It was the same with me. He asked the same, I answered the same. he lectured the same. He was impressed with me 10mins in. But he never wanted me to push really hard. Like Turn 8, he would have me brake a little before turning in. Christian has me flat on the gas from turn 6 through turn 8, lifting for needed rotation. It was just much, much different.

 

I've spent lots of time at NASA HPDE and other groups' driving events as well as working Tow and Safety for 10-11 years and have never seen an instructor act like that. I have only seen one instructor act douche-esque and that was at Sears over some contact in Group 4. I agree with wrexr - it makes me sad that someone would for one be inspired to act like that let alone feel like it was okay. The driver did EXACTLY the right thing and handled it well. The instructor was acting like a jealous 5yr old trying for a power trip and never offered one bit of actual help.

Personally, I would actually like to know who that instructor was since I spend time there and know a bit of people (though not with HOD) around there. The voice sounded familiar, but the name did not. My first instructor was a fellow named John, and this was at Thunderhill but this was ten years ago.

And the only instruction I have gotten regarding Turn 8 was "STOP BRAKING AT 8, IT'S NOT THAT KIND OF TURN, IN FACT, DON'T BRAKE UNTIL YOU SEE GOD!!" I am not even sure what that means, but I didn't hit the brakes on the next lap and have not since.

 

Yup turn 8 on my first track day my instructor (who I felt moved me along at just the right speed) told me, "you don't really need to brake for 8".

The next time we came around he goes, "(watch this) now trust me and turn in when I say so..........................turn!....now gas!! full throttle!"

(for the noobs Basically the uphill of exit 8 allows you to turn in much earlier and a much earlier apex than if the same turn was flat on the ground. this is why you can't determine driving lines by looking at the track with google maps.