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Ben Dawson is our guest for this episode where we go over some of his racing history and a lot of how he has progressed to his current level and what he is looking to get into going forward.\\xa0 It was great to catch up with him and learn a bunch more about him and his driving.\\xa0 It is also the easiest episode ever to put in our Dominating with Dawson segment where we go over several methods for a driver to determine their speed and adjust accordingly on a track.\\xa0 This is especially important when you are learning and improving since your speeds will generally be increasing, as you wish it would, but that does impact your speed going into the subsequent turn or turns.\\xa0 Ben is tremendous driver, but not a hard core car guy and he treats the cars well, but more as a tool to use and get the most out of, as opposed to a piece of art or something to attribute more respect and awe to than deserved.\\xa0 There are definitely a few people we know who could enjoy their cars and driving more if they shifted a bit towards Ben\\u2019s more pragmatic car philosophy.

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We hope you enjoy this episode!

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Best regards,

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Vicki, Jennifer, Alan, and Bill

Hosts of the Garage Heroes In Training Podcast and

Garage Heroes In Training racing team drivers

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Highlights from this episode include:

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1)\\xa0 Everything you ever/never wanted to know about Ben and Ben\\u2019s driving history.\\xa0 Driving really does seem to run in the family.

2)\\xa0 Ben is unhappy we aren\'t familiar with his 1986 Taurus MT-5.\\xa0 We were quite happy not knowing about it, lol.

3)\\xa0 Ben is in the midst on balancing his family and his current Spec E46 track car build.\\xa0 we also go over some of the steps that Ben has progressed through and led to his current racing interest, including getting a bit sideways on the dirt roads in Alabama growing up, competitive karting, autocross, and endurance racing across the US.

4)\\xa0 How Ben\\u2019s racing philosophy has matured into a very simple mantra, if its not fun, I\\u2019m out.\\xa0

5)\\xa0 We also discover how Ben got DQ\\u2019ed from a win at his pine wood derby car but did end up with a large \\u201cBodacious Big Bear\\u201d bear (that he still has).\\xa0 I see a T-Shirt in the making, maybe even a Race Bar theme.

6)\\xa0 Tips for getting out there and trying to do some high performance driving or a track day etc.

7)\\xa0 A Good, Bad, and the Ugly for what to do and not do when looking to get started in high performance driving or racing.

8)\\xa0 A great bunch of stories and examples of how a team and a driver progresses through beginning stages and gradually moves towards a more seasoned racing driver.

9)\\xa0 Bill\\u2019s latest HPDE with NASA Great Lakes at Mid-Ohio last weekend in the Toyota 86.

10)\\xa0 Bill\\u2019s rather intimidating trip into the Keyhole turn with a McLaren 720S and a Shelby 350R and a race prepped Corvette in the rear view.

11)\\xa0 We also start discussing some of the turns at Mid-Ohio, as well as how to approach decreasing radius turns in general.

12)\\xa0 How much fun it was to take his driving test in the same session as one of the passing drills.

13)\\xa0 We get a question from Chrissy M that became an impromptu review of Mid-Ohio track itself, both the Club and Pro layouts that we ran over the weekend.\\xa0 AND we cannot help but take the opportunity pass on our compliments to their recent episode related to racing and burnout.\\xa0 It was fantastic, as always.

14)\\xa0 Ben says \\u201cmecca\\u201d and Jennifer and Vicki hear \\u201cnaked, you can guess how the rest went.

15)\\xa0 A hilarious story about muscle relaxers and eating a tomato before going on track.\\xa0 Don\\u2019t try this at home.

16)\\xa0 Our first discussion of land speed records and record setting

17)\\xa0 The Cerveza race team makes another appearance.\\xa0 Still need to get them on the podcast.\\xa0 Anyone know them?\\xa0 We would love an intro.

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Our upcoming schedule is a NASA Great Lakes HPDE at Autobahn (for the first time), a NASA Great Lakes HPDE at Autobahn NCM (for the first time), and a HPDE/Skid Pad/autocross event at Lime Rock.\\xa0 Potentially, we may be going to Summit Point for a skip pad event in October or November.\\xa0 Please let us know if you are coming or stop by anytime if you see us.

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Links:

Mid-Ohio Track Map:\\xa0 https://speedsecrets.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Mid-Ohio.pdf

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Bill\\u2019s current track rankings are as follows:

1. Pitt Race
2. Charlotte Roval
3. Gingerman
4. NJMP - Thunderbolt
5. Road Atlanta
6. Watkins Glen
7. Laguna Seca
8. Mid-Ohio
9. Thompson
10. Monticello
11. New Hampshire
12. NJMP - Lightning
13. Pocono