First Englishtown Road Course Race School

[kennysabarese]

So Friday 6/27/08 marked the first day of the Englishtown Road Course Racing School. After getting my RMR rollbar installed on my Sky I was able to participate in the school and future open track days (my post on the rollbar install and some arguing as to how safe it really is can be found here: RMR Style Bar installed on Kenny's Sky)

The class about teaching the basics and more about certifying drivers and assigning people to different classes based on car performance and skill level for the open track days. If you have an SCCA NASA PDA or any other license you do not have to take the class to participate in the open track days.

So the school was an 8 hour course with about an hour of "class" (whiteboard in the parking lot) and the rest of the day on the track. It was very informal as there was only 12 cars there and it was their first time doing a school. They had four instructors (one the son of the guy who runs PDA/NASA) and the director Chris who did the class time, oversaw, and ran flags.

We started off on the track with a helmet-less drive at low speed with instructors in every car. We did three groups of 4. Then back again with helmets on for a few runs. Then broke for lunch had a little classtime again and then back out there. Once more with instructors, then a leapfrog with a lead car, then just out on the track ourselves.

It was a really great experience. The Sky handles really well out there, and I was constantly playing with the different traction control settings to see the difference. I have only had the car for 2 months so I am not too comfortable with it yet but it went well.

#1 issue: I was sliding all over the leather seats and had to constantly push my left leg against the door. Next time you get in your car smack your knee against the door and you will quickly find a nice hard plastic piece. Yeah it hurts slamming it for a few hours, I have a pretty big bruise! Need to figure out how to keep myself down in the seat!

Here's the full photo gallery link: Englishtown Race School

I haven't gotten any pics of me running yet but here is the two photos of the prep I did to my car

[fr0stb1t3]

Originally Posted by kennysabarese

#1 issue: I was sliding all over the leather seats and had to constantly push my left leg against the door. Next time you get in your car smack your knee against the door and you will quickly find a nice hard plastic piece. Yeah it hurts slamming it for a few hours, I have a pretty big bruise! Need to figure out how to keep myself down in the seat!

Here's the full photo gallery link: Englishtown Race School

I haven't gotten any pics of me running yet but here is the two photos of the prep I did to my car

Picking up my RL in a few days so I can't verify this yet, but in my vette you could pull the seat-belt all the way out and have it ratchet back in where it held you tight on the lap belt and/or the shoulder strap. You may have something similar and it was useful in keeping me planted.

[kennysabarese]

Originally Posted by fr0stb1t3

Picking up my RL in a few days so I can't verify this yet, but in my vette you could pull the seat-belt all the way out and have it ratchet back in where it held you tight on the lap belt and/or the shoulder strap. You may have something similar and it was useful in keeping me planted.

i saw CG Lock thing which just clips onto the stock belt buckle and keeps it tight. thinking of just trying one of those.

[RedHeaded RedLine]

Originally Posted by kennysabarese

i saw CG Lock thing which just clips onto the stock belt buckle and keeps it tight. thinking of just trying one of those.

I hate it, he loves it. But, it does do exactly what it says it should. J

[Jay_Sin]

Originally Posted by fr0stb1t3

Picking up my RL in a few days so I can't verify this yet, but in my vette you could pull the seat-belt all the way out and have it ratchet back in where it held you tight on the lap belt and/or the shoulder strap. You may have something similar and it was useful in keeping me planted.

Most cars I've ridden in have had this. So I wouldn't be surprised if the Sky had it as well. Never really thought about how it would be useful in autocross. I just remember messing around with seatbelts that did that when i was younger.

[Antonio]

very cool

I was going to go to their opening, but I don't have the RMR bar yet. It's good to see that they'll allow it on the track with it. If you're still uncomfortable with the car's limits, try autocrossing a couple times first. You'll learn the car's limits in a safe environment, and you'll be more confident on the course.

Hopefully soon enough I'll get my RMR bar and you'll see me tearin up the track as well

[kennysabarese]

cool antonio hope to see you soon

[fr0stb1t3]

Originally Posted by Jay_Sin

Most cars I've ridden in have had this. So I wouldn't be surprised if the Sky had it as well. Never really thought about how it would be useful in autocross. I just remember messing around with seatbelts that did that when i was younger.

It works especially well when you have two separate "rollers" where the lap belt and the shoulder belt both have their own locks. I always locked the lap belt when performance driving and squeezed in the side of the seats.

[Elff]

Thread resurrection


Kenny

Do you happen to know what other racetracks in our area will allow us to race with the Roll Bar mod you installed?

I'm interested in the Pocono's as well.

Also
Are you planning on running any AutoX events?

[kennysabarese]

it's not decided by the track. for HPDE it's a state law. Any of the tracks in NJ should let you drive with the RMR bar for HPDE.

I would check out PDA/NASSA who goes to Thunderbolt which is supposed to be a great track.

Welcome to New Jersey Motorsports Park

Also the Porsche Club of NNJ who goes to Pocono. Though LOTS of groups go to Pocono

I would just call each track and ask when the events are happening and then find out if each ORG allows outsiders

[kennysabarese]

i haven't done autoX yet. i want to try it. but i have a feeling i'm not going to be too interested in it. but ya never know