HPDE Instructor Story
 

I wanted to relate this story to all the HPDE instructors out there.

I just instructed at an event on Summit Point Main. The weather was shit due to Ophelia. It rained constantly, but never hard, just enough to keep the track wet and, at times, create some interesting puddles. My student was parked as far away from me as he could be and still be in the Main paddock. I decided to stop by when I was driving down for my first session.

He was working on his car. Apparently, he found some leaky valve stems for the tires he planned to run, so he was putting on another set of tires. I told him to get back to work and I’d meet him on grid in an hour. It was still raining when we met up for his first session, so I just jumped in the car. In the first turn of the opening lap under yellow, at maybe 30 mph, he had zero grip. He spent the entire 30 minute session trying to keep the car on the track. Turns 3, 9, and 10 were four wheel slides, but on the rest of the track he was fighting oversteer. He never really got the car up to speed, even taking into account slowing down for the rain. I checked the build dates of the tires when we got back to the paddock. They were made in the 18th week of 2009. They were the tires and wheels that were on the car when he bought it.

The driver signs off his own car as being safe enough for track driving, which is the case with most clubs, but the club putting on this show does do a minimal tech inspection anyway. They couldn’t have caught this since he didn’t go through tech with those tires. He said he was getting the valve stems replaced nearby and he was hopeful he’d have the tires swapped out before we went out again.

He was finishing the tire swap when I drove down for his next session. He was using a torque wrench. There was obvious tread on the tires. The wheels and tires were clean. I believed all was probably right with the world and chalked up the earlier fiasco to him not wanting to miss any track time. Really nice guy. He drove very well, given the tires he had, and probably learned a lot that session.

It was still raining and there was more standing water for session deux. Unfortunately, we had the same issue—no lateral grip. It was like driving on ice. I asked where THESE tires came from and he told me they were on the WHEELS when he bought them. I tried to find the build date of those tires, but could not. Seriously, I couldn’t find anything that looked like a build date. I believe they were even older than the first set, but had more tread.

Pick your own moral of the story.

Be safe,

how shit box of a shit box was the car...

im guessing at least 4 colors of paint.

but did he drive "flat out"

Tough learning experience for him. Would have been disappointing to find his HPDE was basically wasted due to his tires.

I worked full time as a tactical driving instructor at summit point for many years with lots of gov agencies. I can tell you being on shit tires in the rain is my favorite way to instruct. Speeds are slower and inputs have to be smooth, slides are slow and it all translates to better car control. It’s a giant skid pad! When racing spec Miata there you will see guys on 5 -10 year old rain tires that they have been lugging around for years and never used all while they baked on their tire rack in the sun. When it finally rains they usually fly off the track because they never went out in rainy practice sessions and their tires are harder than my grandad chewing blue pills.

I just have to ask how you know he does that JEDD? :jerkit: