliate or how many times I attempt to backpedal. At that point, the bricks have already fallen.

I think the source of this rage is how thoroughly serious people are in everything they do. There is no problem being serious and taking your life seriously with what your education, your career, love life, social life, hobbies etc. However, at a certain point, unless you happen to be the single dullest, most humorless person, you need to be able to laugh at yourself.

There is no better way to develop your careers and your relationships than to be able to laugh at yourself. People love self-deprecating humor. And if you take yourself too seriously to do so, you can roll over and die. Sure you have the "get it done" mentality so many people seek, you have no personality to go along with that. You need to be well-rounded in that you are willing to admit your faults every once in a while. And if laughing at yourself is so painful, you can go ahead and get your teeth pulled right now. Because it's not. Lighten up, and get over it!

Peoples' issue today is that they take themselves too seriously. You have no sense of humor if you can only make fun of other people and you lack any discernable amount of personal integrity if you can laugh at everyone but yourself.

If you are anything like the descriptions above, you need to stop getting your panties in a bunch any time anyone is even slightly impolite. The world is filled with constantly rude and harsh people. If a couple of jokey, non-serious words on the internet get you pissed off, you need to re-evaluate your life's values! If you then lack the imagination to consider, even roughly, the off chance that someone may be joking, then get a clue!

And then to allow the "perpetrator" no way out after committing such an unforgivable "travesty" (oh no!) is positively absurd. Give people some room to ask for forgiveness, pardon them for their unsavory actions, etc. It is draconian to say the least to offer no forgiveness to people who make even the subtlest of mistakes. If this describes you, then put yourself in his or her shoes.

Out of all of this, I hate how people are foolish enough to be fully convinced that what was once a joke is fully serious and intentionally mean-spirited. How do you get such idiotic ideas in your head?! Take into account, for one moment, how a given person behaves in person and when reading their internet contributions, say them in your head with their voice. Don't snap-knee-jerk-reaction-assume that they are being deliberately cruel and unfair! Give them a chance to be funny and redeem yourself.

Today, unfortunately, the internet offers none of this, what with the advent of the internet message board "troll" culture, where strangers are mean to other strangers. On Facebook, we're all friends here. Take it easy. Take a breather. Don't get all caught up!

Riding (S)low

It's my natural tendency to oppose popular culture, take a step back and say, "What's going on here?"

On the pulse of the auto industry is an upcoming style that emphasizes as low profile tires as possible, as large of wheels as possible, all the while riding on the lowest "stance" possible. The first time I witnessed this style, I didn't fully appreciate it.

What I did appreciate, however, was the video production quality that is being churned out by these low-riding fiends. I love the syncopation to the featured music, the panning camera angles of the cars as well as the emphasis on the details that set a given car apart.

This cinematographic style is reminiscent of skateboarding videos in that they are taken using fish-eye cameras and are meant to portray an action or object more so than a person or emotion.

If you have not yet had the opportunity to see one of these videos, view the one below to at least get a sense of what I'm referring to.

Despite the spectacular videos that are being created in lieu of this new style, it is evident this school of style is becoming overwrought. As a direct result of all the publicity these high-caliber videos are giving these cars, wannabe-boy-racers can be seen imitating the latest styles appearing on YouTube with their choice of wheels, cars, paint jobs and suspension setups.

This car "lifestyle" is being touted as something that is ever-evolving, "dynamic" and "flowing," as if it were a tapestry. With the growing amount of awareness surrounding it, its "dynamism" appears quite the opposite.

It is rapidly becoming stale and boring. The originators who set up their cars in such a way are failing to continue to innovate and further lead the field in design, while the imitators are already catching up, making everyone's car virtually the same.

You can witness this here:

So as you can see, there is a confluence of what's popular and what's new. And in truth, the "what's new part" about HellaFlush, Simply Clean, Stanceworks, whatever brand you want to label this new car culture/lifestyle smoothie as needs to continue more than it is already.

Everything is beginning to look the same, or as if it's derived from somewhere else. These rides need an injection of innovation before they become as peripheral as JDM cars are today. (JDM cars, or Japanese Domestic Market cars have recently had a resurgence thanks in part to these modern low-riders).

By no means am I casting aspersions, but rather, I hope this given culture can thrive as all car cultures deserve to. At the end of the day, the cars' styles will change, but the memories will last forever.

So I hit the road for Putnam Road Course...

I went to my first HPDE this weekend at Putnam Road Course in Mount Meridian, IN. As challenging as I found Putnam, I had a fabulous time.

However, I learned a number of lessons that I hope to take away from these past few days.

First of which, I thought that my dad's car (a 2007 328xi) would be fine on the track because of its ~230hp, and despite its all-season tires. Boy was I wrong.

