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+--- Thread: Are RTR Drivers Faster? (/showthread.php?tid=817)
- Darren - 09-01-2007
In another thread we were discussing BMW DE events and the relative skill differences by level between our club and other clubs in similar run groups.
I race with NASA and sometimes have my 996 out in NASA DE groups. This past event a couple weeks ago, I was in the instructor group at NASA and was suprised at the slowness of the general speed.
Also, a couple of years ago I did my first DE with the local BMW club. They made me (as they do everyone) do a check-out run at Pocono to make sure I was safe to drive solo. On the recommendation of friends to drive "very conservatively and exactly on-line" I did so, 5/10ths or less. After a couple of laps the instructor told me to pit in and said exactly "You are driving a little too agressively, just take it easy and I'll sign you off."
That same event, in the rain, I remember coming off the bowl and a flagger was pointing a furled yellow flag at me (I assumed to tell me to slow down). That one cracked me up, thats not even a flag. Of course I had PSM ON! and I was well within my safety limit.
Anyway, why is it that we seem to have better skills at each level than other clubs?
Is it the lack of promotions or the instruction? I'll argue the instruction, and the reason is that we have more instructors that really understand how to drive and can explain the nuances of each track vs teaching just the ideal line.
At the recently past NASA event at Summit Point, right after the RTR event, I did another track walk -- I've probably walked that track a dozen times. I wasn't expecting much but I ran into the head instructor for the weekend, Mary, who is a BSR (owns Summit Point) instructor. Mary really suprised me in her extensive knowledge of the track (down to the type of material used for patching the surface) and driving in general. I was following her around like a green run-group driver at the track for the first time.
In two distinct places, turn 3 and turn 4, she was saying that the fast line is actually the safe line, which in some ways is contradictory to how many of us think of it (I know me!). My tie-in here is that I don't think RTR is faster for reasons that relate to safety, but for reasons that relate to understanding.
- Tony356993 - 09-02-2007
Quote:Is it the lack of promotions or the instruction? I'll argue the instruction, and the reason is that we have more instructors that really understand how to drive and can explain the nuances of each track vs teaching just the ideal line.I think you have hit the mark correctly. It is the slowness of promotion which, in turn, yields additional instruction.
I have run with Zone 1 PCA, Zone 2 PCA, Schattenbaum, Metro NY, NNJR, Potomac, Niagra, Ohio Valley, First Settlers & CVR. RTR IS fast. Generally my feeling is that there is usually a 1 to 1.5 run group difference in speeds between RTR and other groups. i.e. - a seasoned blue group RTR driver that has been solo's a bunch of times with RTR could run in the black group with NNJR w/o any problem.
I also have had to "checked out" for solo as well as one region requiring 3 check out rides (with their own instructors) to validate my national pca instructor credentials and determine if I was worthy to instruct with their region.
I agree with Darren that RTR is doing something right and that we have some good (and fast) drivers in our club.
Getting promoted should never be the goal - getting better should be.
I've taken a big step back in speed with the "new" car but I know with the proper continued instruction (wink wink Darren-Larry-Bob-Jack & others) & track time, that I will become a better driver. Maybe I can continue the great showing that RTR drivers are having (and have had) at PCA club racing.
- catchacab - 09-02-2007
Got this off of the PHAX yahoo forum
Hey guys and gals!
Completed yet another weekend with NASA for the sixth
championship event for the East Coast Honda Challenge.
This took place at Summit Point Raceway.
The format for the weekend included practice,
qualifying, and race on both Saturday and Sunday. The
weather was going to be HOT. Mid 90's and very humid
with a chance of some major storms over the weekend.
Saturday practice session was used to shake down the
car and make sure everything was in good working
order. Everything went well except for some slight
contact with another car. Damage was very minor and
the other person involved learned from their mistake.
For qualifying later that day, I made sure I got to
the front of the line to get some clean laps in. I
was successful and turned about 3 laps before pulling
off the track. I ran a 1:29.0 which was good enough
to take the overall pole for the entire Stinger run
group.
For the race, we were forced to do a rolling start.
The pace car set the speed in favor of my Honda CRX.
Third gear right in the sweet spot of the rpm band.
Todd Reid in his Ford Probe was starting next to me on
the front row. He has boatloads of power and I knew
that would be my biggest problem for the race.
