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
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.
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.
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!
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