Speed Secrets Podcast

No dumb questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 25 Jan 11, 2024

Welcome back to the last episode of No Dumb Questions (...but have no fear, we're not going far)! We sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers. Sam Smith joins us again, and we talk a little about the new podcast we’ve just launched (it’s live now!), called "It’s Not the Car." Please go check it out right now, subscribe to it, and let us know what you think.

On this episode, Jeff, Sam, and I answer two great questions: 1) what do you do, and how do you think differently, when you don't know what to do next, and 2) all things RWD downshifting.

Jeff is one of the very best race car engineers in the world. He’s engineered cars at every level, and every type: NASCAR, karts, club racing cars, Indy, GT and Prototypes, and even Top Fuel dragsters. But what sets Jeff apart from many engineers is how he can explain what he’s doing, what a car is doing, and even how the best think.

Sam Smith is a brilliant and hilarious storyteller, a writer, an amateur racer, and a journalist. Over the last 20 years, he's written for outlets as diverse as the New York Times, Wired, and Hagerty Media. From 2012 to 2020, he was executive editor and then editor-at-large at Road & Track.

No dumb questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 24 Dec 07, 2023

Welcome back to another episode of No Dumb Questions! We sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers. This episode is a little different… We introduce a guest “host,” Sam Smith, who we are launching a new podcast in January with. It’s called It’s Not The Car, and is all about stories learning things, and having fun.

On this episode, Jeff, Sam, and I discuss how to better instruct intermediate level drivers and how to use damper histograms in sim racing.

Jeff is one of the very best race car engineers in the world. He’s engineered cars at every level, and every type: NASCAR, karts, club racing cars, Indy, GT and Prototypes, and even Top Fuel dragsters. But what sets Jeff apart from many engineers is how he can explain what he’s doing, what a car is doing, and even how the best think.

Sam Smith is a brilliant and hilarious storyteller, a writer, an amateur racer, and a journalist. Over the last 20 years, he's written for outlets as diverse as the New York Times, Wired, and Hagerty Media. From 2012 to 2020, he was executive editor and then editor-at-large at Road & Track.

No dumb questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 23 Nov 02, 2023

Welcome back to another episode of No Dumb Questions! Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers.

On this episode, Jeff and I discuss whether we’d prefer to deal with a driver that is also engineering minded or one that can't speak engineering and therefore wouldn't second guess or poke holes in the car setup? This question leads into our second question: if you're a one man show, both the driver and the engineer, how would you recommend changing hats and not letting one job creep into the other?

Jeff is one of the very best race car engineers in the world. He’s engineered cars at every level, and every type: NASCAR, karts, club racing cars, Indy, GT and Prototypes, and even Top Fuel dragsters. But what sets Jeff apart from many engineers is how he can explain what he’s doing, what a car is doing, and even how the best think.

No dumb questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 22 Oct 05, 2023

Welcome back to another episode of No Dumb Questions! Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers.

On this episode, Jeff and I discuss the future of technology in motorsports, specifically around “driver-less” race cars. Is it still “racing” if there isn’t a human being inside the car piloting it - either thru remote control or an AI pilot?

Jeff is one of the very best race car engineers in the world. He’s engineered cars at every level, and every type: NASCAR, karts, club racing cars, Indy, GT and Prototypes, and even Top Fuel dragsters. But what sets Jeff apart from many engineers is how he can explain what he’s doing, what a car is doing, and even how the best think.

No dumb questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 21 Aug 31, 2023

Welcome back to another episode of No Dumb Questions! Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers.

On this episode, Ross discusses proper head position during cornering, and Jeff dives into the differences in car setup between racing versus qualifying.

Jeff is one of the very best race car engineers in the world. He’s engineered cars at every level, and every type: NASCAR, karts, club racing cars, Indy, GT and Prototypes, and even Top Fuel dragsters. But what sets Jeff apart from many engineers is how he can explain what he’s doing, what a car is doing, and even how the best think.

No dumb questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 20 Aug 03, 2023

Welcome back to another episode of No Dumb Questions! Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers.

On this episode, Ross answers how a driver can clear his/her mind of finding the same person repeatedly and running his/her own race, and Jeff answers what speed “aero” downforce starts happening.

Jeff is one of the very best race car engineers in the world. He’s engineered cars at every level, and every type: NASCAR, karts, club racing cars, Indy, GT and Prototypes, and even Top Fuel dragsters. But what sets Jeff apart from many engineers is how he can explain what he’s doing, what a car is doing, and even how the best think.

No Dumb Questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 19 Jul 20, 2023

Welcome back to another episode of No Dumb Questions! Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers.

On this episode, Jeff and I tackle two great questions: is there ever a time when you would use understeer to your advantage; is there anything in racing/car setup that is definitive and absolute or does the entire motorsport world really always come down to doing what works best for an individual scenario?

Jeff is one of the very best race car engineers in the world. He’s engineered cars at every level, and every type: NASCAR, karts, club racing cars, Indy, GT and Prototypes, and even Top Fuel dragsters. But what sets Jeff apart from many engineers is how he can explain what he’s doing, what a car is doing, and even how the best think.

No dumb questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 18 Jun 01, 2023

Welcome back to another episode of No Dumb Questions! Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers.

On this episode, Jeff and I discuss the best way to lean your body while turning; how to set up for a turn; and considerations when thinking about driver weight, ballast weight, and how to minimize the impact of uneven side to side weight.

Jeff is one of the very best race car engineers in the world. He’s engineered cars at every level, and every type: NASCAR, karts, club racing cars, Indy, GT and Prototypes, and even Top Fuel dragsters. But what sets Jeff apart from many engineers is how he can explain what he’s doing, what a car is doing, and even how the best think.

No Dumb Questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 17 May 04, 2023

Welcome back to another episode of No Dumb Questions! Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers.

On this episode, Jeff and I discuss driver fatigue; driving style and car set up for bigger, heavier driver; and our favorite and least favorite turns on a race track from a car setup perspective versus driving perspective.

Jeff is one of the very best race car engineers in the world. He’s engineered cars at every level, and every type: NASCAR, karts, club racing cars, Indy, GT and Prototypes, and even Top Fuel dragsters. But what sets Jeff apart from many engineers is how he can explain what he’s doing, what a car is doing, and even how the best think.

No dumb questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 16 Apr 20, 2023

Welcome back to another episode of No Dumb Questions! Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers.

On this episode, Jeff and I discuss what single quantifiable thing relating to a race car are we still unable to reliably measure that would be most useful for finding performance and eye placement when tracking a car. This week’s episode also features a bonus question… tune in to hear what question Ross has for Jeff!

Jeff is one of the very best race car engineers in the world. He’s engineered cars at every level, and every type: NASCAR, karts, club racing cars, Indy, GT and Prototypes, and even Top Fuel dragsters. But what sets Jeff apart from many engineers is how he can explain what he’s doing, what a car is doing, and even how the best think.

No Dumb Questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 15 Mar 02, 2023

Hi there, thanks for joining us for another episode of No Dumb Questions! Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers.

On this month’s episode, Jeff and I discuss the validity of testing on used tires. We also dive into the concept of a “momentum car” and how the approach one takes when driving a “momentum car” may differ compared to other cars.

Jeff is one of the very best race car engineers in the world. He’s engineered cars at every level, and every type: NASCAR, karts, club racing cars, Indy, GT and Prototypes, and even Top Fuel dragsters. But what sets Jeff apart from many engineers is how he can explain what he’s doing, what a car is doing, and even how the best think.

No Dumb Questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 14 Feb 09, 2023

Welcome back to another episode of No Dumb Questions! Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers.

On this episode, Jeff and I discuss how a track’s difficulty impacts a student’s learning curve, and we dive into drafting.

Jeff is one of the very best race car engineers in the world. He’s engineered cars at every level, and every type: NASCAR, karts, club racing cars, Indy, GT and Prototypes, and even Top Fuel dragsters. But what sets Jeff apart from many engineers is how he can explain what he’s doing, what a car is doing, and even how the best think.

No Dumb Questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 13 Jan 05, 2023

You’re still here… and it’s been a year! A great big thank you to all for tuning in each week to our new (not so new anymore) podcast series. We enjoy being here answering your questions each week. Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers.

On this episode, Jeff and I discuss shaving off that last second off your ultimate pace, understanding the role of a limited slip differential in track driving, and whether to take a more risky or conservative approach when planning out strategy.

Jeff is one of the very best race car engineers in the world. He’s engineered cars at every level, and every type: NASCAR, karts, club racing cars, Indy, GT and Prototypes, and even Top Fuel dragsters. But what sets Jeff apart from many engineers is how he can explain what he’s doing, what a car is doing, and even how the best think.

No Dumb Questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 12 Dec 01, 2022

As we come out of the Thanksgiving weekend, stuffed to the brim (we almost needed to wave the red flag!), we want to thank you for your continued support over the years. We’re grateful you come back each month to listen to us chat away. And with bellies still full, time to green flag us into another episode of No Dumb Questions! (Ok, we’re done with the flag puns.) Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers.

On this episode, Jeff and I discuss right foot braking and the time it takes to transition from braking to throttle, what changes an engineer can make in the race to change the handling of the car. We also have a bonus question this week: should you be able to swap tires under red flag conditions? Tune in for our new series!

No Dumb Questions With Jeff Braun: Episode 11 Nov 03, 2022

Welcome back! Happy to have you join for another episode of No Dumb Questions! Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers.

On this episode, Jeff and I discuss how to transition tracking a FWD to a RWD, how important it is to check tire temperatures with respect to set up changes, and if we could go back in time, what races we would want to be an engineer for and a driver in! It’s a good time this episode. Tune in for our new series!⁠

No Dumb Questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 10 Oct 07, 2022

More rain on the pavement means it’s officially October, which means another episode of No Dumb Questions! Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers.

On this episode, Jeff and I discuss when cross weight is appropriate on a road racecar to favor turning in one direction over the other, and dive deep into high-speed sweepers. Tune in for our new series!⁠

No Dumb Questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 9 Sep 01, 2022

You're still here? Just in time for another episode of No Dumb Questions! Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers.

On this episode, Jeff and I discuss if a tire gives its peak grip on tarmac at around 10 degrees slip angle, why do rally cars on tarmac exceed this and in some cases practically drift around slow corners. We also dive into when the performance of the car/driver isn’t where you want it to be, how do you diagnose and determine if the fix is more on the race engineer (car setup) versus the driver (driver technique)? Tune in for our new series!⁠

No Dumb Questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 8 Aug 04, 2022

Thank you for joining us for another episode of No Dumb Questions. Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers.

On this episode, Jeff and I discuss what kinds of unspoken tricks or mind games pro drivers use on track (clean or dirty!) and whether the roll center theory is the opposite of the driving theory. Tune in for our new podcast series!⁠

No Dumb Questions With Jeff Braun: Episode 7 Jul 07, 2022

Welcome back to another episode of No Dumb Questions. Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers.

On this episode, Jeff and I answer how you know where your End-of-Braking point is and if you can you use data to find it. We also discuss a common race car driver pastime: roasting your own coffee blends! Tune in for our new podcast series!

No Dumb Questions With Jeff Braun: Episode 6 Jun 09, 2022

Welcome back to another episode of No Dumb Questions. Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers.

On this episode, Jeff and I tackle three big questions: 1) whether you should track test before testing on a 7-post rig and in wind tunnel (or the other way around) 2) what a K&C rig does and when you should use it and 3) whether you should ever use maintenance throttle and whether professionals disagree on this. Tune in for our new series!⁠ ⁠

No Dumb Questions With Jeff Braun: Episode 5 May 05, 2022

Did you miss us? We’re back with another episode of No Dumb Questions. Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers. On this episode, we share the craziest ideas we’ve had that no one thought would work… but ended up working really well. Buckle up, this is a fun one. We also answer a more technical question – with unlimited resources and no rules, would tires or aerodynamics yield the fastest lap times? Tune in for our new series!

Jeff is one of the very best race car engineers in the world. He’s engineered cars at every level, and every type: NASCAR, karts, club racing cars, Indy, GT and Prototypes, and even Top Fuel dragsters. But what sets Jeff apart from many engineers is how he can explain what he’s doing, what a car is doing, and even how the best think.

No Dumb Questions with Jeff Braun: Episode 4 Apr 07, 2022

The start of April means… another episode of No Dumb Questions! Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers. On this episode, we discuss how to start approaching car set-up as an amateur endurance racer. Lots to discuss here. We also address what works best in the rain from a driving and set-up perspective. Tune in for our new series!

Jeff is one of the very best race car engineers in the world. He’s engineered cars at every level, and every type: NASCAR, karts, club racing cars, Indy, GT and Prototypes, and even Top Fuel dragsters. But what sets Jeff apart from many engineers is how he can explain what he’s doing, what a car is doing, and even how the best think.

No Dumb Questions With Jeff Braun: Episode 3 Mar 03, 2022

Good news, we have a new episode of No Dumb Questions for you. Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers. On this episode, we address out-braking someone in a turn. We also dive into whether we’d rather work with a driver with no technical background who doesn’t argue with setup, or a driver with a technical background who is also driver-seat quarterbacking the changes and second guessing setup. Tune in for our new series!

Jeff is one of the very best race car engineers in the world. He’s engineered cars at every level, and every type: NASCAR, karts, club racing cars, Indy, GT and Prototypes, and even Top Fuel dragsters. But what sets Jeff apart from many engineers is how he can explain what he’s doing, what a car is doing, and even how the best think.

No Dumb Questions With Jeff Braun: Episode 2 Feb 03, 2022

…And we’re back with a new episode of No Dumb Questions! Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers. On this episode, we address how to give better feedback to someone helping with the setup, and how we could have called F1 Abu Dhabi for Red Bull, Mercedes, and Race Control. Tune in for our new series!

Jeff is one of the very best race car engineers in the world. He’s engineered cars at every level, and every type: NASCAR, karts, club racing cars, Indy, GT and Prototypes, and even Top Fuel dragsters. But what sets Jeff apart from many engineers is how he can explain what he’s doing, what a car is doing, and even how the best think.

No Dumb Questions With Jeff Braun: Episode 1 Jan 06, 2022

Welcome to a new podcast series, No Dumb Questions. Jeff Braun and I sit down to answer your questions, and we promise – there are no dumb questions, maybe just some dumb answers. On this episode, we address how to get comfortable with high speed corners, how to approach a situation where a faster setup is not what makes the driver most comfortable, and what we are most looking forward to in 2022. Tune in for our new series!

Jeff is one of the very best race car engineers in the world. He’s engineered cars at every level, and every type: NASCAR, karts, club racing cars, Indy, GT and Prototypes, and even Top Fuel dragsters. But what sets Jeff apart from many engineers is how he can explain what he’s doing, what a car is doing, and even how the best think.

192 - Sim Racer Academy & Teamwork Nov 18, 2021

Today’s podcast is a “special” episode… that’s because we just launched the Speed Secrets Sim Racer Academy, and I wanted to have a conversation here with my team who has helped make this happen. Anker Berg-Sonne, Conor Murphy, and Ron Gale are my guests today.

Why should you care? Why should you listen in?

If you’re a sim racer, you will be interested in hearing about the Sim Racer Academy.
If you’re not a sim racer, there’s some things we’ll talk about that will still help you be a better driver.
There are things here that apply to motorsport – and maybe outside of motorsport – around teamwork.

We’re thrilled to finally be able to share Sim Racer Academy with you all, and we hope you are just as excited as we are!

Podcast 191 – Ross Bentley: Driving with the End in Mind Apr 29, 2021

This week is an important podcast episode with a special announcement. I’m taking a break from the podcast for “a while” to work on some new exciting things… :). How long is “a while?” I don’t know. But I will record a few random episodes here and there when I get an opportunity to record a conversation with someone super interesting, or I’m at a fun event.

My Speed Secret: Drive with the end in mind.

I’ll still share free information and new content through Ask Ross posts on SpeedSecrets.com, eBooks, and on YouTube (SpeedSecrets1). Keeping sending in your questions and comments by email. And in the meantime, check out Virtual Track Walks, webinars, chalktalks, and Speed Secrets Weekly.

Until next time! Keep learning and having fun.

Check out Speed Secrets below! SpeedSecrets.com

190 - Brian Ghidinelli: Making a Racing Comeback Apr 22, 2021

On this week’s episode of Speed Secrets Podcast, Brian Ghidinelli, founder of Motorsportsreg.com, joins me to talk about how to make a comeback in racing, focusing on the basics – vision, braking, steering, throttle – first, then racecraft and the track, the importance of focusing on one’s own performance and not the lap times or competition, and how competitive nature can interfere with having fun! Brian also shares his personal experience with preparing to compete in the SCCA Runoffs at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in October 2021, and how Hagerty purchasing MotorsportReg.com has impacted Brian’s life. We also get into how the pandemic has impacted the motorsports. Brian’s Speed Secret: You see in your own performance what you want to see or what you can see - you have to get someone else without your filters to help find the details.

Check out Brian below! Hagerty.com MotorsportReg.com @ghidinelli

When eight-year old Brian was told he would never curl his tongue because it was hereditary, he practiced in front of the mirror for days until he learned. He has stubbornly ignored conventional wisdom since. Brian was the founder of MotorsportReg.com, a CRM, commerce platform, and marketplace that makes it more fun to organize and attend motorsport events. He is currently the Managing Director of Hagerty Motorsports since Hagerty acquired his company in 2019. Behind the screen, he leads a team helping more than 1,300 clubs, racetracks and sanctioning bodies organize, promote and manage 7,000 events annually. Behind the wheel, he is a national racer, championship winner and two-times winner of the 25 Hours of Thunderhill endurance race. Previously, Brian co-founded San Francisco design and technology firm VFIVE. Award-winning web work for Macromedia, Yahoo and Billabong led to an acquisition by global agency IconMedialab. He also once played the role of journalist, flying in a Soviet-era helicopter to cover the TransSyberia Rally from Moscow, Russia to Ulaanbataar, Mongolia for SPEEDTV.com. Brian lives near Sonoma Raceway in San Rafael, California with his wife, dog, racecar, motorcycle and shifter kart. He is a dual American-Italian citizen thanks to his Nonno. He serves on the board for Thunderhill Raceway Park.

189 – Tom Long: The Fastest Driving Style Apr 15, 2021

On this week’s episode of Speed Secrets podcast, my good friend Tom Long joins me to discuss all things driving styles! We uncover what a driving style is, which driving style is the fastest, and different driving styles for RWD vs. FWD vs. AWD; and for aero versus non-aero cars. Tom also dishes on the importance of “hand speed” – the quickness of turning the steering wheel into a corner.

Tom’s Speed Secret: It’s all about quality seat time, not just the amount of seat time.

Check out Tom below! Facebook: TomLongRacing @TomLongRacing

Tom Long is a professional racer, coach, and development driver. As a Mazda Motorsports factory driver, Tom will continue in his role as the lead development driver and series official for the Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup series. The role is not a new one to Tom, who has been the lead development driver for Mazda’s Global MX-5 Cup car since its inception. Racing fans can also cheer for Tom in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Series GS GT4 class this season.

Tom will also continue coaching clients at road racing tracks throughout North America, helping both driving enthusiasts and racers enhance their skills. Racing is on the schedule for 2021, too: Tom will be competing in the GS GT4 class of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Series.

188 – Mark Martin: How to Win an Endurance Race Series Championship Apr 08, 2021

On this week’s episode of Speed Secrets Podcast, I am joined by Mark Martin (who owns and runs the W2W race team in World Racing League events). We discuss the number one thing that successful teams do to win, what makes the best endurance drivers, the pros and cons of starting your own race team, and how to balance being the team owner and driver.

Mark’s Speed Secret: Have and listen to a coach.

Check out Mark Martin below! Web: W2W.racing Social media: @w2wracing

W2W Racing, aka “The Will to WIN!” is the epitome of what racing is all about and encapsulates the long and arduous path that the majority of drivers take to get to the top of their game. Whether a racer begins karting at the age of 5 or attends his/her first performance driving event at the age of 50, the innate thrill and rush of speed begins to take a chokehold on their life as they become consumed with the need for more of that drug that is known as Racing!

At W2W Racing, we provide the guidance, equipment, and expertise necessary to make the leap from HPDE warrior to becoming a licensed race car driver. Whether you choose to pursue Time Trial, Sprint Racing, or Endurance Racing, we provide the vehicles, transport, fuel, tires, brakes, coaching, data, HPDE only insurance, hydration, communication, tools, etc. that it takes to compete. You provide the drive and ambition; we provide the recipe necessary to WIN!

187 – Andy Pilgrim: How to Have a Long Driving Career Apr 01, 2021

On this week’s episode of Speed Secrets Podcast, Andy Pilgrim joins me to discuss how to have a long career driving race cars! We get into the importance of learning how to learn so you can always improve, having a hook or trigger to switch your mind on, and how to think strategically and tactically in races. He also shares about co-driving with Johnny O’Connell, Ron Fellows, and Allan McNish.

Andy’s Speed Secret: Make sure your head is in the right place.

Andy Pilgrim was born in the U.K., moved to the U.S. in the early 1980s as a computer programmer, and became a U.S. citizen in 1998. He started racing in the mid 1980s and has since won five championships and 69 races so far in his professional driving career.

Additionally, Andy has a serious passion for traffic safety. He is a nationally recognized expert and lecturer on the dangers of distracted driving; in 2008, he founded The Traffic Safety Education Foundation, a 501(c)3 entity. During the past 20 years, he has spoken to hundreds of thousands of students, parents of children of ALL ages, educators, and corporate employees about all aspects of traffic safety. For more information about his foundation, educational materials, and contact information, please visit www.tsef.org.