Luckily, I got a great jump. Todd was still able to
sneak a car length or so by me but I got him back in
the braking zone going into turn 1. After that, the
rest of the field was in my mirrors. I ended up
running the rest of the race by myself and worked
through lap traffic. In the end, I finished first
overall.
You can view in car footage of the race by clicking on
the following link:
http://www.ajnealeyracing.com/In%20Car%20Footage%20%40%20SPR%20August%2025%202007.html
Sunday was going to be more of the same. Practice was
used again to shake down the car. I noticed I had an
extremely bad vibration in the steering wheel while
traveling at high speeds and that the brake pedal was
very long. Turns out the front wheel weights flew off
and the front pads and rotors needed to replaced. I
promptly took the wheels to Phil at Phil's Tire
Service who took care of the balancing and I then
worked on the front brakes to get ready for
qualifying.
Again, I was first in line for Sunday's qualifying
session. I again had a clean track and turned out
about 4 laps. The track actually felt very fast with
a cooler front approaching. I ran a 1:28.0 which,
again, was good enough for the overall pole for the
Stinger race group.
The race later that day again started with a rolling
start. The pace was set about the same and got
another good jump. But the roaring field behind had a
bit more power than my Honda. I got a HUGE bump going
down the front straight before entering turn one by
Wade Cunningham in his Nissan Sentra SE-R. With that
boost, I was able to get by the Scott Willard in his
Nissan Sentra who started next to me on the front row
in the braking zone for turn 1. Again, after that, I
wasn't challenged for the rest of the race. There
were a lot of yellow and debris flags scattered
throughout the track with cars caught in gravel traps.
In the end, I finished first overall.
You can view in car footage of the race by clicking on
the following link:
http://www.ajnealeyracing.com/In%20Car%20Footage%20%40%20SPR%20August%2026%202007.html
Again, I always have a lot of fun hanging out with the
NASA crowd on race weekends. I had planned on racing
at Summit Point Raceway again this weekend with the
SCCA, but have thought better about it. Instead, I
will focus on preparing my 1988 Honda CRX Si for the
NASA National Championships at Mid-Ohio September
13-16. The best of the best will be there. I am
extremely excited.
Keep posted on http://www.ajnealeyracing.com for
updates!
I'd like to thank the following for supporting me for
the 2007 season:
Hondamans Auto Service - http://www.hondamans.com
Studio 553 - The ultimate in digital graphics services
- http://www.studio553.com
Primary Residential Mortgage - Ask for Dean or Devon
and tell 'em AJ sent ya! -
http://www.easymdmortgage.com
Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Please
contact me anytime if you are interested!
Thanks!
AJ Nealey
If you would like to be removed from this mailing
list, reply with "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
http://www.ajnealeyracing.com
http://www.hondamans.com
- Larry Herman - 09-02-2007
Are RTR Drivers Faster?
After 24 years of seeing other clubs...Yes!
- Nick - 09-03-2007
After 13 years of driving with other clubs, I'll add better and more safe.
- Brian Minkin - 09-03-2007
I agree with all the previous posts that RTR is faster and safer then other regions. Let me add that RTR drivers are more aware of traffic over taking them then other regions as well. Out of region I frequently have to force the pass and in our region the hands come out as you overtake the car. RTR drivers are the best I have driven with and I have done a lot of out of region events as a student and more recently as an instructor.
- fasthonda - 09-03-2007
of all the DE groups i instruct for, RTR has the BEST drivers, period.
it is because of all the factors discussed above....
i really enjoy instructing for you guys!!!!
now, back to my regularly scheduled program -- getting the Probenstien ready for the NASA Nationals in less than two weeks!!!!! gotta go out there to Mid Ohio and show the country how fast 'George's old car' can really be!!!!!!
todd
#11 PTE
- Larry Herman - 09-04-2007
Brian Minkin wrote:
Quote:Out of region I frequently have to force the pass and in our region the hands come out as you overtake the car.
Wait a minute, let me get this straight...you pass people?
![[Image: yim_rolling_on_the_floor.gif]](http://forums.intpcentral.com/images/smilies/yim_rolling_on_the_floor.gif)
- Brian Minkin - 09-04-2007
Larry Herman wrote:
Quote:Brian Minkin wrote:Yes, when they are in reverse in the padockQuote:Out of region I frequently have to force the pass and in our region the hands come out as you overtake the car.
Wait a minute, let me get this straight...you pass people?
