Driving school: Second Tsukuba TC1000 run by participating in Masami Meeting

Masami Kageyama's driving school

Masami Kageyama's driving school, which I participated in for the first time in June 2023, is ``Masami Meeting”. This is my second time attending this school.

The location is Tsukuba Circuit. The morning program was at Gymkhana, and the afternoon program was at TC1000.

Here's what happened last time I participated:Participated in Masami Meeting, a driving school hosted by Masami Kageyama

The morning program at the gymkhana field begins with a full hour of classroom instruction.

Just like last time, we spent an hour talking about the curved part of the course map that was intended for the oval practice that was to be run later on.

...If I write that down, it might sound like I didn't like that (lol).

No, no, it's quite the opposite. On the other hand, it's amazing how people can talk about just that one topic for an hour, and even when I'm listening, I keep thinking, ``I see, I see.''

Wow, it's really deep.

Of course, I wrote that this is only part of the story, but it also covers everything, including how to use tires, so there is a lot to learn. Too big.

Furthermore, there may or may not be stories that can only be heard at Masami Meeting...^^

I think it's good to listen to Masami Meeting's classroom lectures not just once, but as many times as you like.

Even though I must have listened to it last time, I still think that every story I hear this time makes sense, and since I actually ran after the lecture last time, when I listen to the lecture the next time, I can also relate my own experiences. It's different from last time, and what I can understand has also changed.

Anyway, Mr. Kageyama and all the other professional drivers don't just drive well and are fast (of course that's true, too ^^), but they also know a lot about cars, tires, circuits, how to use their bodies, and everything else. I'm impressed that the speed is due to the deep understanding and instantaneous response to each and every one of them.

Oh yeah, and I was told, ``You should try drifting because you'll know how to move a car.''I've been practicing driftingI'm glad that you thought that was a good thing ^^

Oval driving practice at Tsukuba Circuit Gymkhana field

Well, after the lecture, we will have a driving lesson using the oval at the Gymkhana field of Tsukuba Circuit.

Divided into A group and B group, each group practiced oval.

The instructors that day were Masami Kageyama and Hironori Takeuchi, so Kageyama and Takeuchi were in each group.

Mr. Takeuchi, who I met for the first time that day, was also a very interesting and wonderful person, and I had a lot of fun ^^

The instructor for the group I was in was Mr. Kageyama.

Before driving, a staff member put yellow tape on the steering wheel at the 12 o'clock position.

Using this yellow color as a landmark, Mr. Kageyama can check from the outside of the car whether the steering wheel is being operated as instructed when driving on the oval.

This was also interesting, and when I looked at the steering wheel when Kageyama-san was actually driving the car from the outside, I could see that it was moving as I was told, so it was easy to understand.

When I was driving, I couldn't even pay attention to the position of the yellow light on my steering wheel, so it was no good...

When we are running on the oval, we receive instructions via radio from Mr. Kageyama, who is watching the race from outside.

I get praise for what I'm doing well, and when I'm not, I'm told to do it better.

In my case, right after I receive instructions, I sometimes get confused and wonder, "Huh? What do you mean?", but if I understand what I'm being told and am able to change it, I can move on to the next step. it was fun.

At the end, I was told, ``Let's increase the speed a little more,'' but I was running in 2nd gear (on the straight part of the oval) with the accelerator fully open, so I thought, ``Eh, no more.'' It's not the speed.''

When I told my husband, ``I was pedaling hard, maybe my black Carrera is slow?'' (sorry to Porsche), he replied, ``I told him to speed up entering the corner.'' I was told that it was just that I had stepped on the brakes too early, and later found out that it was true! It became.

I'm too slow to understand, and I blame Porsche (lol). Isn't he the worst student?

By the time I realized it, the last round of driving had already ended, so next time I would remember to start the brakes a little earlier than I did this time.

A 992-type Shark Blue GT3 was also running next door. So cool↓

Kageyama-san rides with me (drives) during practice at this oval, and the first thing he said after getting in the car was, ``Wow!wooferIt's on there.''

It's true that if the big Kageyama-san were to sit in my seat position, the view I'd see in the rearview mirror would probably look something like this (lol).

Move to TC1000 from lunch break

After the morning program, it's time for lunch.