Check out Andy below! https://www.andypilgrim.com https://www.trafficsafetyeducationfoundation.org or https://www.tsef.org

186 – Dr. David Ferguson: the Science of Motorsport Human Performance Mar 25, 2021

On this week’s episode of Speed Secrets Podcast, I am joined by Dr. David Ferguson! Dr. Ferguson runs the Spartan Motorsport Performance Lab at Michigan State University and is the author/editor of The Science of Motorsport book. Topics range from dyslexia and diabetes to heart rate variability and the vision techniques of the very best drivers. We also talk about how equal females are to males in racing, and nature versus nurture. Ultimately, it’s all about how you can perform better as a driver. This is one of my all-time favorite episodes!

Dr. Ferguson’s Speed Secret: Treat your body in the same way as you do your race car.

Dr. David P. Ferguson earned his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Nevada Las Vegas, Masters Degree from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, PhD from Texas A&M University and has postdoctoral training in cardiovascular physiology, nutrition and pediatrics from Baylor College of Medicine. He has worked in racing for over ten years with the top teams in NASCAR, IndyCar, Formula 1, and IMSA.

Spartan Motorsport Performance Lab: Automobile racing is one of the largest spectator sports in the world yet there is less than 60 research articles ever published on the physiological stress of driving a race car. We are currently working with NASCAR, IndyCar, Formula 1 and IMSA racing teams to better understand the strain placed on drivers and pit crews during competition. Then using established training and nutrition programs we are already increasing both the performance and safety of these elite motorsport athletes.

Check out Dr. Ferguson below! https://education.msu.edu/kin/smpl/ @DrDavidF13 @msu_smpl

185 – Johannes van Overbeek: the Lessons We Learn From Racing Mar 18, 2021

On this week’s episode of Speed Secrets Podcast, Johannes van Overbeek joins me to talk about the lessons we learn from racing that apply to other areas of our lives – things like “lazy decision,” having too much money (yes, it’s possible!), the pros and cons of technology, and how to manage one’s passion and enthusiasm for something. Oh, and we talk about our co-experience with the Garmin Catalyst.

Johannes’s Speed Secret:

Make sure your equipment is the best it can be.
Look ahead.
Know when and where to release the brakes.

Check out Johannes van Overbeek below! IG: @johannesvanoverbeek

Johannes has won the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the Sebring 12-hour, Petit LeMans, raced at Le Mans, and won the Thunderhill 25-hour race six times! He knows how to win endurance races…actually, just about any type of racing. He’s driven for ESM Patron Racing, the Flying Lizards, and factory Porsche and BMW teams.

184 – Ask Ross Edition #3: A Q&A Session with Ross & Guest Host Bill Fischer Mar 11, 2021

It’s time for another special edition of the Speed Secrets Podcast! In a new format, Bill Fischer (of the Garage Heroes In Training podcast) hosts this episode, turning the tables on Ross, who answers Bill’s questions. Specifically, in this episode, Bill asks Ross about how to best drive the Keyhole at Mid-Ohio, Turns 5-7 at Road Atlanta, Turns 2 & 9 at Laguna Seca, and Turn 7 at Portland International.

Check out Bill Fischer and Ross Bentley belowhttps://garageheroesintraining.com https://speedsecrets.com

183: Jim Kearney – How to win more often & using a driver coach Mar 04, 2021

On this week’s episode of Speed Secrets Podcast, I talk with super-successful driver coach, Jim Kearney, about driver coaching. We discuss when a driver is ready and will get the most out of a coach. We also get into how to trigger a performance state of mind, one that will help you perform at your peak on the track.

Jim’s Speed Secret: Simplify!

Check out Jim Kearney below https://kearneykdd.com

Jim is a driver coach who raced Formula Vee himself for years before turning his attention to helping other drivers. His drivers have won multiple SCCA Runoffs championships, so he definitely knows how to help drivers win more.

182 - Jay St. Claire, Colin Pascik & Aaron Brooks - Ranger Road & Vets Racing Feb 25, 2021

On this week’s episode of Speed Secrets Podcast, I talk with Jay St. Claire, Colin Pascik, and Aaron Brooks of Ranger Road Motors (a team that competes in LeMons races, giving Vets a chance to start racing). We discuss the start of Ranger Road Motors, what it’s like for an amputee Vet to jump behind the wheel of a race car for the first time, what it’s like to work with a Vet with PTSD, how to adapt a race to drivers missing a limb, and the number one biggest challenge that first-timers face.

Ranger Road Motors’ mission is to bring Veterans together through extraordinary experiences and empower the transition to the next chapter in their life. The transition from military life to civilian life can be difficult. Trauma, stress and loss of camaraderie all contribute to a suicide rate well above average. The aim of Ranger Road is to transition veterans to civilian life through high adrenalin team-based events, reengaging their sense of camaraderie and showing them new battles to win and partners to fight alongside. From the road course to off-road. With specially equipped vehicles and a team of dedicated and experienced volunteers the motorsport division of Ranger Road is taking disabled veterans places they never thought possible. All equipment is provided. Veterans only need to bring their sense of adventure.

Check out Ranger Road below! https://rangerroad.org

181 – Brian Bohlander: How to Land a Racing Sponsor Feb 18, 2021

On this week’s episode of Speed Secrets Podcast, Brian Bohlander, racer and director of sports marketing for the company that owns PEAK Antifreeze, joins me to discuss what to do (and not do) to land a motorsport marketing partner/sponsor. Want to know the biggest mistake racers make? Tune in to find out!

Brian’s Speed Secret: Reach out and ask people in the sport for opportunities.

Check out Brian Bohlanderbelow: https://www.brianbohlander.com brianbohlanderracing.com

Brian Bohlander is an industry veteran who has successfully led brand sponsorship activation programs within professional motorsports with drivers, teams, and major global series. He also has over three decades as a champion club racing driver, instructor, and grassroots team owner ranging from karting to club road racing. His on-track accomplishments include winning three Thunder Roadster Series championships and 35 series wins in the National Auto Sport Association (NASA). He’s won a WKA Manufactures Cup national event and most recently teamed to win class 5500 at the 2020 Mint 400. Off the track, Brian owns a race team, is a Motorsports Safety Foundation (MSF) Certified Instructor, and NASA Great Lakes Region's Competition School Director. He also instructed at corporate driving programs including the Raybestos Rookie School. In 2019, Brian received the Forgeline Wheels Sportsman of The Year award from NASA Pro Racing for leading the development of grassroots racing drivers and working to elevate the professionalism of grassroots motorsports.

180 - Ask Ross Edition #2: A Q&A Session with Ross & Guest Host Bill Fischer Feb 11, 2021

Bill Fischer (of the Garage Heroes In Training podcast) hosts this episode, turning the tables on me and asking all your burning questions. In this episode the topic of racing jargon is talked about, specifically “talking tires,” “geometric line,” apex angle,” “both feet in,” and “car rotation.”

Check out Bill Fischer belowhttps://garageheroesintraining.com https://speedsecrets.com

179 – James Colborn: The Exhilaration of Open Wheel Racing Feb 04, 2021

On this week’s episode of Speed Secret Podcast, James Colborn joins me to discuss everything open wheel racing, what it’s like to race during the pandemic, and racing in British Formula Ford. We also offer tips on racing in the rain.

James Colborn’s Speed Secret: Get comfortable with what data can do for you.

James started racing in 2009. A graduate of the ProFormance Racing School in Seattle Washington, James acquired his first race license from the International Conference of Sports Car Clubs (ICSCC) and raced his novice year in a BMW E30 series called PRO3.

From 2009 until 2017 James lived, and raced, in the United States running in a series of both professional and club racing events. Driving predominantly BMWs, James won races in the ICSCC, National Sports Car Association (NASA) and Sports Car Club of America (SCCA). This ranged from winning the 25 Hours of Thunderhill to SCCA and ICSCC sprint races. James also competed in numerous professional races in the Continental Tire Series, Street Tuner (ST) class with C360R and BimmerWorld.

In 2018 James moved back to the United Kingdom and shifted focus to Open Wheel racing and the Formula Ford 1600 series. In 2020 James competed in the Castle Combe FF1600 Championship finishing second in C Class and winning the Formula Ford Carnival race (C Class). James campaigns his Van Diemen RF88 with Wayne Poole Racing.

James is passionate about driver development using data. James has partnered with AiM Sports and AiM Technologies since 2013 and his tutorial videos, data seminars and one on one coaching have helped many drivers improve their driving through data analysis and interpretation.

Check out James Colborn below: https://www.jamescolborn.com https://www.youtube.com/user/colbornjames

178 – Loni Unser: Learning Racing at the Dinner Table Jan 28, 2021

On this week’s episode of Speed Secret Podcast, Loni Unser (yes, of THE Unser family) joins me to talk about her absolute love of the sport. Can you guess what the number one thing is that she’s learned from her family who has a total of 9 Indy 500 wins? She dishes.

We also discuss the importance of patience in racing, how important confidence is – especially for a woman in racing, and why “never coast” is bad advice.

Loni’s Speed Secret: Dedication and hard work – that’s what it takes, not matter what level or type of racing you’re in.

Check out Loni below: All social media: @loniunser Web: www.loniunser.com

With an athletic background in downhill skiing and other line-finding sports, Loni Unser recently discovered her talent for racing. With the support of her famous family, she is rapidly becoming a threat on track. She has raced the Spec Miata classes in NASA and the MX- 5 Cup (4 races), as well as a variety of marquees in the World Racing League and ChampCar, among others.

The young driver carries her family name to a new generation of fans. Her grandfather was Jerry Unser, the first of the famous Unsers to race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. From then on, the Unser family has won the prestigious Indianapolis 500 nine times and become known as “The First Family” of American auto racing.

Unser’s career is made possible through partnerships with companies that are supporting her development. She has worked with Cooper Tire to promote tire and vehicle safety, placing her at the center of a campaign that provided an invaluable opportunity for her to grow as a marketing property and explore the role of brand ambassador.

She believes in the power of positive role models and hopes to inspire young girls through her activities on and off track and competes as a Shift Up Now athlete as an ambassador for women in racing. Unser is a recent graduate of the Environmental Design program at the University of Colorado Boulder. Unser continues to focus on her development as a driver and looks ahead to claiming her place in the record books. Her future plans will carry her to a full season in Mazda’s MX-5 Cup Series, IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship and the storied tracks of the FIA World Endurance Championship.

177 – Don Kitch: Do-Overs & Do-Agains 2021 Jan 21, 2021

On this week’s episode of Speed Secrets Podcast, Don Kitch, old friend and founder/owner/chief instructor of ProFormance Racing School, shares what he would do differently if he could do it all over again. We also discuss fear, micromanaging, knowing when to call it quits, the downside of instructing, and the pros and cons of keeping your club racing equipment when going pro racing.

Don’s Speed Secret: Do it differently. Look for different ways, because there’s always more.

