AZP Track Event: NJMP Lightning, June 2
 

I know there is about 20" of snow outside right now, but we've booked our first track event for the 2014 season. It will be a private track event where we will have extensive classroom and on track instruction along with a track walk given by Rolex 24 driver Pete McIntosh and Grand Am driver Aaron Povoledo! This year we were able to bring the cost down, but this will mean limited seats available so make sure to register early. It is a Monday so we will head down to the track on Sunday afternoon and then do a group dinner in town somewhere! Should be a blast as usual.

Here are the details.

Date: June 2, 2014
Location: NJMP Thunderbolt
Run Groups: Novice and Advanced
Approximate Track Time: (4) 30 min sessions per group
Price: $295 for Novice Solo & Advanced Drivers, $315 for Novice w/Instructor
Format: (2) Track Walks, Classroom Sessions, In-car Instructors
Registration: Home - AZP Track Events

This is not your typical HPDE day as we pride ourselves on small groups and lots of attention to both the novices as well as the advanced drivers. Aaron or Pete will gladly take your car out and show you the race line as seen from a Professional Driver's point of view and there will be plenty of discussion and car talk!

-Mike Paisan

http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/153798190.jpg
Maintaining, Modifying and Educating TriState Enthusiasts since 2001.
Like us on Facebook! | E-mail: sales@azpinstalls.com | 725 Fairfield Ave | Kenilworth, NJ 07033 | 908.248.AZP1 (2971) |AIM: AZP Installs
"Race Tested, Enthusiast Approved!"

How many spots are open? I'm really and thinking of doing this.What time do you think you will leave on Sunday?


btw the registration page won't let me Register

For someone's first HDPE event (edit - and never autoX before either), a stock car with stock everything would be fine for this? Or are any fluid changes, etc. recommended? (edit - would also be good to know if anything suggested would be considered necessary/highly recommended OR just something good to have, but not really necessary) thanks in advance.

A lot of this will depend on how aggressive you are. If you're comfortable pushing the car (for example, if you autocross) and you want to run full 30 minutes sessions without letting up, then you will absolutely need to upgrade brake fluid and pads.

On the other hand, if you're not pushing your car hard or don't mind doing cool off laps mid-session, you may be ok with stock brakes, although I wouldn't recommend it. It's a scary feeling going 100+ mph down a straight and not knowing if you've got adequate brakes to make the turn at the end.

Thanks for the heads up I will check this out asap.

-Mike Paisan

http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/153798190.jpg
Maintaining, Modifying and Educating TriState Enthusiasts since 2001.
Like us on Facebook! | E-mail: sales@azpinstalls.com | 725 Fairfield Ave | Kenilworth, NJ 07033 | 908.248.AZP1 (2971) |AIM: AZP Installs
"Race Tested, Enthusiast Approved!"

Stock cars are PERFECT for learning to HPDE with. I've done HPDEs with rental cars from the airport and with a stock car you are actually much better able to learn than in a modified car. Modded cars will hide areas where you need to work on.

With that said, you will want to do fluid changes (Engine Oil, Brake Flush and Trans/Diffy fluid) if your car isn't brand spanking new. Also check your pads to make sure they have sufficient life in them.

We will be offering folks to come get a pre-track inspection and service done with discounts, for the event as well.

Don't hesitate to ask questions though that's what we are here for.

-Mike Paisan

http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/153798190.jpg
Maintaining, Modifying and Educating TriState Enthusiasts since 2001.
Like us on Facebook! | E-mail: sales@azpinstalls.com | 725 Fairfield Ave | Kenilworth, NJ 07033 | 908.248.AZP1 (2971) |AIM: AZP Installs
"Race Tested, Enthusiast Approved!"

Good advice, although as a first time DEer we generally don't see folks pushing their cars hard enough to burn through the OEM pads. Lightning isn't terrible on the brakes as well.

The good part is that we will be on site with backup pads, fluid, etc so even if an issue pops up our techs can fix it on the fly for you!

This is a highly educational program, while speed is always a factor, for the beginners, good habits are more what we are about teaching.

