My first wheel to wheel experience! Options

[Steve91T]

Well, kinda. This past weekend, the BMW HPDE had us doing exercises during one of our session. First they had us pairing up with another car and driving around the track next to each other. Every lap, switching sides. I personally have never done anything like this before. My heart was pounding the entire time! But the purpose of the exercise is to show you just how much room there is on the track. I had no idea that two cars, side by side, could get through the corners at the speeds we were eventually hitting. At one point we got into some traffic, and the feeling of having cars absolutely everywhere was amazing. I honestly felt like I was in a race. I can't image what it's like being in an actual race! You guys are crazy!

I can't wait to get into CMC racing. I think my next school isn't going to be an HPDE, but a race school. From what I hear, the BMW race school is really good. Of course, this is coming from all of the BMW guys. I really need to get more experience with side by side, off line racing.

Anyway, here's the video. Nothing special, but I really like watching it. It's amazing how my smooth driving went out the window when I was under the stress of the other cars. I nearly lost it in turn 2 because of this. But towards the end of the session, I was relaxing and learning to trust the guy besides me. Notice how often I'm looking at the car next to me in the beginning compared to the end of the session.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cwen05B6UEU

This post has been edited by Steve91T: Oct 3 2011, 07:19 PM

[GlennCMC70]

My first year or two of raicng in CMC, me and a few others would sign-up for a practice day (mostly new tracks) and run the 2nd session side-by-side just like you did. It was great for learing places to pass. It will teach you to get creative as well.
Imagine running side by side w/ a guy who does not want to let you pass.

[Steve91T]

My first year or two of raicng in CMC, me and a few others would sign-up for a practice day (mostly new tracks) and run the 2nd session side-by-side just like you did. It was great for learing places to pass. It will teach you to get creative as well.
Imagine running side by side w/ a guy who does not want to let you pass.

I can only imagine. And also getting my first taste of what you guys do all the time makes me realize that's exactly what I want to do.

BTW, are you the same Glenn on the CMC forums?

Steve

[mitchntx]

This boy swallowed the hook ... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/burnout.gif)

[GlennCMC70]

BTW, are you the same Glenn on the CMC forums?

Steve

The one and only.

[AllZWay]

This boy swallowed the hook ... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/burnout.gif)

And I think it is deep. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/2thumbs.gif)

[Steve91T]

Sure did! And my wife is NOT happy (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Casey_SS]

Ruh-roh! Do not....I repeat DO NOT watch ANY of the Texas AI/CMC videos. That's precisely what did me in. I haven't been the same ever since....ask anyone, they'll tell you.

Oddly though, the wife watched them with me, got excited about it, and is actually getting out there herself now. I wouldn't try it with porn or anything but it definitely made her feel involved and gave me the freedom to go racing. For years. Believe it or not, after watching me have my fun for a while and deciding she wanted to do it too, she literally chose to buy a car and go racing vs. a bigger house....on a lake...that I was ready to buy. We've been married for years and have 2 kids if that helps explain the significance of her decision and the impact of seeing the best of what we do out there.

Honestly though, the videos really aren't all that cool. We kinda suck. You definitely shouldn't watch them.

http://vimeo.com/16824546
http://vimeo.com/2327178
http://vimeo.com/search/videos/search:texa...cmc/st/66fc877c
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_quer...ai+cmc&aq=f

This post has been edited by Casey_SS: Oct 6 2011, 08:23 AM

[Casey_SS]

BTW - that's a great video! Thanks for sharing it. As Glenn mentioned, the more assertive guys (myself included) have traditionally made side deals in the paddock to do exactly this but its tough when nobody else knows what the hell you're doing out there and just wants to post videos of themselves passing "fast" cars.

I think NASA should make this part of the advancement curriculum from DE2 to 3 or maybe 3 or 4. It's fairly advanced stuff but the earlier the better I say, provided the drivers are all comfortable with the line and what-not. To be fair, it may already be in the curriculum and I just don't know it - it's been a while. In any case, where the hell was this when I was going through comp school...? After "graduation" I knew I had signed up for a race and all but I was still pretty damned surprised to find another car 6 inches away from me in turn 1...

This post has been edited by Casey_SS: Oct 6 2011, 07:42 AM