Just like last time, this lunch box is a very filling lunch box that is like an adult version of a children's lunch, with fried chicken, hamburger steak, fried shrimp, and sausage, as well as fried foods and chicken. But I end up eating a lot ^^

If you eat a lot, what follows is sleepiness.

After lunch, I was running the TC1000, so I thought it wouldn't be a good idea to feel sleepy, so I took a little nap.

I thought...I parked my car in the wrong place.

I parked my car thinking there was a big tree next to it, so I thought it would be nice to get some shade, but as I was about to sleep, I could hear acorns falling from above (lol).

Although I wasn't in a position where a car would hit me, I was so nervous I could barely sleep because I was worried that if the wind blew, it would hit me (I was still too lazy to move).

I also borrowed this transponder for my afternoon run, so I received it and put it in the car.

One small story for your lunch break.

At first glance, the trash cans installed in this TC1000 look like ordinary, sorted trash cans.

But you know.

As expected, it's a trash can at the circuit.

The balance was properly adjusted using balance weights! ! ↓

So, who posted it here (lol)? (Properly? It was stuck)

Afternoon session starts

Now, back to the serious topic.

The afternoon session also began with classroom lectures. What follows is how to run the TC1000, as well as basic explanations and precautions when driving on a circuit.

In the afternoon, we were divided into three groups and each group ran three times for 20 minutes each.

This is my second time running the TC1000.

The first time, the tires were already getting slippery, so I was able to use that as an excuse and say, ``My time is slow.'' But this time, I had just replaced the tires and they were still in perfect condition. This is the run.

It's bad, I have no excuse to blame it on anything ^^

It has been a long time since I last rode on a circuit, and I was excited, and it was time to start. Haa, I'm nervous.

However, once you start driving, you'll end up thinking, "Porsche is the best!" ^^

Normally, I don't get to do things like brake and turn while stepping on the accelerator so hard, so it was a great time to enjoy the time together while listening to the sound of my beloved black Carrera, which was completely different than usual.

The results of my practice that I felt on the circuit for the first time

Amid all the excitement, I was able to think relatively calmly on this day, and for the first time in my life, I was able to put into practice what I had learned in driving lessons on a circuit.

Of course, the time is still slow. Still, when turning a corner (changing the direction of the car), this was the first time I was able to ``bend the car with the front load'' on a circuit.

I was able to feel this "soft bend" several times, so I don't think it's my imagination! (Maybe...)

First of all, on this day, I was most conscious of what I had learned at the oval in the morning during the hairpin section of TC1000. There was a time when I was like, ``Now I can turn.''

Well, bending is a given, but there were only a few times when I thought I could have bent it the way I had learned.

Driving with professional drivers is completely different.

Also, this afternoon in the TC1000, Mr. Takeuchi was riding with me (driving), and before we rode together, he asked me, ``Is there anything in particular you'd like to ask me?'' I don't know (← bad student), but I especially don't know how to run around the next corner after the hairpin.''

So, while he told me about the whole thing, he specifically told me about the corner where I asked a question, ``Here's what I'll do next.''

Well, Mr. Takeuchi's ride along with me was also really amazing.

When I went to the corner where I asked the question, I thought, ``It's going in the wrong direction!'' But before I knew it, the car was driving off to the next direction in a very beautiful way. What happened?'' It was like, ``What happened?''

And throughout the entire run, I couldn't believe it was the same course as the one I was running just moments ago, and the scenery was so different that I found myself thinking, "Are we running on the same course?"

It really gives you a different view.

Even though we're running the same course. Maybe it's because the line, speed, and G forces applied to you are all different, so your brain is thinking that it's not at all similar to the experience you experience running.

It was an experience where I was once again overwhelmed by the awesomeness of the professional driver.

...And after Mr. Takeuchi taught me about the corner after the hairpin, I drove in the same way as I could remember, and he told me, ``Let's brake here.'' When I tried it on the street, the car turned around and said, "Huh?"

I said, "Oh, now it's bent!"

This was another ``event that made me realize that I was able to do what I did in training on the circuit'' that day. It was a very emotional experience for me.

This is because, up until now, I have always thought to myself, ``Even if I do various things on the oval during practice and become able to do some things, I wonder if I will be able to actually apply what I learned there when I actually run on the circuit.'' There were times when I had doubts.