I couldn't keep up with anyone but the Miatas. As hurt as my ego was by the end of the day (I even got passed by an E30 with no other performance parts than a chip!), I felt I learned more by being so humbled. By that I mean now I know there's a lot more for me to learn than I ever thought, which was evidenced by my total lack of smoothness through the corners. Sure, I can blame a million things on the car, but at the end of the day, I need more seat time.

Another lesson that I learned the hard way was getting to the track. From my house, Putnam is 202 miles, or three hours and 44 minutes away. I completely underestimated this journey. I was reluctant to rent a hotel for the night during the two-day event, and I paid for it in terms of sleep. Oh dear. I left my house at around 3:10 AM and didn't get to the track until about 7:30, no thanks to the time change, one of my Illinois hours evaporated before my eyes! (Cue: massive frustration) And after being away since 1 AM, the clock struck 9, and it was time for me to hit the track. I was tired and rugged. I truly should have thought ahead and left home the night before! I can't believe I wanted to go to Mid-Ohio this weekend! I must have been out of my mind!

So the plan went as follows: wake up at 2:30 AM, drive to the track for 3.5 hours, drive on said track, drive for another 3.5 hours home, glean as much sleep and food for the short time I had to myself as possible and repeat. This was far too demanding of a schedule! On the first day, I was up by 1 AM, only to sleep again at 5 PM, as soon as I hit my bed, I was out! I woke up to the sight of an alarm clock that read "12:50." I thought to myself, "Aww crap, here we go again!" So I ate as much leftover pizza and tortellini as I could manage. I thought carbs would be a good choice for their energy value, then I thought of the fun, yet bowel-loosening ride my instructor gave me twice in his Porsche GT3 RS. I probably should have brought SOMETHING to eat or drink during the first day. I was ever so slightly tempted to take a water bottle sitting on a trailer while no one was looking, because I thought my mental capacities could really use it, but my morals got the best of me (damn you, good upbringing!)

On the track the first session, I was nothing but nervous. Coming in to turn one, my confidence began to progressively decrease. I was super composed for the first few corners because I thought I knew the course like the back of my hand for the number of YouTube videos I watched of people driving on the track. The thing I couldn't get from all those videos was, as my instructor called, "camber," or as I would call, "topography." There was almost no way to make up for this other than plainly and simply learning the course like I would any other.

My greatest complaint the entire time was the artificial throttle feel the E90 sedan had. (I'm curious if E90 M3s have this same "issue"). It felt like it was either completely on or off, little modulation in between. Where the car is civil on public roads, when I drove the car on the track it was nigh on schizophrenic. For which I would receive multiple reprimands from my instructor for.

I never used the tiptronic transmission, nor switched off traction control (both of which, my ego would have probably profited from and thus, made me faster). Also, I sense driving with an automatic makes braking zones harder because you have control over only the brakes, whereas control over the transmission and brakes and using those in conjunction with one another can create far more controllable braking situations in my estimation. And the tires... Oh the horror!

But now on to me. I lacked consistency most of all. I found the course worlds more memorable than the maze-like Autobahn Country Club in Joliet, IL (good luck remembering which way to turn!) But nonetheless, I would confuse what I was supposed to do time and time again. I confused turn four with turn eight. But at my last session, I really showed improvement. What was most frustrating though, was that despite paying for the Sunday session, my dad didn't let him go (and thank God he didn't!)

I wasn't about to drive another 3 and-a-half hours and drive on a race track, only to barely avoid nodding off on Route 65 while driving for 3 and-a-half hours going home. With six hours of sleep no less, staying awake and alert on the track as well as public roads for a cumulative 14 hours for the day is absurd to say the least. To give myself some credit, let's say I would have done worlds better if I had proper sleep, and I did OK. I can only go up from there!

For such a wacky weekend, I met cool people. (PM if you want me to remove you from this name-dropping, but I'm sorry, credit is due!)

Marcelo Areal was an all-around friendly Argentinian who was the first one to greet me and direct me where to go. He and I talked great lengths about F1, WRC, Group B rallying, ALMS, WTCC and NASCAR. He was intriguing to talk to because he told me about his experiences walking out in front of the Group B rally cars when he lived in Argentina, how fascinating this 2012 F1 season is developing to be, what with Sebatian Vettel's absence from the podium and his newfound appreciation for NASCAR, which I found frankly bizarre.

Aaron Leichty was incredibly funny and charismatic. He showed that he knew a great deal about cars from when he spoke about his multiple S2000s and his current Miata. I really wish I had come on Sunday just so I could chat with this guy more! I can't say enough positive things about him!

Matthew R Edmondson was the owner of the E30, which I loved seeing! He was interesting to talk to about his Purdue business degree.

Finally, hats off the my instructor, Pervez Randelia. The owner of a sensational GT3 RS blew my mind when he displayed his driving skills. By the end of his session, I told him he needs to get into racing.

Despite being the only northerner there, I had an absolute blast!