With the track season nearing its conclusion (at least in the northeast region) a large contingent of GTM made their way to the 3-day HookedOnDriving (HOD) event at Watkins Glen International raceway. Including non-member spouses, we were 21 strong at The Glen with 17 cars seeing track time.
Given that we were in the finger lakes region of New York, four of us drove up a day early to enjoy the region. Thursday morning started with a boat tour of Seneca Lake where Erin K, John R, Chrissy C and I learned all the wonders of how salt is mined in the region and had a nice view of a bunch of wineries up the lake. We then met up with Harry B and Justine B for to visit a couple of wineries (including Wagner’s which also happens to be a micro-brewery.) We unloaded at the track and then enjoyed a group meal at the AirBnB that we had rented.
Friday, the first day at the track, ended up being an interesting one indeed. Many of us who are coaches within GTM enrolled in the first ever Motorsports Safety Foundation Level 2 Instructor Certification Program class. All but one person in the class was an existing coach, but we were participating so that we could start populating the ranks of certified instructors. Ross Bentley taught the class that consisted mostly of classroom instruction, and open discussion among instructors with some on-track role-playing exercises (done during other run groups sessions).
Being the first ever offering, with a room full of mostly seasoned instructors, it is hard to judge how the class actually went, but as a group we made suggestions on how to move things forward for next year. Once all the paperwork is filed, GTM should have 10 members who are level 2 certified with MSF from that first class. Friday night included another group dinner at the Gamma Tau Mu Party AirBnB prepared by Harry B.
Saturday was one of the busiest track days I have done at WGI with around 50 intermediate students on track at once (and even more advanced). One of our newly certified coaches had their first real right-seat experience in a VW Golf R, and almost all of us coaches were in at least one right seat during the day. We started to suffer some serious vehicular attrition through the day though, as “Eddie”, “The Gus”, “Fast Beddie”, “Evil Kermit”, and “Cadzilla” all suffered issues (Although “Fast Beddie” and “Evil Kermit” are the only two that didn’t make a return to the track on Sunday). While the track was rather busy, everyone had a great time. Once the track went cold, Harry B took on his normal grill master duties while I took care of some graphics work.
Sunday was a much lighter day as many people wanted to start their long rides home. All of us coaches with broken cars still had our work to do though, with all but two of us having a student on Sunday. Many GTM members had planned on skipping Sunday on track and were trickling out through the day, but a bunch of us were in for the long haul because we had students. Fellow GTM Member Erin K got her check-ride for B group and was given the thumbs up for advancement. Chrissy C got a chance to drive “The Gus” and experience some power, and Brad N, Chrissy C and I were able to grab a bite to eat at Fry Brother’s Turkey Ranch on the way home.
“The Gus” and “Fast Beddie” were dropped off at New German Performance on Monday after the event and we learned what caused “Fast Beddie” to fail on track. The wheel hub split in two and the wheel was only being held on by the brake caliper. “Fast Beddie” is now back on the road and ready for the HOD finale at Dominion. “The Gus” should have it’s exhaust leak all sealed up in time for VIR.
All-in-all it was a good trip and lots of fun. We learned some things about coordinating meals and housing for such a large group and we welcomed a new coach into the fold. Here’s to more events as successful as this!
More photos available in the Vault!