But this time, for the first time, I felt that ``the 911 suddenly bent due to the front load'', and it was a really, really big event for me.

When you write something like that, you might be thinking, ``Didn't you get a pretty good time?''

That won't happen (lol).

This time, the time was in a situation where there was no excuse that the tires were bad... Hi, Porsche 911 (991.2) What was the best time of my second TC1000 run on a base model Carrera without sporocross and Yokohama Advan sports tires? …

It was "44.005"!

Uh, hmm. If I had tried 0.006 seconds more, I could have been in the 43 second range (though it was just barely (lol)).

1 second weight on the circuit

By the way, when Mr. Takeuchi drove my car, his time was 43.018. Of course, I am fully aware that this is not Mr. Takeuchi's best (for my car). However, from my point of view, there was one more thing I learned from this ride-along experience.

That is the "weight of one second" when driving on a circuit.

This is because when I rode along with Mr. Takeuchi in the black Carrera driving, I felt that it was completely different from my driving, the G applied to me was completely different, and the sense of speed that I could feel was also very different. It was completely different, and as I had written, even the scenery I saw was completely different.

However, this time the time was "43.018" and my time was "44.005". In other words, the difference is "0.987 seconds".

In everyday life, it's a momentary event that takes less than 1 second, but in order for me to make that 1 second faster when driving on a circuit, I have to be able to run as well as Mr. Takeuchi. I wonder if it can't be achieved.

I was enjoying every second on the circuit more than I expected (sorry).

It was a day that made me realize how difficult it is to shorten the time by one second, and that even that one second difference is a huge difference.

It was an important day where I learned more than ever before and realized things within myself.

Also, oh yeah, there's one more thing that isn't related to driving.

On this day, as I was waiting in my car before driving, I suddenly saw Mr. Kageyama peering into the rear fender of my car and taking a photo.

When I asked him, ``What are you doing?'', he replied, ``Wow, your car is really beautiful!'' and he looked at the sky reflected in his black Carrera and the word PORSCHE on his helmet, just above the rear. It was rounded into a circular shape) and was photographed with great effort.

Please show me that photo.

No, uh... Masami-san is just too cute (lol)!

I haven't been able to write about it on my blog yet, but the other dayAnother coating maintenance at REVOLT UtsunomiyaIt looked shiny after I had it done, so I was very happy to receive compliments on that as well, and I was also able to see a side of Kageyama who is cute ^^

Lottery to win Yokohama tires

After the run, we gathered again for a general review of the day, but on this day there was also a ``raffle drawing'' held there.

I remember that when I applied for the Masami Meeting, the homepage said that people who attended at least twice a year would win a YOKOHAMA tire by lottery.

So, at the lottery, Mr. Kageyama and Mr. Takeuchi seemed to be having a good time and were having a good time, wondering who would draw the lottery ticket (with a person's name written on it) (lol).

One person who participated in all Masami Meetings held three times a year will receive 4 Yokohama tires, and those who have attended two or more times in the past will receive a free gift from each of the lessons held three times a year. This is a very generous lottery where 1 person (that is 3 people) will win 2 Yokohama tires.

result.

What!

I won! ! yay.

Mr. Takeuchi pulled out my name. Thank you. Thank you ^^

After all, the tires on my black Carrera that I was driving that day were Yokohama tires. You can use it as a black Carrera tire.

Everyone told me to get the most expensive and fattest slick tires (lol), but I'm honestly happy with the black Carrera rear tires ^^

Since the tire hit me, I think I'll end my participation in the Masami meeting (lie (lol)).

This is a driving lesson that I would like to participate in as long as the schedule allows. I hope I can participate in next year's event as well.

Thank you to Mr. Kageyama, Mr. Takeuchi, the staff who are always so kind and polite, and all the participants for a fun day.

As I write this blog, the next day... my whole body is sore (lol).

Continued→ Third time participating in the Masami Meeting: Tsukuba Circuit TC1000

If you are interested in Masami Meeting, you can apply here. (The schedule for next year will be uploaded at a later date once it is decided.)
Masami Kageyama Driving School: Masami Meeting

Related article:Participated in Masami Meeting, a driving school hosted by Masami Kageyama