Don Kitch has raced at the amateur/club level, as well as professionally in IMSA. He co-drove with Ross to win the Rolex 24 at Daytona LMP2 race in 2003. He founded Team Seattle, which has raised over $6 million for the Seattle Children’s Hospital. In 1994 he founded ProFormance Racing School, which he continues to operate to this day at Pacific Raceway in Seattle.

Check out Don Kitch below: https://proformanceracingschool.com

176 - Ask Ross Edition #1: A Q&A Session with Ross Bentley & Guest Host Bill Fischer Jan 14, 2021

This week we have a special episode of Speed Secrets Podcast: Ask Ross Edition! Guest host Bill Fischer (of the Garage Heroes In Training podcast) turns the tables on me and asks me all the questions you’ve ever wanted to know. Specifically, in this episode, we discuss the topic of coaching – what is a driver coach, what makes a successful driver coach, and more!

Check out Ross Bentley and Bill Fischer below: https://garageheroesintraining.com https://speedsecrets.com

175 - Matt Romanowski: Dive Into Data Jan 07, 2021

In this week’s episode of Speed Secrets Podcast, Matt Romanowski (driver, instructor, coach, and data guru) joins me to dive into all things data and data systems! Specifically we dive into focusing on the speed channel, looking for lack of throttle, and braking issues. We also discuss off-season prep – what drivers can do to help them best prepare getting back on the track!

Matt’s Speed Secret: Visualize – practice visualization in all areas of your life.

Matt Romanowski participated in his first track event when he was 18 years old at Lime Rock Park, Matt was hooked. Through crewing on a SCCA Formula Continental to supporting championship efforts in various categories from SCCA Regionals to Pro Racing, racing data has been at the center of motorsport for Matt. From the early AiM Sports Mychron 3 systems to the latest MXP dash loggers, SmartyCam videos, Power Distribution Modules (PDM’s) and everything in between, racing data has been what he does. Matt has worked hard to build www.TrailBrake.com to be the center for AiM Sports Sales, Support, and Coaching where his customers have won SCCA, NASA, Pro Racing, and other championships.

174 – Michele Graaff: A Late (Driving) Bloomer Dec 31, 2020

In this week’s episode of Speed Secrets Podcast, I am joined by driving enthusiast Michele Graaff. We discuss the misperception that everyone in motorsport is an adrenaline junkie, and the importance of learning, progression, and self-improvement. She shares her experience in HPDE as a woman, and how to make our sport more inclusive and inviting to all. We also compare “hard skills” and “soft skills.”

Michele’s Speed Secret: Take up your space.

Michele is 46 (late bloomer!), a graduate program coordinator at UW, and lives in Seattle. She drove 2 HPDE days during 2012-2015, and got back into it last year, 2019! She started her journey at her first skills day in a borrowed Porsche 964. Then went to her own car, a 2007 MINI Cooper S; she now drives a 2013 MINI Cooper GP2 (factory-made track oriented version).

Michele’s rule has always been "I'm the most important mod" and says she would never get crazy about upgrades until she outdrove the car. But, in a compromise, she decided to upgrade her car (slightly) from one MINI to another, and bought the GP2. His name is Pecos Bill and they have a lot of fun together.

Michele’s Secret Goals: 1. Learning: soak up as much as she can because the brain is the best tool no matter the car or track. 2. Drive more tracks. 3. Try to race. She loves the idea of pushing herself in that environment to see what she could do. She’s a self-proclaimed “extroverted introvert,” but quietly competitive, mostly with herself. But she finds she drives harder on lapping days when she’s trying to "catch" someone.

In her own words: Being a single woman without a ton of resources has been a challenge to my goals, but I'm doing my best! It's unusual if another woman is at a track day--and I'm always happy when I'm not the only one. I've built up a track box, know how to prep, and think ahead to who I could call if my car breaks. And I always buy track insurance. :) And I've met the most incredibly smart and helpful people, some who I count as friends now. Just so much good input (and some not-so-good advice, as well. haha).

173 – Bryce Kliewer: the Intersection of Racing and Business Dec 24, 2020

On this week’s episode of Speed Secrets Podcast, Bryce Kliewer joins me as we go in depth about the lessons learned from racing that apply to business – and vice versa. We also touch on how autocross teaches car control, and compare autocross to time trials to road racing!

Bryce’s speed secret: No one wins a championship alone.

Bryce’s ran the Analytics and Business Intelligence at Coldwater Creek, helping to double the size of the business up to a $1b retailer, through catalog, web sales and the opening of over 350 retail locations. He was the VP of Client Analytics and Operations at Datalogix (a small ad-tech company looking to improve how data is used to make advertising more effective) before it was acquired by Oracle. He now is the VP Enterprise Project Management Office at Oracle as part of the Oracle Data Cloud.

Bryce started out getting his feet wet with local autocross driving a Subaru WRX bugeye wagon, winning multiple local class championships in STX and several top 5 season PAX driver awards. He switched to something rear-wheel drive and acquired a pretty haggard 2003 BMW 330 which he used to win multiple Rocky Mountain SCCA STX class championships and BMW CCA class championships, as well as winning the SCCA Mountain Match Tour Club Shootout. Bryce eventually found his way to the racetrack and over time gutted and caged the BMW 330 for time trials through NASA (built and sponsored by SCR Performance out of Loveland, CO). He used this car to set track records in multiple classes (TTD, TTC, TT5) over the past several seasons at various tracks (Circuit of the Americas, Thunderhill Raceway, High Plains Raceway, Hallet Motorsport, Utah Motorsport Complex, Pueblo Motorsports Park, Motorsports Park Hastings, Pikes Peak International Raceway, La Junta Raceway (some more prestigious than others...)). This culminated in winning the NASA TTC West Coast championships in 2017 (uncontested) and the 2018 NASA National Championships in TT5 at COTA.

172 – Mark Boudreau: Motorsport Prospects & the Business of Motorsport Dec 17, 2020

On this week’s episode of Speed Secrets Podcast, Mark Boudreau joins me to discuss the business of motorsport and the importance of being flexible with one’s career – doesn’t matter if it’s pro racing, autocross, rallycross, track days, indoor karting, etc. We also detail common errors that drivers make, and he explains how his law background helps him play devil’s advocate for drivers, asking the tough questions.

Mark’s Speed Secret: Perseverance – never give up and always keep improving.

CEO & Publisher Motorsport Prospects Inspired by the exploits of fellow Canadian Gilles Villeneuve, Mark became an early fan of F1 from 1980 on. Never interested in actually racing, it was the business of motorsport that always held a fascination, which led to the eventual informal foundation of Motorsport Prospects in 2018. Based directly on the feedback he received from families of young drivers at the beginning of their motorsport careers they observed that there was no real “one stop shop” for motorsport career-related information and resources that they could consult. With a background in law and an alumnus of Western University’s Faculty of Law, Mark applies the same concept of due diligence used in the legal field to the research he conducts both for the Motorsport Prospects Directory and for individual clients. He is passionate in ensuring that all drivers, their family and advisors have the information they need to make an informed motorsport-related decision.

Check out Mark below: MotorsportProspects.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motorsportprospects/ Twitter: @motorsportprosp Mentioned: NoMoneyMotorsports.com

171 – Eric Kaul: Better Call Kaul Dec 10, 2020

On this week’s episode of Speed Secrets Podcast, I sit down with Eric Kaul to discuss why the social aspect and community of our sport are so important, the High Performance Driving & Racing Enthusiasts community, and the balance between inclusiveness and exclusivity. We also talk about the impact of fitness and nutrition on performance.

Eric’s Speed Secret: Get your fitness and nutrition under control.

Eric Kaul knows just about everyone and if he doesn’t - it’s only a matter of time. He is "Mr. Community" and genuinely loves bringing high performance driving enthusiasts together both in the paddock and into social media. Eric is the co-founder and driving force behind the HPDRE community groups on Facebook (High Performance Driving and Racing Enthusiasts), resides outside Boston, MA and has been an active instructor with several HPDE organizations in the Northeast corner of the US. He works in the retail telecom industry and many drivers, racers, driving organizations and racing businesses in the motorsports community are his wireless clients.

Check out Eric below:

Eric’s phone number: 508-834-3311 HPDRE on Facebook @BetterCallKaul #KaulMe #HPDRE

170 – Stefan Rzadzinski: the Race of Champions Dec 03, 2020

On this week’s episode of Speed Secrets Podcast, Stefan Rzadzinski joins me to discuss how he got into and competed in the Race of Champions against Sebastian Vettel, Juan Montoya, Tom Kristensen, Pieter Solberg, Kurt and Kyle Busch, David Couthard, Alexnader Rossi, and James Hinchcliffe. We also get into limits – how to sense your car’s limits, and how to trust yourself to test those limits. Do you wonder when to focus on improving your car’s setup versus when to focus on your own driving? We explore that, too!

Stefan’s Speed Secret: Keep believing and don’t give up.

Stefan Rzadzinski is a 27-year-old driver born in Edmonton and based in British Columbia. Stefan grew up in karting and went on to compete in formula cars - including the Road to Indy ladder, NASCAR Canada, Nissan Micra Cup, LMP3, and GT3 cars. Stefan had the opportunity to race in Asia for the Hankook factory team, ATLAS BX Racing, and most recently in the Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY supporting Formula E. Stefan is also a partner in Catalyst Driver Development with other Western Canadian drivers Scott Hargrove and Remo Ruscitti. They provide coaching, support, and service for their team that runs on the Italkart brand.

Check out Stefan, below: Web: http://www.rzadracing.com Instagram: @rzadracing Twitter: @rzadracing Facebook: Facebook.com/rzadracing

169 – Tom Roberts: Get in the Flow Nov 26, 2020

On this week’s episode of Speed Secrets Podcast, I talk with my good friend Tom Roberts about flow, or getting “in the zone.” Tom recently wrote a 4-part article in Speed Secrets Weekly about his research and experience with the state of flow from a neuroscience and more spiritual perspective – and how fear impacts it. It’s all about how to perform at your best when on the track (or off). We talk mindfulness, mindset, awareness, fear, ego, and how these help you become a better driver.

Tom’s Speed Secret: Be willing to get to know yourself.

Tom got into track driving many years ago, and raced in the Skip Barber series. He then began making annual pilgrimages to the Nürburgring – something that he and I do together now, taking small groups of drivers with us. In 2019, Tom made his racing debut at the Ring, a long-time goal of his. In addition to his European motorsport adventures, Tom races in various endurance series in the U.S., and continues to track whatever his current Porsche is. When he’s not flying around a race track, Tom can also be found flying the skies in an RV4 aerobatics plane, doing loops, rolls, and simulated dog fights. He loves the experience of flow!

168 - Davin Sturdivant: Karting and Sim Racing Nov 19, 2020

On this week’s episode of Speed Secrets Podcast, Davin Sturdivant joins me to discuss all things karting! Why karting is awesome, why karting is a valuable learning tool, how you can use karting to learn to read drivers. We also get into sim racing and eSports!

Davin’s Speed Secret: Be open.