-Mike Paisan

http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/153798190.jpg
Maintaining, Modifying and Educating TriState Enthusiasts since 2001.
Like us on Facebook! | E-mail: sales@azpinstalls.com | 725 Fairfield Ave | Kenilworth, NJ 07033 | 908.248.AZP1 (2971) |AIM: AZP Installs
"Race Tested, Enthusiast Approved!"

All fixed now. The web editor I have gets funky when you put paypal buttons on the page and strips away some of the code to let it work!

Thanks again for the heads up.

-Mike Paisan

http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/153798190.jpg
Maintaining, Modifying and Educating TriState Enthusiasts since 2001.
Like us on Facebook! | E-mail: sales@azpinstalls.com | 725 Fairfield Ave | Kenilworth, NJ 07033 | 908.248.AZP1 (2971) |AIM: AZP Installs
"Race Tested, Enthusiast Approved!"

That's a great way to help others and beginners out! Very cool.

Thanks! We've need instructors for NASA, BMWCCA, PCA, SCCA and a few local clubs for over 10 years and serve as senior staff for NASA Northeast, so it is our passion to teach others and get beginners out to the track just as we did back in 2002 and had some really great enthusiastic folks that got us hooked on the sport. This is our way of "paying it forward" so to speak in motorsports.

-Mike Paisan

http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/153798190.jpg
Maintaining, Modifying and Educating TriState Enthusiasts since 2001.
Like us on Facebook! | E-mail: sales@azpinstalls.com | 725 Fairfield Ave | Kenilworth, NJ 07033 | 908.248.AZP1 (2971) |AIM: AZP Installs
"Race Tested, Enthusiast Approved!"

Mike, this sounds great and very helpful indeed, thank you! I will likely take you guys up on the offer for pre-track inspection and service!

Noob question, any maintenance required/suggested after the event, i.e. any of those fluid changes required to be done again after the event, or would it be likely that brake pads will need replacing, etc. before the car resumes duty as a DD? thanks!

Best reason to go is to get Aaron Povoledo in your car with you. Don't know how Mike's doing this one, but usually you can get Aaron for 20 minutes. Sign up early to make sure you're on his schedule - make it a priority!

Typical session with Aaron at an event like this: he does a few laps describing the line to you, you do a few laps with him coaching you, and then you finish up with a quick debrief before he races off to the next student. I recommend this regardless of how much experience you have. One last thing: bring, borrow, or steal a GoPro or its equivalent - you'll be living off the video of Aaron driving the line every time you go to Lightning in the future - and make sure you have enough battery in it, and that operating it is second nature.

Possible scenario: it's raining, and you think this might throw a monkey wrench in what would otherwise be a great day. Nope, you'll learn more about driving in the rain from Aaron than you ever will on your own. I speak as someone who's spent a fair amount of time with Aaron working on driving in the rain. Again, you'll be living off the knowledge you gain for a very long time to come, and you'll be able to use it no matter which tracks you go to in the future. In fact, you'll wonder why other drivers drive such strange lines when it's raining out!

No affiliation, just a very satisfied client who has spent many days with Aaron.

All, of course, is my 2¢. Cheers!

Aaron may or may not be hopping in cars, most likely he will be giving the track walk and doing the classroom. Although I am pretty sure he will take out peoples cars in the afternoon for a few hot laps, so definitely have those go-pros ready to capture a lap or 2 with Aaron or Pete at the wheel for future learning.

dradernh, shoot me a msg if you are interested in coming down in the advanced group or as an instructor...

-Mike Paisan

http://www.pbase.com/paisan/image/153798190.jpg
Maintaining, Modifying and Educating TriState Enthusiasts since 2001.
Like us on Facebook! | E-mail: sales@azpinstalls.com | 725 Fairfield Ave | Kenilworth, NJ 07033 | 908.248.AZP1 (2971) |AIM: AZP Installs
"Race Tested, Enthusiast Approved!"

Hi Mike
It's Ron S from NASA. I should be able to help with this event. Ill get signed up as soon as i know the date is good. Ill spread the word