Incredibly Lucky

I built the old Daewoo POS with the help of Team Spark, a race fabricator and car builder. Since then I've been translating for them and helping around the shop a little during my free time. I've also sent some business their way. Doing these things plus taking said Daewoo POS to a track and doing fairly well evidently impressed the Team Spark folks because they just got some big sponsors and they're going to field a couple of pro level, time attack Genesis Coupes next year and they asked, today, if I'd consider piloting one of them.

I maintained the utmost in professionalism by dancing, doing jazz hands and mumbling nonsense. I'm pretty sure they interpreted this as "yes."

So, I have absolutely no experience beyond autocross and trackdays, all very much on my own dime. Can any of you fine ladies and gents offer me any pearls of wisdom for what I should do with this incredle run of luck?

Ummmm, awesome. I have nothing useful but lots of jealousy.

Go drive the crap out of the Genesis.

DaewooOfDeath wrote: So, I have absolutely no experience beyond autocross and trackdays, all very much on my own dime. Can any of you fine ladies and gents offer me any pearls of wisdom for what I should do with this incredle run of luck?

drive really fast and enjoy the hell out of it, congrats man!

Keep the shiny side up?

Hoooly hell, lucky indeed! Nobody ever would've guessed that "Modify & race a Daewoo" could ever be a step toward being asked to drive!

Since you're low on racing experience and cash I suggest you spend all your free time before the event on a simulator.

Find out where they are running and start to learn those tracks

Learn to drive off line, door handle to door handle with other cars at full speed without trading paint all the while thinking about how to position yourself to make or take advantage of any opportunity that presents itself. Think about going to race school.

Racing makes the assumption you can drive at a very high level. It isn't about driving at all - it's about managing space, traffic, conditions resources, etc while trying to outwit your opponents. Unless you are leading you will not be driving a line - you will be making the best one you can with what is available. Other cars will be aggressive and they will put themselves in positions to make you change your plans very quickly. Sometimes they will hit you. Sometimes they will only leave you enough room so you need to race on grass. You can't phone it in if you want to be anywhere near a podium.

It will be the most fun you have ever had.

icaneat50eggs wrote: Find out where they are running and start to learn those tracks

This^^^ Now, are there any tracks close enough to you that you could some on-track coaching by real (volunteer) SCCA/NASA instructors? Having some in the front seat with you is invaluable, because they will detect EVERY mistake you make and then guide you to greater speed each lap.

Ask a lot of questions and watch a bunch of videos to determine the tolerance for contact under that sanctioning body. Get good personal safety equipment. Read the rulebook three times (at least). Memorize the passing rules.

STM317 wrote: Keep hammer down and the shiny side up?

Fixed that for ya.

But Seriously... All the usual stuff you would expect. Be a team player, drive smooth, keep the nerves at bay, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

Don't bend the car.

Good luck!!

Huckleberry wrote: Learn to drive off line, door handle to door handle with other cars at full speed without trading paint all the while thinking about how to position yourself to make or take advantage of any opportunity that presents itself. Think about going to race school. Racing makes the assumption you can drive at a very high level. It isn't about driving at all - it's about managing space, traffic, conditions resources, etc while trying to outwit your opponents. Unless you are leading you will not be driving a line - you will be making the best one you can with what is available. Other cars will be aggressive and they will put themselves in positions to make you change your plans very quickly. Sometimes they will hit you. Sometimes they will only leave you enough room so you need to race on grass. You can't phone it in if you want to be anywhere near a podium. It will be the most fun you have ever had.

DWNSHFT wrote: Ask a lot of questions and watch a bunch of videos to determine the tolerance for contact under that sanctioning body. Get good personal safety equipment. Read the rulebook three times (at least). Memorize the passing rules.

He's doing time attack. That's basically qualifying. If you have yourself in a position where trading paint may be a possibility, you've already screwed up.

Congrats.

Find a driver coach and listen. Best thing you can ever do for your driving.

Time to learn about telemetry :)

Keith Tanner wrote: He's doing time attack. That's basically qualifying. If you have yourself in a position where trading paint may be a possibility, you've already screwed up.

I missed the part where it was racing a clock and not other cars.

Nevermind.

Just go fast.

Yeah, find out where they are racing and download a sim with a laser scanned version of the track. Watch onboard videos on youtube of those tracks. Probably the most helpful thing to do would be to get familiar with the track. THAT is what takes the most time, is learning the braking points, the apexes, all that. If you can get a head start there, you'll be in good shape I think.

On a more serious note: Congrats man!!!!

Get as much seat time as you can before you go out. As noted, simulators using the tracks you'll be going to with a Genesis Coupe, plus actual seat time in whatever you can put on a track.

racerdave600 wrote: Find a driver coach and listen. Best thing you can ever do for your driving.

This is important. You should also learn how to read the data that comes from the cars especially the ones that read driver input. Throttle,brake, steering angle, learn to read sector times and figure out why you are faster.
Go be curious. Learn about how the car is built and why. Learn how a rain setup is done and why. When they make changes, what are they, and why. Learn as much as you possibly can.
And drive fast.

Nothing to add except BERK YEAH, DUDE!

No idea of what you should do, but here is what has proven not to work:

So maybe less balls and more brains?

LuxInterior wrote:

STM317 wrote: Keep hammer down and the shiny side up?

Fixed that for ya. But Seriously... All the usual stuff you would expect. Be a team player, drive smooth, keep the nerves at bay, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

Hydration ... I've finished autocross runs feeling weird before realizing I'd been holding my breath. But thanks, I'll stick a slurpy in the race suit for sure.

Thanks guys. I'm off to find YouTube vids of Yeongam F1 Circuit, Inje, Taebaek and Yongin. I'll mesmerize the courses and look for simulators that have these tracks.

Instructors might be a problem. Track insurance in Korea frowns on two people in a race car for any purpose, but I'll get all over the telemetry. I'll also try to get track days in my Avante.

I've also never driven a Gen Coupe, so I'll get creative bumming rides.

Congrats!