Davin Sturdivant is a competition go-kart racer, based out of the Pacific Northwest. Davin’s enthusiasm for performance driving and motorsports is highly engaging, encouraging people to become involved with the sport through his impassioned efforts.

With an additional background in Solo II autocross and sim racing, Davin’s ‘superpower’ is being able to introduce new people to accessible forms of motorsport, and pointing them to resources they can use to develop themselves, such as the Kartpulse Forums, an online resource for grassroots competition karters.

Davin is also an administrator of the 'Motorsports Book Club' on Facebook, a community group designed to introduce people to new motorsports literature.

Check out Davin below! Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @relaxeddriverKart Pulse: https://www.kartpulse.com/forums Facebook Motorsport Book Club

167 – Ross Bentley: Lessons Learned From a Lifetime in Motorsport Nov 12, 2020

In this week’s episode of Speed Secret Podcast, I go solo discuss a lifetime in motorsport and the most valuable things I learned along the way. I dive into the story of how I got involved in this wonderful sport, the relationship between driving experience and when you should begin modifying and tuning your car, focusing on performance rather than results, why adaptability is more important than being fast, how you can improve your ability to sense the limits of your car and tires, and the advanced techniques the best drivers use!

Follow Speed Secrets on social media to keep up with the latest! https://www.instagram.com/rossbentley/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/Drivercoach/

Want to be in the know? If you’re not already on the Speed Secrets mailing list, sign up here to be the first to hear about new things coming out, promotions and our annual sale, and updates! https://speedsecrets.com/

166 – Craig Watkins: Birth of Flying Lizards and Engineering Your Car’s Handling Nov 05, 2020

On this week’s episode of Speed Secrets Podcast, Craig Watkins sits down to discuss how he became a race car engineer, how the Flying Lizards race team came about, the process of engineering and tuning a car’s handling, and the right questions to ask to figure out what your car needs. He also dishes about what it’s like to work with drivers such as Johannes van Overbeek, Patrick Long, Jörg Bermeister, Timo Bernhard, and other factory Porsche drivers.

Craig’s Speed Secret: Use a tire gauge and notebook, then data acquisition and video.

Craig Watkins is considered one of the top Porsche race engineers in the world. Watkins has been engineering and racing cars since he was a teenager. He began off-road racing in 1976 and competed in a Class10 car in the SCORE series from 1983 to 1990. Racing with Greg Aronson, Watkins won nearly every major off-road race including the Parker Dam 400, the Baja 1000 and the Frontier 500; he won the SCORE points championship in 1987. In the early 90’s Watkins began racing in local Porsche club events, where he met driver Johannes van Overbeek who would introduce him to World Challenge GT racing and the Lizards. Watkins has been Flying Lizard chief engineer since its inception in 2003.

Check out Craig below! https://www.smartracingproducts.com @craig.watkins.ca https://tractivesuspension.com

165 – Clay Millican: a Mind Boggling 335MPH in 3.7 seconds Oct 29, 2020

In this week’s episode of Speed Secrets podcast, I am joined by Clay Millican, NHRA Top Fuel drag racer. We discuss the mental game of drag racing, driving 11,000 horsepower, how to steer a Top Fuel dragster, the importance of reaction times, and all that goes into driving a race in less than 4 seconds!

Clay Millican is a 6-time World Champion Top Fuel drag racer, having won IHRA championships from 2001 to 2006. He’s won 3 NHRA events, and his top speed is 335.23 MPH, and an ET of 3.628 seconds.

Clay’s Speed Secret: Focus on what you want.

Check out Clay below: https://www.straightlinestrategy.com/clay-millican

164 – James Hinchcliffe: the Mayor of Hinchtown on All Things Racing Oct 22, 2020

On this week’s episode of Speed Secrets Podcast, James Hinchcliffe joins me to discuss how “the Major of Hinchtown” came about, where the “fun meter” is pointing these days when you get in a race car, how to regain focus using mental triggers, the importance of being able to adapt (and why one style is not good enough), and using a negative, “cup half empty” approach to winning.

James Hinchcliffe is a Canadian race car driver best known for competing in the IndyCar Series. He currently competes part-time in the No. 29 Genesys/Petro Canada Lubricants Honda for Andretti Autosport. James has won six races to date for Andretti Autosport and Schmidt Peterson Motorsports..

Check out the links below to follow James! http://www.hinchtown.com IG/FB/TW: @hinchtown

163 – Michael Zimicki: Cranky Old Men Ranting About Driving Myths, Part 2 Oct 15, 2020

On this week’s part 2 episode of Speed Secrets Podcast, Michael Zimicki and I carry on busting myths and ranting about the way too many drivers and coaches get caught up in the thinking that everything something we say should be taken as gospel.

Mike’s speed secret: Never stop learning.

Mike has coached drivers such as Graham Rahal, Danica Patrick, Jon Fogarty, Ryan Hunter-Reay, and many, many more big names; he’s also coached drivers you’ve never heard of. The bottom line is he’s one of the best.

Check out Mike at: https://www.sliderulemotorsports.com IG: @zimicki Facebook

162 – Michael Zimicki: Cranky Old Men Ranting About Driving Myths, Part 1 Oct 08, 2020

On this week’s part 1 episode of Speed Secrets Podcast, I sit down with friend and coach, Michael Zimicki, to bust or confirm some of the most common driving myths!

Mike has coached drivers such as Graham Rahal, Danica Patrick, Jon Fogarty, Ryan Hunter-Reay, and many, many more big names; he’s also coached drivers you’ve never heard of. The bottom line is he’s one of the best.

Check out Mike at: https://www.sliderulemotorsports.com IG: @zimicki Facebook

161 – Peter Krause: How to Drive Fast, Consistently Oct 01, 2020

On this week’s episode of Speed Secret podcast, Peter Krause (fellow coach and data guru) joins me to talk all things driving fast – consistently! We get into why driving the limit is more important than the line, raising corner entry speed, and leading the throttle existing corners.

Peter’s Speed Secret: Drive every corner, every lap, as quickly as you can.

Peter specialties include individual and privately tailored analysis and optimization programs for sports car drivers and racers; data analysis equipment sales and training; supply and support for prep shops and teams for AiM Sports and Video VBOX equipment. A multi-time championship-winning racing driver, award-winning mechanic and automotive historian, Krause understands and can communicate effectively both the psychology AND methodology of "going fast," with more than thirty-five years of experience and a library of historical data to draw on.

Check out Peter here: www.peterkrause.net www.gofasternow.com

160 - Adam Spence Explains How the Garmin Catalyst Can Make You a Faster Driver Sep 24, 2020

On this week’s episode of Speed Secrets podcast, Adam Spence (architect leader at Garmin, and racer) joins me to discuss Garmin’s new data tool, the Catalyst. The Catalyst really is as cool as it sounds, and helped me shave 0.9 seconds off my best lap time. Plus, Adam explains what Area 51 at Garmin is!

In addition to his role as Product Architect Leader – Area 51 at Garmin, Adam is a racer and track instructor.

Check out the Catalyst here!

159 – Dr. Jerry Lynch: Thinking Body, Dancing Mind Sep 17, 2020

On this week’s episode of Speed Secrets Podcast, I talk with Dr. Jerry Lynch, author of my all-time favorite book, Thinking Body, Dancing Mind. As an expert in Eastern philosophy and sports psychology, his insights and guidance have had a major impact on my life, helping me perform better as a driver and coach. We discuss what being a champion really means, how Jerry’s teachings were used by Phil Jackson when coaching the Chicago Bulls, L.A. Lakers, Michael Jordan, and Kobe Bryant, and his human growth and performance consulting group, Way of Champions.

Check out Way of Champions here: https://www.wayofchampions.com

Jerry combines Eastern thought, Native American tradition, Christian mysticism and western psychology to help create focus, mental talent, spiritual dexterity, inspiration and empowerment not only for competitive events but to learn self awareness, confidence and how to be the best version of yourself each day.

Jerry has been recognized as one of the top five in his profession nationwide. He has worked with teams, coaches and athletes in the NBA, Pro Lacrosse, National Soccer League, basketball, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, golf and other sports at many top universities. Jerry has a doctorate in psychology from Penn State University, and has done extensive post-doctoral work in the area of philosophy, Taoist and Buddhist thought, comparative religions, leadership development, and performance enhancement. He is the author of 14 books in as many as 10 languages on coaching, leadership, spirituality of sport, warrior spirit, peak performance, and sports psychology.

158 - Cathy McCause Fuss: Running a Race Series Sep 10, 2020

On this week’s Speed Secret Podcast, Cathy McCause Fuss joins me to talk about why she got involved with running a race series, how to make a series popular, how to make endurance racing safe, her sponsors (Hankook and Hawk brakes), and giving back through charitable events. She shares about Lucky Dog races and Heroes Motorsports race teams for veterans.

Cathy’s speed secret: Be able to see!

Cathy has been involved in endurance racing since driving in the very first Lemons races at Altamont Motorsports Park, then co-founding ChumpCar & being their executive VP for 6 years, partnering with my Chump colleague Joey Todd at WRL when we started Lucky Dog. All this after leaving 25 years in software, most recently as VP Global Marketing for Oracle Utilities.

As North America’s fasting growing grassroots endurance series boasting over 600 teams & 3,000 drivers, Lucky Dog Racing League host events at bucket list track such as at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Sonoma Raceway, Willow Springs International Raceway, Utah Motorsports Park, The Ridge Motorsports Park, Buttonwillow Raceway, Pacific Raceways, Thunderhill Raceway Park, Oregon Raceway Park, Portland International Raceway, Spokane County Raceway, Chuckwalla Valley Raceway, Canada’s exclusive Area 27 and the Wild Dogs Ensenada Grand Prix on the streets of Ensenada, Baja, Mexico. The 2020 season will culminate at Thunderhill Raceway Park, Willlows CA on the 5-mile track for the Dawg Days of Thunder Championship / 1000 Miles of Thunderhill. The 2021 season will include an event at Circuit of Americas (COTA)!

Check out Cathy below! https://www.racelucky.com https://www.facebook.com/raceluckydog @RaceLucky @RaceLuckyDog YouTube: Lucky Dog Racing League

157 – Samir Abid: Break Into Driving Data & Nike’s Breaking2 and Ineo 1:59 Projects Sep 03, 2020

On this week’s Speed Secrets Podcast, Samir Abid and I get into how best to use data to help you become an even better driver, managing the driver’s mind when it’s too analytical and focused on data, and how to use the data from another driver to improve your own driving. We also talk about what Samir learned from having Scott Mansell of Driver61 drive his car, and what makes Lewis Hamilton so special. Samir shares about his involvement in Nike’s Breaking2 and the Ineos 1:59 Challenge projects (breaking the 2-hour barrier for running a marathon)!

Samir’s speed secret: Once up to speed, focus on corner exit rather than late braking.

Samir Abid is the founder of Your Data Driven and a Chartered Professional Motorsports and Automotive Engineer from the UK. As well as developing suspension systems for several OEMs and racing teams (including Aston Martin, Jaguar, and Multimatic), Samir has also spent the last ten years working with Olympic and professional level sports teams, and is also a keen club racer.

Check out Samir below! https://www.yourdatadriven.com @YourDataDriven

156 – Jonatan Jorge: Having an Open Mind to Always Learning More Aug 27, 2020

On this week’s Speed Secret Podcast, Jonatan Jorge joins me to discuss what’s made him so successful as a coach, when a coach needs their own coach, and looking outside motorsport (at other sports) to learn how to be a better coach and driver. We also get into the misconception of looking way ahead and through the corner, the value of checkpoints, different references for different drivers, and visual pattern matching. As a bonus, Ross shares his “vision process.”

Jonatan’s speed secret: Know yourself. Jonatan’s second speed secret: Expect nothing, accept everything.

Jonatan Jorge has been racing and coaching since 1991 and leads JJRD’s operations, coaching philosophy and service delivery. He has made a mark in the racing world both as a driver and coach in auto racing’s most highly respected series and echelons, including: - Nascar - British Formula 3 - Turkish Formula 3 - Skip Barber National and Regional Series - Formula Ford 2000 - Grand Am/Rolex Series - IRL - American LeMans - World Karting Championships - Brazilian National Karting Championships - Tens of unbroken track and race series records - Vehicle Manufacturer Events, Commercials and TV productions, and many others.

Check out Jonatan below! http://www.teamjjrd.com @jjrdinc on social media

155 – Rob Krider: Racing Insights From a California Highway Patrol officer Aug 20, 2020

On this week’s Speed Secrets Podcast, Rob Krider joins me to talk about his writing career; his novel, Cadet Blues; his “other” job as a California Highway Patrol officer; and his experience when his car caught fire. Ever wonder the similarities between racing and police driving? We get into that, too!

Rob’s speed secret: Drive fast enough to scare yourself once a lap; make micro-improvements; be consistent.

Rob Krider is a National Champion racecar driver from the NASA Honda Challenge series and he writes the "Toolshed Engineer" column for SpeedNews magazine. He is featured in the documentary film, Double Down, about earning a podium finish at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill. Besides racing and writing, Rob earns his living as a California Highway Patrol officer. He attributes a lot of his success behind the wheel from his training at the CHP Academy. From that experience he authored the novel Cadet Blues, a humorous take on police training.

Links Below:

Rob Krider's book about surviving the California Highway Patrol Academy, Cadet Blues: https://www.amazon.com/Cadet-Blues-Rob-Krider/dp/1495108589

Rob Krider's documentary film about the 25 Hours of Thunderhill, Double Down: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssY5LsQ91jY

Rob Krider's archive of how-to articles on racing, RobKrider.com: http://www.robkrider.com/

Rob Krider's National Champion racing team, Double Nickel Nine Motorsports: http://www.team559.com/

Rob Krider on Instagram, KriderRacing: https://www.instagram.com/kriderracing/?hl=en

154 – John Santiago: Learn How to Learn Aug 13, 2020

On this week’s Speed Secret Podcast, John joins me to discuss some very important things in driving: self reflection, awareness, accountability, ego, and being okay saying “I don’t know.” John breaks down philosophy and teaching, and how “Aha!” moments are rare, but that’s ok because learning is a process! We break down the traits of the best and worst drivers, and explain how having a fixed vs. growth mindset will determine your success.John Santiago: Learn How to Learn

John’s speed secret: Know yourself. Find ways to become aware of how you can improve.

153 – Jeff Braun: Race Strategy & Coffee Aug 06, 2020

On this week’s Speed Secrets Podcast, Jeff and I discuss how to improve your race strategy decisions – what to know, what to ask, what to understand, and having patience. We also dig into his hobby business, Mesa Vista Coffee, and his love of coffee roasting!

Jeff is one of the very best race car engineers in the world. He’s engineered cars at every level, and every type: NASCAR, karts, club racing cars, Indy, GT and Prototypes, and even Top Fuel dragsters. But what sets Jeff apart from many engineers is how he can explain what he’s doing, what a car is doing, and even how the best think.

Check these out to follow Jeff’s company, Mesa Vista Coffee! eBay: Mesa Vista Coffee Instagram: @mesavistacoffee Facebook: facebook.com/mesavistacoffee

152 – Danny van Dongen: Hankook Motorsports and tires, tires, tires. Jul 30, 2020

On this week’s episode, Danny and I discuss his background as a driver and his motorsport business, Hankook Motorsports. We talk everything tires and tackle how to find the right tire pressure for your car, how to use tire temperature, whether tires are directional or not, heat cycles, and how driving styles affect tires!

Danny van Dongen is a Dutch racing driver and entrepreneur, currently competing in the MW-V6 Pickup Series.

Danny’s speed secret: Feel what the tires are doing and adapt your driving to them.

Check these out to follow Danny:

https://hankookmotorsports.com @hankookmotorsports @dannyvandongen

151 - Chris Andrews: The Best Car Setup and Driving Styles Jul 23, 2020

On this week’s episode, Chris Andrews joins me to discuss how driving styles impact the handling of a car, different car setups for oval and road racing, the best passing zones at Watkins Glen, and the best books to read to learn about the best car setup and engineering. Also, a special treat, Chris shares hilarious stories about Dale Earnhardt (including what he says at a urinal).

Chris's speed secret: Never stop learning.

Check these out to follow Chris: Web: www.tcaellc.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tcaengineeringllc/

149 – David Williams: How Sim Driving Can Help You Jul 09, 2020

On this week’s episode, David Williams joins me to talk about how sim racing can make you a better track day driver or racer. We dive deep to discuss Virtual Racing School, how being a pro sim racer works (where does the money come from?!), dealing with a lack of sensory input from the sim, sensing the limit in a sim, the accuracy of car setups in the sim, brain neuroplasticity and adapting to sims and real cars. Oh, and David offers sim coaching services.

David’s speed secret: Be deliberately willing to push beyond your ability in measured amounts.

David is an Avid motorsport enthusiast with 13 years of experience and success across multiple sims with VRS Coanda Simsport. He’s a hardware design engineer & racing coach for Virtual Racing School and a multiple race driver competition finalist including the 2012 GT Academy.

Check these out to follow David:

Twitter: @CoandaDave YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DavidWilliamsRacing Virtual Racing School: https://virtualracingschool.com Niels Heusinkveld: https://www.youtube.com/user/niels007007

150 – Adam Jabaay: Gridlife and the Best of the Slip Angle Podcast Jul 09, 2020

On this week’s episode, Adam Jabaay joins me to discuss the best stories from the Slip Angle podcast, everything Gridlife, and eSports and sim racing. He also shares how he manages time between racing, family, and business – and where to sneak sleep in!

Adam is a club racer in SCCA, NASA and Lemons, a HPDE instructor, and one of the organizers of the Gridlife events. He’s also a co-host, along with Austin Cabot, on the Slip Angle podcast; in addition, they have the TrackTuned.com blog.

Adam’s speed secret: Work harder on your driving than you want to work.

Check these out to follow Adam

Slip Angle Podcast: www.tracktuned.com www.grid.life www.facebook.com/GRIDLIFEOfficial/ IG: @gridlifeofficial Twitter: @gridlifefest

148 – Rob Wilson: Coaching F1 Drivers, the Perfect Way to Turn, and Confidence! Jul 02, 2020

Rob Wilson joins us on this week’s episode to share stories about coaching F1 drivers, the importance of weight transfer, why confidence matters, and the perfect technique to turning a steering wheel. He also shares his aha! moment as a driver and a coach.

Rob’s speed secret: Always tell the car what’s coming next.

Rob Wilson is well-known as a driver coach to many current and past Formula One drivers (Kimi Raikkonen, Nico Rosberg, Valtteri Bottas), as well as working as an instructor with the Skip Barber school years ago. He’s won the British Formula Ford Championship, raced in Indy Lights, IMSA prototype and GT cars, Formula 3, and even NASCAR.

147 – James Chartres: Gaining Confidence and Gaining Speed Jun 25, 2020

On this week’s episode, James Chartres joins me to talk about how he built his confidence and became one of “the oast Ones” in the competitive world of SCCA, finding the balance between being analytical and just letting go to have fun, making track notes, and turn 5 at Laguna Seca. We also dive into racing sponsorships/partnerships at the grassroots level.

James races a Spec Racer Ford in the SCCA San Francisco region, runs his own team – Kanga Motorsport – and in his spare time is an aerospace engineer for NASA (or is that the other way around?!). As a club racer, James has put together some amazing marketing partnerships to help support his team, too.

James’ speed secret: The little changes and improvement add up.

Check these out to follow James!

Web: kangamotorsports.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kangamotorsports/ Instagram: @kangamotorsports Twitter: @kangamotorsportsYouTube: kangamotorsports

146 – Tom O’Gorman: Autocross, Simulators, and Those Iconic Blue Sunglasses Jun 18, 2020

In this week’s episode, Tom O’Gorman joins me to talk about autocross (how it helps and hurts road course driving), simulators and eSports, the ideal corning line, and making a career in racing! We also discuss why driving a bad car in bad conditions can actually be a really good thing!

O’Gorman’s Speed Secret: Start with well-known limits, and then push each of them by adapting references.

Follow O’Gorman here: Instagram Facebook (racing) Facebook (personal)

145 – Scot Elkins: Motorsport Safety Foundation, IMSA, and ALMS Jun 11, 2020

On this week’s episode, Scot Elkins joins me to discuss being COO of IMSA/ALMS and managing the merge with Grand-Am. He dishes all about the Motorsport Safety Foundation – the what and why of the HPDE instructor certification program “CERTIFIED,” how the safety standards are set, and why all driving instructors should get CERTIFIED.

Scot is the COO of the Motorsport Safety Foundation, as well as the race director for the Formula E series. Having spent years as a race engineer, as well as a senior official with the American Le Mans and IMSA series, he has a broad perspective on the sport, from HPDE and track day events, to major international racing.

Check out MSF and the CERTIFIED program here.

144 - Dane Cameron: Driving Styles and What Makes Drivers Fast Jun 04, 2020

On this week’s Speed Secrets Podcast, Dane Cameron joins me to discuss building confidence as a race driver, how to drive a car with aerodynamic down force – how to learn to trust it and manage its traction, and the difference in driving styles between open wheel and sports cars. He also shares what it was like to get the call to drive for Roger Penske!

Dane Cameron is the reigning IMSA WeatherTech champion, alongside his co-driver at Team Penske Acura, Juan Montoya. And that’s a title he’s won in the past, back in 2016, too. Oh, and also the IMSA GTD championship in 2014. And I think a Formula Mazda championship well before that, and… well, you get it. Dane wins a lot.

Cameron’s speed secret: focus on the smoothness and not over-driving – build the cornering speed, corner by corner, then lap by lap.

Follow Dane Cameron:

IG: @danecameron19 Twitter: @danecameron19 Facebook: www.facebook.com/danecameronmotorsports

143 - Andrew Rains: How to Get the Most out of Your Data System May 28, 2020

Andrew Rains joins me on this week's episode to discuss all about data systems. We tackle how to best use your data system, the importance of understanding the "why" behind what you see on data, what data can and can't do, and more...

Andrew Rains has been going to the track since he was five, has raced in Pirelli World Challenge and club racing, is the marketing director for APEX Pro, races as often as he can, and instructs/coaches drivers of all levels.

Andrew's Speed Secret? If you have a data system, get familiar with how to use it as a tool, and how to read it.

Contact Andrew by email if you have questions about data and/or the APEX Pro: andrew@apextrackcoach.com

And follow him at: Web: https://apextrackcoach.com Facebook: @officialapexpro Instagram: @officialapexpro YouTube: APEXPro

142 – Colin Braun: The Balance Between Conscious and Subconscious Driving May 19, 2020

Colin Braun joins me to talk about traveling for races, getting the balance between overthinking and not thinking enough when driving, trusting your subconscious programming to drive, and getting into the zone. We also discuss the important of always learning and never getting complacent, and what to do when you can’t do what you want with your driving technique.

Colin has raced and won in everything from NASCAR to IMSA. He currently drives in the Weather Tech IMSA series, as well as for CrowdStrike Racing in the SRO series.

Oh - and he’s been on the Speed Secrets Podcast more than anyone else!

Colin’s Speed Secret: PT it.

Follow: Web: https://colinbraun.com IG: @colinbraun FB: https://www.facebook.com/ColinBraun TW: @colinbraun

141 - Dave Peters: Being a HPDE Junkie Sep 12, 2019

Dave Peters joins me to talk about the world of HPDE, driving Miatas, and where driving confidence comes from.

Dave founded and runs HPDEjunkie.com, a website devoted to listing HPDE events in the U.S. (and Canada soon). It’s a great resource – and it’s free to event organizers. They just need to contact Dave and let them know of their events. So if you know of an event, or an organizer who needs more participants, make sure it’s listed on HPDEjunkie.com.

Dave’s Speed Secret: Build confidence in yourself and your car.

For more info on HPDEjunkie.com, go to www.HPDEjunkie.com, or @HPDEjunkie on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

140 – Travis Okulski: The Future of Road & Track Sep 05, 2019

Travis Okulski joins me to talk about where Road & Track is headed, his racing experience and how that’s contributed to where he is today, what makes drivers like Marco Andretti, Graham Rahal, and Colin Braun so great, and the future of motorsport – including Formula E.

Travis is the Editor-in-Chief for Road & Track magazine. He started racing karts when he was 12, but realized that a career in motorsport – something he was committed to – was best achieved from behind the keyboard rather than the steering wheel. His job is one that most every gearhead would kill to have.

Travis’ Speed Secret: Eyes up. Work hard.

Road & Track:

Web: www.roadandtrack.comInstagram: @roadandtrack Twitter: @roadandtrackFacebook: RoadandTrack YouTube: RoadandTrack

139 – Jim Kearney: How to Win Races Aug 29, 2019

Jim Kearney joins me to talk about what it takes to win more races, and we discuss the importance of car prep, mental prep, having triggers to get you in the right state of mind/mood, and track notes.

Jim is a super-successful driver coach who raced Formula Vee himself for years before turning his attention to helping other drivers. His drivers have won multiple SCCA Runoffs championships, so he definitely knows how to help drivers win more.

Jim’s Speed Secret: It’s all about self-belief. Trust the process.

You can reach Jim by email at jim@kearneykdd.com, and learn more at his website at https://kearneykdd.com.

138 – Ryan Yard: Motorsport Motivation Aug 22, 2019

Ryan Yard joins me to talk about everything from using motorsport to motivate you in other areas of your life to the creative puzzle that is driving faster. In our conversation, we talk about getting in flow, car setup, using music to trigger performance, dealing with problems, focus, discipline, and the benefits of journaling and note-taking.

Ryan started in HPDE, quickly moved to wheel-to-wheel racing, and currently competes in SCCA and PCA events. He also leads a national championship. He’s taken his tech background and put it to good use with his racing, but most importantly, he’s used racing to motivate him to improve his health – including losing 150 pounds.

Ryan’s Speed Secret: focus on the process of what you do to prepare.

Follow Ryan on his blog at www.ryracing.com

137 – CJ Wilson: Pro Baseball Player to Race Driver Aug 15, 2019

CJ Wilson joins me to talk about his transition from pro baseball player to race driver. We talk about the superstitions & routines baseball players rely on and how they apply to motorsport; what he learned from being a Major League Baseball pitcher that he uses in racing; how to practice with intensity; the different techniques required for an aero downforce car versus one without aero; and the overall mindset one needs to succeed. You’ll love this episode – especially his description of feeling the tires when you’re driving at the limit.

CJ pitched in Major League Baseball for the Texas Rangers from 2005 to 2011 and the Los Angeles Angels from 2012 to 2015. He is the founder and owner of CJ Wilson Racing, which has competed in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. His ultimate racing goal is to win Le Mans – and based on what you hear from him in this podcast, you can’t help but believe he’s going to do it.

Follow CJ… Podcast: The Throttle Dogs - https://thethrottledogs.libsyn.com Instagram: @supercar_cj, or @cjwilsonphoto

136 – Ryan Staub: Managing Risk on the Track Aug 08, 2019

Ryan Staub is back, and we’re talking about the stuff many drivers don’t want to talk about. You know, the stuff about risk, responsibility, waivers, liability, insurance and so on – for both drivers and instructors. But since Ryan is a racer and chief instructor for his BMW CCA chapter, we also talk about driving.

Ryan is serious car/driving geek first, but also an insurance expert, as he runs the Lockton Motorsports insurance program. So, he understands the risks and legal issues associated with what we do, but then goes out on the track and drives fast! As the chief instructor for the Kansas City BMW CCA club, he also knows how to help other drivers go fast, safely. Ryan was my guest on episode #31 on July 20, 2017.

Ryan’s Speed Secret: Know your limits, but expand them – get outside your limits.

Follow:

Lockton Motorsports:https://locktonmotorsports.com/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ryan.staub.927
Race Team FB: https://www.facebook.com/TeamLastMinuteRacing/

135 – Garth Stein: The Art of Racing in the Rain Aug 01, 2019

Garth Stein joins me to talk about his wildly successful bestselling book, The Art of Racing in the Rain – and how it’s now a major motion picture (premiers August 9th). You’ll love Garth’s stories, and the behind-the-scene look at why the book has become so popular, as well as how he was able to describe so accurately what racing is really like (hint: Garth raced Spec Miata).

In addition to The Art of Racing in the Rain, Garth has authored three other novels—A Sudden Light, How Evan Broke His Head and Other Secrets, and Raven Stole the Moon—as well as a full-length play, Brother Jones, which had its premiere in Los Angeles and was described as “brimming with intensity” by The Los Angeles Weekly.

In case you missed it (where have you been?!), The Art of Racing in the Rain is the story of a beloved philosopher dog named Enzo who teaches us everything we need to know about being human. A major motion picture starring Kevin Costner, Milo Ventimiglia, and Amanda Seyfried was filmed during real IMSA race events at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, as well as Pacific Raceway in Seattle (where the story began). The Art of Racing in the Rain book has sold more than 6 million copies world-wide, been translated into 36 languages, and spent more than three years on the New York Times bestseller list. The novel inspired a Young Reader edition as well as four children’s picture books, and a stage adaptation by Book-It Repertory Theatre in Seattle.

Garth’s Speed Secret: visualize where you want to be.

Garth’s website: http://www.garthstein.comTwitter: @garthstein Instagram: @garthstein Facebook: www.facebook.com/garthsteinauthor

134 - Preston Lerner: Learning From the Best, Ford GT & Driver Ratings Jul 25, 2019

Preston Lerner joins me to talk about what he’s noticed that the best drivers – such as Colin Braun – do that make them so great. As a journalist, that’s what he does – observe things that most people miss. We also talk about his own racing in a Spec Miata (and what you can learn from his strengths and weaknesses), the Ford GTs at Le Mans, and the dreaded Driver Ratings system that is used sports car racing.

Preston writes for Road & Track magazine, amongst others, and has written a number of books, including Ford GT, Winning: Paul Newman, Speed Read Ferrari, Scarab, and History’s Greatest Automotive Mysteries, Myths, and Rumors Revealed. When he’s not writing, Preston is driving – often racing a Spec Miata in California.

133 – Dr. Barry Seiller & Ryan Warkins: How to Improve Your Driving Vision Jul 18, 2019

Dr. Barry Seiller and Ryan Warkins join me to talk all about a huge topic - vision. We all know that how we use our eyes is critical in performance and race driving, and yet, we mostly take it for granted – we either have it or not. But it can be trained – it can be improved. I’ve been testing and using the Vizual Edge app that Doc Barry developed, and he, Ryan, and I talk about what “vision” is, and how best to train your vision skills.

If you’re interested in using the Vizual Edge training app, go to https://vizualedge.com/speedsecrets/

Follow: www.vizualedge.com https://vizualedge.com/speedsecrets/

132 – Brian Bonner: What’s New in Motorsport Sponsorship Jul 11, 2019

Brian Bonner joins me to talk about motorsport sponsorship. Specifically, we talk about new trends in how motorsport marketing deals are put together, even if you’re not a big pro racing team. Brian shares a couple of great examples, in James Chartres and Kanga Motorsport, and Steve Smith and Big Mission Motorsport, and then gives tips that you can use to land a sponsor.

Brian is a former Indy car and IMSA driver who specializes in motorsport marketing. He’s done it all, from prospecting potential sponsors, selling them, servicing them, writing PR, and managing drivers. But his sweet spot is putting sponsorship deals together – providing value for sponsor and driver/team.

You can email Brian at bonner@brmrace.com; or learn more at his (admittedly outdated) website at www.brmrace.com.

131 – Steve Olsen: NuCalm Yourself to Faster Driving Jul 04, 2019

Dr. Steve Olsen joins me to talk about the Corvette Challenge Club, the importance of managing one’s state of mind – particularly being calm – and the NuCalm system (www.nucalm.com).

Steve purchased a Corvette when he turned 50 (the first time that ever happened!), and has been tracking ever since. In fact, he has more open track day laps at High Plains Raceway in Denver than anyone else. Recently, he and a partner founded the Corvette Challenge Club, and as a dentist he worked with using NuCalm to help his patients – and found that it helps drivers perform better.

If you’re interested in purchasing a NuCalm system, use Steve’s discount code of “steve500.”

Steve’s Speed Secret: Learn to be calm. Respond, not react.

Follow:

www.nucalm.com
www.corvettechallengeclub.com
Email: fastlinetrackpro@gmail.com
Mobile: 303-888-8180

130 – Peter Krause: What Have You Learned Lately? Jun 27, 2019

My friend, fellow coach, and co-conspirator in the Virtual Track Walk videos, Peter Krause and I take time after a couple of days of coaching at VIR to catch up and talk about driving (what else?!). We share thoughts on the “accelerate to” and “EoB” points, the differences between “fast” and “slow” corners, what the “racing line” truly is, what the “best execution of fundamentals” really means, and how to use your data systems “g-Sum,” as well as “references and indexes.” Ultimately, it’s a fun discussion about keeping an open mind to all things driving.

Besides being my partner in creating the Virtual Track Walk videos, Peter is a sought-after coach. He also sells and services data systems (AiM, Motec, APEX Pro, Race Logic VBOX, RaceVoice, Autosport Labs). Learn more and contact him through PeterKrause.net, and follow him on Twitter and Instagram at @vintageprocoach, as well as on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/peter.krause.

Peter’s Speed Secret: make sure your right foot is all the way down!

129 – Davide Tarsitano & Bryce Moore: Dallara Simulator – Amazing Experience! Jun 20, 2019

After driving the Dallara simulator at their Indy facility, I talk with sim engineer Davide Tarsitano, and Bryce Moore about how you can use it. We talk about the differences between the typical home sim rig and this multimillion-dollar driver- and car-development tool, as well as how it’s not as expensive as one would think when compared to what you can accomplish with no chance of damaging one’s car. Easily, this is the most realistic sim I’ve ever driven, and I’ve had the chance to drive a lot of them. The information Davide shares regarding driving in the rain is very interesting!

Contact Bryce Moore at Dallara at B.Moore@dallara.us, and check out their GT Simulator Program at here. And follow Dallara @dallaragroup.

128 – Andy Hollis: One Lap of America & More Jun 13, 2019

Andy Hollis joins me to talk about everything to do with the One Lap of America. It’s an event that I’m dying to do, so I pick his brain to learn as much as I can. If it’s not on your list of motorsport events to do yet, it will be after listening to Andy. As he says, it’s “the ultimate motorsport vacation of a lifetime,” or “summer camp for gearheads.”

Andy is a 13-time SCCA national autocross champ, 20-year SCCA rules-maker, track day junkie, 35 years autocross and track day instructor, Race Engineer for 2-time factory-backed championship-winning PWC touring car driver Tom O’Gorman, Crew Chief for Team Honda Research 24/25H enduros at COTA and Thunderhill, and regular contributor to Grassroots Motorsports magazine (especially for tire testing).

Andy’s Speed Secret: minimize risk and sleep.

Follow: OneLapMcLaren Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OneLapMcLaren/One Lap of America website: http://www.onelapofamerica.com

127 – Kostas Sidiras & Serxio Veiga: One Lap Heroes & the Nurburgring Jun 06, 2019

Kostas Sidiras & Serxio Veiga join me to talk about… well, anything they want. These guys are so much fun – and we even learn something from them! We talk about driving the Nurburgring, Spa, Mosport, Ring Bananas, Fiat Multiplas, and Porsche GT3s. More importantly, we talk about why we do what we do, and what car people are really like (hint: they might not be normal).

Kostas and Serxio (and friends) have a fun YouTube channel called One Lap Heroes, and both work at RSRNurburg and RSRSpa as instructors. Not surprisingly, they are hardcore car people – who love to have fun! You absolutely must watch their One Lap Heroes YouTube videos.

Kostas’ Speed Secret: don’t be afraid to be slow and make mistakes. Learn from it.

Serxio’s Speed Secret: never stop learning.

If you’re interested in joining our trip to the Nurburging in August, check out the info at https://SpeedSecrets.com/Ring.

Follow:

YouTube: OneLapHeroes
RSRNurburg: www.rsrnurburg.com

126 – Lawrence Loshak: How to Win at Racing May 30, 2019

Lawrence Loshak joins me to talk about all sorts of really interesting & helpful topics, such as how to prepare for an event, simulators, adapting to your car, trail braking, left-foot-braking, being proactive with your driving, “taking a set,” comparing front-wheel to rear-wheel & open-wheel to closed-wheel, and transmissions. And he shares 3 Speed Secrets with you! You won’t want to miss this show.

Lawrence is currently leading the Trans-Am championship, and has won five SCCA championships, as well as receiving the Mark Donohue Award.

Lawrence’s three Speed Secrets:

Brake early. (Advice passed on by PD Cunningham)
Don’t build your first race car out of a car you love.
You have to have a plan of attack.

Follow Lawrence at…

Web: https://loshakracing.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loshakracing/
Instagram: @loshakracing

125 – James Colborn: Making Your Driving Comeback May 23, 2019

James Colborn joins me to talk about making his comeback to racing after taking more than a year off from it. Not only has he made a comeback, but he’s done it in an open-wheel car – not something he’s driven before – and on tracks he’s never seen before. So, it’s been a bit like starting all over again, but with a solid foundation to start from. And that’s provided a very interesting learning experience.

James is, as his website suggests, a “gentleman driver.” He started with HPDE events, then club racing, some pro racing in production-based race cars, and now is racing a Formula Ford in the UK. All for fun. He’s also a bit of an AIM data guru – mostly self-taught – and freely shares his knowledge and experience with others.

James’ Speed Secret: Don’t be frightened of data.

Follow and learn more about James – and especially, check out his AIM data videos – at www .JamesColborn.com.

124 – Kevin Boehm: How to Win the SCCA Runoffs May 16, 2019

Kevin Boehm, who’s won the SCCA Runoff three times, shares what he’s learned so you can win the Runoffs. Yes, he’s sharing his secrets - from driving and car prep to his overall strategy towards the event, you’ll hear how Kevin has won three out of the four of the Runoffs he’s raced.

Kevin is an engineer for Honda R&D, working at the Marysville, Ohio facility, and has raced in SCCA as well as IMSA. In 2019, he’ll be heading to VIR, looking to gather his fourth win at the Runoffs – so look out!

Kevin’s Speed Secret: do your homework.

Follow Kevin at:

Web: www.KevinBoehm.co
Instagram: @kevinboehm
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kevin.boehm.716
Twitter: @KBoehm_Racing

123 – Jim Mero: Corvette Handling Engineer & Test Driver May 09, 2019

Jim Mero joins me to talk about the Corvette, his contributions to its development over the past decade-plus, life as a development test driver, lapping the Nurburgring as part of one’s job, and what’s ahead for Corvette. Two things that came out of our conversation that I found especially fascinating was his explanation of “linear versus non-linear driving,” and how test drivers rely on their subconscious to drive the car while the conscious mind is focused on developing the car.

Jim spent 34 years at General Motors, with the last 15 as a Ride & Handling Engineer focused on the Corvette. No doubt, today’s Vette is a direct result of Jim’s engineering and test driving. He retired from GM in September of 2018, and now has his own consulting business, Jim Mero Vehicle Dynamics LLC.

Jim’s Speed Secret(s): “Get a go-kart. Driving is a process. Your best friend is your instructor and the laps you drive. Data will set you free.”

For more info about Jim…

Web: http://jimmero.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jimmerovehicledynamics/
Email: jim@jimmero.com

I also mentioned the online Chalktalk I’m doing on May 14, 2019. Yes, it’s free, but to reserve your spot or join in, go to TrackAttack.io/SSChalktalk.

122 – Bill Thomas: Ferraris, Lotuses, GT40s, Performance Garage & More May 02, 2019

Bill Thomas joins me to talk about… well, lots! All of the various things he does, including his William Thomas Roadsters, Drakan Cars, Performance Garage Club, and importing the CAV GT40. Bill shares his experiences with Ferrari, Lotus, GT40s, and Hellcats. Oh, and we talk about his own track driving experience - specifically, about when and how to experiment with your driving, and why you should do that.

Follow:

Bill is the/a owner of:

William Thomas Roadsters,LLC
Drakan Cars East, LLC
Performance Garage Club, LLC
GT International, LLC (US Importer for the CAV GT40)

He can be reached at:

Phone: 908-313-4482

121 – Steve Spano: Using the Voices in Your Head to Drive Faster Apr 25, 2019

Steve Spano joins me to talk about how we can use technology to drive faster, and specifically, the RaceVoice device he helped develop. This device plugs into your existing ECU and data system, and then provides auditory information to you – everything from corner entry and minimum speeds to when to upshift or whether your engine is overheating. I used the RaceVoice recently and absolutely love it, so I wanted you to learn about it.

After this podcast was recorded, I asked Steve for a discount for listeners, and got a “yes.” So, to get a 10% discount on a RaceVoice unit, use the code “speedsecrets” at www.RaceVoice.com.

Steve’s Speed Secret: “Imagine doing what you’re working on with great detail, then go do it.”

For more information about RaceVoice, go to www.RaceVoice.com.

120 – Ingrid Steffensen: Fast Girl… Well, Fast Driver, Instructor & Writer Apr 18, 2019

Ingrid Steffensen is on the show today, and we talk about expanding our comfort zone, getting into flow, what we learn about ourselves from track driving, writing, learning, and her book Fast Girl: Don’t Brake Until You See the Face of God. Which, by the way, is an absolutely great read!

Ingrid started in the HPDE world in a Mini Cooper S, graduated to a Lotus Elise, and is now about to upgrade to an Exige Cup car. She also instructs, both in-car and in the classroom. When she’s not at the track, she’s probably writing her next book – or even another article for Speed Secrets Weekly.

Ingrid’s Speed Secret: Look further ahead.

Follow:

Web: http://www.ingridsteffensen.com

119 – Johannes van Overbeek: How to Win Endurance Races Apr 11, 2019

Johannes van Overbeek and I reminisce about the time we spent together at ESM Patron Racing, and he gives away all of his secrets about winning endurance races. We then compare right-foot with left-foot-braking, how a driver can be a nice laid back guy out of the car and yet be a killer behind the wheel, and why he recently retired from regular race driving.

Johannes has won the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the Sebring 12-hour, Petit Le Mans, raced at Le Mans, and won the Thunderhill 25-hour race six times! He knows how to win endurance races...actually, just about any type of racing. He’s driven for ESM Patron Racing, the Flying Lizards, and factory Porsche and BMW teams.

Johannes’ Speed Secret: Unclutter your brain.

Follow Johannes:

Instagram: @johannesvanoverbeek

119 – Johannes van Overbeek: How to Win Endurance Races Apr 11, 2019

Johannes van Overbeek and I reminisce about the time we spent together at ESM Patron Racing, and he gives away all of his secrets about winning endurance races. We then compare right-foot with left-foot-braking, how a driver can be a nice laid back guy out of the car and yet be a killer behind the wheel, and why he recently retired from regular race driving.

Johannes has won the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the Sebring 12-hour, Petit Le Mans, raced at Le Mans, and won the Thunderhill 25-hour race six times! He knows how to win endurance races...actually, just about any type of racing. He’s driven for ESM Patron Racing, the Flying Lizards, and factory Porsche and BMW teams.

Johannes’ Speed Secret: Unclutter your brain.

Follow Johannes:

Instagram: @johannesvanoverbeek

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected